Heavy rains pound north India, five die in Jammu

Five persons were killed in rain-related incidents in Jammu on Saturday as the monsoon continued to hold sway in many parts of the country's northern plains with torrential showers triggering landslides and flooding.

Heavy rains lashed the national capital Delhi, leaving several roads waterlogged and causing traffic snarls in many areas.

Between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm, the city received a total of 24.6 mm of rains, with the temperature oscillating between a maximum of 29 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 25.5 degrees Celsius.

In Jammu, five persons, including three women, were killed and nine others injured in rain-related incidents.

A woman and her two children were buried alive and five others were injured when their house collapsed due to heavy rains in Barmeen village at Udhampur district of the state.

In another incident, two women were washed away in flash floods triggered by the heavy showers in Kathua district, the police said.

Several inter-district roads in the state have been blocked for vehicular traffic in view of the landslides triggered by the downpour, they said.

In Uttar Pradesh, major rivers remained above the danger mark as the monsoon deluge continued in most parts of the state.

The chief amount of rainfall was recorded at Amethi and Hathras at 8 cm each, followed by Mathura and Nakur at 7 cm each and Iglas at 6 cm.

According to the Central Water Commission sources, river Ganga is flowing close to the danger mark in Fatehgarh and is swelling all through its course till Ballia, and river Yamuna from Auriaya to Naini in Allahabad.

River Sharda continued to remain above the red mark at Palia Kalan and Ghaghra at Elgin Bridge, Ayodhya and Turtipar, the sources said, adding that river Rapti has breached the danger mark at Balrampur.

A report from Barabanki district of the state said that with the release of water from barrages in Nepal, Ghaghra is posing a threat to over 18 villages around Charsadhi embankment.

After facing a drought-like situation, farmers in Haryana and Punjab have reasons to smile as heavy showers drenched many parts of the region.

The meteorological department has predicted the downpour to continue in the two states over the next few days.