Rain highlights: Delhi likely to receive scattered rain

The Indian Air Force on Saturday said it deployed eight helicopters as part of the rescue and relief operations following the cloudburst incident near the Amarnath cave shrine, PTI reported. The death toll in the flash flood triggered by heavy rain near the shrine rose to 16. The IAF said four Mi-17V5 and four Cheetal helicopters were deployed for rescue and relief efforts at the Amarnath shrine.

An orange alert has been issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Mumbai for the next three days. India's financial capital was under ‘red’ alert on Saturday, but it received only 2.2mm of rainfall. Besides Maharashtra, monsoon-triggered rainfall has hit southern state of Telangana wherein roads remain completely or partially inundated. The Met department has issued a red alert in as many as eight districts for the next three days (till July 12). Full report

After a cloudburst struck the area near the holy shrine of Amarnath, as many as 35 pilgrims were discharged following treatment, informed the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) Officials on Saturday, ANI reported. "35 pilgrims have been discharged following treatment. 17 people are getting the treatment and are likely to get discharged tonight. All safe and healthy," said Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) Officials.

Delhi on Saturday recorded a maximum temperature of 35.1 degrees Celsius, a notch above normal, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. The minimum temperature settled at 30.5 degrees Celsius, three notches above normal, it said. The relative humidity was recorded at 68 per cent at 5.30 pm.

Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday announced a financial aid of ₹5 lakh each for families of pilgrims from the state killed in the Amarnath cloudburst in Jammu and Kashmir. Read more

After a cloudburst struck the holy shrine area of Amarnath on Friday, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant-Governor Manoj Sinha chaired a high-level meeting to review the ongoing rescue and relief operations at Amarnath cave, informed the officials on Saturday, ANI reported. A two-minute silence was also observed during the meeting to pay tribute to devotees who lost their lives in the incident.

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao on Saturday instructed Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar to alert all departments concerned and take quick safety measures in the wake of incessant rains in the state, PTI reported. Following a red alert in Telangana and also in Maharashtra, the Chief Minister said he would review the situation from time to time and also hold video conference today (Saturday) or tomorrow (Sunday), an official release said.

A man and a woman from Pune in Maharashtra died during the Amarnath pilgrimage, district officials said on Saturday and added that no pilgrim from the city is missing in the flash flood tragedy as of now, PTI reported. While the cause of the death of one of the deceased, Pradip Kharade, is identified as cardiac arrest, officials are not sure about the cause of the death of Sunita Bhosale. However, NCP leader Rupali Chakankar claimed that Bhosale died in a landslide triggered by heavy rain near the Amarnath cave shrine.

Amid the ongoing heavy rainfall from Sonprayag onwards in Uttarakhand, the Kedarnath Yatra has been stopped once again for ensuring the safety of the pilgrims amid the apprehensions of untoward incidents.

Rajasthan received heavy rainfall at isolated places in the last 24 hours, Meteorological Department (MeT) said. Bhilwara recorded highest rainfall at 8 cm, followed by Phagi in Jaipur with 5 cm of rainfall till Saturday morning.

The Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring issued alerts on Saturday for Udupi, Mangalore, Kodagu, Uttara Kannada, Chickamagalur, Shimoga, Hassan predicting heavy rains in the regions till July 10.

At least 130 villages in three districts of Maharashtra, all in the Marathwada and Vidarbha regions, were affected by heavy rains which caused floods in parts of these districts and at least 200 people were evacuated, but fortunately, no casualties are reported, officials said on Saturday.

Low-lying areas faced inundation while rivulets were in spate at several places in Telangana on Saturday following incessant rains in the last few days.

Two men were washed away in the rain-swollen water bodies in separate incidents that occurred in Bhiwandi taluka of Maharashtra's Thane district, officials said on Saturday.

The minimum temperature in the national capital on Saturday settled at 30.5 degree Celsius, three notches above the normal, an India Meteorological Department bulletin said. According to the IMD, cloudy sky with thundershowers is expected in the national capital in the next few days.

NDRF DG Atul Karwal has confirmed 16 deaths, saying about 40 are still missing. He said that the rain is still on but it is not impacting the rescue operation.

“No landslide, but rain continues, though no problem in rescue work. 4 NDRF teams with over 100 rescuers in rescue work. Besides, Indian Army, SDRF, CRPF and others continue to rescue,” he added.

IMD has predicted moderate rain in the city and suburbs. “Possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places, and possibility of occasional gusty winds reaching 40-50 km/h,” the weather agency said.

A cloudburst was reported early morning at Gunti Forest uphills in Thathri town of J&K's Doda district. SSP Doda, Abdul Qayoom, said that some vehicles were stuck and the highway was blocked for some time, but it has now been restored for the movement of traffic, reported ANI.

As 10 injured yatris were airlifted from holy cave to Baltal base hospital, the IMD office in Srinagar predicted fresh flash floods. More than 40 people were still missing and rescue operations are underway.

Most of the pilgrims who were stranded near holy cave area due to flash flood last evening have been shifted to Panjtarni, said Indo-Tibetan Border Police.

Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai said a total 12 people have lost their lives so far in various rain-related incidents since June 1. as torrential rains continue to batter several parts of the state. He said rains will continue for another three to four days at various places across the state, instructing officials to take necessary precautionary measures.

A highly localised rain event caused death and destruction near the Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir, according to the Met department. "It was a highly localised cloud only over the holy cave. Such rain had happened earlier this year as well. No flash flood," said Sonam Lotus, Director of the Regional Meteorological Centre in Srinagar.