Heavy Rains Cause Flash Flooding in the Several Indian States, Boats Used to Navigate Affected Roads

With the arrival of the monsoon each year, heavy rains cause flash flooding in several Indian states. The recent heavy rains have caused floods in multiple states forcing people to seek refuge elsewhere. After recent heavy rains in states including Bihar, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Odisha, parts of Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra, the water level of many rivers has gone up.

Various media outlets have shown water entering the houses in a certain area in Uttarakhand and West Bengal. Several roads have been blocked in Uttarakhand for the past couple of days after frequent landslides in the area after heavy rains.

The areas of Chamoli, Rishikesh and Rudraprayag have been most affected, with many being cut from the rest of the state after landslides obstructed the roads.

Several areas of the eastern state of Bihar have reported water-logging up to 90 cm. Water has entered the house, forcing people to spend nights either on rooftops or at makeshift beds at higher altitudes. Similar situations have emerged in other states like Karnataka, Kerala and Odisha.

The water level of the rivers is incessantly rising towards the danger mark while people have begun to move to safe areas. In Bengal, heavy rains have struck West Midnapore creating a flood-like situation in Ghatal Nagar.

Locals resort to boats/canoes to commute as water from Jhumi river & heavy rain inundate lanes of Ghatal, West Midnapore.”This flood-like situation occurs every year with our houses and shops submerged. Since there is deep water, we’ve to use boats to travel,”said villager Manas pic.twitter.com/Q3yXo0zdAn

— ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2021

The water level of the Jhumi River in West Bengal rose considerably after continued heavy rains and entered several human settlements. People are now using wooden boats to navigate through submerged streets to buy produce.

A shopkeeper, Ranjit said,

Due to overflowing river water, 50% of Ghatal is underwater. We face this flood-like situation sometimes for June, July, August, September and sometimes till October. Those who have shops suffer from no income during this time. In Ghatal, a bridge washed away as the water level rose after heavy rainfall.

Meanwhile, Bihar is profoundly affected due to rain as well. Several areas of Patna, Samastipur, Motihari and Gopalganj have been swamped due to constant rains for the past few days. The water level of River Ganga, Burhi Gandak, Gandak and Kosi has also increased, creating a flood situation. Mahananda, Kosi, Bagmati, Burhi Gandak and Gandak rivers are heading towards the mark of danger.

Meanwhile, the Chhattisgarh government has issued directives to district collectors to ensure proper arrangements for relief and rescue measures in flood-prone areas of the states as heavy rains lashed down. Officials have been instructed to provide immediate financial aid to citizens in the event of heavy rainfall or flooding.

#WATCH | #Uttarakhand: Several low lying areas in Srinagar, Pauri Garhwal submerged in water after the water level rose in #Alaknanda river due to heavy rainfall

(ANI) pic.twitter.com/BwDohdHMWp

— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) June 19, 2021

According to the state meteorological center, the state has received an average rainfall of 189.5 mm from June 1 till June 23, with maximum rainfall of 266.5 mm recorded in Durg, followed by 236.9 mm in Dhamtari, 234.8 mm in Sukma and 227.2 mm in Bemetara.

The weather department has predicted moderate thunderstorm accompanied by moderate to heavy rainfall in 14 districts in the next few hours.

It comes as no surprise that many Indian states are and will be battling with monsoon floods in the coming months. Year after year, citizens suffer irreparably during the monsoon floods, while many lose their homes and lives.

Every year, the authorities assure the people that imperative measures will be taken to avoid these floods, however, nothing ever changes.

A cyclonic circulation lies over Gangetic West Bengal & neighbourhood. Under its influence, widespread rainfall with isolated heavy to very heavy falls very likely over Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal & Sikkim and north Odisha during next 2-3 days.

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) June 17, 2021

The Meteorological Department said that there is a possibility of more rain in the coming days and the increased water level of many rivers of South Bengal can lead to the possibility of severe floods in the surrounding areas.

As the monsoon arrives in the upper half of India in July and August, the current rains are pre-monsoon showers. One can only imagine what havoc this year’s monsoon will bring.

Via: India Today