Weather News highlights: IMD predicts very heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand for the next 5 days

The flood water of Yamuna, Tangri, Ghaggar and Markanda rivers has reached to over 105 villages in the past 24 hours and spread to Ambala, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Panipat, Sonepat, Panchkula, Jhajjar and Yamunanagar districts. With the five deaths reported in the state in the past 24 hours, the death toll on Thursday reached 16 and total of 126 houses were damaged and 106 were damaged partially.

"91 people lost their lives in Himachal Pradesh from June 24 to July 13. 34 deaths happened due to landslides, cloudbust, and flash floods," the government officials' data stated.

"More than 1000 roads were still closed besides damage to over 5000 water supply schemes across the state," said Principal Secretary Revenue Onkar Sharma, PTI reported.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday brought several stranded tourists from Sangla to Shimla in the IAF helicopter in which he was travelling, ANI reported.

Considering the safety of students, the Punjab government on Thursday extended the holiday in schools till July 16. Earlier, it had announced holidays till July 13, PTI reported.

In Kapurthala district, Army Jawans, NDRF and Punjab Police jawans evacuated 300 flood victims from flood-marooned villages in Sultanpur Lodhi during the past two days, PTI reported.

According to India Meteorological Department, isolated very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall is very likely over Uttarakhand during the next 5 days.

Relief work continued at a brisk pace in the flood-maroone areas of Punjab and Haryana on Thursday, where the rain fury has left normal life paralysed in worst-hit parts.

Authorities in the two states have stepped up relief operations as the weather has improved over the past three days. Overall, 14 districts have been affected in Punjab and seven in Haryana.

With six more deaths due to rain-related incidents in Punjab and Haryana on Wednesday, the death toll now stands at 21, including 10 in Haryana, according to government data, PTI reported.

During the aerial survey of flood-hit regions in Himachal Pradesh on Thursday, CM Sukhu helped several stranded tourists to evacuate from Sangla in his chopper.

BJP president J P Nadda will visit Himachal Pradesh on Friday to take stock of the situation following heavy destruction due to landslides and floods in the state.

Nadda will arrive in the state in the morning and will visit flood-ravaged areas of Mandi and Kullu districts and interact with people, a release issued here by the party on Thursday said.

'The situation here is very dangerous, continuous rain is causing havoc. If it rains tonight as well, this area will be fully flooded. Govt must do something and help us. This is a very serious situation,' said Rahul Arjun, a resident of Dibrugarh

Amid the blame game over water flow from the Hathnikund barrage increasing the Yamuna level in Delhi, Haryana Education Minister Kanwar Pal Thursday said not releasing excess water from the barrage could lead to a "bigger damage". "When there are floods or heavy rains as we not releasing excess water from the barrage could lead to a "bigger damage".saw in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh and even our state in the last few days, there is no option but to release water. If we stop the water, the situation will be disastrous," the minister said.

Shimla-Chandigarh National Highway 5 will be closed for all vehicular traffic from 09:00 PM onwards at Chakki Mod for restoration work, Himachal Pradesh administration said on Thursday. Emergency vehicles to be diverted via alternate route- Dharampur-Kasauli-Parwanoo.

Flood situation worsens in Assam as heavy downpour continued. Watch these visuals from Chirang district.

Indian Air Force (IAF) has deployed two Medium Lift Helicopters for flood relief operations at Ambala. The helicopters have so far dropped around 2000 kg of relief material comprising water bottles, ration and tarpaulin sheets in the villages of Niharsa and Allaudin Majra. 

“Heavy rains caused huge damage in several districts of Himachal. Power outages, flooding, connectivity issues and more brought the state to a complete standstill. It will take some time but the situation will return to normal. I thank the Central government for sending timely help to the state,” said Former CM & Leader of the opposition of Himachal Pradesh Jairam Thakur

The water level of river Yamuna may decrease to 208.45m by 4 am, according to latest flood forecast.

Speaking about the rise in water levels of Yamuna Superintendent Engineer RS Mittal said, "...The water level had started going down yesterday but it started rising again since last night...It doesn't seem that the water level will go down any lower right now..."

Relief work continued at a brisk pace in the flood-affected areas of Punjab and Haryana on Thursday, where the rain fury has left normal life paralysed in worst-hit parts.

Considering the safety of students, the Punjab government on Thursday extended the holiday in schools till July 16. Earlier, it had announced holidays till July 13.

"Some people are staying in 'Sheesh Mehal' and are blaming others for the situation in Delhi, they're running away from their responsibility...we have never seen them taking responsibility for anything in the last 9 years...when will he (Arvind Kejriwal) realise his responsibilities?...": Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Delhi's flood situation

Schools in Noida and other adjoining areas will remain shut tomorrow as Yamuna flows above danger mark in Delhi.

Schools and colleges were closed after record monsoon rains led to massive waterlogging, road caves-in, collapsed homes and gridlocked traffic in large parts of northern India this week, killing more than 100 people, officials said Thursday.

Watch visuals of the flooded Red Forst area in Delhi

"12 NDRF teams are deployed in view of the flood situation in Delhi, administration and agencies are also working together...have evacuated around 2500 people so far from different areas..." said NDRF DIG Mohsen Shahidi

The DDMA convened a meeting in the national capital on Thursday amid rising water levels of river Yamuna.

Several vehicles were stranded in flood water under a railway bridge near Delhi's Geeta Colony on Wednesday. Watch visuals.