21 killed as rain continues to lash north India, Uttarakhand is worst affected
NEW DELHI: At least 21 people were killed in rain-related incidents across the country over the last 24 hours, with the monsoon gaining momentum in several parts of northern India.
The worst affected was Uttarakhand, where 10 people died in various rain-related mishaps — causing the death toll to shoot up to 30 since July 1. Police and state disaster management sources said four people were killed when their car was buried under the debris of a landslide triggered by heavy rain near Narendra Nagar town on Sunday afternoon.
Three others lost their lives after their vehicle fell into a gorge, and two of a family died when a tree fell on their house in Uttarkashi district. In the fourth incident, an elderly woman was killed after a bus fell into a rivulet in Haldwani the same day.
Heavy rains are likely to continue in the state for another 24 hours, the state MeT office said.
The Capital, on the other hand witnessed light showers — bringing its maximum temperature down to 30.1 degrees Celsius, five notches below normal. Neighbouring Haryana witnessed widespread rainfall.
Madhya Pradesh has been badly affected, with rainfallinduced floods affecting 23 of its 51 districts. Thirty-five people have been confirmed dead so far, and nine reported missing. Over 8,000 people across the state have been forced to leave their inundated homes, and take shelter in 27 temporary relief camps.
Eight people were reportedly killed in rain-related incidents across Uttar Pradesh, even as the weatherman predicted more rains for Monday. Among the casualties were two sisters, aged 30 and 32, who were killed when the roof of their house collapsed in the heavy rain at Bijnor’s Nahtor area.
A 25-year-old unidentified man was also killed after being struck by lightning in Balrampur.
The Karauli district administration in Rajasthan placed 53 villages on red alert after three lakh cusecs of water was released from Panchna dam. The administration has also sought the Army’s help to tackle a potential flood-like situation.
An elderly woman and her grandson were also killed in Karauli district when a portion of their house collapsed in the heavy rainfall.
The situation in Assam was also grave, with 1.77 lakh people being affected by unrelenting rainfall. Over 1,33,000 hectares of agricultural land are said to have been inundated across the state. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority, a man died at Narayanpur in Lakhimpur district after being swept away in the swirling flood waters.