Rain abates in many parts of north India; relief work on in flood-affected Punjab, Himachal

Rain in north India, which has been ravaged by floods triggered by heavy rain in recent weeks, seems to have slowed down, bringing much-needed breather to many parts, including Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, that require urgent relief work to be carried out for people displaced to camps due to the floods.

Rajasthan, however, continued to receive heavy to very heavy showers, with the Jaipur Meteorological Centre on Sunday issuing a warning of more intense showers in parts of the state.

According to the weather office, a well-marked low-pressure area over the southern part of the state has intensified into a depression, under whose influence, heavy to extremely heavy rain was recorded at isolated places in the southern districts during the past 24 hours.

Officials said the highest rainfall of 210 mm was recorded at Sanchore in Jalore district. The met department said heavy rainfall activity may continue in Barmer, Jalore and Jaisalmer districts on Monday.

Light rain was witnessed in parts of Himachal Pradesh, with Manali receiving 24.2 mm of rainfall since Saturday evening, which is the highest in the state.

Meanwhile, a car carrying three police personnel plunged into the swollen Kshipra river after rain in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain district after skidding off a bridge, officials said.

Rain lashed some parts of Punjab on Sunday but the amount of rainfall received was evidently less compared to previous days. Punjab has been among the worst-hit states by this year's monsoons, with hundreds of villages submerged under water due to the swollen Sutlej, Beas and Ravi rivers and seasonal rivulets.

All schools, colleges and universities that had been closed in view of the floods will reopen for students from September 8, according to the government.

The water level in the Pong dam dropped by around two feet to 1,392.20 feet, though it remained two feet more than its upper limit capacity of 1,390 feet on Sunday evening, officials said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Punjab on Tuesday to take stock of the flood situation, BJP state unit chief Sunil Jakhar said.

Amritsar received 3.7 mm of rain between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm, Ludhiana 2.4 mm, while Patiala received 9.2 mm rain on Sunday. Faridkot, Pathankot and Ferozepur also witnessed rain.

In neighbouring Haryana, Sirsa received a downpour of 49.5 mm, Panipat 10.5 mm, Mewat 1 mm, Ambala 12.1 mm and Hisar received 14.6 mm.

Weather conditions over the Delhi NCR region remained largely dry on Sunday, with only scattered light rain in select areas.

The Ridge recorded 5.7 mm of cumulative rainfall till 8.30 am, while Mayur Vihar and Pitampura reported 16 mm and 1.5 mm, respectively.

The water level in the Yamuna was recorded at 205.56 metres at 8 am at the Old Railway Bridge, which is below the 206 metre evacuation mark, officials said. The IMD has predicted thunderstorms with rain for the city on Monday.

The local met station in Himachal Pradesh has issued yellow warnings of thunderstorms and lightning in isolated areas of the state on Sunday and Monday.

Naina Devi received 16.8 mm of rain, Dhaulakuan 16.5 mm, Nahan 13.1 mm, Rampur Bushahr 12 mm, Kufri 11.6 mm, Kothi 10.4 mm and Bharmour 10 mm while thunderstorms lashed Shimla, Jubbarhatti, Kangra, Kufri and Jot.

Light to moderate rain/thunderstorm with isolated heavy rain is very likely over Jammu division, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, till Sunday and for the next four days in Uttarakhand, the IMD said in its bulletin.