Orange alert for rain in UP; Meerut, Muzaffarnagar receive season's heaviest showers

Lucknow, Jul 10 (PTI) Monsoon activity remained vigorous across Uttar Pradesh on Friday, with Mawana in Meerut district recording the state's highest rainfall of 315 mm during the 24 hours ending at 8.30 am, followed by Jansath in Muzaffarnagar with 270.1 mm. Muzaffarnagar town recorded 213.3 mm of rain, and Khatauli in Muzaffarnagar district logged 212.4 mm, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in a bulletin on Friday. The IMD's Regional Meteorological Centre in Lucknow issued an orange alert for the state, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall at many places till July 11 under the influence of active monsoon conditions. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took cognisance of the loss of lives, livestock and property caused by heavy rain and lightning across the state, according to an official statement issued here. The chief minister expressed condolences to the bereaved families and directed officials to assess the loss of life, livestock and property and ensure that compensation is disbursed within 24 hours. He also instructed all senior officials to visit affected areas, maintain direct contact with the affected families and provide them all possible assistance. Adityanath also wished the injured a speedy recovery, the statement said. At least seven people lost their lives in different parts of the state on Thursday in weather-linked events. According to the IMD, the southwest monsoon has intensified over Uttar Pradesh due to the presence of an upper-air cyclonic circulation over central parts of the state and a well-marked low-pressure area over northwest Madhya Pradesh. The monsoon trough extending from Ganganagar to the northeast Bay of Bengal is also contributing to widespread rainfall across the state. Rainfall activity is expected to decrease gradually after July 11, although isolated heavy showers may continue over eastern Uttar Pradesh. The weather office said temperatures are likely to fall by another 2-3 degrees Celsius over the next 48 hours because of persistent cloud cover and widespread rainfall. Besides the highest rainfall recorded in Mawana and Muzaffarnagar district, Hapur received 160 mm, Chunar in Mirzapur 160 mm, Meerut city 181.3 mm and Sardhana in Meerut 116 mm during the 24-hour period ending at 8.30 am. Several other places also recorded heavy rainfall, including Meerut Tehsil (109 mm), Chandauli (103.5 mm), Mirzapur (100.4 mm), Najibabad in Bijnor (81.6 mm), Banda (81.2 mm), Balrampur (81 mm), Basti (81 mm), Basti town (81 mm), Nakur in Saharanpur (81 mm), Chandpur in Bijnor (78 mm), Auraiya (73.2 mm), Kanpur IAF (73.2 mm), Buldhana in Muzaffarnagar (72.4 mm), Deoband in Saharanpur (71 mm), Atarra in Banda (70 mm), Saharanpur (68 mm), Jaunpur (67.6 mm), Baberu in Banda (67.4 mm) and Lambhua in Sultanpur (67 mm). The IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall on Friday over several districts. The weather office has also warned of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning over a large part of the state, advising people to remain indoors during intense spells of rain and avoid open areas during lightning activity. According to the IMD's seasonal rainfall data till July 10, western Uttar Pradesh has received 180.1 mm rainfall against a normal of 143.7 mm, registering a surplus of 25 per cent. Eastern part of the state has recorded 113.5 mm rainfall against a normal of 187.7 mm, a deficit of 40 per cent. Overall, the state has received 140.9 mm rainfall against the normal 169.4 mm, leaving it with a seasonal deficit of 17 per cent. PTI KIS PRK