IMD issues high alert across country

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted fresh rounds of rainfall across the country sending high alert on several states.  Incessant rainfall triggered flash floods and landslides in hilly regions of northern India, with at least 11 people killed on Monday in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana, with a 'red alert' being issued in Punjab.

The department has predicted heavy-to-very heavy rainfall from Himachal Pradesh in the north to Kerala in the south, and Arunachal Pradesh in the east to Rajasthan in the west.

IMD has forecast very heavy rainfall at isolated places over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and heavy rainfall over Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Punjab, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Sikkim, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

In Himachal Pradesh, nine districts have been put on high alert after torrential rainfall triggered massive floods and landslides across the state. Schools and colleges have been shut in Kangra, Kullu, Shimla, Sirmaur, Chamba, Mandi, Kinnaur, Solan and Hamirpur until situations get better after the rainfall and subsequent snowfall.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has ordered all schools and colleges to remain closed on Tuesday due to rainfall alert in the state. Districts located downstream of Ravi, Sutlej, and Beas rivers have been put on high alert due to heavy rainfall in the catchment areas of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

In nearby Chandigarh, authorities opened the floodgates of Sukhna Lake on Monday after water level crossed the danger mark.