Flash flood alert in 13 Jharkhand districts as IMD warns of heavy rain

Jharkhand rains

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday issued a flash flood warning for 13 districts in Jharkhand amid the prediction of heavy rainfall in parts of the state, Telangana Today reported.

The weather department has issued a flash flood warning for Bokaro, East Singhbhum, Giridih, Gumla, Khunti, Latehar, Lohardaga, Palamu, Ramgarh, Ranchi, Saraikela, Simdega, and West Singhbhum districts till 5.30 pm on Tuesday.

“Surface runoff and inundation may occur at some fully saturated soils and low-lying areas,” IMD said in its Monday morning bulletin. “An ‘orange’ alert for very heavy rainfall has been issued in parts of Jharkhand till July 17,” an IMD official was quoted by Telangana Today as saying.

As per the report, the orange alert has been sounded for four districts, including Gumla, Simdega, Khunti, and West Singhbhum, which are likely to experience torrential rain between 8.30 am on Monday and 8.30 am on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Palamu, Latehar, Garhwa, and Hazaribag may experience heavy to very heavy rainfall between 8.30 am on Tuesday and 8.30 am on July 16. Chatra, Koderma, Hazaribag and Giridih may experience similar rainfall between 8.30 am on July 16 and 8.30 am on  July 17, it stated.

On Monday, a ‘yellow’ warning for heavy rainfall was also sounded for six districts, including Ranchi. Ranchi Meteorological Centre Deputy Director Abhishek Anand was quoted by Telangana Today as saying that the rainfall would be caused by a cyclonic circulation and trough.

As per the report, Jharkhand has recorded 61 per cent surplus rainfall between June 1 and July 13, he said. The eastern State received 510 mm of precipitation against the normal of 316.7 mm during the period.