Rains pound Arunachal, WB; four killed in UP

New Delhi: Heavy showers battered eastern parts of the country, triggering floods and landslides in Arunachal Pradesh and submerging many areas in West Bengal even as four persons were killed in rain-related incidents in Uttar Pradesh.

The weatherman has warned of very heavy rains in West Bengal, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya and Bihar tomorrow.

Delhiites grappled with high humidity on another rainless day. However, the weatherman has predicted rains tomorrow morning. The maximum temperature in the city was recorded at 37.3 degrees, while the minimum settled at 29.5 degrees.

The maximum temperature in the other three metropolitan cities of Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai was recorded at 32.9, 32 and 28 degrees Celsius, respectively.

In Uttar Pradesh, a brother-sister duo was buried alive when a wall collapsed on them amid heavy rains in Gonda district. In another such incident, a person and his infant daughter died last night.

The Central Water Commission said the water level in Sharda and Ghaghra rivers has crossed the danger mark in Palia Kalan, Elgin Bridge, Ayodhya and Turtipar.

IMD said the monsoon activity was normal in Uttar Pradesh and more rains are likely in the coming days.

Incessant rains triggered landslides and floods in Arunachal Pradesh, throwing normal life out of gear.

Torrential showers have severed connectivity between many villages in East Kameng districts and the rest of the state.

The administration said the flood situation in Namsai district is grim as the water level in Noa Dihing river and its tributaries has crossed the danger mark.

Meanwhile, the army has swung into action in Assam’s Chirang district with floods in the state affecting more people.

West Bengal witnessed an erratic rain activity with sub- Himalayan part of the state getting heavy showers, while the southern districts continued to reel under a rain deficit.

Jalpaiguri was the wettest place in the state, gauging 49 mm of rains, while Darjeeling got 43.3 mm of precipitation.

A red alert was sounded in Subhashini and Dolphinpara tea estate areas in north Bengal in the wake of heavy rains flooding Torsha river. Also, a yellow alert was sounded in Joygaon, Hashimara and other areas situated on the banks of Teesta, Jaldhaka and Raidak rivers.

Flood waters entered many places and 5,000 people were shifted to shelters in Alipurduar district.

Rains eluded Punjab and Haryana for another day, leaving residents reeling under sultry conditions.

Hisar in Haryana recorded a high of 39.4 degrees, Ambala 37.1 and 35.8 degrees. In Punjab, the maximum temperature in Amritsar, Ludhiana and Patiala settled at 35.9, 36 and 36.3 degrees, respectively.