New Delhi: Lack of rain earlier in the monsoon season had led to fears of drought, but this month all that has changed. Heavy rains have caused landslides and floods in many parts of India with Uttarakahand, Assam, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar being worst affected.
Uttarakhand has been the worst affected with two days of continuous rains. Over 50 people have reportedly been killed following floods and landslides in the state.
The major rivers like Ganga, Nandakini and Pindar were flolwing above the danger mark. However, the weather improved across Uttarakhand on Sunday with a let-up in rain as most places received little or no showers.
The major rivers are now flowing below the danger level.
The Char Dham Yatra continued to be affected with the highways leading to the major shrines of Badrinath, Yamunotri and Gangotri blocked at a number of places.
28 killed in Uttar PradeshTwenty eight people have been killed and nearly 1500 villages in Uttar Pradesh have inundated due to heavy rains.
Thousands were marooned in villages across nine districts of Uttar Pradesh, where the release of water from overflowing dams in neighbouring Nepal has added to the impact of the downpours.
Three Army helicopters were deployed to drop food and water to the people marooned in shelters.
4 lakh people affected in BiharNine districts of Bihar have been hit by flood and two people have been killed and nearly four lakh people affected.
Heavy downpour has pushed up the water level of Kosi, Gandak and Bagmati rivers.
Thousands of people continued to be affected in Bihar's Darbhanga, West Champaran and Nalanda districts after breaches in the embankments of Kamla Balan and Gandak rivers respectively.
Over a dozen teams of the National Disaster Response Force and state disaster response force have been deployed in flood-hit districts.
Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, accompanied by Chief Secretary Anjani Kumar Singh and Disaster Management Department (DMD) Principal Secretary Vyasji, conducted an aerial survey of the inundated areas and ordered all out efforts to provide relief to the people.
Assam flood situation criticalThe flood situation in Assam turned critical with the water level of the Brahmaputra and its tributaries rising alarmingly in Upper and Central Assam districts.
The rivers were overflowing in the districts of Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Sonitpur, Nagaon, Morigaon and Dibrugarh following heavy rainfall in both Assam and neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh, an official report said.
The Kaziranga National Park and the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary were also heavily flooded forcing hapless animals to move to highlands to protect themselves.
47 killed in OdishaAccording to the Odisha government, rain and floods have so far killed 47 people in the state since July. Although the situation has improved significantly, thousands of people continue to be marooned in the worst-hit Puri district.
Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi sanctioned Rs 2 lakh for the kin of each of the dead, and Rs 50,000 for each of the seriously injured from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund.
