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Preparations for the celebration of 79th Independence Day across the country are in the final stages, but in the meantime, a tough test by nature is also going on. Monsoon is currently visible in its severe form in more than 12 states of the country. From North India to Central and Eastern India, torrential rains have completely derailed normal life. The most dire situation remains in the hilly states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, where rivers are in spate due to continuous heavy rains and national highways have been closed at many places due to mountain landslides. India Meteorological Department (IMD) has declared red and orange alert by issuing warning of heavy to extremely heavy rain in many states for today i.e. August 14.
Monsoon rages across the country amid preparations for Independence Day
On the auspicious occasion of Independence Day, while rehearsals for parades and cultural programs are going on in schools, government offices and from the Red Fort to the state capitals, the rain from the sky has increased the concern. According to meteorologists, the deep depression formed in the coastal areas of the Bay of Bengal is gradually moving towards the north-west, due to which monsoon winds have become very active in the plains and hilly areas. Due to the effect of this weather system, clouds have gathered from the plains of North India to the coastal areas of the South and heavy rains with strong winds are occurring intermittently.
Landslides cause devastation in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, rivers cross danger mark
Monsoon is proving to be the most dangerous in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. There are reports of landslides at various places in Shimla, Mandi, Kullu and Chamba districts of Himachal Pradesh, due to which hundreds of roads have been cut off. The Meteorological Department has issued an alert of extremely heavy rain in some sensitive areas of Himachal Pradesh today. The water level of Beas and Sutlej rivers is rising rapidly, due to which people living in nearby low-lying areas have been instructed to move to safe places.
On the other hand, the situation remains quite critical in Chamoli, Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag and Pithoragarh districts of Uttarakhand. Traffic is being repeatedly affected due to debris on Kedarnath and Badrinath National Highways. River Ganga is flowing near the danger mark in Rishikesh. The local administration has issued an alert near the river banks and has strictly advised tourists and devotees not to go towards landslide-prone areas.
Waterlogging crisis in Delhi-NCR and Haryana-Punjab
In the country’s capital Delhi and its adjacent Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Faridabad, there is a gathering of dark clouds in the sky since this morning. According to the Meteorological Department, moderate to heavy rain may be recorded in Delhi-NCR, Haryana and Chandigarh during August 14 and 15. Keeping in mind the main function to be held at the Red Fort on August 15, Delhi Police and Municipal Corporation are making special arrangements to deal with waterlogging. There is a possibility of heavy rain with lightning and strong winds in many districts of Haryana and Punjab.
Alert of heavy rain and lightning in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh
Monsoon activity continues in both eastern and western parts of Uttar Pradesh. Intermittent torrential rains are occurring in many districts including Lucknow, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Prayagraj and Agra. IMD has predicted that rain will continue in Uttar Pradesh from August 14 to August 18, in which there is also a high risk of lightning in the lowland areas.
Talking about Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, there are chances of heavy to very heavy rains in the eastern districts of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Chhattisgarh has been asked to be on high alert in view of the possibility of heavy rains that could cause devastation. Patna, Gaya and Bhagalpur of Bihar may receive moderate to heavy rainfall during the next 48 hours. In Jharkhand and Odisha too, there is a danger of rivers overflowing due to the effect of cyclonic circulation.
Heavy cyclonic rain in eastern and northeastern India
Nature’s mood remains quite harsh in the states of North-East India – Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Tripura. Many rural areas have been submerged due to the rise in the water level of the Brahmaputra river. Along with this, there has been a warning of torrential rain with strong thunderstorm and winds blowing at a speed of 40 to 50 kilometers per hour in the sub-Himalayan areas of West Bengal and Sikkim. Fishermen have been advised not to go near the beach and remain in safe places.
How will be the weather across the country on 15th August, Independence Day?
The question in the mind of every citizen is whether rain will disturb the celebrations of 15th August i.e. Independence Day? According to the Meteorological Center, the effect of monsoon will not weaken even on August 15. Light to moderate rain or showers are likely over most parts of North India, especially Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh on the morning of Independence Day. Organizers of national flag hoisting ceremonies have been advised to make adequate arrangements for protection from rain. The risk of landslides will remain in the hilly states even on August 15.
Administration preparations and safety guidelines for the general public
Teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been put on alert mode to deal with emergency situations. The administration has appealed to the common citizens to stay away from waterlogged roads and swollen rivers. Before traveling on hilly roads, be sure to check the weather department’s updates and avoid unnecessary journeys.