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Environment India News

Heavy rains lash Mumbai, cause waterlogging and traffic jams

Rain lashed parts of Mumbai on Saturday morning, causing waterlogging and traffic snarls in several areas. The city has been experiencing heavy rains over the past few days…reports Asian Lite News

Mumbai received heavy rainfall on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday, leading to severe waterlogging in various parts of the city.

The Andheri Subway was affected by the intense rain, and several areas, including the vicinity of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, were inundated.

The heavy downpour also led to severe traffic jams on the Western Express Highway.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Nowcast warning for intense spells of rain at isolated places in the districts of Raigad and Thane for the next 3 to 4 hours on Sunday.

“Intense spells of rain are very likely to occur at isolated places in the districts of Raigad and Thane during the next 3-4 hours,” IMD Mumbai said in the early hours of Sunday.

Earlier, Mumbai’s civic authorities requested residents to avoid going out unless necessary as the IMD issued an orange alert for the city, predicting heavy to very heavy rain.

“The IMD has issued an orange alert (heavy to very heavy rain) for Mumbai. People are requested to avoid going out unless necessary,” the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said in a statement on Saturday.

An orange alert was also issued for Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg districts in Maharashtra’s Konkan region.

Rain lashed parts of Mumbai on Saturday morning, causing waterlogging and traffic snarls in several areas. The city has been experiencing heavy rains over the past few days.

According to the IMD, the maximum and minimum temperatures in Mumbai are expected to be around 29 and 24 degrees Celsius, respectively.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has forecasted heavy to very heavy rainfall in the city and suburbs at a few places today.

The possibility of extremely heavy rainfall has also been predicted in isolated places. Occasional winds at a speed of 45 to 55 km per hour are also very likely.

Further, the BMC also predicted a warning of 3.17 metres high tides at 5:22 a.m. and 3.52 metres high tides at 5: 14 p.m.

Low Tides are predicted at 2.35 metres at 10: 47 a.m. and 1.60 metres at 11:57 p.m.

Additionally, the average rainfall recorded between yesterday morning and today morning is 115.81 mm.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department forecast moderate to intense spells of rain very likely to occur at isolated places in the districts of Mumbai, Sindhudurg and Ghat areas of Pune.

Previously, the Mumbai civic authority had requested the residents of the city to avoid going out and travelling unless very necessary, as the IMD had issued an orange alert for the city, predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall.

“The IMD has issued an orange alert (heavy to very heavy rain) for Mumbai today. People are requested to avoid going out unless necessary,” the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said in a statement.

An orange alert was also issued for the regions of Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg districts in Maharashtra’s Konkan area.

Death toll rises to 91 in Assam floods

The flood situation in Assam has claimed 91 lives across the state, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said on Saturday.

Earlier, ASDMA said on Friday that the number of deaths in Assam floods has increased to 90. Seven more people died in the state on Friday, according to an ASDMA report.

According to the Disaster Reporting and Information Management System (DRIMS), the Brahmaputra River in Neamatighat, Tezpur, and Dhubri, the Burhi Dihing tributary in Chenimari (Khowang), the Disang River in Nanglamuraghat, and the Kushiyara River in Karimganj are flowing above danger levels.

Twenty-one districts in the state have been affected, including Cachar, Nalbari, Kamrup, Golaghat, Goalpara, Morigaon, Dibrugarh, Dhubri, Nagaon, Hailakandi, Dhemaji, Majuli, Sivasagar, South Salmara, Darrang, Karimganj, Barpeta, Kamrup (M), Biswanath, Chirang, and Jorhat.

While the flood situation in the state has been improving marginally, over 12.33 lakh people are still affected by the deluge.

A total of 2,406 villages under 75 revenue circles and 32,924.32 hectares of crop area were under water.

Dhubri district is the worst affected, with 3,18,326 people impacted, followed by 1,48,609 people in Cachar, 95,277 people in Golaghat, 88,120 people in Nagaon, 83,125 people in Goalpara, 82,494 in Majuli, 73,662 people in Dhemaji, and 63,400 people in South Salmara district.

