Weather update: Heavy rain alert in 14 states including UP-Bihar, Jammu, and Kashmir; Flood in 18 districts of Gujarat

The Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heavy rain alert for 14 states including Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, West Rajasthan, Kerala, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Jammu and Kashmir. It has been raining in the national capital Delhi and surrounding areas since late Wednesday night. The temperature has dropped due to the rain. The Meteorological Department has also predicted rain in many districts of Uttar Pradesh. Apart from rain, lakhs of people have been badly affected due to floods in Gujarat. So far 19 people have died in rain and flood-related accidents. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured the state government of all possible help. The situation has led to the deployment of the army in many districts of Gujarat. More than 10 trains have had to be canceled.

Storms and heavy rain in many areas

Heavy rain along with thunderstorms was recorded at many places in Rajasthan. Mount Abu recorded the highest rainfall of 88.2 mm. Heavy rain occurred in Ganganagar and Sirohi districts. The Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rains in the state in the first week of September.

Body of a girl found in Ramban

The body of a six-year-old girl Shazia Bano was found in the Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday. The body of the girl was recovered three km below her Dungar Dhandla village. This has taken the death toll in the cloudburst incident to three, while the search operation is on to find the remaining four people.

Ganga crosses danger mark, schools closed

76 government schools in rural areas have been closed till August 31 as the water level of Ganga has crossed the danger mark in Patna, Bihar. This decision has been taken for the safety of students and teachers.

Condition of the Prime Minister's home state amid torrential rains

18 districts of Gujarat are in the grip of floods. 8,400 people were rescued from the flood-affected areas and taken to safe places. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel over the phone took stock of the situation and assured all possible help. Meteorological department officials said that many districts in the state including Ahmedabad, Vadodara, and Junagadh also received heavy rains on Wednesday. Officials are carrying out relief and rescue operations in the flood-affected areas in collaboration with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Army, Indian Air Force, and Indian Coast Guard.

A total of nine people died in incidents like wall collapse and drowning due to rain in different parts of the state on Wednesday. The death toll has reached 19. About 18,000 people were rescued and shifted to safer places in two days on Monday and Tuesday. Khambhalia taluka of Dwarka district received 454 millimeters (mm) of rain. It was followed by Jamnagar with 387 mm and Jamjodhpur taluka of Jamnagar with 329 mm of rain. Out of the 251 talukas of the state, 13 received more than 200 mm of rain and 39 received more than 100 mm of rain. 137 reservoirs, lakes, and 24 rivers in the state are flowing above the danger mark, causing flooding in low-lying areas.

The army deployed in five districts, and many trains canceled

Army has been deployed in Rajkot, Anand, Morbi, Kheda, Vadodara and Dwarka. Primary-secondary schools and colleges have been closed in Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Botad, Anand, Kheda, Mahisagar, Karachi and Morbi. Western Railway said that roads and railway lines were submerged due to rain, which also disrupted traffic and train movement. Eight trains, including Mumbai-bound Vande Bharat Express, were canceled and 10 other trains were partially canceled.