Thousands of quintals of wheat procured by the Madhya Pradesh government and waiting to be transported to warehouses were damaged in rains that battered several parts of the state on Thursday.

Madhya Pradesh has purchased 125.60 lakh MT of wheat from farmers—the highest ever in the state—since the procurement drive began. Currently, only Punjab has procured more. While the government claimed nearly 90 per cent of the wheat had been safely moved away, it admitted that the rains, triggered by Cyclone Nisarga, damaged the stock lying in the open.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said it was a challenge to safely store wheat in the open, but said farmers will not bear the brunt as they would get full payment for the commodity they sold to the government. Read more here

The island city and suburban areas of Mumbai received nearly 50-mm of rain in eight hours on Thursday, a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) release said. The rain followed Cyclone Nisarga which made landfall in neighbouring Raigad district on Wednesday. Colaba weather station recorded 49.6 mm rain while Santacruz station recorded 47 mm rain between 8.30 am to 5.30 pm. Due to heavy rain between 9 to 11 am that coincided with high tide, some low-lying areas like Kings Circle, Hindmata, Wadala BPT Colony, Mankhurd Railway station witnessed water logging. BEST spokesperson said that it diverted the special buses on several routes due to water-logging on Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Road at Kings Circle. PTI

THE DEATH toll in Pune district due to Cyclone Nisarga rose to three as another person, who was left injured in a cyclone-related accident at Vahagav village in Khed tehsil on Wednesday, succumbed to injuries on Thursday morning.

Narayan Navale (38), who was treated at Unicare Hospital in Chakan and then moved to Pune, was among five persons injured as a wall and a portion of the roof of their house caved in, owing to heavy rainfall and strong winds. Narayan’s mother Manjabai Navale (65) died last night after the incident.

Another man, Prakash Mokar (52), died in Mokarwadi village in Haveli tehsil on Wednesday as he was trying to hold on to a tin roof, which was being blown away, and received injuries that proved to be fatal.

According to Pune District Collector Naval Kishore Ram, 1,350 kaccha houses and 114 pucca houses were partially damaged in the district, while four kaccha houses and 89 huts were completely damaged. Standing crops on 402 hectares were damaged.

“The government will provide appropriate compensation to all who have suffered damages. The family members of those who died will receive Rs 4 lakh each from the State Disaster Relief fund,” Ram said.

Light rains lashed the national capital on Thursday, bringing the maximum temperature down by a few notches. A fresh western disturbance and southwesterly winds led to rains in the city and neighbouring areas, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. The Safdarjung Observatory, which provides representative figures for the city, recorded a maximum of 36.1 degrees Celsius, four notches below normal.

The Palam Observatory recorded a high of 37.4 degrees Celsius. Humidity levels oscillated between 50 and 90 per cent. The Met department has predicted more rains or thundershower, with winds gusting up to 50 kilometres per hour in the city on Friday. The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to settle around 34 and 24 degrees Celsius respectively.

A heatwave is not expected to return to Delhi-NCR before June 8, the weather department said. Kuldeep Srivastava, head of the IMD's regional forecasting centre, said the effect of the current western disturbance will continue till June 8, restricting the mercury below the 40 degrees Celsius-mark. (PTI)

Two people died due to to rain-related incidents in Maharashtra due to Cyclone Nisagra that weakened to a cyclonic storm on Thursday, while some areas in northern states of the country witnessed rainfall. The cyclone, which weakened into a low pressure area, is likely to enter Madhya Pradesh by Thursday evening from the southern parts of the state, instead of the western parts as predicted earlier, an official of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. IMD officials said that the cyclone has weakened into a cyclonic storm before entering Madhya Pradesh, and is likely to lose its intensity further.

As parts of Nashik received heavy rainfall, a 45-year-old woman died of electrocution in a rain-related incident when she entered an inundated poultry farm. A 35-year-old man, who was severely injured in an incident of wall collapse in Pune, died at a hospital. Nisarga and its accompanying rains seem to have had a positive impact on Mumbai's overall air quality index, which improved to 17, the best reading for this year as of now.

