New Delhi: Several states in India are reeling from monsoon rains, even as a heatwave spreads in some states. Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Bihar are most affected by the heavy rains.
Tamil Nadu’s capital Chennai witnessed heavy rains on Wednesday, bringing traffic blocks on all the main roads. With the IMD predicting heavy rains, the water resources department has taken the initiative to look after the water flow into the major dams of the state.
The India Meteorological Department predicted heavy rain in the interior areas of Tamil Nadu, while light to moderate showers is expected in the state capital Chennai till August 5.
A senior officer with the IMD told IANS: “There will be a light to moderate rain till August 5 in most parts of Tamil Nadu and Southwest monsoon has intensified and that there is an upper circulation in the atmosphere over coastal Tamil Nadu. This would lead to heavy rain in Theni, Dindigul, Coimbatore, and Tirupur districts and heavy rain in Coimbatore and The Nilgiris.
In the next couple of days, light to moderate rains is likely over some places in Chennai and adjacent areas. Since June 1, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry have received an excess of 94 per cent rain.
Heavy rain continued in neighbouring Kerala for the fourth day, although the intensity appeared to have lessened. The death toll has reached 13, and A red alert has been sounded in three out of the 14 districts of the state.
In the Palakkad district, 150 acres of vegetable farms were destroyed due to the floods. Several people were reported missing. The revenue authorities have started estimating the loss caused to properties and agricultural produce.
Meanwhile, the state government closed all educational intuitions on Wednesday in 12 of the 14 districts. In the past 24 hours, the Neriyamangalam area in Ernakulam, which borders the hilly district of Idukki, received the maximum rainfall of 173 cms.
The Met Department has predicted rain for Wednesday and Thursday, and fishermen have been advised to remain indoors until further notice.
Following the rains, the Kerala State Film Awards ceremony scheduled for the day has also been postponed to a further date.
In Bihar, incessant rain over the past week worsened the situation, with several rivers crossing the danger level mark and entering the villages in several districts.
Since Bihar is a low-lying state, water accumulates in these rivers due to the heavy rainfall in Nepal.
The met department has recorded an average of 50 cm rainfall in the majority of the districts of North Bihar in the last 24 hours.
