Heavy rains in north India leave several dead, cripple normal life

Heavy rain will continue in most parts of northwest India over the next few days, the weather office has said.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy to extremely heavy rain for Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.

The IMD said a western disturbance prevailed over northern India, leading to an intense spell of rain yesterday, including Delhi which experienced the season's first heavy rain.

Waterlogging led to traffic jams in several parts of the national capital. Heavy rain continued in the city and its adjoining areas today as well.

According to reports, the River Beas and its tributaries are flowing above the danger mark. As a result, the authorities have told the people to shun visiting the river sites in Himachal Pradesh for their own safety.

Power supply and water supply were also affected, and people had to face the ire of the bad weather.

A 58-year-old woman was killed in Delhi when the ceiling of a flat came crashing down on her. Four people were killed in rain-related incidents in Rajasthan in a span of 24 hours.

The Met department has predicted very heavy rainfall in more than nine districts of Rajasthan, including, Rajsamand, Jalore, Pali, Ajmer, Alwar, Banswara, Bharatpur, Bhilwara, Bundi, Chittorgarh, Dausa, Dhaulpur, Jaipur and Kota.

The annual Amarnath Yatra has been suspended for the third consecutive day on Sunday following incessant rains and landslides, leaving thousands of pilgrims stranded in Jammu and at various places en route to the cave shrine.

As a result of the rain, temperatures have also come down in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.