Page 10 - Flood

63,000 remain affected by floods in Assam, one new death reported

The flood situation in Assam improved as the number of affected people came down to over 63,000 on Wednesday, an official report said. However, one fresh death due to drowning was reported, taking the toll of this year's floods to nine so far, according to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) report. A total of 63,606 people, including 30,354 men, 24,868 women and 8,384 children are reeling under the impact of floods in 14 districts of the state. The number of affected was 88,911 in 16 districts on the previous day. Brahmaputra River was flowing above the danger mark in Dhubri, Tezpur and Nematighat, while its tributaries were showing a receding trend in other areas. Barpeta, Chirang, Darrang, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Kamrup, Kamrup Metro, Lakhimpur, Majuli, Morigaon, Nagaon, Nalbari and Sivasagar are the affected districts. Golaghat is the worst affected district with 27,526 people reeling under the floods, followed by 15,137 in Sivasagar, and 14,892 in ...

Heavy rains create flood-like situation in Jammu, rivers breach danger mark

Traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway was suspended, while authorities ordered the closure of schools in Doda and Kishtwar districts as heavy rains lashed the Jammu region, creating a flood-like situation at many places, officials said on Wednesday. They said rivers and rivulets in many places, especially in Kathua and Samba districts, have reached close to or crossed the flood alert level. The weather office has predicted more rains in the region. Heavy rains lashed wide parts of Jammu division overnight, triggering mudslides and landslides at several places along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway in Ramban district, forcing authorities to suspend traffic, the officials said. "The highway is still blocked and people are advised not to travel till the restoration work is completed," a traffic department official said. The officials said the traffic on the Jammu-Pathankot highway was also diverted in Kathua district where two pillars of a bridge suffered damages due to f

Advisory issued in Gurdaspur after water released in Punjab's Ujh river

The district administration in Punjab's Gurdaspur on Wednesday issued an advisory, asking people living near the Ravi river to remain vigilant after 2.60 lakh cusecs water was released in Ujh river. The Ujh river in Jammu, after crossing Pathankot, merges into Ravi river in Makora Patan in Gurdaspur district. Gurdaspur Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Aggarwal said 2.60 lakh cusecs water was released in Ujh river due to heavy rains in hilly areas. The administration has also evacuated people living near low-lying areas and on the banks of Ravi river, he said, adding a holiday was also declared in some schools. Aggarwal said the district administration is fully prepared to deal with any situation. Any information about flood-like situation can be given on the toll-free number 1800-180-1852 of the control room of the district administration, he said. Several districts of Punjab and Haryana were battered by the recent heavy downpour that has left normal life paralysed and flooded vast t

Yamuna waters reach Taj Mahal, no threat to monument, says ASI

The swollen Yamuna river has reached the walls of the Taj Mahal here, a development only witnessed in 1978 and 2010, even as the Archaeological Survey of India said the increased water levels pose no threat to the iconic monument. According to officials, the water level crossed the 'medium flood level' of 499 feet. It reached 499.97 feet here on Tuesday due to which the water touched the walls of the Taj Mahal and submerged a garden behind it. An official of the ASI's Agra Circle said the main mausoleum is designed on a raised structure which stands on 'Chameli farsh' and is built on a foundation of 42 wells supported by a structure of sal woods. "The Yamuna waters touched the walls of the Taj Mahal in 2010 and prior to that in the year 1978. In the 1978 flood, water had entered rooms in the monument's basement," Prince Vajpayee, conservation assistant at Taj Mahal, told PTI. "This year as well, the water has reached the Taj Mahal, but it is not a threat to the monument. The main

