Cyclone Komen crosses Bangladesh coast
The weather department has warned of heavy rains in the next couple of days in West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha.
Eastern states like West Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand are bracing up for heavy to very heavy rain as a deep depression over northeastern Bay of Bengal on Thursday intensified into cyclonic storm - Komen. The cyclone which was centred around 300 kms east-southeast of Kolkata on Thursday afternoon moved northward and crossed Bangladesh coast between Hatia and Sandwip around 7:30 pm. The cyclone is likely to move further towards West Bengal and Northeast India bringing heavy to very heavy rain in the region before losing strength. In the west, states like Gujarat and Rajasthan are facing a flood-like situation as abnormal monsoon rain continues to lash the region.
The weather department has warned of heavy rain in the next couple of days in West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha. Nearly 4 lakh people are already affected by floods in five districts of Odisha and more rain in the region is likely to add to the woes. "Rainfall would occur at most places, with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely heavy at isolated places over the Gangetic West Bengal on July 30-31 and heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places on August 1," IMD's Cyclone Warning Division said.
"Jharkhand will also witness heavy to very heavy rains on July 31 and August 1. Squally wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph would prevail along and off West Bengal and north Odisha coasts during next 48 hours," it added.
Odisha issues fresh flood alert , death toll at 3
The Odisha government on Thursday issued a fresh flood alert in the wake of cyclone Komen which is expected to worsen the flood situation in five districts where three persons have died and about 4 lakh people have been affected. "Keeping the possible impact of cyclone Komen in mind, the district collectors have been directed to remain alert to meet any eventuality," Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) G V V Sarma said.
Quoting the IMD forecast, Sarma said the northern districts of Odisha are expected to experience heavy rainfall under the influence of Komen in the next 2-3 days. Sarma said that bodies of all three persons killed in the flood were retrieved by personnel of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force.
With all major rivers like Subarnarekha, Budhabalang and Baitarani flowing above the danger mark, a massive relief and rescue operation is underway in Keonjhar, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj, Balasore and Bhadrak districts of Odisha.
West Bengal prepares for Cyclone Komen
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who was on a five-day official trip to London, had to cut short her visit and return following a cyclone alert sounded by the Met department. The state government has sounded a high alert in south Bengal following forecast of strong wind coupled with heavy to very heavy rain due to Cyclone Komen.
"The state government has taken all precautionary measures and is ready to tackle any situation due to gusty wind and heavy rains. We have already sounded high alert," state Irrigation Minister Rajib Banerjee said. Heavy rain also might occur at isolated places over Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts of sub Himalayan West Bengal, the weather department said, adding the sea could even turn very rough and high along West Bengal coast.
Flood-like situation in Gujarat
Incessant rain caused by a deep depression lashed parts of northern and Kutch regions of Gujarat resulting in flood like situation. At least 22 people have been killed in various rain-related incidents in the state.
More than 1,500 people were evacuated in Ahmedabad to safer locations due to sudden floods in the Sabarmati river after water was released from the Dharoi dam. Sabarmati river's water level dramatically rose after 2.5 lakh cusec of water was released into the river from the Dharoi dam in Mehsana district in north Gujarat due to heavy rainfall there
Although the situation is now improving with the water level receding in region, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) are still operating in the worst affected Banaskantha and Kutch districts. Work is on to restore rail and road traffic which was hit due to rains. Power supply was also disrupted in several areas.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) rescued four people stuck in flood waters in Surendranagar district on Thursday. IAF's MI-17 V5 helicopters air lifted four people in Kuda village of Surendranagar district. Over 500kg of food packets were also dropped in the inaccessible areas of the district by IAF's rescue choppers.
Rajasthan pummeled by heavy rain
Several districts in Rajasthan are also facing a flood-like situation with abnormal rain lashing the desert state. Districts like Jalore and Barmer are worst hit. The highest rainfall was recorded in Mt Abu (444 mm), followed by Gudhamalani (331 mm) in Barmer and Raniwada (320 mm) in Jalore. However, with the water level now receding, the situation has improved in the last 24 hours.