IMD forecast heavy rains in Mumbai; Yamuna River breaches again
What's the story
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red and orange alerts in Mumbai, Maharashtra, and its adjoining suburbs, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall on Wednesday.
The weather department also predicted the possibility of strong winds in several areas of the state.
Meanwhile, fresh rainfall in Delhi on Tuesday increased the water level in the Yamuna River, breaching the danger mark again.
Context
Why does this story matter?
The IMD has predicted heavy rainfall and thunderstorms in almost 12 states of India amid a drop in mercury.
Mumbai recorded over 255mm of rain in the last 24 hours, leading to waterlogging in several areas.
Delhi, on the other hand, continues to reel under the flood threat as the Yamuna River breached the danger mark multiple times in the last two days.
Details
Red alert in parts of Maharashtra
Several areas of Mumbai and adjoining areas witnessed waterlogging after heavy rains on Tuesday.
The IMD forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall to continue till Friday. It issued a red alert in Raigad and Pune districts and an orange alert in Satara, Kohlapur, Ratnagiri, Palghar, Thane, and Mumbai.
Schools have also been closed in several districts on Wednesday due to extreme weather conditions.
Twitter Post
Watch: Waterlogging due to heavy rainfall in Raigad
#WATCH | Maharashtra: Raigad's Rasayani police station witnessed severe waterlogging due to heavy rainfall.
— ANI (@ANI) July 19, 2023
IMD has issued a ‘Red’ alert for Palghar, Raigad for July 19. An 'Orange' alert has been issued for Thane, Mumbai and Ratnagiri.
(Video source: Raigad SP Somnath Gharge) pic.twitter.com/w1B3GyEdFb
Delhi floods
Yamuna River crosses danger mark again in Delhi
The Yamuna River's water level in Delhi breached the danger mark again on Wednesday amid rains in its upper catchment areas.
Per the Central Water Commission (CWC), the breach was recorded less than 12 hours after it dropped below the threshold.
The CWC data showed the water level reached 205.48 meters at 8:00am and is expected to rise to 205.72 meters by 6:00pm.
Details
Water flow rate from Hathnikung barrage rises marginally: CWC
The water flow rate at the Hathnikund barrage in Haryana also saw a marginal rise on Tuesday, oscillating between 50,000 and 60,000 cusecs. It dropped to around 39,000 cusecs by 7:00am on Wednesday.
The IMD has forecast moderate showers in Delhi on Wednesday and warned of heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh till Saturday.
J&K
MeT Department issues flood warning in Jammu and Kashmir
Furthermore, the IMD issued a flood warning for Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday. It said Katra areas in the Reasi district received 315.4mm of rain in 24 hours—the highest since 1980.
"Warning: Risk of flash floods, mudslides, and landslides has increased due to heavy rain. People are advised to remain cautious and stay away from streams, rivers, and other vulnerable spots," the IMD said.
Gujarat
NDRF teams deployed in Gujarat after heavy rains
In Gujarat, heavy rain pummeled parts of the state, disrupting daily life. The rains resulted in waterlogging in several areas of Surat, causing traffic jams.
Several places experienced waterlogging, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) dispatched its personnel to various districts in response to the heavy rainfall forecast.
Heavy rain will likely continue across the state for the next five days.