Chandigarh: The monsoon is likely to take a temporary breather across Haryana, even as the recent spell of rain has left several districts dealing with waterlogging, rising river levels and weather-related incidents.
The India Meteorological Department has indicated that rainfall activity is expected to remain subdued across the state during the next few days. The slowdown is being attributed to weaker monsoon winds from both the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. Weather activity could pick up again during the first week of September.
Haryana has received 257.9 mm of rainfall during August so far, around 14 per cent below the normal level for the month. Kurukshetra witnessed the highest rainfall on August 19, recording 84.5 mm. Panchkula received 67.5 mm, followed by Yamunanagar with 60 mm, Fatehabad with 32 mm and Sonipat with 29.5 mm.
Despite the expected lull, the impact of the recent rains was visible in several parts of the state.
In Ambala Cantt, a sudden rise in the Tangri River late Tuesday night resulted in water entering around 10 colonies. The river’s discharge reached nearly 27,720 cusecs, with water reportedly rising to about three feet in some residential areas around 11:30 pm. Timely warnings from the administration helped residents remain alert, while the water level started falling by Wednesday morning.
Panchkula’s Morni Hills also witnessed a landslide following heavy rainfall. Debris and unstable slopes reportedly posed a threat to houses in the area, prompting villagers to seek immediate protective measures from the authorities. The Ghaggar River has also been flowing at a high level amid the continuing impact of rainfall in the hills.
A rain-related tragedy was reported from Kabirpur in Sonipat, where a 30-year-old man, identified as Akash, died after suffering an electric shock. According to the available information, the incident occurred while he was using an iron staircase to reach the roof of his house. Family members who attempted to rescue him also received electric shocks.
Several urban areas also struggled with water accumulation. Parts of Panipat and Faridabad reported substantial waterlogging on roads and in low-lying stretches, affecting traffic and creating difficulties for commuters.
Meanwhile, the weather also disrupted rail movement in the neighbouring hill region. A portion of the Kalka-Shimla railway track between Gumman and Koti stations was covered by debris after a hillside slide at around 3:15 pm on Wednesday. Train number 52458, the Kalka-Shimla Express, was stopped at Koti as a precaution. The train was carrying 172 passengers, and assistance from local Army officials was sought for their safe evacuation.
With the monsoon expected to remain relatively weak for the next week, authorities and residents will nevertheless have to remain cautious in areas vulnerable to flooding, landslides and rain-related accidents, particularly following heavy rainfall in the surrounding hills.