Over 2.95 lakh people are taking shelter in 316 relief camps and distribution centres in flood-affected districts.

The ASDMA flood report also stated that 6,67,175 animals have been affected by the deluge.

Meanwhile, 180 wild animals, including 10 rhinos, have died in the flood in Kaziranga National Park so far.

Sonali Ghosh, Field Director of Kaziranga National Park, said that 10 rhinos, 150 hog deer, 2 swamp deer, and several sambar deer drowned in floodwaters, while 2 hog deer died in vehicle collisions, 13 other animals died under care, and one otter pup died from other causes.

During the floods, park authorities and the forest department rescued 135 animals, including two rhino calves and two elephant calves. Thirty-five forest camps in the national park are still under water. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Rain brings Mumbai to its knees again

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Environment India News

Rain brings Mumbai to its knees again

Of this, 210 mm fell between 2.30 am and 4 am. Between 8.30 am and 5.30 am, Santacruz received 14.1 mm of rain…reports Asian Lite News

Life was thrown out of gear on Monday in Mumbai as it received over 300 millimetres of rain within 24 hours till Monday morning — its first heavy rainfall of the season, with traffic chaos and train cancellations across the city. Schools were closed and the government issued an advisory urging people to avoid unnecessary travel.

A 72-year-old woman was killed in a short-circuit incident reported in Santacruz, while another woman was severely injured in Belapur while attempting to board an overcrowded train on the Harbour Line.

The downpour that began around Sunday midnight intensified during the early Monday with Indian Meteorology Department’s (IMD) Santacruz observatory recording 268 mm of rainfall in 24 hours ending at 8.25 am on Monday — the highest single-day rainfall for July since 2019.

Of this, 210 mm fell between 2.30 am and 4 am. Between 8.30 am and 5.30 am, Santacruz received 14.1 mm of rain.

The 268 mm recorded at Santacruz on Monday marked the second-highest single-day July rainfall in a decade. The highest was 375.2 mm on July 2, 2019, with the all-time record of 944.2 mm during the infamous July 26, 2005 deluge.

IMD’s coastal observatory at Colaba recorded 84 mm rain by 8.25 am on Monday, with an additional 101.8 mm between 8.30 am and 5.30 am. The weather department defines very heavy rainfall as 115.6 mm to 204.4 mm within a 24-hour period.

Due to the intensified rainfall from midnight on Monday, a yellow alert declared by the IMD for Mumbai in its five-day forecast issued Sunday, was upgraded to a “red alert” until 8.30 am on Tuesday. “The sudden intense rainfall was due to an offshore trough that intensified after 12.30 am on July 8, ” said an IMD official on Monday.

Flash floods were reported in multiple areas Monday, with suburban pockets receiving over 300 mm rainfall. As per BMC’s Automatic Weather System, Powai recorded 330 mm, followed by Bhandup at 315 mm, Andheri (East) at 253 mm, Bandra Kurla Complex at 232 mm, and Chembur at 226 mm. Other parts of Mumbai Metropolitan Region recorded comparatively lower rainfall.

The heavy rainfall severely impacted railway services, with services on the Harbour and Central Lines temporarily halted and delays of up to 40-45 minutes on the Western Line. The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport cancelled 51 flights by Monday afternoon due to adverse weather conditions.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde posted on X: “…daily life has been disrupted with traffic congestion and railway disruptions. Authorities are working to clear water from tracks and restore normalcy. Emergency services are on high alert. Citizens are advised to venture out only if necessary…”

Traffic snarls were reported across Mumbai, particularly in the western suburbs, where vehicles were stuck on waterlogged roads. Andheri and Malad subways were closed for vehicular movement due to inundation.

While there was a low tide around 7 am on Monday, high tide was reported from 2 pm. The convergence of high tide and heavy rainfall delayed water receding in some areas until around 6 pm.

