The Hindu : National : Rains bring agony to many States

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Monday, Jun 16, 2008
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National

Rains bring agony to many States

New Delhi: Several States on Sunday experienced heavy monsoon rains even as the situation turned alarming in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, where floods and landslips wreaked havoc, claiming several lives.

The National Capital received the first showers of the Southwest monsoon on Sunday, thus breaking an 108-year-old record by arriving nearly two weeks ahead of the normal onset date of June 29.

Heavy rains, accompanied by lightning in some areas, lashed several places, forcing many people to the safe confines of their homes.

Monsoon advances

The monsoon advanced into remaining parts of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, some more parts of Rajasthan and Haryana. Advancing rapidly, the monsoon has covered the entire country barring some parts of Rajasthan.

In Uttar Pradesh, six persons were killed by lightning as heavy rain lashed the State capital.

While two people died in Govindpur area of Sonbhadra, a teenager was killed in Ballia, two in Deoria and one in Gonda district on Saturday.

In Arunachal Pradesh, three more people died in landslips in capital Itanagar on Sunday, taking the toll up to 17. Two children were washed away in floods in Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand, with heavy rains lashing the hills.

Many washed away

Five persons were washed away on Sunday in the flood-affected district of Lakhimpur in Assam, where over five lakh people have been affected.

The first wave of flood cut off north Assam. Both by rail link and National Highway 52 were affected. Nearly 1,000 villages were hit in Lakhimpur. Five persons were washed away by the swirling waters of Ranganadi river, but their bodies are yet to be recovered, officials said.

Brahmaputra rising

The water level of the Brahmaputra was rising menacingly and had flooded an entire village in Morigaon district, while heavy rainfall in the neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh had inundated large parts of Dhemaji district.

Officials said Brahmaputra completely submerged Pabhokhati village under Bhuragaon Revenue circle on Sunday, rendering 40 families homeless.

Red alert

A red alert has been sounded and the Army asked to stand by to assist the civil administration. — PTI

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