Three dead in Wayanad, monsooon fury in Maharashtra, Gujarat; north India gears up for wet spell

New Delhi, Jul 7 (PTI) At least three people were killed, and five others remained missing after a rain-triggered "man-made" landslide at a tunnel project in Kerala's Wayanad on Tuesday, while normal life was disrupted in Maharashtra and Gujarat as well -- where heavy monsoon rain has led to deadly incidents over the past two days. Parts of southern Gujarat received "extremely heavy" rainfall, with the worst-affected being Surat district, where five persons died in rain-related incidents in two days. Over 2,100 people were shifted from flooded areas to safe locations, officials said. Two minor boys drowned, while two women suffered injuries as cement sheets collapsed at a Mumbai garden during heavy rains and winds. A landslide in Maharashtra's Ratnagiri district buried five houses; one woman was rescued, and efforts were underway to save two others. In eastern India, Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh experienced heavy rainfall, a landslide and flooding, while Upper Subansiri recorded two flood incidents and three landslides, and Upper Siang witnessing 16 landslides over 24 hours beginning from Monday evening, according to officials. A rockfall incident due to incessant rain was also reported from East Kameng in the state. Rain lashed several northern states, as well as the national capital, which was largely seen as a respite from the heat even as incidents of waterlogging were reported from a number of areas. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned of increased rainfall activity over north India in the next three days. *** Deaths, disruption in western, southern India *** At least three people were killed, 10 injured, and five remained missing after a rain-soaked mound of excavated earth gave way at the site of a multi-crore tunnel project in Meppadi panchayat in this hill district, with two state ministers describing the landslide as “man-made”. A video clip showed the mound of mud, which had accumulated near Meenakshi Bridge, suddenly collapsing in the rain, bringing down trees and sweeping away the metal and cloth barricades set up near the tunnel construction site. In a statement, the district administration said a total of 18 persons were affected by the disaster. A senior government official told reporters that there were no workers at the site and that those feared trapped under the mud were engineers and security staff. Chief Minister V D Satheesan said necessary rescue forces were reaching the area and that police as well as fire and rescue personnel had already been deployed at the site. Additionally, a defence team was on standby in Thrissur and could be deployed at the site if required, he said. Rains eased in Mumbai after two days of relentless downpour, even as the death toll due to flood-related incidents in the neighbouring Palghar district over the last week reached 10, officials said. Incessant rains also triggered a major landslide in the coastal Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra, burying five houses. The incident occurred in the Dahivali area of Khed tehsil on Monday night, following which a 75-year-old woman was rescued, officials said. Efforts were underway to rescue two more persons, they said. Thousands of 'warkari' pilgrims on their way to the temple town of Pandharpur were advised to avoid travelling through Alandi in Pune district due to a severe flood situation. Two boys drowned, while two women suffered injuries as cement sheets collapsed in a garden in Mumbai's Andheri area during heavy rains and winds in the last 24 hours, officials said. Across the city, 428 incidents of trees and branches crashing down and 28 complaints of wall and house collapse were reported, indicating the intensity of Monday's downpour. Parts of southern Gujarat received "extremely heavy" rainfall on Tuesday, with the worst affected being Surat district where five persons died in rain-related incidents in two days, while 2,100 people were shifted from flooded areas to safe locations, officials said. In Gujarat, an official from the district disaster management office confirmed that a total of five deaths were reported in rain-related incidents over the past two days. "Two deaths due to electrocution were reported today, while another person died in the Kamrej area. On Monday, two individuals died from electrocution in the Rander area of Surat," the official said. "Extremely heavy rainfall occurred at isolated places in the districts of South Gujarat region, namely Surat, Valsad, Dadra and Nagar Haveli in the last 24 hours," India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its midday state forecast. Talking to reporters, M Nagarajan, Commissioner of Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC), said around 2,100 people have been relocated from across different zones to safe shelters. *** Fresh rainfall triggers floods, landslides in several Arunachal districts *** Fresh spells of heavy rain triggered flash floods and landslides in several districts of Arunachal Pradesh, where more than 94,000 people in 26 districts have been affected so far during the ongoing monsoon season, officials said. According to a report from the State Emergency Operation Centre here, Changlang district experienced heavy rainfall, a landslide and flooding, while Upper Subansiri recorded two flood incidents and three landslides, and Upper Siang witnessed 16 landslides in the past 24 hours. A rockfall incident due to incessant rain was also reported from East Kameng. Four people have died, 21 others suffered injuries and two women went missing in the recent wave of floods in the northeastern state, it said. One person died in a landslide at Sarti village in Anjaw district on June 28, and three other deaths occurred in a flash flood that struck Possa in Keyi Panyor district, the officials said. Rescue and relief efforts are continuing in the affected districts. The report said 94,201 people have been impacted across 333 villages in 237 circles spread over 26 districts. Upper Siang continues to account for the highest number of affected people, followed by Siang and Kra Daadi. *** Rain in north India brings relief from heat *** Moderate to heavy rain lashed Delhi, with Najafgarh receiving 76 mm of rainfall by 2.30 pm. The showers triggered waterlogging and tree-fall incidents in several areas. The IMD has issued a yellow alert for thunderstorms with rain on Wednesday. The turn in the weather was welcomed as Delhi earlier recorded a minimum temperature of 30 degrees Celsius -- the highest since July 2, 2024, when the mercury settled at a low of 30.7 degrees Celsius. The IMD said the "feels like" temperature at 8.30 am was 44.7 degrees Celsius as relative humidity stood at 79 per cent, making for uncomfortable weather. Monsoon showers similarly brought relief from the heat across parts of Uttar Pradesh, with Banda recording the maximum rainfall at 61.4 mm, the IMD said. It also forecast more rain and isolated heavy showers in the western region of the state. According to the IMD, rain and thundershowers were recorded at many places, with Banda receiving the highest rainfall of 61.4 mm, followed by Meerut (68.2 mm), Varanasi BHU (32.2 mm), Shahjahanpur (24 mm) and Muzaffarnagar (20.8 mm). Day temperatures remained below normal in several cities. In Haryana, vast stretches recorded rainfall, with mercury hovering near normal in most places, while isolated parts of Punjab also received sporadic rainfall. According to the local meteorological centre, Chandigarh received light showers, with the maximum temperature recorded at 36.6 degrees Celsius, two notches above normal. In Haryana, heavy rainfall was witnessed in Gurugram, with the rain gauge logging 80 mm. As a result, the main carriageway on the Delhi-Jaipur Highway (NH 48) near Narsinghpur caved in, forcing the closure of two lanes. Civil Line Road in Gurugram also suddenly caved in due to heavy rain, causing the tyres of two cars parked there to get badly stuck. Cloudy skies prevailed over parts of Punjab on Tuesday, with the advancing southwest monsoon bringing scattered thunderstorms. Amritsar recorded a maximum of 36 degrees Celsius. Ludhiana and Patiala recorded 35 degrees Celsius and 34.6 degrees Celsius, respectively. In Himachal Pradesh, light to moderate rains continued in several parts, while the Shimla Met Office predicted a wet spell in the state till July 13. The weather department advised the general public to follow traffic advisories, avoid vulnerable areas and keep a safe distance from water bodies. Shimla, Jubberhatti, Bhuntar, Murari Devi and Sundernagar in the state witnessed thunderstorms and lightning, the weather office said. In order to tackle torrential rains, the Public Works Department has deployed 11,137 beldars and 4,228 multi-task workers across the state to restore road connectivity wherever disrupted, Himachal Pradesh PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh said on Tuesday. In Jammu and Kashmir, isolated light to moderate rain was reported at places, while the Meteorological Centre forecast widespread rain and thunderstorms over the next 24 hours. It also warned of the possibility of flash floods, landslides and mudslides in vulnerable areas of the Chenab Valley and Pir Panjal range. Meanwhile, in Rajasthan, hot and dry weather prevailed, with no significant rainfall reported. Sriganganagar was the hottest place in the state at 42.8 degrees Celsius, followed by Bikaner at 41.8 degrees Celsius. PTI TEAM PRK PRK