New Delhi: Heavy rain lashed the national capital, Delhi, starting late on Friday night and continuing into the morning, bringing relief from the heat but causing widespread disruption. The downpour, which began on Thursday evening, intensified overnight, turning moderate by morning, but not before creating significant problems across the city.
The Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) will continue to experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rainfall and winds gusting between 25 to 35 km/h throughout the day. The maximum temperature is expected to hover around 31 degrees Celsius, with a minimum of 21 degrees Celsius.
However, according to the IMD, the wet spell might end by the weekend, offering some respite to the waterlogged city. Delhi-NCR has seen heavy rains over the last 72 hours, leading to waterlogged roads, clogged underpasses, and severe traffic jams. The situation in neighbouring areas such as Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, and Faridabad is also grim, with the rain causing further delays and disruptions. The IMD forecasts that the rain will likely taper off after the next 48 hours.
Widespread Rain and Havoc Across Northern India
It’s not just the capital bearing the brunt of the rains. Heavy rainfall has affected several states across northern India, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Bihar, Rajasthan, and Jharkhand. In Uttar Pradesh, rain-related incidents have claimed 10 lives, and schools have been closed in several districts such as Agra, Etah, Kasganj, Bareilly, and Mathura. Several houses have reportedly collapsed in Agra, with fatalities recorded in Mainpuri, Jalaun, Banda, and Etah.
In Madhya Pradesh, the situation is even more dire, with at least 40 people reported dead due to flooding. Heavy rains have caused the Narmada River to rise above the danger mark, flooding towns and villages in Jabalpur, Damoh, Sagar, Shivpuri, and other areas. The government has opened dams on the Narmada, and emergency evacuations are underway for people living in low-lying regions.
Red Alerts and Emergency Preparedness
The IMD has issued a red alert for Uttarakhand, predicting heavy rain across several districts. Emergency response teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed to handle potential emergencies. There are warnings of excessive rainfall, flash floods, and other rain-related incidents in more than a dozen districts of the Awadh and Rohilkhand regions of Uttar Pradesh.
The IMD has also issued a rain forecast for eastern districts of Uttar Pradesh until September 17. In Madhya Pradesh, a rain warning remains in place for the eastern region on 16 and 17 September, while scattered heavy rainfall is expected over the western parts on 13, 17, and 18 September.
As the rains continue to lash the northern states, authorities remain on high alert, monitoring the situation closely to mitigate further damage and ensure the safety of residents. The coming days are likely to test the resilience and preparedness of both the government and the public in the face of this relentless monsoon.
Comments are closed.