ALSO READ-Mumbai terror accused is extraditable to India: US attorney

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-Top News UAE News

UAE braves heavy rains, storms

Heavy rains have returned to the country with several flights being cancelled and delayed in and out of Dubai…reports Asian Lite News

Days after the United Arab Emirates witnessed flooding in April, heavy rains have returned to the country with several flights being cancelled and delayed in and out of Dubai while people and students were asked to work and study from home, Khaleej Times reported.

An orange alert was issued on Thursday as heavy rains and thunderstorms lashed the UAE. Over the past few days, the UAE has been preparing for this wave of unstable weather, which is forecast to peak on May 2, until May 3.

People have been advised to take safety measures across all sectors. Schools are on distance learning while companies have been asked to allow people to work from home. Parks and beaches have been shut.

Dubai announced work from home for government employees on May 2 and May 3 due to unstable weather conditions prevailing in the emirate, according to Khaleej Times.

Meanwhile, from Friday to Sunday, coastal regions including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Ajman anticipate dry conditions with partly cloudy to clear skies, Gulf News reported.

However, internal areas of the UAE such as Al Dhafrah, Al Ain, Fujairah, and their environs might experience overcast conditions with the possibility of light to moderate rainfall, it was reported.

On Wednesday, UAE’s disaster management authority reiterated the nation’s readiness to tackle the upcoming weather conditions. It said that all relevant agencies are ready to tackle the anticipated weather fluctuations by implementing measures.

Earlier, an NCM expert said the impending weather condition is not anticipated to be the same as the rainfall seen on April 16. Officials have discussed the precautionary measures that must be taken during this time.

The UAE on Wednesday announced that students will have online classes for all government schools on May 2 and 3 in the country due to prevailing weather conditions.

Furthermore, the government announced that all private schools in Dubai will have online learning on May 2 and May 3 due to expected unstable weather conditions. The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) announced that the decision is applicable to all private schools, nurseries and universities.

Five inbound flights to Dubai Airport were diverted overnight, while 9 arrivals and four outbound flights were cancelled, according to Dubai Airport spokesperson, Khaleej Times reported on May 2.

The airport spokesperson further said, “Guests departing from Dubai’s airports are advised to allocate additional time for their journey to the airport, as road congestion may be anticipated. We strongly encourage the utilisation of the Dubai Metro to get to DXB Terminals 1 and 3 wherever feasible.”

Emirates cancelled several flights due to bad weather across the UAE on Thursday. Flight operations at Dubai International Airport have been reduced.

In a statement, Emirates said, “Customers arriving or departing from Dubai airport on May 2 can expect some delays as flights are rescheduled,” the report said.

A Flydubai spokesperson said that the “adverse weather conditions in Dubai on Thursday have caused some delays to their operations,” Khaleej Times reported.

The spokesperson added, “Passengers are advised to allow extra time for their journey to DXB, whether they are travelling by car or public transport. Passengers are also advised to update their contact details via the manage booking tab and check (flydubai website) for the latest updates regarding their flight.”

Sharjah-based Air Arabia advised passengers flying from Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Ras Al Khaimah to plan for additional travel time to the airport due to the weather conditions. Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways asked passengers using the Etihad bus service between Zayed International Airport and Dubai “to check in early for their transfer to allow additional time to reach the airport”.

Indian Airlines IndiGo said that their flight operations have been affected due to bad weather in Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Abu Dhabi. Vistara and SpiceJet also said that departures, arrivals, and flights will be impacted due to inclement weather, the report said.

In a post on X, IndiGo on Thursday stated, “#6ETravelAdvisory: Due to bad weather in #Dubai #Sharjah #RasAlKhaimah #AbuDhabi, our flight operations are impacted. Road blockages may disrupt local transport. Plan accordingly and allow extra time for airport travel.” (ANI)

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-Top News UAE News

UAE Braces For Rain, Strong Winds

Motorists are urged to exercise caution and be aware of changing weather conditions…reports Asian Lite News

National Center of Meteorology (NCM) has anticipated a change in weather conditions as a deepening upper-air trough brings scattered showers and strong winds starting this Sunday.

