Heavy rain triggers waterlogging, traffic disruptions across Delhi-NCR

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a 'red' alert for Nagpur and Wardha, an 'orange' alert for Amravati and Yavatmal, and a 'yellow' alert for Akola, Washim, Buldhana, Chandrapur, Bhandara and Gondia districts of the Vidarbha region on Wednesday.

As per the IMD's regional meteorological centre, Nagpur recorded 172.2 mm rainfall in nine hours between 8.30 pm on Tuesday, and 5.30 am on Wednesday.

Some of the state highways in Nagpur have also been closed for traffic due to the overflowing drains and rivers here following heavy rains over the past few days, according to the District Information Office. (PTI)

Modak Sagar Dam, which is amongst the seven lakes catering to Mumbai's potable water demands, filled to capacity and started overflowing during the early hours of Wednesday. This is the first amongst the seven lakes to overflow this season.

Last year, Modak Sagar Dam had overflowed much later on July 26.

Modak Sagar Lake, along with Tansa and Middle Vaitarna lakes, supplies 455 million litres of water to the city every day.

Parts of Northeast India, including Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura, and Manipur are likely to witness isolated heavy rainfall over this week, the IMD forecast stated.

Moreover, during the next seven days, light to moderate rainfall is likely at most places in the Northeast, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted isolated heavy rainfall over parts of East, Central, South Peninsular and Northwest India on Wednesday.

East and Central India: Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha are likely to experience isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall today, which will continue in some places till July 15.

Northwest India: Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad, West Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, East Uttar Pradesh will also experience isolated heavy rainfall on Wednesday, as per the IMD forecast.

South Peninsular India: Coastal Karnataka, Telangana, Kerala and Mahe will also witness isolated heavy rainfall today.

Heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh's Shimla has affected tourist footfall, impacting hotel businesses, news agency PTI reported.

Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) MD Tourism Rajiv Kumar told PTI, "This time, a decline in the number of tourists has been recorded in the first week of July. While occupancy was at 29 per cent in July last year, it has dropped to 21 per cent so far this year... To attract tourists, the tourism department has planned to offer discounts of 20 to 40 per cent from July 15 to September 12." (PTI)

The death toll due to heavy rain-related incidents in Himachal Pradesh rose to 85, as of Tuesday, with 54 fatalities directly attributed to disasters such as landslides, flash floods, and cloudbursts, while 31 deaths were due to other causes including road accidents, news agency ANI reported quoting the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA).

According to the SDMA’s latest cumulative report, the state has faced widespread destruction, with significant damage to life, property, livestock, and infrastructure since last month.

The total monetary loss to both public and private property has crossed Rs. 718 crore. The report also highlighted that 129 people have been injured, 340 homes have been completely destroyed, and over 10,000 animals and poultry have perished across the state. (ANI)

Following continuous downpour in Varanasi, the ghats were submerged under water and temples were inundated as water levels of the Ganga river rose above the danger mark on Wednesday, news agency ANI reported.

As the water levels continue to rise, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has recorded heavy to very heavy rainfall (7-20 cm) at isolated places across West Uttar Pradesh. (ANI)