Deep depression triggers widespread showers
Jamshedpur: Heavy rains continued to wreak havoc across the city for the second consecutive day today, with many parts of the state recording substantial rainfall. Statistics revealed that Jamshedpur alone received 101 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours, while other areas like Latehar and Chaibasa also reported significant downpours, measuring 106 mm and 67 mm, respectively. The persistent rainfall has led to severe waterlogging, particularly in low-lying areas, and has caused river water levels to rise dangerously.
In West Singhbhum’s Chaibasa, 67 mm of rainfall was recorded, while Bokaro saw 60 mm. Daltonganj received 52 mm, and the state capital, Ranchi, recorded 40 mm. Overnight rains have been reported from most areas of the Kolhan region.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the prevailing deep depression over Gangetic West Bengal is the cause behind the torrential rains. As of today, the depression lay centred about 60 km west of Kolkata, 110 km southeast of Bankura, 170 km east of Jamshedpur, and 270 km east-southeast of Ranchi. Moving westward across Gangetic West Bengal, it is expected to bring more heavy rains to Jharkhand before gradually weakening into a depression within the next 24 hours.
IMD officials warned that the monsoon was particularly vigorous across Jharkhand in the past two days, with the state experiencing both light to moderate rainfall and thunderstorms at most places. Additionally, isolated areas have already witnessed heavy to very heavy rainfall. The monsoon trough at mean sea level is currently passing through Firozpur, Patiala, Shahjahanpur, and Balia, with the centre of the deep depression over Gangetic West Bengal extending south-southeast to the northeast Bay of Bengal.
With the deep depression continuing to affect the region, the IMD’s Ranchi Meteorological Centre has issued a forecast predicting further downpours. Very heavy rainfall is expected at isolated locations over the north-western parts of the state today. Additionally, heavy rains are also likely in western and north-western areas, exacerbating the existing flood threat.
The heavy rainfall has brought normal life in Jamshedpur and surrounding regions to a standstill. Many roads have become impassable due to waterlogging, hampering traffic and disrupting daily routines. Residents of low-lying areas have been particularly affected, with rainwater entering homes in several places. Local authorities are on high alert, closely monitoring river levels to mitigate the risk of flooding, especially with both the Subernarekha and Kharkai rivers continuing to rise.