In an advisory tonight, NCM forecasts an increase in cloud cover with the potential for light to moderate rainfall. There is a chance of heavier downpours with intervals of lightning and thunder, leading to a noticeable drop in temperatures.

While the rain is expected to ease by Tuesday evening, the report warned against potential hazards.

Strong winds are also anticipated, shifting from south-easterly to north-easterly and eventually northwesterly. These winds, described as moderate to fresh and potentially reaching strong gusts, could cause blowing dust and sand storms, significantly reducing visibility on the roads.

Motorists are urged to exercise caution and be aware of changing weather conditions.

The impact will be felt at sea as well, with the Arabian Gulf experiencing light to moderate waves that could become rough to very rough at times, particularly during periods of heavy cloud cover. The Oman Sea can also expect rough seas, especially in areas with convective clouds.

ALSO READ-‘83% of UAE Residents Not Eating Enough Fruits & Vegetables’

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Environment Lite Blogs UAE News

Rain brings vibe energies to people of Oman

Oman welcomes rain as gift of nature, many took selfies and reels, reports Vinod Raghavan

MUSCAT: Rains lashed for the second day in the Sultanate of Oman, bringing to a halt of all activities, as the authorities did not wanted the people to face any hardships due to water logging or traffic snarls.

Traffic snarls are not only seen in big cities of the world, but it can cause road blocks even on the Sultan Qaboos Street on any rainy day.

But, the difference between big cities and Oman is you can’t hear any honking or racing their vehicles in the Sultanate, but they patiently waits to move the snarls at their own pace.

The MET Department had already announced earlier that two days Sunday-Monday will be raining, but as human nature, one cannot resist of not leaving their home to fulfill the responsibility towards their work too.

Besides, rain it was a day for International cycling race – 13th edition of Tour of Oman, which also caused the blockage of roads in Muscat governorate, but the expats and nationals took it in their stride.

While, many taking advantage of public holiday and enjoying the rare rain in Oman, didn’t wanted to miss the nature’s gift.

Corniche in Muttrah was a buzzed with people taking selfies and reels.

Anita Rajan, a local actor resident of CBD, Ruwi, has been vying to shoot the famous Bollywood number Rim Jhim Ghire Sawan, Sulag Sulag Jaye Mun, Bheege Aaj Is Mausam Mein, Lagi Kaisi Yeah Agan picturised on Amitabh Bachchan and Moushami Chatterjee in the 80s capturing the rain in Mumbai’s scenic places with sea, traffic and open parks, was lucky enough to capture various locations of Muscat.

Accompanied along-with Kabeer Yousuf, known journalist and actor, helped her in shooting the song at the picturesque Corniche against the roaring Arabian sea.

ALSO READ-GMC: Environment, Tech, Creation Take Centre Stage

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Food Lite Blogs Recipes

Healthy recipes to savour the rainy season

Open up your windows to the pitter patter outside. Let the cool wind gush in with the drizzle, let it rain! The monsoon signifies the brightest hues, spellbinding aromas and fried food cravings. Here are some healthy recipes curated by Swapnadeep Mukherjee, Executive Chef, The Metropolitan Hotel & Spa.

KHATTE MEETHE ALOO

Ingredients:

  • Potatoes boiled                          
  • Desi ghee                                   
  • Cumin seeds                              
  • Turmeric                                  
  • Fresh anardana                       
  • Sendha salt                             
  • Green chillies                             
  • Ginger                                       
  • Fresh corrionder                     
  • Lemon juice                             

Method:

  • Heat ghee in a pan
  • Crackle cumin seeds, add potatoes and stir fry for two three minutes.
  • Add remaining ingredients except anar and lemon
  • Stir fry for another 2 minutes
  • Finish with fresh anardana and lemon juice
  • Serve hot

TOMATO AND TOFU SOUP


Ingredients:

  • Tomatoes                                                        
  • Tofu                                                                  
  • Basil                                                                  
  • Cinnamon stick                                                  
  • Ginger                                                              
  • Star anise                                                            
  • Vegetable oil                                                    
  • Sugar                                                               
  • Salt      

