IMD issues flash flood warning for 12 Jharkhand districts

Ranchi, Jul 14 (PTI) The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday issued flash flood warning for 12 Jharkhand districts amidst heavy rainfall forecast in parts of the state, an official said.

The warning applies to Bokaro, East Singhbhum, Garhwa, Gumla, Khunti, Latehar, Lohardaga, Palamu, Ranchi, Saraikela, Simdega and West Singhbhum districts till 11.30 am on Tuesday.

"Surface runoff and inundation may occur in some low-lying areas," IMD said in its latest bulletin.

A ‘red’ alert for heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in Saraikela-Kharswan, East Singhbhum, and West Singhbhum districts, and an ‘orange’ alert for very heavy rainfall in Gumla, Khunti, and Simdega districts till 8.30 AM on Tuesday have also been issued, the IMD said in its 1pm bulletin.

The weather office has issued a ‘yellow’ alert for heavy rainfall for Ranchi, Lohardaga, Ramgarh, Bokaro, Dhanbad, Jamtara, Hazaribag, Giridih, Koderma and Deoghar till 8.30am on Tuesday.

An ‘orange’ alert has also been sounded for Garhwa, Palamu, Chatra, Latehar, Koderma and Hazaribag between 8.30am on Tuesday and 8.30am on Wednesday.

Similar warning has been issued for Palamu, Chatra, Hazaribag, Koderma and Giridih from 8.30am on July 16 to 8.30am on July 17.

Ranchi Meteorological Centre Deputy Director Abhishek Anand said the state is likely to experience a widespread rainfall till July 17 under the influence of a depression and monsoon trough. Some districts may witness heavy to extremely heavy rainfall till 8.30am on Tuesday, he added.

"A well marked low pressure area over Southeast Gangetic West Bengal and adjoining Bangladesh concentrated into a depression. It is likely to move west–northwestwards across Gangetic West Bengal during next 24 hours," he added.

Jharkhand has recorded 62 per cent surplus rainfall between June 1 and July 13, he said.

The eastern state received 527.6 mm of precipitation against the normal of 326 mm during the period.

East Singhbhum district recorded the highest surplus rainfall at 153 per cent, followed by Ranchi at 138 per cent and Saraikela-Kharswan at 132 per cent respectively, the official said.

However, four Jharkhand districts—Godda, Deoghar, Sahebganj and Pakur-- still facing deficit rainfall between 27 and 35 per cent, he added. PTI SAN RG SAN MNB