Depression triggers heavy rain across Jharkhand

Jamshedpur, August 18 : A depression over Jharkhand and adjoining northern parts of Gangetic West Bengal has triggered widespread rainfall across the state, with several areas receiving heavy to extremely heavy showers since Monday night.

The India Meteorological Department said the depression, which moved west-northwestwards at around 10 Kmph was centred at 8.30 am on Tuesday near latitude 23.9°N and longitude 85.8°E.

The system was located around 50 Km east-southeast of Hazaribagh and 80 km northeast of Ranchi.

The weather system is expected to continue moving west-northwestwards across Jharkhand and Bihar and weaken into a well-marked low-pressure area during the next 24 hours.

The IMD has warned of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places over North-Central Jharkhand and adjoining western areas, including Latehar, Chatra, Hazaribagh, Ramgarh and Ranchi.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall is also likely at isolated places in Palamu, Garhwa, Lohardaga, Gumla, Koderma and Khunti.

Heavy rain has also been forecast at a few places in Simdega, West Singhbhum, East Singhbhum, Seraikela-Kharsawan, Bokaro, Dhanbad and Giridih.

Along with rain, thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of 40-50 kmph are likely at isolated places across the state on Tuesday.

The weather is expected to remain unsettled over the next few days, with heavy rainfall activity continuing in parts of north-western and central Jharkhand on August 19 and 20.

The IMD said the monsoon trough currently extends through Dehri and the centre of the depression over Jharkhand and adjoining northern Gangetic West Bengal, further towards Digha and the northeast Bay of Bengal.

An upper-air cyclonic circulation over East Uttar Pradesh and adjoining areas also persists, extending up to 3.1 km above mean sea level.

With the depression moving further west-northwestwards, Jharkhand is likely to witness continued spells of rain over the next 24 hours, bringing relief from humid conditions but raising the possibility of waterlogging and disruption in vulnerable areas.

EoM