Method:

  • Heat oil in a pan
  • Add cinnamon stick and star anise. Add mashed ginger.
  • Now add roughly chopped tomatoes. Cover and cook.
  • Halfway through add basil. Cover and cook on sim till tomatoes are soft and mushy
  • Add seasoning.
  • Fine strain Serve hot with tofu

HARE MATTER KI SHAMMI

Ingredients:

  • Green Peas      
  • Potato Pahari    
  • Ginger Chopped
  • Green Chilli
  • Olive Oil          
  • Coriander Leaves 
  • Chilli Powder         
  • Black Cumin        
  • Salt to taste       

Method:

  • Blanch the green peas.        
  • Put olive oil in a pan, add black cumin to it.
  • Then add green peas and sauté it till the green peas are dry
  • Take it out of heat and let it cool.
  • When it’s cool, add boiled and mashed potatoes, chopped coriander, chopped ginger, salt and green chilli.
  • Mix the above ingredients well and make tikki
  • Take oil  in a fry pan and stir fry the tikkis
  • Serve hot with sauce or mint chutney

KARELA SEEKH KEBAB

Ingredients:     

  • Ghee            
  • Cumin seed  
  • Garlic, chopped
  • Ginger, chopped          
  • Bittergourd, grated        
  • Beans, chopped  
  • Spinach, chopped
  • Grated potato                 
  • Black pepper                   
  • Almonds, crushed           
  • Khoya                            
  • Corn                              
  • Rroasted gram flour        
  • Salt as required

Method:

  • Put desi ghee in the cooking pan
  • Add cumin seeds, garlic, ginger and sauté till golden brown
  • Add karela, beans, potatoes, black pepper and salt
  • Let it cook for about a couple of minutes. Then add almonds, khoya, and corn.
  • Now add roasted gram flour to make the mixture into dough.
  • Settle the dough on the tandoor rod for roasting and put it inside the tandoor.
  • Once roasted, serve with or mint and chilli chutney.

ALSO READ-Cozy stay-at-home activities for rainy weekends

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-Top News India News

Delhi in uncharted waters as Yamuna overflows

CM Kejriwal said that the entry of heavy vehicles, except those providing essential services have been banned during this period…reports Asian Lite News

Delhi in uncharted waters as Yamuna continues to flow at 208.62 metres, above the danger mark, however, no changes were recorded in the water levels of the river in the past two hours, an official statement said on Thursday.

The water level at 1 pm and 2 pm was recorded as 208.62 metres; it was found to be the same even at 3 pm. Earlier today, the Yamuna River in the national capital continued to flow over the danger mark, with the water level reaching 208.46 metres.

Further, according to officials, the water level of the Yamuna, on the Old Railway Bridge, was recorded at 208.46 metres at 7 a.m. on Thursday.

Looking at the grim situation, the Delhi Government on Thursday announced that all Delhi schools and colleges will remain closed till Sunday and government offices, except those providing essential services, will resort to work from home.

CM Kejriwal said that the entry of heavy vehicles, except those providing essential services have been banned during this period.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi said that there is a possibility of water entering the Nigam Bodh Ghat, which could hamper cremation activities, adding that people are advised not to venture to the open-air cremation ground and use some other ground instead.

Meanwhile the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday predicted that South-West Delhi and adjoining areas is likely to receive light to moderate intensity rain on Thursday.

Reguesting Delhiites, residing in flood affected areas, to not leave their houses if not essential, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the Yamuna River’s water level will reach its peak by 3-4 pm Thursday and then it will start receeding.

“I would like to request people to not step out if it is not essential and resort to Work from Home. We have closed the schools in affected areas. We are also trying to provide all facilities at the relief camps. As per the CWC (Central Water Commission) prediction, the peak (of river Yamuna’s water level) will reach by 3-4 pm today and it will then start going down,” Kejriwal said.

He further informed that about 25 per cent water supply in the national capital has been affected due to the flood situation but assured that the water supply in these areas will restart.