Surge in snake sightings as floodwaters recede, govt sets up response team

With a surge in snake sightings across Delhi as floodwaters recede, the city government on Tuesday decided to establish a rapid response team to effectively handle the situation. According to an official, this is the first time such a team has been assembled, reflecting the severity of the recent flooding as the swollen Yamuna River reached farther into the city than it has in over four decades. Environment Minister Gopal Rai said the rapid response team will be operational in all flood-affected districts of Delhi, ensuring comprehensive coverage in addressing the snake-related concerns. To provide immediate assistance and streamline the reporting of snake incidents, the forest department has introduced a dedicated helpline number, 1800118600. Over the past few days, there have been multiple reports of snakes emerging from houses, posing a risk to residents. Concerns have been raised about snake encounters near flood relief camps, a statement said. An official informed PTI that mo

Homes washed away, Delhi flood victims stare at battle to stay afloat

They survived Delhi's devastating floods but now stare at the challenges of the aftermath -- rebuilding a home, restarting a life! Aruna Devi (35) lived in the Yamuna Khadar area before the water of the swollen river came gushing in last week, sweeping away the modest structure she called home and destroying her children's books. The family was evacuated to a relief camp, and as the water recedes it prepares to come back. Their immediate challenge is that one of them has fallen sick, but their longterm challenges are more daunting. "I am worried for the education of my children," says Aruna, who worked in agriculture fields. "The flood washed away their books and other essentials. When I went back to get them, the police did not let me. I do not know what I shall do." The consequences of the floods have been devastating with over 26,000 people being evacuated from their homes. The waters inundated key landmarks, roads, monuments and residential areas. The estimated loss of property

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Taking selfies near Yamuna, Hindon can be fatal: Noida DM urges caution

Gautam Buddh Nagar District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma on Monday urged people to take caution over the next 72 hours and stay away from venturing near Yamuna and Hindon rivers, saying activities like taking selfies can turn fatal. Verma said the level of water in Yamuna has come down in the past two days but the weather department has issued an alert for the next 72 hours predicting rain in mountains in the north and in the adjoining state of Haryana. In view of this situation, there is also a chance of water level rising in Yamuna and Hindon. The district administration has issued a warning for the next 72 hours. It is advisable that people and villagers living near the rivers take caution and stay at safe locations, he said. In any case, people should not try to go into the rivers or near the rivers. On Sunday, we received information that some people tried to take bath in flooded areas and also tried to take selfies. This could be fatal. I appeal to every resident of Gautam ..

Himachal Pradesh govt enhances relief aid for disaster-hit families

In a relief to the victims of the recent landslides, flash floods and cloudburst triggered by heavy monsoon rains in the state, the Himachal Pradesh government Monday enhanced the compensation for several categories. Financial assistance will be provided to the families affected by landslides, flash floods and cloudbursts which occurred from July 7 to 15, under special norms, said Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in a statement issued here. Sukhu had announced assistance of Rs 1 lakh to affected families on July 11, saying the government will make changes to the relief manual for enhancing the relief aid. According to the manual, each disaster victim is granted Rs 5,000 as an aid at present. The compensation enhancement on Monday covered damage to houses, dhabas, shops, and agriculture and horticulture lands. In view of the unprecedented tragedy, the financial aid of Rs 12,500 and Rs 10,000 for partial damage to pucca and kutcha houses respectively has been increased to Rs on

Over Rs 27 cr released for repair of flood-affected govt schools in Punjab

Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains Monday released a grant of Rs 27.77 crore to repair the flood-hit government schools in the state. Each school will receive an amount ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 30,000, said an official release. Mann said Rs 20 crore has been allocated for primary schools and Rs 7.77 crore for secondary schools. With this amount, school heads and management committees will undertake maintenance, cleanliness, painting and other necessary repairs in the schools. A special survey is being conducted regarding damages caused by floods in government schools of the state, which will help in allocating funds according to the needs of the affected schools for their renovation and maintenance, he said. Several districts of Punjab and Haryana were battered by heavy downpour last week that has left normal life paralysed and flooded vast tracts of residential and agricultural land. Though the floodwaters have receded in many areas of Punjab and Haryana, authoritie

