Incessant rain lashes Jharkhand

Ranchi, Sep 16 (PTI) Incessant rain lashed Jharkhand with the weather department saying that a red alert of extremely heavy rain for Garhwa, Palamu, Latehar and Simdega districts has been issued for Monday.

Besides, parts of Chatra, Lohardaga, Gumla, Khunti and West Singhbhum districts may experience heavy to very heavy rainfall today.

The local MeT office predicted respite from the incessant rainfall, which has been lashing Jharkhand for the past three days, during the next 48 hours.

Due to the downpour, mainly in Chatra, Garhwa and Latehar districts, several culverts and diversions were washed away on Sunday. Besides, the rainfall coupled with strong wind also damaged standing paddy crops in many areas, farmers said.

Tandwa in Chatra district received the state’s highest rainfall of 163 mm on Monday, while Maithon in Dhanbad registered 129.4mm and Gurabanda in East Singhbhum recorded 118.4mm rainfall, according to Ranchi Meteorological Centre.

The water level is fast reaching the danger mark in many rivers and dams of the state.

Jharkhand Health minister Banna Gupta said that the water level of Swarnarekha and Kharkai rivers reached close to the danger mark on Monday due to continuous rain for three days.

Gupta on X asked the deputy commissioner of East Singhbhum, “Being vigilant about the situation, identify such victims and shift them to a safe place and also make arrangements for their medicines, accommodation and food.”

At the Adityapur bridge site in East Singhbhum district, the water level was recorded above the danger mark. The current level at the site was registered at 129.07 metres against the danger limit of 129 meters, while the same at Mango bridge site was recorded at 118.84 metres against the danger limit of 121.5 metres, Gupta said in a statement.

Abhishek Anand, in charge of Ranchi Meteorological Centre, said, “Red alert of extremely heavy rainfall has been issued for the northwest and southwest parts comprising districts of Garhwa, Palamu, Latehar and Simdega for today.”

He urged the people, particularly those living in low-lying areas, of the northwest and southwest areas to be on alert.

Anand said that the system was gradually moving towards the west and it is expected to cross Jharkhand in the next 24 hours.

“Widespread rainfall expected on Monday. There will be a decline in rainfall on Tuesday. Light to moderate rainfall is expected in parts of Jharkhand on Tuesday,” he said.

Jharkhand has recorded 867.8 mm rainfall from June 1 to September 15 against the normal rainfall of 927.9mm rainfall, a deficit of six per cent, during the period.