Over 23,000 people evacuated

A total of 23,692 people were evacuated on Thursday from the adjacent areas of the Yamuna River in Delhi, as the water level continues to rise, continuously surpassing the danger mark, an official statement said.

The Delhi Government reported that 21,092 people are currently residing in tents and shelters. Additionally, 12 teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) rescued 1,022 individuals on Thursday. Meanwhile, the water level of the Yamuna River in Delhi decreased to 208.63 meters at 10 p.m., providing some relief.

NDRF DIG Mohsen Shahidi said that the situation in the national capital has improved.

“The situation (in Delhi) has improved from yesterday. The NDRF’s seven teams have been deployed in Delhi. People have been evacuated from the affected areas. The situation is under control, and it might improve by tomorrow,” he said.

Several buses and trucks were stranded following the ban on entry of Heavy goods Vehicles (essential and emergency services are exempted) in the city as the rise in the water level of the Yamuna River leads to a flood-like situation in several areas of the city.

Delhi LG chairs meeting

Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Thursday chaired the meeting of Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) to review the prevailing flooding situation in the national capital.

LG Saxena who is also the Chairperson of Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) chaired the meeting in which several decisions were taken. “In the meeting it was decided that schools and colleges / universities across Delhi, Non-essential government offices will remain closed till Sunday, July 16, 2023.Private establishments and offices are advised to work from home.The interstate buses coming to ISBT Kashmere Gate will be stopped at Singhu Border. From there Delhi Transport Corporation buses will provide ferry to passengers from there.Crematoriums in the vicinity of those closed down due to rising water levels, to remain in state of preparedness,” an official statement issued by Raj Niwas said.

Business and commercial establishments in and around Kashmere Gate to be asked to close till the situation improves, statement said. According to official notification people who have been evacuated out of the flooded areas to be shifted to neighbouring Government school buildings. Rationalization of water supply in the city, in light of closing down of WTPs at Wazirabad, Chandrawal and Okhla to ensure drinking water supply.

ALSO READ-Pakistan upgrades flood warning

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Environment India News

Rain, flash floods ravage North India

Due to incessant rainfall in the region, many tourists have been stranded in Manali….reports Asian Lite News

Incessant rain, which has led to flash floods and landslides, has caused significant damage in Himachal Pradesh’s Manali.

Himachal Pradesh Minister Jagat Singh Negi said that the flash floods have damaged the national highway and disrupted water and electricity supply.

“The Manali Vidhansabha constituency has suffered significant damage due to flash floods. Houses, land, and gardens have been destroyed, and the national highway is damaged due to flash floods. The link road adjacent to the bridge is also badly damaged. There is no net connectivity, electricity and water. We have made arrangements to provide food to the stranded tourists,” Negi said.

Due to incessant rainfall in the region, many tourists have been stranded in Manali.

Internet services and electricity supply have been disrupted due to the flood in the area.

Neha, a tourist from, Ludhiana, Punjab said, “We want to go home. We were scheduled to return on Sunday but we are stuck due to flood.”

Another tourist, Sanjeev Arora, said they have been trying to go back for the past two days.

“We are here in Manali since 5th July. The main track is damaged. We have been trying to go back for the past two days. The internet services and electricity supply is disrupted,” he added.

Meanwhile, Himachal Chief Minister’s Office informed that 2000 people stranded in the Kasol area have been evacuated so far.

“So far 2000 people stranded in the Kasol area of Kullu district have been evacuated. On the way at one point named Dunkhara, there is a heavy landslide and one poclain and two machines have been deployed round the clock to clear the Kasol-Bhuntar road. A team of the district administration has reached Kasol. More than 2200 vehicles have passed through Kullu from Manali so far and food is being distributed to them at Ramshilla Chowk. CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is closely monitoring the situation”, the CMO statement said.

Speaking on the relief and rescue operations being conducted in the state amidst heavy rainfall, acting DGP of Himachal Pradesh Satwant Atwal Trivedi said that evacuation procedure is underway with 1000 vehicles already having left from Kullu – Manali and are enroute to Chandigarh.

