Heavy rain that hit the city from last 24 hours has led to waterlogging in the low-lying areas and affected normal life. Traffic was disrupted as major main roads in the city were inundated.
Due to the impact of a low pressure drenched Jharkhand during the last 24 hours, brought down the monsoon deficit to 6 per cent from 8, with the weather department predicting heavy to very heavy rain at a few isolated pockets in the next two days.
This was the first time in September, the last monsoon month, the skies opened up, led in showers in most parts of the state, especially southern parts of the state were a few places experienced a downpour since last night.
Statistics revealed that Ghatshila in East Singhbhum topped the rain chart with very heavy rain of 120 mm. This was followed by Nimdih in adjoining Seraikela-Kharsawan district which recorded 90 mm . Tilaiya in Koderma and Madhupur in Deoghar also recorded heavy rainfall of 70 mm while Koner in Bokaro district recorded 50 mm of rain.
Hindgir in Ranchi district and Chatra recorded 45 mm of rain while the local IMD observatory in Jamshedpur recorded around 43 mm of rain ( till 2.30 pm). Rain was continuing in Jamshedpur at the time of filing this report.
Met department officials said that the monsoon became active in Jharkhand due to formation of a low pressure area over Gangetic Bengal and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal. " An associated cyclonic circulation is also extending upto 7.6 Kms above the mean sea level. This coupled with the low pressure would result in a widespread rain with posibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few isolated pockets during the next two days," said D G Hedau, a senior official at the Ranchi Meteorological Centre.
Meanwhile, traffic was disrupted as major main roads in the city were inundated. Commuters had a tough time wading through knee-deep water, at some places, to reach their destinations. There is also a fear of an outbreak of water-borne diseases.
The traffic police had a tough time regulating traffic in the affected areas. In a few areas, traffic constables were seen opening manhole covers to enable free flow of rainwater into the drains.
Rain water gushed into houses in many low-lying area, said officials. Many areas including Jugsalai were also plunged into darkness after electric cables were snapped due to the falling trees.