Met department warns of more rains in western, central India

The Meteorological Department on Tuesday warned that there might be another deluge in western and central parts of the country, saying the current lull in rains could be short-lived.

In July, there had been around 95 per cent rains of the long-term average as against the forecast 97 per cent, weather officials said."There is a brief respite in the rains but we envision that if a certain low pressure area over the northern part of the Bay of Bengal strengthens then it will bring rains and thunder showers to central and western India and also to Orissa. But we cannot say so with conviction as yet, as the data we require to study for that is yet under compilation," said Meera Khole, Director of the meteorological department.

The western region of the country has received heavy rainfall in the last one month, with several places inundated. Army had to be called in to evacuate villagers in Maharashtra's Sangli district.

Major rivers had risen to alarming levels and inundated their catchments, leading to massive rescue and relocation operations.

At least 44 people had died in Maharashtra alone due to heavy rains. The deaths were reported to have taken place due to drowning, lighting strikes and building collapses.

Heavy monsoon rains have also lashed neighbouring Gujarat in the past few weeks. At least 55 people have died in rain-related accidents while thousands have been left homeless, officials said.

In Orissa, hundreds of hectares of paddy crop -- the state's staple -- were damaged in downpours. (ANI)

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