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The southwest monsoon remained weak across large parts of the country on Sunday, with heavy rain limited to Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal
and the northeastern states. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast more heavy rainfall in these regions over the next few days, while rain activity is likely to remain weak across northwest, west-central and south Peninsular India. The IMD has issued a red alert for Uttarakhand, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall. It has also predicted isolated heavy to very heavy rain over northeast India, West Bengal and Bihar during the next two to three days. Eastern Uttar Pradesh is likely to receive heavy rainfall over the next four to five days, PTI news agency reported.
Heavy Rain Triggers Landslides in Uttarakhand
Heavy rain caused landslides in several parts of Uttarakhand on Sunday, blocking 126 roads, including two national highways.
According to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), the Rishikesh-Yamunotri National Highway has remained closed for the past three days after a landslide near Syanachatti. Repair work is underway to reopen the route.
In Dehradun, a woman was injured after a wall collapsed, while seven families were shifted from their homes as a precaution.
Himachal Pradesh also received light to moderate rainfall. Jogindernagar recorded 60 mm of rain in the last 24 hours, while Manali, Sarahan, Rohru and Shimla also received showers. In Shimla, debris and a fallen tree blocked the Cart Road for a few hours, affecting traffic.
West Bengal continued to receive heavy rain, especially in the sub-Himalayan districts. The IMD said heavy rainfall is likely to continue till July 14.
Delhi, UP and Rajasthan See Dry Weather
While the hill states received heavy rain, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan remained largely dry. Delhi recorded maximum temperatures between 35°C and 36°C. The IMD said there is no major change expected in the city's maximum temperature over the next seven days.
Uttar Pradesh also remained rain-free on Sunday. The weather office has forecast light rain and thunderstorms at a few places in eastern Uttar Pradesh over the next 24 hours. The state has recorded a 17 per cent rainfall deficit this monsoon season, receiving 158.8 mm of rain against the normal 190.9 mm between June 1 and July 12.
Rajasthan also witnessed dry weather. Sri Ganganagar was the hottest place in the state at 41.7°C. The IMD has forecast light rain in parts of Jaipur, Bharatpur and the Shekhawati region over the next few days, along with strong dust-laden winds in western Rajasthan.
Meanwhile, the United States' National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) last week announced that El Niño conditions over the tropical Pacific Ocean could intensify in the coming months and become one of the most intense events in history.
(With inputs from agencies)
