Wednesday, 18 September 2024
Wednesday, 18 September 2024
In a dramatic turn of events across India, relentless monsoon rains have wreaked havoc in several states, with Gujarat being one of the hardest hit. Over the last 24 hours, parts of Gujarat experienced heavy to very heavy downpours, leading to severe flooding in low-lying areas of Navsari and Valsad districts.
The rising water levels of the monsoon rivers forced authorities to evacuate hundreds of residents to safer locations in Gujarat. The situation in Morbi district has taken a dire turn, as the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is currently conducting a search operation to locate seven individuals who were swept away along with their tractor trolley while attempting to cross a flooded causeway.
Meanwhile, in West Bengal, a cyclonic circulation over the north Bay of Bengal is fuelling vigorous monsoon conditions, leading to predictions of very heavy rainfall in several south Bengal districts, including South and North 24 Parganas, East and West Midnapore, and more.
In Tripura, the situation has escalated to a full-blown crisis, with floods claiming the lives of at least 26 individuals and displacing over 1.17 lakh people since August 19. The state is grappling with an estimated Rs 15,000 crore in damages to infrastructure, properties, and crops.
Delhi has not been spared from the monsoon's fury either. The capital experienced rainfall on August 23 that caused severe traffic disruptions and waterlogging in several areas, leading to three tragic rain-related deaths, including that of a 15-year-old boy.
Adding to the monsoon mayhem, a depression over northwest Madhya Pradesh and adjoining east Rajasthan has intensified into a deep depression, prompting the IMD to issue warnings of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in parts of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Goa, and Maharashtra over the next few days. The situation is further exacerbated by rough to very rough sea conditions anticipated off the coasts of Gujarat, Pakistan, and north Maharashtra until August 30. The Banswara-Udaipur highway in Rajasthan was closed after heavy rains.
As the monsoon continues to unleash its wrath, the country braces for more turbulent weather, with authorities on high alert to manage the unfolding crises across multiple states. The scale and intensity of the rains underscore the unpredictable nature of India's monsoon, a force of nature that can bring both life and destruction in equal measure.
