Weather update: Assam floods likely to worsen as MeT dept predicts 'extremely heavy rainfall', Centre assures all possible help
The flood situation in North Eastern states is likely to worsen today as the Indian Metrological Department has predicted extremely heavy rainfall for isolated places in subHimalayan West Bengal and Sikkim and Assam and Meghalaya.
At least 30 people have died due to flooding in seven districts on Assam. More than 68,000 people were affected in Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Biswanath, Charaideo, Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi districts, the state disaster management authority said.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on telephone and assured him of all possible help from the central government to deal with the situation, an official said in New Delhi.
MeT department has issued a warning of extremely heavy to heavy rainfall across several states today
Singh said the central government was providing all necessary assistance to the northeastern states to tackle the situation. On Friday, four ITBP personnel were crushed to death when a huge boulder, loosened by monsoon rain, rolled down a mountain and hit their vehicle in Lower Siang district. This was the second landslide-related accident in the state within a week.
The toll due to landslides this monsoon in Arunachal Pradesh has risen to nine. The MeT department has predcited that Arunachal, wlong with Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Bihar, is likely to recieve very heavy rainfall today.
The floods have killed at least 30 people have and affected more than 68,000 people in seven districts of Assam.
According to IMD predictions, Jammu and Kashmir also battling with floods is expected to face heavy rainfall today over isolated places. Punjab, north Haryana and Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, Nagaland, Konkan & Goa and Coastal Karnataka are also likely to see heavy rainfall today.
The Union Home Minister has also extended all possible help from the Centre to J&K Governor NN Vohra. During a telephonic conversation with the governor on Sunday, the home minister inquired about the flood situation in certain parts of Jammu and Kashmir. Singh assured all possible support and cooperation to the state in dealing with the situation, a Home Ministry official said.
Meanwhile, the Amarnath Yatra which was suspended due to inclement in the state resumed on Sunday. The fifth batch of the pilgrim, including 5,791 pilgrims, left for the cave shrine today.
The southwest monsoon covered the entire country on June 29 and has gained strength since, after remaining weak for more than a week around the middle of the previous month.
Rain lashed parts of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh on Sunday. A few areas in Delhi received "traces" of rainfall after an increase in humidity levels, Met department officials said.
The maximum temperature remained close to normal in Punjab and Haryana.
(With inputs from agencies)
Progress of Monsoon in India