Monsoon Hits North India But Brings Blues as 15 Die in UP, Houses Get Flooded in Bihar

Multiple landslides have resulted in the collapse of a national highway road which connects Sikkim and West Bengal, resulting in massive traffic jams. National highway 10 connects Sikkim capital Gangtok to West Bengal’s Kalimpong and Siliguri. The administration is currently busy carrying out clearing operations, but progress to clear out debris from the road is slow as the landslides are still active.

Heavy rain in the past three days across the north east states, including Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, are the reason behind the multiple landslides. There have been reports of at least three blockages across the national highway road, near Setijhora, Kali Mandir and Sevoke police outpost since early morning.

According to ANI, there have been light to moderate rain accompanied by thunder and lightning in several districts of Himachal Pradesh including Chamba, Kangra, Una, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Solan, Sirmaur, Mandi and Shimla today.

It also reported heavy rainfall in Bihar’s West Champaran resulting in waterlogging at many places.

Due to heavy rainfall in Prayagraj, normal life got affected at Sangam after increasing water level of river Ganga, ANI reported. Rainfall has created havoc in Uttar Pradesh as 133 buildings collapsed and 15 dead.

Mizoram’s Tlabung town flooded after heavy rainfall in the region following which around 300 houses have been vacated in the area. Heavy rain lashes in parts of Puducherry too.

Delhiites woke up to a warm Saturday morning with the minimum temperature settling at 31.3 degrees Celsius, four notches above the season's average. The weatherman has forecast partly cloudy skies and dust raising winds through the day. The maximum temperature on Saturday is likely to be around 38 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature on Sunday is likely to be around 31 degrees Celsius.

According to a MeT official, relief from the heat is likely on July 16 as rains are expected on that evening. On Friday, the maximum and minimum temperatures were recorded at 39.2 and 30.6 degrees Celsius, respectively. Meanwhile Delhi remained dry with moisture laden winds from the south-east direction coming in Wednesday morning, reported Hindustan Times. The India Meteorological Department has, however, said chances of rain over the weekend are remote.

Since Wednesday evening, westerly and northwesterly winds are blowing into the city, dropping the pollution levels. Weather experts suggest there are chances of a drizzle to light rain around July 16. Strong dust-raising winds are expected on Saturday.