Monsoon Fury: Heavy Rains Alert in Maha, Guj; Delhi on Edge As Yamuna Level Rises | Updates

Mumbai saw its wettest day of the year on Saturday as torrential rains swept Maharashtra state and floods swept away cars and livestock in Gujarat state. Meanwhile, Delhi is on high alert due to the disturbing discharge of more than 2 cups of water from the Hatnikund Dam in the Yamuna River.

Here’s everything you need to know about weather updates:

• Gujarat witnessed heavy rains which caused a flood-like situation on Saturday, with Junagadh being the hardest hit. The city received 219 mm of rain in just 8 hours until 4 p.m. Stunning images showed parked cars and cattle swept away in the rushing waters. People waded through deeper waters to reach safer places, and volunteers rescued some from the strong currents. Navsari and Junagadh districts were severely affected, with flooding in residential areas and markets.

• Navsari district of Gujarat faced heavy rains, which disrupted normal life in both urban and rural areas due to floods. Navsari and Jalalpur talukas received heavy rains between 6 am and 4 pm, causing water to flood roads and low-lying areas. A warehouse storing empty gas cylinders was affected by the flow of water, which washed away the LPG containers. In addition, there were traffic jams on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad National Highway near Navsari.
• In the city of Navsari, the father and son duo are swept away in an overgrown drain. The man was rescued, but efforts are underway to track down the son, according to an official. In another incident near Silvassa town in Dadra and Nagar Haveli district, the father and son duo drowned after their car was swept away. The incident happened on Friday night when they were trying to cross a low bridge and got caught in the fast moving water.
• A red alert has been issued for Junagadh, Jamnagar, Devbhumi Dwarka, Kutch, Surat, Valsad, Navsari and Surat. IMD has warned of heavy to very heavy rains, including isolated very heavy rains, in the districts of South Gujarat and Saurashtra of Kutch until Sunday morning. The Met Office said that many other areas in the region will also see heavy to very heavy rains over the next three days.
• Mumbai had its wettest day of the year on Saturday, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) recording 203.7 mm of rain at Santacruz Observatory and 103 mm at Colaba Coastal Observatory in the last 24 hours, ending at 8.20 am earlier in the day, according to A Indian Express a report.
• Heavy rains lashed Mumbai and its suburbs on Saturday, causing waterlogging and traffic jams. Moderate to heavy rain is expected in Mumbai until the end of the weekend due to low pressure and cyclonic circulation over southern Chhattisgarh. The IMD issued a 24-hour orange alert, indicating heavy to very heavy rain on Saturday, and a yellow alert for Sunday, indicating declining precipitation.
• IMD has issued an ‘orange’ alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall in isolated locations in Palghar, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts for Sunday.
• About 110 people stranded by floods have been rescued at Mahagaon Tsil in Yavatmal district, Maharashtra, with the help of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and a Mi-17 V5 helicopter. The city of Yaftal also saw flooded roads and people in the affected areas were moved to safer places. In neighboring Buldana district, approximately 140 individuals have been relocated to safer locations in Kasirgaon village due to floods.
• The Regional Meteorological Center, Nagpur has forecast thunderstorms with lightning and heavy to very heavy rain at isolated locations in Yavatmal, Gadchiroli, Amravati and Washim districts of Vidarbha on Saturday.
• On the third day of the search and rescue operation, the death toll from the landslide in the small village of Ershalwadi in Raikkad district of Maharashtra state reached 27. A National Corrections Front official said a total of 81 people were still missing.
• The department in Raigad district of Maharashtra state has imposed ban orders under section 144 of the Ershalwadi Criminal Procedure Code. The district administration issued an order prohibiting hikers, visitors and other villagers from entering the landslide site in response to the distress tourism surge, which has disrupted relief work.
• Villages in Shahapur, Bhiwandi and Vasai Talukas in Thane and Palghar districts of Maharashtra are on alert due to the imminent flooding of the Tansa Dam caused by continuing rains. Maharashtra State Minister Shamburaj Desai reviewed the flood situation in Thane district, which saw 140-150 per cent average rainfall this season and reported three rain-related deaths in the last three days. The Kalu and Ulhaas rivers flow close to the danger mark, and the dams are nearing full capacity.
• Delhi is on high alert due to the discharge of more than 2 lakhs of water from the Hathnikund Barrage into the Yamuna River. Some parts of Yamuna Khidr may be flooded if the water level rises to 206.7 metres. Revenue Minister Atechi said the government was ready to evacuate, and areas at risk were being alerted through regular announcements. Relief camps are ready for people to stay if needed. She added that Prime Minister Arvind Kejriwal is monitoring the situation closely.
• Due to heavy rains, the pilgrimage to the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, which is connected via the Kartarpur Pass, has been suspended for the next two days. The decision was taken based on an assessment by Deputy Commissioner of Gurdaspur Himanshu Agarwal and BSF officials.
• Most areas in Odisha received light to moderate rains. IMD issued a yellow warning on July 23 (Sunday) and heavy rain is forecast for one or two places in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Kandamal, Bodh, Bolangir, Sonipur, Bargarh and Sambalpur districts.
• The IMD expects a low pressure area to form over the Bay of Bengal off southern Odisha – northern Andhra Pradesh on July 24. Rain or thunderstorms are likely in Odisha due to cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal. Monsoon rains will help sow rice crops but may cause waterlogging, traffic congestion and landslides in some areas. On July 23, heavy rains are expected in certain areas.
• Heavy to very heavy rains have been forecast by the Indian Meteorological Department in parts of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand till 25 July.
• Heavy rains and cloudbursts caused damage to roads, houses and shops at multiple places in Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand, however, no casualties were reported in the rain related incidents. Uttarkashi District Magistrate Abhishek Rohilla monitored the situation and coordinated relief efforts. Among the affected sites is a tourist resort and a residential school for girls. State Disaster Response Force personnel helped manage the situation. Landslides also blocked the Yamunotri National Highway in various places. In Purola, landslides and cloudbursts buried many vehicles, and affected personnel were moved to safer areas. In addition, the region’s power supply was disrupted due to heavy rains.
• At least 40 passengers got lucky when their bus got stuck in the flooded Kotawali River while on its way to Haridwar from Rabidiha in Bahrash, Uttar Pradesh. JCB machines were used to rescue passengers as sensational images showed the bus stranded in whirlpools. The rapidly flowing water almost reached the windows, and occupants were seen escaping from the windows for safety in an excavator bucket under police supervision. The accident occurred due to heavy rains, which caused the river water level to rise along the Najibabad-Haridwar road.
• A cloudburst in Ladakh caused flash floods, submerging several parts of the town of Leh and causing debris to flow into the main market area, resulting in some damage to buildings. However, there were no reports of injuries. Officials said rescue and rehabilitation work was continuing and the army was involved in flood relief operations to help stranded civilians and remove mud and debris from residential buildings. The Dalai Lama’s program in Leh has been postponed due to the situation. Tourists, including foreigners, also helped clean up the main market area. The Ladakh Police urged the public, civic associations and volunteers to support the rescue effort for an early resumption of normal life and traffic regulations.