Heavy rains lash western, central India; Srinagar-Leh highway closed

Heavy rains lashed western and central parts of India on Sunday while a cloudburst in Jammu and Kashmir has led to the closure of the arterial SrinagarLeh national highway cutting off the Kashmir Valley from Ladakh and rendering the Baltal base camp for the Amarnath Yatra inaccessible reported the PTISeveral states in the country are currently witnessing heavy rains during the ongoing monsoon in IndiaIndian Army personnel were deployed at an inundated residential area in Maharashtras Pune amid heavy downpours during the ongoing Monsoon and water discharge from the Khadakwasla dam officials saidIn view of the discharge of water from Khadakwasla Mulshi Pavana and other dams in the Pune region Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde directed authorities to be alert and shift people from dangerous zones to safer places with the assistance of NDRF SDRF and the Army if needed as per the PTIOfficials of Maharashtras irrigation department said 35000 cusecs of water was discharged from the Khadakwasla dam following heavy rainfall in the catchment areas in the past fortnight The ghat section in Pune district received heavy rainfall in the last two daysAccording to the PTI the death toll in last weeks landslides in Keralas Wayanad and Himachal Pradesh rose to 221 and 11 respectively while more than 370 people including pilgrims stranded on the rainravaged trek route to Uttarakhands Kedarnath were evacuatedSo far more than 10000 people have been rescued from Kedarnath Bhimbali and Gaurikund The trek route to Kedarnath suffered extensive damage as a result of a cloudburst in Junglechatti near Lincholi last Wednesday the PTI reportedMeanwhile in Jammu and Kashmir some buildings suffered damage while the SrinagarLeh national highway was closed following a cloudburst in Ganderbal district that triggered a flash floodThe highways closure has cut off the Kashmir Valley from Ladakh while the Baltal base camp for Amarnath yatra has also been rendered inaccessibleThe death toll due to flash floods triggered by cloudbursts in three districts of Himachal Pradesh increased to 11 with the recovery of two more bodies from the Mandi districtOver 40 people are still missing after a series of cloudbursts occurred in Kullus Nirmand Sainj and Malana Mandis Padhar and Shimlas Rampur subdivision on the night of July 31 and wreaked havocThe rescue operations are still underway and sniffer dogs drones and other equipment are also being used to locate the missing people According to officials 410 rescuers from the Army NDRF SDRF ITBP CISF Himachal Pradesh Police and home guards are involved in the huntA total of 87 roads are still closed in the state The local meteorological office has warned of heavy showers thunderstorms and lightning at isolated places in Himachal Pradesh till August 8Intermittent rains lashed parts of Himachal Pradesh with Hamirpur receiving the highest rainfall at 54 mm since Friday evening followed by Berthin and Dharamshala at 19 mm each Neri 11 mm Kangra 97 mm Kukumseri 96 mm Sundernagar 81 mm Manali and Chamba 6 mm each and Bajaura 5 mm the PTI reported on SundayHeavy rainfall in Jharkhand has led to the swelling of a couple of rivers in the state forcing the East Singhbhum district administration to issue an alert for people residing in the lowlying areas The water level in Kharkai and Swarnarekha rivers has been rising for the last couple of days due to incessant rains in the stateAccording to an official release the water level in the Swarnarekha river was at 11658 metres at 9 am on Sunday against the danger mark of 12150 metres The water level of the Kharkhai was flowing at 12683 metres against the red mark of 129 metres it addedAround 3500 cusecs of water was released into the Swarnarekha river from the Chandil Dam in the adjoining SeraikelaKharswan district of JharkhandPeople residing in the catchment areas have been asked not to venture out near the rivers and duly follow the directives issued by the administrationIn neighbouring West Bengal rainfall occurred at most places in all the districts with a few places in Birbhum witnessing heavy showersThe Damodar Valley Corporation DVC released 12 lakh cusecs of water from the Panchet and Maithon dams along the JharkhandWest Bengal border on Sunday morning after heavy discharge of water from Tenughat upstream A total of 90000 cusecs of water was released from Panchet and Maithon on SaturdaySeveral south Bengal districts including Purba and Paschim Bardhaman Birbhum Paschim and Purba Medinipur Bankura Hooghly and Howrah have been impacted by the release of water by DVCThe India Meteorological Department has warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall in eastern northeastern and northern parts of the country on Monday while isolated places in Bihar Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh are likely to witness thunderstorms accompanied by lightningwith PTI inputs