The Monsoon trough still lies closer to the foothills but has weakened considerably. Thereby, rain has reduced all along the foothills of the Himalayas, easing out flood havoc in the four states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar,Uttarakhand and West Bengal.
The flood fury in the Terai region of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar was brought about by the inflow of rain waters from the hills of Nepal. Good showers are likely to continue in Nepal but heavy to very heavy showers are unlikely. Consequently, the current flood-like situation in the Indian states will not worsen.
Flood in Uttar Pradesh
As per media reports, 28 people have been killed and more than 1500 villages inundated by heavy rains. The plains of Uttar Pradesh remains unaffected but the hilly areas were affected, especially due to the release of water from overflowing dams in neighbouring Nepal. The villages lying in the Terai region also received good amounts of rain from the 15th to 17th of August.
Government authorities deployed Army helicopters to supply food and water to the people marooned in the temporary shelters.
Flood in Bihar
In Bihar, not only the hilly areas but also the plains have been receiving heavy showers. As a result, water levels of Kosi, Gandak and Bagmati rivers have touched the danger mark.
Skymet had placed a warning of double trouble for Bihar on the 14th itself after Patna received 178 mm of rain Bhagalpur 98.4 mm.
Thousands of people have been affected in the districts of Darbhanga, West Champaran and Nalanda after breaches in the embankments of Kamla Balan and Gandak rivers.
The state government has effectively taken up rescue operations and deployed the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force.
According to the latest weather update by Skymet Meteorology Division in India, rain has reduced and the precarious situation will ease out within 2 to 3 days.
picture courtesy- Abhishek Bharadwaj