Several parts of the state, especially the southern districts, were drenched as heavy showers that began Wednesday evening continued through Thursday, leaving the Kolhan region vulnerable to flash floods.

Met data revealed that Jamshedpur in Kolhan's East Singhbhum district recorded the highest rainfall of 118.6 mm between 5.30 pm on Wednesday to 5.30 pm on Thursday. Chandil in Seraikela-Kharsawan district and Ghatshila in East Singhbhum also recorded rain of over 80 mm.

Rainfall was moderate, between 30mm and 55mm, in various places, including Chaibasa in West Singhbhum, Ranchi and Ramgarh. Bokaro, Dhanbad, Koderma and several other districts also experienced a good shower show during the past 24 hours.

Capital Ranchi, which recorded around 55mm rain, witnessed flood-like situations in several low-lying localities. Rainwater gushed into several shops on Main Road. At Kanke Road, there was knee-deep water.

There was waterlogging at several places in Jamshedpur. Rainwater entered the basement and parking area of Adarshnagar in Sonari. Several low-lying areas in Mango and Bagbera were also inundated.

Several areas in West Singhbhum district, including Chakradharpur, Chaibasa and Sonua, witnessed flash floods. Water level of both rivers, Subernarekha and Kharkai, rose because of the heavy showers.

There was waterlogging in Dhanbad too. The worst-hit areas were Tapovan Colony, Barmasai and DRM Chowk.

The rain also took a toll on movement of vehicles on NH-33. Sources in the state road construction department said a road diversion, which was under construction, was washed away near Ulidih village at Tamar. As a result, traffic on the Ranchi and Jamshedpur stretch of the highway was hit for over three hours in the afternoon

Adarshnagar Phase 7 where rainwater flooded the basement and parking areas in Jamshedpur on Thursday Bhola Prasad

Weathermen said the well-marked low-pressure system, which originated from the Bay of Bengal and north coastal Odisha, intensified into a depression, triggered heavy rain in the Kolhan region comprising East and West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan districts.

An associated cyclonic circulation extended up to 7.6km above mean sea level tilting southwards.

River Subernarekha in spate at Mango in Jamshedpur on Thursday Bhola Prasad

The sky remained overcast with intermittent rain throughout the day in southern, western and central Jharkhand on Thursday.

Weathermen at IMD's Ranchi Meteorological Centre said the rain would continue overnight posing a threat of flash floods in several areas. "We are expecting heavy rain in isolated places in the next 24 hours. A fresh low-pressure area is developing over north-west Bay of Bengal. This will again result in heavy rain over southern, eastern and western Jharkhand on August 23 and 24," said S.D. Kotal, director of Ranchi Meteorological Centre.

The monsoon trough at mean sea level passed through Bikaner, Ajmer, Jabalpur, Gangetic West Bengal and northeast Bay of Bengal on Thursday.

Vehicles negotiate flooded roads at Sakchi in Jamshedpur on Thursday Bhola Prasad

Weathermen at Patna Meteorological Centre said heavy rain was expected at a few isolated pockets, especially in southwest and northwest Jharkhand, during the next 24 hours.

So far, Jharkhand has received 628.9mm against a normal of 725.3mm, a deficit of 13 per cent. The deficit dropped by two per cent in the last 24 hours.