The southwest monsoon covered the entire state of Jharkhand on June 18 with heavy to extremely heavy rainfall coupled with thunder strikes that are likely to continue till June 20.
At least seven persons including a mother — daughter duo are reported to have lost their lives due to lightning and heavy rains since the onset of monsoon in the State on Tuesday.
A red alert has been sounded for various districts of the State for June 18 and 19 forcing authorities to take safety measures and close schools on June 19.
With a red alert being issued by the Indian Meteorological Centre for the State for June 19, in view of
the possibility of heavy rain, for the safety of school children Deputy Commissioner — cum — District Magistrate, Ranchi Manjunath Bhajantri has issued an order to keep all categories of Government, non- Government aided including minority and all private schools operating in the district to remain closed for class KG to class 12.
In the special bulletin released by the India Meteorological Department, India Meteorological Centre
Jharkhand, Ranchi, the district has been marked in the Red Zone category with the possibility of heavy rain being expressed.
“As of on June 18 southwest monsoon has advanced over the entire state of Jharkhand and it has been vigorously active here with heavy to very heavy rainfall being recorded at some places. A well- marked low pressure system persists over Gangetic West Bengal and adjoining areas of Jharkhand which is gradually moving northwestwards and will also be active over the State in the next 24 hours. Widespread rainfall is expected across the State till June 20with heavy to extremely heavy spells in some parts. Since, it is related to a system, the intensity of rain could vary and it may also be accompanied with thunderstorms and lightning,” said Director, MET Centre Ranchi, Abhishek Anand The MET Centre, Ranchi for June 19, has issued a red alert for the districts of Ranchi, Lohardaga, Gumla, Khunti and Simdega and an orange alert for Latehar, Ramgarh, Chatra, Palamu, Garhwa and Hazaribagh.
For June 20, an orange alert signifying very heavy showers for the north western parts has been issued while the north eastern and central parts are likely to witness heavy rains.
As per the data released by the MET Centre, Ranchi, the State had been facing a 52 percent rain deficit from June 1 to June 17.
However, since the onset of monsoon and fresh showers being witnessed across Jharkhand in the past 24 hours, as of on June 18 a seven percent surplus was also registered.
A total of 80.4 mm of rainfall has been recorded 9as against the normal amount of 74.9 mm from June 1 to June 18.