Authorities started restoration work in Raigad district that borne the brunt of cyclonic storm. Several kutcha houses, temporary shades were destroyed, while hundreds of trees and many electrical poles were uprooted and roofs of some structures were blown away by the storm, an official said. In New Delhi, the maximum temperature was 36.1 degrees Celsius, four notches below normal, and the minimum was 24.9 degrees, three notches below average. The city also recorded light rainfall which brought down temperatures further.

In Rajasthan, Barmer was recorded as the hottest place, recording a maximum of 40.4 degrees Celsius followed by Jaisalmer and Bikaner at 39.7 degrees each. Churu, Jodhpur, Ajmer, Jaipur, Kota and Dabok (Udaipur) also recorded a maximum of 39.3, 38.8, 35.4, 35, 33.9 and 32 degrees Celsius on Thursday, according to MeT Department. Meanwhile, Ajmer and Dabok recorded 6.8 and 0.5 mm rains till evening since morning. (PTI)

Light rainfall occurred in some parts of Rajasthan on Thursday, and the MeT department has predicted more showers over the next four days. From morning till evening, Ajmer and Dabok recorded 6.8 and 0.5 mm rainfall respectively, the MeT department said. Meanwhile, Barmer was the hottest location in the state at 40.4 degrees Celsius, the Meteorological department said.

It said Jaisalmer and Bikaner, each recorded a maximum temperature of 39.7 degrees Celsius. The maximum temperature in Churu and Jodhpur was 39.3 and 38.8 degrees Celsius respectively, while Ajmer and Jaipur recorded their respective highs at 35.4 and 35 degrees Celsius, the MeT department said. The day temperature in Kota and Dabok (Udaipur) was 33.9 and 32 degrees Celsius respectively, it said. (PTI)

Town planning authority MMRDA on Thursday said the temporary COVID-19 hospital at BKC was not built keeping in mind natural calamities like thunderstorm or cyclone but yet it weathered the cyclone Nisarga and can also pull through the monsoon. The clarification from the authority comes at a time when senior BJP leaders have claimed that the makeshift COVID-19 hospital set up at MMRDA grounds has been severely damaged and is unsafe for patients.

Cyclone Nisarga, which made landfall in Alibaug on Maharashtra's coast on June 3 passed through districts like Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad and Pune, causing considerable damage to the power supply network, roads, houses and trees in these regions. "The temporary COVID-19 hospital is designed considering the weather conditions of Mumbai and not keeping in mind natural calamities like thunderstorms or cyclones. And therefore, even we were sceptical about the sturdiness of the structure when we came to know about the cyclone. However, we immediately took necessary steps to further strengthen its base and there has been no damage to the hospital at all," MMRDA commissioner RA Rajeev told reporters here.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, in a letter to state chief secretary Ajoy Mehta, has sought a detailed inquiry into the construction of this project and demanded action on contractors, while claiming that there were leakages in the structure which posed safety threats to the patients and the medical staff deployed at the facility. On June 3, BJP MLA Nitesh Rane had also tweeted videos allegedly showing damage caused to the makeshift hospital and had demanded a probe. According to the MMRDA, on June 2, as a precautionary measure, civic local body BMC had shifted more than 150 patients, who were taking treatment at the facility, to another location.

"Moving patients was only a precautionary measure. The structure is strong enough to bear wind speed of up to 80 km per hour. Since the speed was estimated higher than that, the decision was taken by the Corporation. Now that it has withstood the cyclone, the facility shall certainly pull through the monsoon season. The patients will start returning soon," he added. Rajeev further said that the work on the second phase of the hospital housing 1,000 beds is already under construction and will be completed soon. (PTI)

he maximum temperature at most places in Haryana and Punjab remained below the normal limits on Thursday, the Meteorological department said. Chandigarh, the common capital of the two states, received 12.2 mm rainfall in the evening and recorded a high of 36.4 degrees Celsius, three notches below normal, the MeT department said. In Haryana, Ambala recorded the day temperature at 37 degrees Celsius, which was two degrees below normal, it said.

