Five Killed as Rain Lashes North India
NEW DELHI: At least five people were killed on Saturday in heavy rains that lashed several areas of North India triggering landslide in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. Widespread rain continued in Delhi and neighbouring Ghaziabad, Gurgaon and Noida, leading to water-logging which threw traffic out of gear.
One person was killed in Delhi when an uprooted fell atop the autorickshaw he was travelling in, while landslides claimed four people in Madkot, Pauri, Dharchula and Kappko in Uttarakhand.
According to experts said that rains would benefit farmers in the ongoing “Kharif” season as planting of water-guzzling crops such as paddy and others were on. The national capital received 147.8 mm of rains, the highest of season till now. Continuous showers led to further dip in mercury with the maximum temperature on Saturday settling at 26.5 degrees Celsius, nine notches below the season’s average, lowest in July in the last 16 years. The Meteorological Department has predicted heavy showers at few places in the next 48 hours.
Noting that most of Delhi roads were submerged, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia asked all District and Sub Divisional magistrates to inspect and coordinate on water-logging problem in the city. “They will be on it round the clock,” said Sisodia. In some areas, rainwater flooded the basements of flats. Trees were uprooted at many areas, while vehicles broke causing traffic snarls. On the other hand, blamegame has started between the AAP Government and BJP-led MCD for not desilting the drains
Meanwhile, incessant rain in the last couple of days affected normal life across Uttarakhand with roads in the hills blocked by debris from landslips. Rocks and boulders have blocked the Badrinath highway at Benakuli and Lambagad whereas three internal roads in Uttarkashi district were also blocked.
Dehradun received a maximum 114.7 mm of rain followed by Tehri with 75.4 mm, Mukteshwar with 56.6 mm and Pantnagar 24.9 mm, the MeT Department said. In Dehradun, incessant rains caused heavy water-logging on roads dug up for laying sewer lines. Mussoorie and Nainital also received incessant showers with many shops inundated.