Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Incessant rain disrupted normal life across Jharkhand on Saturday, flooding low-lying areas, affecting traffic and pushing several rivers above danger levels, officials said. The heavy rain also led to the cancellation of six flights at Ranchi’s Birsa Munda Airport, while schools remained shut in several districts, including Ranchi and Jamshedpur.
The rain, which has continued since September 23, also damaged standing crops in several parts of the state. Officials said weather conditions were likely to improve from Sunday as the weather system weakens, even as parts of Jharkhand continued to face flood-like conditions.
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People were seen wading through knee-deep water in some areas, and several vehicles were stranded on waterlogged roads. In East Singhbhum district, the Subernarekha river was flowing 2.02 metres above the danger level, while the Kharkai river was 4.50 metres above the danger mark. Deputy Commissioner Rajiv Ranjan urged people to stay away from riverbanks and move to safer places. “The water level of the Subernarekha and Kharkai rivers is above the danger mark. Citizens are urged not to go near the riverbanks, to take shelter in safe high places, and to follow the instructions of the district administration. Stay alert, stay safe!” Ranjan posted on X.
In Ranchi, the water level at Kanke Dam, also known as Gonda Dam, reached 27.05 feet against its capacity of 28 feet, an official said. Water levels also rose sharply in Hatia and Getalsud dams. The rain damaged paddy and vegetable crops in several areas. Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri directed officials to carry out a detailed survey of rain-related damage. The district agriculture officer was asked to assess crop losses across the district and submit a report at the earliest, giving details of the affected area, number of farmers hit and estimated losses.
The India Meteorological Department said the weather system was expected to weaken. “The depression over northeast Madhya Pradesh and adjoining north moved north-northwestwards. Continuing to move further north-northwestwards, it is very likely to weaken gradually into a well-marked low-pressure area during the subsequent 12 hours,” it said in a bulletin.
The widespread rain brought Jharkhand’s rain deficit down to 1 per cent on Saturday. The state received 991.3 mm of rainfall between June 1 and September 26, against the normal 999.7 mm. However, eight districts are still facing deficient rainfall, with Pakur recording a 50 per cent shortfall, followed by Chatra at 36 per cent and Sahibganj at 34 per cent. The IMD considers a deviation of 19 per cent rainfall as normal. At the same time, 11 districts have recorded surplus rain, led by West Singhbhum at 49 per cent, Seraikela-Kharsawan at 23 per cent and Ranchi at 19 per cent, as the state continued to deal with the impact of the prolonged spell of rain.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
