Monsoon havoc from western to eastern UP: Alert of heavy to very heavy rain in more than 22 districts

Monsoon has once again become active with full force over the entire area of ​​Uttar Pradesh. According to the joint weather bulletin issued by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Meteorological Center Lucknow and Uttar Pradesh Relief Commissioner’s Office, heavy rain has started in the state from Saharanpur and Meerut in Western UP to Ballia and Sonbhadra in Purvanchal. According to meteorologists, there has been heavy accumulation of moisture in the atmosphere due to the deep low pressure area formed in the Bay of Bengal and the active monsoon trough line passing through the central part of Uttar Pradesh. Along with this, due to the collision of south-westerly winds coming from the Arabian Sea and eastern easterly winds from the Bay of Bengal, a huge circle of dense clouds has formed over the state. Due to this weather system, the Meteorological Department has declared yellow and orange alert by issuing serious warnings of torrential rain, strong storm and lightning in more than 22 districts of the state.

Monsoon clouds are showing the most aggressive attitude in eastern Uttar Pradesh and Terai areas bordering Nepal. Meteorological Center Lucknow has predicted heavy to very heavy rain with intense thunder in many districts of Purvanchal.

There is a possibility of continuous intermittent rain in Prayagraj, Varanasi, Sonbhadra, Mirzapur, Chandauli, Sant Ravidas Nagar (Bhadohi), Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Azamgarh, Mau, Ballia, Deoria, Gorakhpur, Basti, Kushinagar and Maharajganj. There is the highest risk of lightning (thunderstorm) in these districts, in view of which the administration has asked the farmers and villagers working in open fields to be extremely cautious.

There is a possibility of a sharp rise in the water level of rivers due to rains in the catchment areas of Nepal in Terai’s Bahraich, Lakhimpur Kheri, Balrampur and Shravasti districts.

The deep impact of the monsoon system is also visible in the districts of Central Uttar Pradesh and Bundelkhand. Alert of heavy to very heavy rainfall has been issued in Banda, Chitrakoot, Kaushambi, Fatehpur, Hamirpur, Mahoba, Jalaun, Jhansi and Lalitpur. Relief and rescue operations have been intensified due to waterlogging and overflowing mountain drains in Chitrakoot and Karvi areas.

There is an alert of torrential showers along with thunderstorms in the major districts of Central UP – capital Lucknow, Kanpur Nagar, Kanpur Dehat, Unnao, Rae Bareli, Amethi, Sultanpur, Barabanki and Ayodhya.

Due to continuous rains, the problem of waterlogging in many urban areas, major intersections and colonies of Lucknow and Kanpur has become serious, due to which the traffic has been badly affected.

In the districts of western Uttar Pradesh, the effect of the system of Bay of Bengal as well as moist winds coming from the north-west is being seen. The Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rains with strong thunderstorms in Agra, Mathura, Firozabad, Hathras, Etah, Mainpuri, Aligarh, Kasganj, Etawah and Auraiya.

Gusty winds at a speed of 40 to 50 kilometers per hour and moderate to heavy rainfall are forecast in Rohilkhand and the western districts of Bareilly, Pilibhit, Shahjahanpur, Badaun, Moradabad, Rampur, Sambhal, Amroha, Bijnor, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Shamli, Baghpat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar (Noida). Record rainfall has already been recorded in Moradabad, Rampur and Bijnor, causing waterlogging in low-lying settlements.

Taking the warning of the Meteorological Department seriously, the Uttar Pradesh Relief Commissioner’s Office has instructed all the concerned more than 22 District Magistrates to remain on alert mode 24 hours. Central Water Commission (CWC) and Irrigation Department teams have been deployed on the embankments to monitor the rising water levels of Ganga, Yamuna, Saryu (Ghaghra), Gomti, Betwa and Ken rivers.

Disaster Management Department and meteorologists have issued important guidelines for common citizens and farmers:

• Protection from lightning: Take shelter in a pucca house only during thunderstorms or lightning. Do not under any circumstances stand alone under large trees, electric poles, transformers or metal structures.

• Usage of Damini App: It is advised to use ‘Damini’ mobile app of Government of India to get accurate and early warning of lightning in rural areas.

• Agricultural Advisory for Farmers: Agricultural scientists have advised farmers to immediately open drainage routes in the fields. Instructions have been given not to spray any kind of chemical fertilizer or pesticide for the next 48 hours to prevent excessive waterlogging in paddy fields, rot in the roots of sugarcane and rotting disease in oilseeds/pulses (arhar, urad) crops.

• Traffic Caution: Due to reduced visibility on the roads during heavy rains and potholes not being visible due to waterlogging, two-wheeler and four-wheeler drivers have been appealed to drive slowly and not cross swollen rivers or culverts.