Monday, September 30, 2019

More than 100 killed in weekend flooding across northern India

Updated Sep. 30, 2019 10:35 AM



Severe flooding continued to inundate northern India this past weekend with numerous fatalities being reported in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Following several days of heavy rainfall, the number of fatalities rose above 100 between the two states with Uttar Pradesh reporting 93 and Bihar 29 as of Monday, according to BBC News.
The same monsoon low that struck Uttar Pradesh produced flash flooding in Pune earlier last week. That round of flooding killed at least 22 people with 4 others still missing, according to the Hindustan Times.
Officials say rail traffic, health services, schools and power supply have been disrupted in both states, according to the BBC.
People are rescued in a tractor from a flooded area following heavy rainfall in Patna, India, Monday, Sept.30, 2019. (AP Photo/Aftab Alam Siddiqui)
Downpours will continue across northern India this week, but are expected to be more localized with less flooding compared to last week.
A monsoon low will spark locally heavy rainfall across eastern Gujarat, southeast Rajasthan and far western Madhya Pradesh into early Tuesday.
These downpours will then advance eastward into central Madhya Pradesh during the day on Tuesday.
Eastern Madhya Pradesh and northern Chhattisgarh will then be at risk for localized flooding Tuesday night into Wednesday.
Farther east, daily showers and thunderstorms will heighten the risk for flooding and travel disruptions from Odisha and Jharkhand into Northeast India.
A few of these downpours may renew flooding across Bihar where some communities remain underwater following more than 300 mm (12 inches) of rainfall in recent days.
Daily showers and thunderstorms will also be scattered across southern India, with localized flooding possible in Kerala, western Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Largely dry weather is expected in Chennai this week where a prolonged drought and water shortage continues.
RELATED:
India's southwest monsoon typically begins to withdraw in early September. However, it is nearly a month behind schedule this year.
The extra month of downpours has caused significant flooding across northern India and also damaged agriculture.
Signs are pointing to changes in the weather starting late this week and continuing into next week as a push of dry air from the Middle East may finally allow the monsoon to begin its withdrawal from northwest India.

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