RANCHI: Heavy rain accompanied by high-speed winds in Jharkhand since Friday evening killed a 50-year-old woman, uprooted trees, submerged several areas and led to cancellation of flights.
The woman, identified as Kali Lohar, died after the mud walls of her house caved in at Chaibasa in West Singhbhum following incessant rain triggered by a deep depression along the Bay of Bengal.
The inclement weather also led to the cancellation of seven flights (mostly Delhi-bound) and diversion of five flights at the Birsa Munda airport in Ranchi.
There were reports of long hours of power cuts as gusty winds uprooted trees and damaged overhead electricity wires and poles, especially in Ranchi, Khunti, Dhanbad and Kolhan regions comprising Seraikela-Kharsawan, East Singhbhum and West Singhbhum.
In the 24 hours ending 2pm on Saturday, Chaibasa in West Singhbhum district recorded the highest rainfall of 191.6mm followed by 142.2mm in Ramgarh, 137.2mm in Jamshedpur, and 54.2mm in Ranchi.
The water level of several rivers in the Kolhan region has almost reached the danger mark or breached it. Low-lying areas in Jamshedpur, Chaibasa and several areas of Ranchi have gone under water.
“This may continue to move west-north-westwards across Jharkhand and adjoining north Chhattisgarh towards north Madhya Pradesh during the next 24 hours and weaken gradually,” said Ranchi meteorological centre in-charge Abhishek Anand.
Jharkhand’s overall rainfall deficit has come down to 31 per cent from 38 per cent till last Friday. The state has received 494.3mm of rain between June 1 and August 20 against its normal range of 711.7mm.