Jal Shakti dept suffers Rs 1,411 cr loss due to floods: Himchal Dy CM

Himachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri on Monday said the Jal Shakti Department has suffered losses to the tune of Rs 1,411 crore due to floods and landslides caused by heavy rains in the hill state. He said 5,203 drinking water schemes, 1,237 irrigation schemes and 55 sewerage schemes were affected while 101 flood control works were damaged. Agnihotri, who holds the portfolio of Jal Shakti Vibhag, said while 4,623 schemes have been restored so far, it will take time to fix all of them. "We have been able to restore them because of the passionate and steely spirits of our employees," he said. "I appreciate the work being done by the employees and officers of the department for the restoration of drinking water and sewerage schemes in difficult circumstances," he added. Agnihotri said the government's aim was to provide relief to the affected people at the earliest. So far, 118 people have died in rain-related incidents and road accidents in the state since the on

Heavy rains swamp US again as flash flooding claims 4 lives in Pennsylvania

Heavy rains pounded an already saturated Northeast on Sunday for the second time in a week, spurring another round of flash flooding, cancelled flights, and power outages. In Pennsylvania, a sudden flash flood late Saturday afternoon claimed at least four lives. Officials in Bucks County's Upper Makefield Township in Pennsylvania said torrential rains occurred around 5.30 pm on Saturday in the Washington Crossing area, sweeping away several cars. At least four people died and three others, including a 9-month-old boy and a 2-year-old girl, remained missing, authorities said. Other parts of the East Coast were experiencing heavy rain, including Vermont. Authorities there said landslides could become a problem on Sunday as the state copes with more rain following days of flooding. My team and I continue to monitor the situation as more rain falls in Vermont. There are flash flood warnings throughout the state today. Remain vigilant and be prepared, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott said. Sund

Atishi asks officials to expedite water drainage from sections of Ring Road

Delhi Public Works Department Minister Atishi directed officials on Sunday to expedite the process of water drainage and road cleaning from sections of Ring Road to ensure a smooth traffic flow. Atishi visited the flood-affected spots at Chandgiram Akhada, Monastery Market, Nigambodh Ghat, Hanuman Mandir, Shantivan, Rajghat, ITO and Sachivalaya Road on Ring Road. During her inspection, she observed that several areas from Chandgiram Akhada to ISBT-Kashmere Gate were facing waterlogging issues and there was also mud on the roads due to the flood caused by heavy rain over the last few days. Atishi directed the officials present to expedite the process of water drainage and road cleaning from the section of the Ring Road to ensure a smooth traffic flow and provide relief to the people of Delhi. She also directed them to work round the clock to remove the flood water from Ring Road as the road is very important for central Delhi and serves as a crucial route for lakhs of vehicles daily

Yamuna breaches 'low flood' mark in Agra; relief preparedness stepped up

Officials stepped up relief preparedness as the water level in Yamuna rose to 495.8 feet here on Sunday, slightly breaching the 'low flood level' mark. As the river started swelling, it inundated nearby roads and a crematorium in Tajganj and touched the wall of the Itmad-ud-daulah monument. The Yamuna Kinara Road leading to the Taj Mahal here got waterlogged due to backflow from drains falling into the flooded river. District Magistrate Navneet Chahal inspected the low-lying areas in Agra city and directed the officials concerned to make proper arrangements in case a flood-like situation arises. Speaking to PTI, Yashvardhan Srivastav, ADM (Finance and Revenue) said, "The water level in Yamuna was 495.8 feet by 4 pm on Sunday. The low-flood level of this river in Agra is 495 feet. The medium flood level here is at 499 feet and high flood level at 508 feet." We are prepared to tackle a flood-like situation if it arises. Posts have been created and boatmen and divers are on alert. Lo

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Delhi-Noida floods: NDRF rescues cows, dogs, bull worth Rs 1 crore