The maximum temperature in Karnal was 35.8 degrees Celsius, four notches below normal, the MeT department said. The mercury settled at 37.5 degrees Celsius in Hisar, five notches below normal, while the day temperature in Narnaul went down seven notches below normal limits to 34.5 degrees Celsius, it said.

In Punjab, Amritsar recorded a high of 36.8 degrees Celsius, down three notches against the normal limits, the MeT department said. The maximum temperature in Ludhiana was 37 degrees Celsius, three notches below normal, while Patiala's day temperature settled three notches below normal limits at 36.8 degrees Celsius, the MeT department said.

According to the MeT Department's forecast for Haryana and Punjab, thunderstorm accompanied with lightning and gusty winds, with speeds between 30-40 kmph, are likely at isolated places on Friday and Saturday. (PTI)

Three people were killed while one person was critically injured due to lightning triggered by thunderstorm in West Bengal's Malda district, said the district police on Thursday.

As parts of Nashik received heavy rainfall due to cyclone Nisarga, a 45-year-old woman died of electrocution in a rain-related incident in the district, officials said on Thursday. The cyclone, which made landfall near Alibaug in Raigad district of Maharashtra on Wednesday afternoon, spared Mumbai and headed towards Vidarbha region on Thursday. It has now turned into a depression. According to the district authorities, a woman identified as, Yashoda Pawar (45), died of electrocution when she had gone to a poultry farm in Rahuri village in the district on Wednesday. As the water accumulated in the premises had electric current, she died as soon as she entered the water.

The weather conditions created by the cyclone triggered intense spells of rains in Nashik district on Wednesday. Several areas had started getting showers from Tuesday night, the weather department officials said. The district received 144.2 mm rainfall in the 24 hours that ended at 8.30 am on Thursday, they said.

The heavy spells of rain disrupted normal life. At many places in Nashik city trees were uprooted due to the strong winds. It also led to power outages in several areas on Wednesday. In some localities, the power supply could be restored only on Thursday morning, they said. Apart from Nashik city, several other tehsils in the district like Dindori, Ojhar, Manmad, Niphad, Satana, Trimbakeshwar, Chandwad, Malegaon, Peth, Yeola, Kalwan were lashed by heavy rains. (PTI)

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force and local authorities on Thursday started restoration work in Maharashtra's Raigad district that has borne the brunt of cyclonic storm 'Nisarga'. The cyclone made landfall near Shrivardhan in the district on Wednesday afternoon and lashed the coastal areas of Alibaug, Revdanda, Revas, Murud, Mhasala and Roha with strong winds and heavy rains.

Several kutcha houses, temporary shades were destroyed, while hundreds of trees and many electrical poles were uprooted and roofs of some structures were blown away by the storm, an official said. Earth movers, cutters and JCBs were used to clear fallen trees at Harihareshwar, Shirivardhan and Dive Agar among other affected areas, he said.

Teams from the NDRF, SDRF, police and district administration were working relentlessly to clear the damages, he added. NDRF teams helped people repair their homes in Alibaug, Revdanda and other tehsils, which were severely hit, the official said. Among 20 teams of NDRF deployed in state, seven were already stationed in Raigad district to tackle emergencies and more personnel reached the district on Thursday morning, the official added. (PTI)

People and vehicles waded through knee-deep water in South Mumbai as rains lashed the city on Thursday. Here are some glimpses

(Express Photos by Ganesh Shirsekhar)

The depression, a remnant of the severe cyclonic storm Nisarga, lay centred over south Madhya Pradesh and adjoining Vidarbha about 140 km north-northeast of Akola (Maharashtra) and 160 km south-southeast of Bhopal (MP), the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its latest update on Thursday. It is very likely to move northeastwards and weaken into a well-marked low-pressure area by today evening.

Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at isolated places are likely over east MP and Chhattisgarh. Vidarbha and west MP are also expected to receive light to moderate rainfall and heavy falls at isolated places.

Delhiites will get respite from heat wave conditions till June 10 owing to southwesterly winds bringing moisture to Delhi-NCR, the MeT department officials said on Wednesday. According to Kuldeep Srivastava, the head of the India Meteorological Department's regional forecasting centre here, a fresh western disturbance has started affecting northwest India from June 3.

The south westerly winds (through Rajasthan), in association with cyclone, have brought moisture to Delhi NCR and north west India from Wednesday. "The combined effect big of southwesterly winds and western disturbance will lead to thunderstorm with light to moderate rain accompanied with squally winds (50-60 kmph) over Delhi NCR and North west India starting from today till June 5 with peak activity on June 4," he said.

Heat wave conditions will not be there over Northwest India till June 10, he added. Meanwhile, the maximum temperature in the national capital remained below the 40 degrees Celsius mark, the MeT department said. The maximum temperature was recorded at 36.4 degrees Celsius, four notches below the season's average, while the minimum temperature settled at 24.9 degrees Celsius, three notches below normal, it said. Humidity hovered between 83 per cent and 35 per cent. (PTI)

A low-pressure area is likely to develop over eastern parts of west-central Bay of Bengal around June 8. Due to the low-pressure area, Odisha is likely to witness heavy rainfall from June 10: India Meteorological Department

Cyclone Nisarga and its accompanying rains seem to have had a positive impact on Mumbais overall air quality index, which improved to 17 on Thursday, the best reading for this year as of now, an official said. Mumbai continued to receive rainfall on Thursday, a day after the cyclone made landfall near Alibaug in neighbouring Raigad district.

The current air quality of Mumbai recorded at noon falls in the good category, that poses little or no health risk, according to the official website of the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR).

The concentration of PM 2.5, tiny particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter which can enter deep into the lungs and even the bloodstream, was recorded at 15 (good). "This is the best record of the year till now. It is due to the combination of high-speed winds and accompanying rains that the air quality index (AQI) has improved," SAFAR director Dr Gufran Beig said. Read more

Cyclone Nisarga, which weakened into a low pressure area, is likely to enter Madhya Pradesh by Thursday evening from the southern parts of the state, instead of the western parts as predicted earlier, an official of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. The severe cyclonic storm had hit the Maharashtra coast near Alibaug in Raigad district on Wednesday afternoon.

IMD officials said that the cyclone has weakened into a cyclonic storm before entering Madhya Pradesh from neighbouring Maharashtra, and is likely to lose its intensity further. As a result of the cyclone, parts of Madhya Pradesh received rainfall from Wednesday and the showers are likely to continue on Thursday as well, they said.

Talking to PTI, IMD's senior scientist Vedprakash Singh Chandel said, "Our earlier forecast was that Nisarga could enter Madhya Pradesh from Maharashtra between 7 am and 11 am on Thursday from Khandwa, Khargone and Burhanpur. But now this cyclone has lost its intensity and weakened into a low pressure area." "In the changing weather conditions, there is a possibility that Nisarga may enter Madhya Pradesh from its southern parts like Betul, Chhindwara and Seoni around 7 pm on Thursday," he said. (PTI)

Mumbai's Sion area reported extreme water-logging due to heavy rains lashing the city. Watch here:

#WATCH: Water logging near Sion area of Mumbai following heavy rainfall. pic.twitter.com/o0cANiErlm

— ANI (@ANI) June 4, 2020

The Southwest Monsoon has further advanced into some parts of the central Arabian Sea, entire Kerala & Mahe, some parts of Karnataka, some more parts of Comorin Area and Southwest Bay of Bengal, most parts of Southeast Bay of Bengal and some parts of East-central Bay of Bengal.