The Nurpur police on Wednesday informed that water will be released from Pandoh Dam (Mandi) from 6 pm today to 3 pm tomorrow due to incessant rains in the district.

“People are urged not to go near low-lying areas like rivers, drains and dam areas for the next few days”, the Nurpur Police said.

Meanwhile, Congress MLA from Manali Bhuvneshwar Gaur hit out at the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) over the poor construction of the highways which were washed away during the flash floods.

Red alert for Uttarakhand

Amid the heavy rains in Uttarakhand, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for July 11 and 12.

Earlier today, four persons died and 10 people were injured due to falling debris on Gangotri National Highway near Gangnani in Uttarakhand.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday said that the state administration is on full alert mode in view of the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) heavy rainfall alert in the region.

Rain fury in Punjab

Swinging into action to take stock of the relief and rescue measures going on at the grassroots, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday conducted a tour of rain-affected areas and interacted with people evacuated from low-lying areas in the aftermath of downpour.

The Chief Minister said the situation was alarming but the government was making efforts to minimise the loss of lives. Mann said teams of the NDRF have been roped in for rescue work but the Indian Army has not been yet pressed in officially for this work.

The Chief Minister said he had a word with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday during which he apprised him about the entire situation. “As of now Central assistance is not required for relief and rescue work as the situation is under control.”

However, Mann said “if need arises, then help will be sought from the Union government to tackle the situation”.

The Chief Minister also said that a special ‘girdwari’ will be conducted to ascertain the loss of crops, houses and others. Detailed instructions will be issued to the Deputy Commissioners to immediately carry out ‘girdwari’ in the areas lashed by rains to ascertain the damage.

Mann assured the people that the government was committed to safeguarding their interests against nature’s fury.

The Chief Minister said an elaborate flood protection mechanism has been put in place to safeguard the life and property of people.

He said that Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSPs) are expediting the relief work in their respective districts so as to provide succor to the masses. Mann said an alert has already been issued in low-lying areas and help is being provided to the needy people.

Meanwhile, flood control rooms have been set up in all districts of the state and numbers have been made public.

Mann said the officials have been directed to ensure immediate action on any sort of distress call by people in case of emergency.

ALSO READ-Ukraine dam breach: Massive flood kills 9

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Environment India News

Rain fury rocks North India

The weather office has predicted more rain for Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Delhi and its adjoining areas…reports Asian Lite News

Heavy rains in several parts of north India has disrupted lives of lakhs of people who live in the region. Several towns and cities remain inundated in waist-deep water as incessant rains lash Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.

On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took stock of the situation as landslides and flash floods, and held talks with the chief ministers of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. He has assured help to both the states on behalf of the central government.

“Spoke to senior Ministers and officials, and took stock of the situation in the wake of excessive rainfall in parts of India. Local administrations, NDRF and SDRF teams are working to ensure the well-being of those affected,” PMO said in a tweet.

The weather office has predicted more rain for Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Delhi and its adjoining areas.

In worst-hit Himachal Pradesh, a red alert has been sounded and all schools and colleges will remain closed for two days. All major rivers are in spate, bringing normal life to a standstill. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has urged people to stay home for the next 24 hours and cooperate with authorities.

Frightening images of the chaos unleashed by the rain — cars floating like paper boats on flooded roads, muddy waters gushing into residential areas, temples and other structures submerged on the banks by the swollen rivers — were shared online by people from Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Delhi.

In cities and towns across the region, many roads and residential areas were submerged in knee-deep water.

Red alert in Himachal

Himachal Pradesh, the worst hit among all, has recorded a monetary loss of Rs 785.51 crore. In a statement issued by Himachal Pradesh state authorities on Monday, the death toll in the state has been reported at 72, with 8 people missing and 92 injured. 39 landslide incidents have been reported, along with 1 cloud burst and 29 flash floods, the report stated.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for 10 of 12 Himachal districts including Mandi, Una, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Chamba, Kangra and Kullu. All major rivers, including Ravi, Beas, Satluj, Swan and Chenab are in spate.

