Heavy rains lash many parts of country, toll rises to 18 in Uttarakhand

NEW DELHI: Heavy rains continued in many parts of the country and water level of rivers in Uttar Pradesh started rising as monsoon advanced further into many states of north India, even as the death toll from cloudburst in Uttarakhand rose to 18. In Telangana, two minors of a family were killed in rain-related incident. Rains lashed several parts of Rajasthan, with Sikar receiving 20 cm precipitation, followed by Baran 11 cm. Intermittent rains which occurred in most parts of Uttarakhand caused hindrance in the rescue operation in the cloudburst-hit villages of Pithoragarh, where the toll rose to 18 with three more bodies being pulled out of the debris. In Mumbai, normal life was thrown out of gear due to heavy rains in the last 24 hours even as incessant showers continued to hit other cities of Maharashtra like Pune and Nashik. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted "very heavy" showers for the megapolis in the next 24 hours. The wet spell resulted in an increase in water levels of the four dams that supply water to Pune city - Khadakwasla, Panshet, Varasgaon and Temghar. The Southwest Monsoon has advanced further into remaining parts of west Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, most parts of Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Punjab and some parts of east Rajasthan. The national capital on Sunday experienced pleasant weather as rains brought the maximum temperature down to 32.4 degrees, four notches below the season's average. According to the MeT department, Safdarjung observatory, figures of which are considered the official for Delhi, recorded traces of rain in the last 24 hours. With light to moderate rains in Uttar Pradesh in the last 24 hours, water level of important rivers has started rising at a number of places. According to the Central Water Commission, Sharda river is flowing above danger mark in Paliakalan, Lakhimpur. Several parts of Punjab and Haryana were being pounded by heavy rain since yesterday. Jind received 100 mm rain, while Narwana and Chhachrauli recorded 90 mm rainfall each. In Punjab, Nabha and Muktsar recorded 60 mm rainfall each. Rajasthan's Udaipur on Sunday received 45 mm rainfall, followed by Kota 41.8 mm and Churu 18 mm. Barmer was the hottest in the state with maximum temperature of 40.2 degrees Celsius, while Jaisalmer recorded a high of 39.7 degrees Celsius.