Mumbai Rains, Weather Highlights: Orange alerts in Mumbai, few other Maharashtra districts, as heavy rains flood parts of city

The southwest monsoon has now covered the entire state of Himachal Pradesh and is expected to remain active over the coming weeks, with intermittent spells of heavy rainfall likely across several districts, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Speaking to ANI on Thursday, Shobhit Katiyar, Head of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Himachal Pradesh, said the monsoon fully covered the state on July 1 after a gradual advancement over the past few days.

"The monsoon has now covered the entire state as of July 1. During the last two to three days, rainfall activity has remained widespread across all districts, with heavy rainfall particularly reported from Chamba and Kangra districts," Katiyar said.

He further stated that the monsoon is expected to remain active over the state for nearly the next 45 days, although rainfall activity may witness a brief weakening on July 4 before intensifying again thereafter. He also informed that, in view of the heavy rainfall forecast, Orange Alerts have been issued for several districts across the state. ANI

Heavy rain lashed several parts of Odisha, including capital city Bhubaneswar, on Thursday under the influence of a low-pressure area formed over the Bay of Bengal, IMD officials said.

Jagatsinghpur received 57.2 mm of rainfall, followed by Dhenkanal 46 mm, Bhubaneswar 28.9 mm, Kendrapara 27 mm and Baripada 20 mm of rainfall on Thursday.

Due to the continuous heavy rainfall in various areas of Kalimela block of Malkangiri district for the last three days, landslides have occurred on the Sitapali Ghaat road of Manamakonda panchayat, causing disruption in traffic movement, an official said Bhubaneswar IMD centre Director Manoram Mohanty said due to the low pressure normal to heavy rainfall is expected to lash several parts of Odisha during the next few days.

Under the influence of cyclonic circulation over northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Odisha coast, a low pressure area has formed over northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Odisha-West Bengal coasts, Mohanty said. PTI

The southwest monsoon continued to lash Himachal Pradesh on Thursday, pushing the weather-related death toll to nine, while severely disrupting road connectivity, electricity supply and drinking water systems across several districts.

According to the latest State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) situation report, the cumulative damage to public infrastructure has been estimated at Rs69.65 lakh.

The official bulletin stated that continuous rainfall between June 30 and July 2 triggered multiple incidents of landslides, flash floods and other rain-related hazards, resulting in 49 roads being blocked, 42 Distribution Transformers (DTRs) becoming non-functional, and 27 drinking water supply schemes being disrupted across the state. ANI

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday reviewed the state-level pre-monsoon mock drill conducted at the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) Dehradun. The state-level mock drill was conducted in all 13 districts of Uttarakhand.

The exercise aimed to strengthen preparedness for potential monsoon-related disasters, enhance inter-departmental coordination, and assess the effectiveness of the state's disaster response mechanism.

During the event, the Chief Minister released the updated State and District Disaster Management Plans and reviewed a high-tech exhibition of search-and-rescue equipment deployed by the SDRF, NDRF, and Fire Services. ANI

Gujarat police reviewed pre-monsoon preparations and disaster management across the state and deployed 1,036 personnel from 11 companies of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) in this regard, officials said on Thursday.

The review meeting was held at Police Bhavan here on Wednesday under state Director General of Police (DGP) G S Malik, which was attended by superintendents of police of districts and officers from various units, they added.

"Emphasis has been laid on coordinating and working together with NDRF, SDRF, Home Guard, GRD, TRB and local administration in times of disaster. A total of 1,036 personnel from 11 companies of SDRF have been deployed at sensitive and designated locations since June 28 as part of pre-planning," an official release stated. PTI

A car passes through a waterlogged street in Navi Mumbai, on Thursday. (Express photo by Narendra Vaskar)

National Highway Authority Of India (NHAI) has undertaken comprehensive measures to ensure safe, smooth and uninterrupted traffic movement on national highways in Himachal Pradesh during monsoon.

Vulnerable locations prone to landslides, slope failures, debris accumulation, flooding and other monsoon-related hazards have been identified, and preventive measures have been implemented on priority, NHAI said in a statement issued here on Thursday.

The NHAI has carried out detailed surveys of vulnerable and landslide-prone stretches across the national highway network in the state. Based on these assessments, remedial works have been taken up at identified locations, the statement said. PTI

A man died after being swept into an open manhole amid heavy rains in the city on Thursday afternoon, an official said. The incident occurred in the Chandivali area in the eastern suburbs, where waterlogging had apparently concealed the uncovered manhole.

Fire brigade and civic disaster management teams conducted a search and operation and the man's body was recovered subsequently.

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Moderate to heavy rain lashed parts of Himachal Pradesh, disrupting normal life as 46 roads were closed to vehicular traffic across the state, officials said on Thursday.

The Shimla Meteorological Centre issued an orange alert, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places from July 2 to July 5, except for July 3.

According to the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC), 18 roads were closed in Kullu, 15 in Mandi, nine in Sirmaur and two each in Lahaul and Spiti and Una districts. PTI

Two girls suffered an electric shock while wading through rainwater accumulated under a bridge in Nerul area of Navi Mumbai on Wednesday evening and were hospitalised, officials said.