Solan received 135 mm of rain on Sunday, breaking a 50-year-old record of 105 mm of rain in a day in 1971, while Una received the highest rainfall since 1993.

Officials said rail operations on the Shimla-Kalka route, a UNESCO world heritage site, have been suspended till tomorrow as landslides blocked the track at several places.

“We have rescued 80 people today. The situation is bad as the water level of the river is rising. Our team is on alert and we are reviewing the areas alongside the river Beas,” SSP Mandi, Soumya Sambasivan said.

‘Flood unlikely in Delhi’

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today chaired a high-level meeting to discuss waterlogging caused by rain in the city and Yamuna’s rising water levels. He said flooding was unlikely in the national capital. Kejriwal said, if needed, the administration will shift the people from low-lying areas to safe spots as the water level of the Yamuna River is set to cross the danger mark by tomorrow. A total of 16 control rooms are active in Delhi.

“As per CWC, River Yamuna river flowing at 203.58 metres in Delhi. It is expected to reach 205.5 metres tomorrow morning. Also, according to weather predictions, the water level in Yamuna is not expected to rise too high. If Yamuna crosses the 206 metre mark, then we will start evacuation along the banks of the river,” he detailed.

Meanwhile, in neighbouring Uttarakhand, an orange alert was sounded in all districts as water levels rose in all major rivers, including the Ganga. More showers are likely in the next two days.

At least nine people have been killed in rain-related incidents across the state. On Sunday, three pilgrims drowned in the Ganga after their jeep fell into the river amid a landslide near Gular on the Rishikesh-Badrinath National Highway.

Red alert in Ladakh

Two people were killed in Jammu and Kashmir after a landslide hit a passenger bus in Doda district, while in Ladakh’s Kargil district, a man was killed after his vehicle got crushed under a boulder that rolled down a hillock along the Leh-Srinagar national highway.

There were also reports of snowfall from high-altitude areas of Jammu and Kashmir as well as Ladakh, where a red alert has been issued for heavy rain.

ALSO READ-Heavy rains claims lives in Pakistan

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Gujarat residents suffer heavy losses due to heavy rains

Pradeep Kanojia, an electric shop owner in Ahmedabad, told that his shop got submerged in water after the heavy rainfall…reports Asian Lite News

Gujarat is witnessing heavy rain since the onset of the monsoon season and the rainfall has wreaked havoc in several parts of the state, including Ahmedabad – the city that has not seen such a rainfall in last 20 years. It rained more than 500 mm in a single day here.

People have suffered losses and damages worth in lakhs and crores due to waterlogging and rains, and are either blaming the government or are hoping for some aid from the government.

Pradeep Kanojia, an electric shop owner in Ahmedabad, told that his shop got submerged in water after the heavy rainfall.

According to Kanojia, there was severe waterlogging outside the boundary wall of the complex, where his and nine other shops are located. The wall collapsed and all the water rushed into the complex, submerging the shops.

“I have a small shop so I don’t have any kind of insurance. My shop was under water for more than 24 hours. No officials came to visit us at that time, or they did not help us. Then Congress worker Rajesh Patel helped us with the JCB machine. A BJP person helped with a pumping machine. And now, the civic body’s officials have visited us today (Wednesday). Our complex chairman and secretary are initiating the repair work (of the wall and other damages), which would cost them Rs 8 to 10 lakhs. I have lost goods worth Rs 4 to 5 lakhs individually. I also do repair work for electronics items; I lost those goods of my customers too,” he elaborated.

“We were trying to recover from the losses we had during the lockdowns, then this inflation, and now rain. It will take two to three years for us to recover. We badly need some government help, we are facing this situation only because of the negligence of the civic body. We hope that the government will provide some help as elections are approaching,” Kanojia expressed.

Jayendra Tanna, President of Gujarat Traders Federation, has said, “Government has a policy to give relief to the affected small businesses because of such natural calamity.”

“A committee under the chairmanship of Collector has to be formed to assess the loss as soon as possible,” Ahmedabad Chamber of Commerce Welfare Foundation has demanded.

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