Over 570 dead as monsoon rains flood India, country-wide monsoon deficiency remains at 5%

According to data provided by India's National Emergency Response Center, heavy monsoon rains and floods they caused since the start of the 2018 Southwest Monsoon season have claimed lives of more than 570 people. Floods have affected millions of people and destroyed thousands of homes. 13 persons are still missing.

The worst affected is Maharashtra with 139 casualties, followed by Kerala with 126 deaths, West Bengal with 116, Uttar Pradesh with at least 77, Gujarat with 52 and Assam with 34.

At least 70 people were killed and another 77 injured since Thursday, July 26 in Uttar Pradesh. Most of the deaths were caused by the collapse of roods and walls of houses. The western districts of Sahranpur, Meerut and Muzaffarpur were worst affected, Suresh Gautam, an official at Disaster Management Control in the state capital of Lucknow said.

On July 30, Delhi authorities expressed fears a flood-like situation due to heavy rains and the rising levels of Yamuna river. Old Yamuna bridge has been shut down for use by both railways and general traffic and the 1.31 lakh cusecs of water released from Hathnikund barrage, Haryana on July 28, will make things worse as it reaches Delhi. Over 1000 families have been evacuated from Delhi's low-lying areas of Pandav Nagar and Akshardham which reiterates the growing possibility of flooding in the capital city.

While the death toll is huge, the rainfall has been at the lower end of the normal range in the first half of the season, usually lasting until October.

According to IMD data, the country-wide monsoon deficiency remains at 5%. Nearly 74% of the country has received normal rainfall until now this season.

Rainfall deficiency in states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir is -1%.

A low-pressure area is likely to form over east Uttar Pradesh and under its influence, fairly widespread to widespread rainfall is likely over West Bengal, east Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand in the next two-three days. This will help the monsoon deficit states, the IMD said.

Subdued rainfall activities are likely to continue over many parts of west, central and peninsular India during next four-five days.

Featured image credit: NDRF