Three weeks into September as the monsoon shows no signs of withdrawal, rivers in as many as five States are flowing above the danger mark — a feature which the Met says is 'unique'. Rivers like Ganga, Brahmaputra, Yamuna, Mahananda, Bagmati, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi, Sone, Jiabharali, Chambal etc in Bihar, Assam, UP, Bengal and Rajasthan are above the danger mark causing flood-like situation in many areas in these States. The IMD rainfall data till September 18 showed India received an average of 861 mm as against the normal of 823.9mm, which is 5 percent above normal.
According to IMD officials, the weather phenomenon is 'unique' at the time of withdrawal of southwest monsoon in the third week of September. "Due to climate change, August and September witnessed excessive rainfall this monsoon. It is usually in July and August. Due to delayed arrival, the withdrawal is also delayed by almost a fortnight. Data recorded close to 1,900 extreme rainfall events this monsoon, more than half of which were in August and September, underlining the expanding impact of climate change in the June-September monsoon," IMD officials said.
As many as one crore people are effected and 1400 people have died in rain-related tragedies across the country and damages to property runs into thousands of crores in 14 States. The damage to properties, infrastructures, crops, animals due to rain related mayhem is still being estimated.
According to IMD, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, Nagaland, Sikkim, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya have recorded excessive and continuous rainfall in the last six days (September 12 to 18). The IMD said that he first was July 10 to 15, leading to flooding in eastern Uttar Pradesh and northern Bihar; the second between July 25 and 31, causing floods in Assam; and the third between August 5 and 12, when coastal states such as Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala experienced floods.
As per flood assessment report prepared by the Ministry of Home Affairs, all rivers --Ganga, Yamuna, Burhi Gandak, Bagmati, Mahanand, Kamalabalan are flowing over danger marks, causing flood like situation in Khagaria, Sitamarhi, Kishangani, Katihar, Patna,Buxar, Gopal Ganj, Bhagalpur, Khagaria districts in Bihar. Bihar recorded 774.5mm rainfall as against the normal of 941.4 mm, a deficient of 18 percent. The situation report says that several low lying areas on the river banks in the state are under flood.
Similarly, rivers in UP flowing over danger marks and causing floods in Ballia, Banda, Faizabad, Gazipur, Auraiya, Hamirpur, Bara Banki, Prayagraj, Jalaun districts are facing flood like situation. Low lying area in Prayagraj and Varansi are under water. UP recorded 581 mm of rain as against the normal of 749 mm, a deficient of 22 percent.
Brahamputra, Jiabharali and Dhansiri in Assam flowing over danger mark. In Rajastham Chambal is flowing over danger mark at Dhoulpur while Ganga in Murshidabad is over flowing.
The number of floods in India rose to 90 in the 10-year period from 2006 to 2015, up from 67 in the 10 years between 1996 to 2005, according to the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction.