The National Disaster Response Force has rescued more than 900 animals, including cows, dogs, goats, rabbits and a bull worth Rs 1 crore, from the flood-affected areas of Delhi and Noida during the last few days, it said on Saturday. A spokesperson for the federal contingency force said its rescuers undertook a "significant" and "challenging evacuation" in Sector-135 of Noida, neighbouring Delhi, from where it rescued 221 livestock such as cows, calves and goats, dogs and rabbits and "India's number one bull, named Pritam". The bull is worth Rs 1 crore, the force said in a Twitter post. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 16 teams in Delhi, apart from a few others in the Delhi and the National Capital Region. The NDRF spokesperson said its personnel rescued 1,530 people from the flood-affected areas of Delhi and evacuated 6,345 people along with 912 livestock. These figures pertain to NDRF operations undertaken over the last two-three days in Delhi-NCR, where t

Delhi CM deputes ministers to ensure proper facilities at relief camps

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday held a Cabinet meeting and deputed ministers at six flood-affected districts to ensure proper facilities at relief camps set up by the Delhi government. Orders will be issued shortly to officers to report, and coordinate and cooperate with ministers to ensure proper facilities such as food, water, toilets and electricity at flood relief camps, Minister for Irrigation and Flood Control Saurabh Bharadwaj said. PWD Minister Atishi will look after facilities at camps in the North East Delhi district, while Gopal Rai has been deputed for Shahdara, Kailash Gahlot for South East Delhi and Imran Hussain for the Central Delhi district, he said. Bharadwaj will look after the camps in the East Delhi district.

Several Delhi roads opened as Yamuna floodwater recedes, says official

Several roads in the national capital which were shut for traffic movement were opened on Saturday as the Yamuna floodwaters receded from the roads, officials said on Saturday. However, traffic regulations are still in effect on some key road stretches. According to an advisory issued by the traffic police on Saturday, Yamuna's water level dropped to 207.67 metres at 8 am on Saturday, reducing the water level on roads. As of 11 am, restrictions for traffic movement were relaxed on some roads, while a few roads remained shut, it said. Boulevard Road - slip road - service road - left turn under Yudhishthira Setu - Ring Road, Chandgi Ram Akhara to Mukarba Chowk Carriageway and Chandgi Ram Akhara to IP College both Carriageways have been opened for the traffic movement, the advisory stated. Bhairon Marg from Mathura Road to Ring Road carriageway, Vikas Marg from ITO to Laxmi Nagar both carriageways, Nishad Raj Marg from Shanti Van to Geeta Colony both carriageways have also been opene

Delhi floods caused under conspiracy by BJP: AAP's Saurabh Bharadwaj

Delhi Cabinet minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Saturday alleged that flood in the city were caused by the the BJP-led Centre and Haryana government wilfully releasing water towards the national capital. Addressing a press conference here, Bharadwaj said it has not rained in Delhi in the last 3-4 days, yet still the water level in Yamuna reached 208.66 metres. "The water from Hathnikund Barrage is released from three canals -- Western Canal, Eastern Canal and Yamuna. As part of a conspiracy, between July 9 and 13, water was released from Yamuna canal only towards Delhi. There was no water released through the Western and Eastern Canal," he claimed. Similar charges were made by him and Delhi Chief Ministr Arvind Kejriwal on Friday, even as the city government butted heads with Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena over a broken regulator that allegedly caused inundation on the Vikas Marg. There was no immediate reaction from the BJP on fresh allegation made by the Aam aadmi Party on Saturday.

Noida floods: Stranded to die, 500 workers rescued from illegal farmhouses

Among the thousands of people impacted by the floods along Yamuna banks in Noida this week, there were hundreds who were hired as help in farmhouses built illegally in the low-lying areas near the river, officials said. Government officials said the workers and staffers of the farmhouses thousands in number were not moved to safety in time even as advisories were issued well before the area got inundated. These farmhouses are located near Nagli Wajidpur village in Sector 135 on the other side of the pushta (embankment) towards the Yamuna some two kms off the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway. "More than 500 such people were evacuated on Thursday and Friday from the farmhouses. As water entered the ground level, many of those stranded, including women, had taken shelter on second storey of the farmhouses. They carried some food and water with them which had started to run out," an officer engaged in rescue and relief measures told PTI. Many of these stranded people were discovered o