New Delhi: As North India grappled with heavy rainfall over the last few days, some states, including Punjab, Haryana, and national capital Delhi saw some respite as the floodwaters that inundated several parts, started receding on Saturday, news agency PTI reported. However, the traffic advisories are still in place and relief operations in the flood-hit states are underway.
Meanwhile, heavy rains lashed parts of Odisha, mostly the coastal region, throwing life out of gear, with severe waterlogging reported in the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.
Here are the key updates:
Delhi
Several roads that were shut for traffic movement were opened on Saturday as the floodwaters due to rising level of Yamuna started receding on Saturday, PTI reported. According to Central Water Commission data, the level of Yamuna recorded at 6pm was 206.92 metres.
As of 11 am, traffic restrictions were relaxed on some roads, while a few roads remained shut, an advisory issued by the traffic police said.
“Boulevard Road – slip road – service road – left turn under Yudhishthira Setu – Ring Road, Chandgi Ram Akhara to Mukarba Chowk Carriageway and Chandgi Ram Akhara to IP College both Carriageways have been opened for the traffic movement,” the advisory said.
Bhairon Marg from Mathura Road to Ring Road carriageway, Vikas Marg from ITO to Laxmi Nagar both carriageways, Nishad Raj Marg from Shanti Van to Geeta Colony both carriageways have also been opened, the advisory added.
The road stretches that still remain shut include Ring Road – Majnu Ka Tilla – ISBT – Shanti Van – IP flyover to IP Depot both carriageways, Ring Road – IP Depot to IP flyover to ISBT carriageway, Salim Garh bypass, old iron bridge Pusta to Shamshan Ghat, Outer Ring Road – Mukarba Chowk to Wazirabad carriageway and Ring Road from Shanti Van to Rajghat and towards ISBT.
According to the PTI report, the entry of heavy goods vehicles has been banned from Singhu Border, Tikri Border, Rajokari Border, Badarpur Border, Chilla Border, Gazipur Border, Loni Border, Apsara Border and Bhopura Border. However, there were no restrictions on vehicles carrying essential commodities and relief materials.
Punjab And Haryana
Punjab and Haryana, the two states battered by heavy showers earlier this week, saw some respite as the floodwaters started receding in several parts, PTI reported.
According to government data, the toll in Punjab stood at 19 while 20 people died due to rain-related incidents in Haryana.
According to the report, more than 22,000 people have been shifted to safer locations in Punjab, while in neighbouring Haryana, 4,495 people have been evacuated so far.
The water level in Hathnikund barrage in Haryana’s Yamunanagar stood at 54,012 cusecs at 11 am, with the flow rate significantly lower than Tuesday’s 3.21 lakh cusecs.
Meanwhile, the overflowing Ghaggar river continued to wreak havoc in Khanauri and Moonak blocks in Sangrur district, flooding vast tracts in these areas.
Uttarakhand
Three people, including a seven-year-old child, died in flood-related incidents caused by heavy downpour in Uttarakhand’s Haridwar district, PTI reported.
According to the report, Satpal (47) in Habibpur Kundi village of Laksar and Ajay Kumar (27) in Basedi Khadar died after being swept away in flood waters.
State Disaster Management Department (SDMD) Additional Secretary Savin Bansal said due to heavy rains over the last few days, waterlogging was reported in several areas, especially Haridwar. He added that the State Disaster Management Authority has prepared a flood map after analysing the area through ‘Microwave Satellite Data’.
The analysis of satellite images shows that 511 villages in Haridwar have been affected by waterlogging and the district administration has been instructed to carry out relief work in these villages on priority, Bansal said.
He further said that the State Emergency Operation Centre said people in the affected villages of Laksar, Bhagwanpur, Haridwar and Roorkee have been moved to safer locations and food packets, drinking water and relief kits are being distributed to them.
Himachal Pradesh
As many as seventeen deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, including six in road accidents in Mandi and Shimla districts, PTI reported.
Meanwhile, over 860 roads in the state still remain blocked as Himachal Pradesh reported light to moderate rain on Saturday.
The Himachal Road Transport Corporation suspended operation on 994 routes, while 260 buses are held enroute, Transport Department officials said.
Rescue operations are currently underway and police teams have been dispatched to the interior areas where roads have been blocked due to floods and landslides, acting Director-General of Police Satwant Atwal told PTI.
“A number of tourists stranded in Kasol, Manikaran and adjoining areas have refused to move out without their vehicles and decided to stay back till the situation normalises,” she added.
Meanwhile, a landslide near Dunkhara on the Kasol-Bhuntar Road prevented the vehicles from moving, forcing the tourists to trek to the other side. The local meteorological office has issued a ‘yellow’ alert for heavy rain at isolated places in the hill state till July 18.
Odisha
Heavy showers lashed several parts of Odisha, mostly the coastal region, while the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted more rainfall in the next few days, PTI reported.
The waterlogging in the state capital led to traffic snarls, forcing people to drive in knee-deep water in many places, while several slums and low-lying areas remained submerged.
As per IMD, the highest rainfall at 118.4 mm was recorded at Jharsuguda, followed by 68.2 mm at Chandbali, 35.2 mm in Bhubaneswar, 13.5 mm in Balasore, 6 mm in Paradip, 7.2 mm in Puri and 10.6 mm at Sambalpur between 8.30 am to 11.30 am.
Intense rainfall activities were reported in many areas before 8.30 am, IMD said. Bhubaneswar and Cuttack recorded 14.7 mm and 41.8 mm of rainfall respectively by 8.30 am, it said.
The weather office also predicted that moderate to intense rainfall was in the store for Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.
The IMD also said that several districts are likely to experience enhanced rainfall activities in the next four to five days.