Rains disrupt life, rivers in spate in N India (Roundup)

Most of north India on Thursday witnessed heavy rains which brought some relief from humidity, but sent water levels to dangerous levels in many rivers. The downpour also led to water-logging, causing trouble for commuters.

Apart from Delhi-NCR, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, parts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Chandigarh, Punjab and Rajasthan also witnessed heavy rain.

The weather office has forecast more rain till Saturday in these areas.

"Heavy to very heavy rains are expected for the next two days in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh," an IMD official told IANS.

Due to heavy rain in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the water level in Hathnikund barrage in Haryana's Yamunanagar district increased alarmingly forcing the authorities to sound an alert.

Residents of villages along the Yamuna river have been advised not to go near the river or let their animals venture near it, a government official in Chandigarh told IANS.

Landslides that blocked roads were reported from parts of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. In Himachal Pradesh, all the major rivers and their tributaries were in spate.

The national capital was in no better state after a few hours of heavy downpour.

The traffic in Delhi was affected badly. Many areas were water-logged at Vivek Vihar underpass, Seemapuri underpass and under the Ghazipur flyover, from Apsara border to Shahdara, Seemapuri to Apsara border and Khaira Mor to Bahadurgarh Bus Stand (all in east Delhi) and Najafgarh (west Delhi).

Traffic was also affected from Naraina T Point to Loha Mandi (west Delhi) on Girdhari Lal Goswami Marg. The police requested people to avoid these stretches.

A high alert has also been issued in Uttar Pradesh.

People of Noida, Ghaziabad and other border areas of Uttar Pradesh were the worst sufferers with water-logging being reported from these areas.

A road caved in inGhaziabad's Vasundhara following heavy rain.

The elevated road in Ghaziabad, connecting National Highway-24 to Raj Nagar Extension, was completely water-logged making it difficult for vehicles to pass.

It was the first drainage test for the road, inaugurated by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in March.

In Uttar Pradesh's Agra, a number of areas were flooded, nearly cutting off several neighbourhoods after heavy rainfall.

--IANS

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