The IMD issued a flash flood warning for 10 districts of Jharkhand after heavy rain lashed large parts of the state on Tuesday.
Dumaria in East Singhbhum registered the highest rainfall of 217 mm since Monday, followed by Dumri in Giridih at 162.2 mm and Mahuadawar in Latehar at 146.2 mm, the India Meteorological Department said.
According to a bulletin issued by the IMD, a flash flood warning has been issued for Garhwa, Palamu, Latehar, Lohardaga, Gumla, Khunti, Saraikela-Kharsawan, West and East Singhbhum, and Simdega districts till Wednesday morning.
The weather office predicted overcast conditions and heavy rain in the state till September 5. It issued a ‘red’ alert (take action) for very heavy rain in Garhwa, Palamu, Simdega, and West Singhbhum districts, and an ‘orange’ alert (be prepared) for Latehar, Lohardaga, Gumla, Khunti, and Sarikela-Kharsawan districts till Wednesday morning.
The northwestern districts of Garhwa, Palmu, Chatra and Latehar are expected to receive heavy rain on Wednesday. Similar weather conditions are likely to be witnessed in several parts of the state on Thursday and Friday.
“Heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur in several districts. The wind speed will be 30 to 40 kmph,” said Abhishek Anand, the deputy director of the weather office, Ranchi.
Dumka registered the highest temperature of 31.4 degrees Celsius, followed by Pakur (31.3) and Daltonganj (30.5).
In Jamshedpur in East Singhbhum district, the water levels of the Kharkhai and Swarnarekha rivers crossed the red mark due to incessant rain and discharge of water from dams in neighbouring Odisha as well as from the Chandil dam and Galudih barrage in Jharkhand.
While the water level of the Kharkhai River at the Adityapur Bridge site was recorded at 133.10 metres, which was 4.10 metres above the danger level, the Subarnarekha was flowing at 122.60 metres against a red mark of 121.50 metres at the Mango Bridge site, according to Deputy Commissioner Rajeev Ranjan.
The district administration urged people living in low-lying areas to move to safety.
Meanwhile, amid warnings of heavy to very heavy rainfall, the Garhwa district administration ordered the closure of all schools on September 2 and 3, an official statement said.
“Considering the possibility of floods and water-logging in various areas due to excessive rainfall, Deputy Commissioner Pashupati Nath Mishra has directed the district education officer (DEO) and the district education superintendent (DES) to keep all schools in the district closed on September 2 and 3,” it said.
Only non-academic work will be carried out in the schools during this period. All teachers and related staffers must remain present in their respective schools, it added.
-PTI