The incident occurred under the Nerul LP Bridge, said Sachin Kadam, chief of the disaster management cell.

"Rainwater has accumulated under Nerul LP Bridge. Two girls suffered shock at the spot and have been shifted to the hospital. MSEB, municipal electricity officials and the fire brigade are present at the spot," he added.

Kadam added that a live wire might have come into contact with water, triggering the incident.

Heavy rains have been lashing Navi Mumbai since Tuesday night, causing water-logging in several low-lying areas. PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday reviewed the situation arising out of deficient rainfall during the Union Cabinet meeting and directed all concerned ministries and departments to work in close coordination to ensure timely preparedness and an effective response, sources said.

According to sources, the Prime Minister held a detailed discussion on the impact of below-normal rainfall and stressed the need for a coordinated, whole-of-government approach to deal with any emerging challenges. He asked all ministries concerned to prepare advance contingency plans and maintain close coordination so that any adverse impact on agriculture, water availability, power supply and other essential sectors can be effectively managed. ANI

Three members of a family, including two girls, were killed and three others were rescued after a rain-triggered landslide destroyed a house here early on Wednesday, NDRF officials said.

The incident occurred behind the Kankanady Police Station in the Nagori area of Mangaluru following heavy overnight rainfall that triggered a landslide, burying the house under a mound of earth, they said.

According to officials, six members of the family were trapped beneath the debris when the house collapsed. Residents, personnel from the Fire and Emergency Services, and other rescue teams rushed to the spot and launched an operation to extricate the victims.

The deceased were identified as Shanta (46), her eight-year-old daughter Anamika Chaurasia, and four-year-old daughter Pari.

Three others -- Balkrishna (48), Alka (14) and Anusha (11) -- were rescued alive from the debris and shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment, officials said. PTI

Amid heavy rainfall, the Andheri underpass in Mumbai was seen flooded. Vehicular and pedestrian movements were stopped. (Express photo)

Amid heavy rains across Mumbai, Powai Lake in the city's eastern suburbs started overflowing on Wednesday morning. (Express photo by Amit Chakravarty)

Punjab's power demand stayed above 17,000 MW for the third consecutive day on Wednesday as scattered rainfall failed to reduce consumption by farmers as well as at households and industries, officials said.

According to the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), electricity demand remained high due to continued domestic, industrial and agricultural consumption. The discom supplied more than 17,000 MW of electricity to meet the state's requirement.

Light rainfall in some areas did not have a significant impact on overall demand, a senior power department official said. PTI

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday issued an 'orange alert' for Mumbai, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall with the possibility of extremely heavy rain at isolated locations over the next few days.

In its district-wise forecast issued at 1.43 pm, the IMD also sounded a red alert for the coastal Ratnagiri district in Konkan for Wednesday, predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places with extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places.

A civic official said that the IMD has issued a red alert for neighbouring Palghar on Thursday, while neighbouring Raigad has been placed under a red alert for Thursday and Friday.

Thane has been given an orange alert for Wednesday to Friday and a red alert for Saturday. Mumbai will continue under an orange alert from Wednesday to Saturday, the official said. PTI

Pilgrimages to the Machail Mata and Mindhal Mata shrines in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district remained suspended on Wednesday due to adverse weather conditions triggered by heavy monsoon rain, officials said.

The district administration said the decision was taken in view of incessant rainfall, slippery roads and the risk of shooting stones to ensure the safety of pilgrims.

"In view of the adverse weather conditions prevailing across Kishtwar, including continuous rainfall, slippery road conditions and the risk of shooting stones, both the Machail Mata Yatra and the Mindhal Mata Yatra shall remain suspended on Wednesday," an official said. PTI

The incessant rain created flood-like situations at Lanot and Phagdog villages in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh, where falling debris from a mountain entered two houses, causing severe damages, including cracks on the walls.

Acting SDM and Tehsildar Abhiray Singh Thakur said instructions have been issued to the officials concerned to inspect the site and provide assistance to the affected families.

The southwest monsoon, which arrived in Himachal on Tuesday, covered the entire state by Wednesday, the weather office in Shimla said, as it issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places from July 2-6, except for July 4. PTI

Helicopter services operating for the Kedarnath Dham Yatra have been suspended with the onset of the monsoon season in view of adverse weather conditions and passenger safety concerns, officials said on Wednesday.

The decision has been taken in line with guidelines issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), authorities added.

District Magistrate of Rudraprayag, Vishal Mishra, said that all helicopter operations for the pilgrimage have been halted until further notice.

"Helicopters operated by Thambi Aviation, Himalayan Heli, Rajas Aero, United Helicharters, Pilgrimage Aviation, Chipsan Aviation, Trans Bharat Aviation and other operators have returned to their respective bases following the suspension. During the monsoon period, pilgrims will have to rely on alternative modes of transport such as ponies, mules and palanquins. Services will resume only after weather conditions improve and necessary clearances are granted," he said. ANI