Devastating rainfall-triggered incidents including landslides, flooding, and cloudbursts have led to a tragic loss of more than 100 lives and extensive destruction in the states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. In response, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has cautioned that heavy rain is expected to persist across Himachal for the next 48 hours and across Uttarakhand and northeastern India for the subsequent four to five days.
Additionally, the IMD forecasts a heightened level of rainfall activity in Eastern India and contiguous central India, starting Wednesday. This is attributed to a potential low-pressure area forming over the Bay of Bengal.
The IMD’s assessment indicates the following rainfall patterns:
- Scattered to widespread light to moderate rainfall, with isolated instances of heavy rainfall, is projected for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands today and tomorrow.
- Odisha is anticipated to experience this rainfall trend until Saturday.
- Jharkhand will likely encounter such conditions from Wednesday to Friday.
- West Bengal and Sikkim should expect similar conditions today and tomorrow, with isolated very heavy falls in Odisha during Thursday and Friday.
The agency has also warned of heavy rainfall potentially affecting isolated regions in Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Sikkim, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura.
Furthermore, there are prospects of light to moderate rainfall in Chhattisgarh from August 17 to August 20. The eastern regions of Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha are likely to experience similar conditions over the upcoming weekend.
The monsoon’s impact on Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand has been severe, with reports indicating that more than 60 fatalities are attributed to rain-related events in Himachal Pradesh, while Uttarakhand has witnessed over 50 such casualties this monsoon season. Tragic incidents such as house collapses due to landslides in Shimla and Vikasnagar have taken place.
To mitigate the impact, the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, informed that over 1,100 individuals have been evacuated from vulnerable villages in Kangra district using helicopters and boats. Efforts have also been made to relocate migrant laborers who sought employment from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh to safe locations and relief camps.
In response to the hazardous weather conditions, schools and colleges have been closed in both Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand on Wednesday as a safety precaution due to the continuous heavy rainfall and landslide risks.
Also Read: TCS onboards 44,000 freshers in FY23, honors all job offers
Keep watching our YouTube Channel ‘DNP INDIA’. Also, please subscribe and follow us on FACEBOOK