Monsoon lashes North; four killed (Hindu 09 September 2011)

Vigorous monsoon activity continued in North India on Friday, including the national Capital, resulting in water-logging and power cuts, while four persons were killed in separate rain-related incidents.
Heavy showers drenched Delhiites, leaving many of them stuck on the roads for hours as traffic went haywire due to water-logging. The rain gauges measured 91.1 mm in the Capital while the minimum temperature was recorded at 25.1 degrees Celsius, normal for this time of the year.
A minor girl died when the boundary wall of a hospital in Gautam Colony of Narela collapsed around 7-30 a.m.
In Uttar Pradesh, two women were killed in separate incidents of wall collapse as rain lashed large parts of the State, throwing normal life out of gear.
Mirzapur received a maximum rainfall of 148 mm, while 74 mm was recorded in Lucknow. All major rivers in the State were flowing below danger mark though at some places they have started rising, a Central Water Commission report said.
Moderate to heavy rain lashed several areas in Punjab and Haryana inundating low-lying areas in the region.
The intermittent rainfall also snapped power and water supply at a few places in the twin States, officials said.
Most of the rivers criss-crossing the two States, including Ravi, Beas, Sutlej, Yamuna, Som, Ghaggar and Markanda, are flowing in spate in the wake of the rain in the catchment areas, causing a flood-like situation in villages along the banks.
Ranjeet Sagar Dam was lashed by 66.9 mm of rainfall, followed by Bhagauta with 66.2 mm.
Among other places, Chandigarh received 66.1 mm of rain disrupting normal life in the city. While Nangal Dam received 45.8 mm of rain, Patiala 33 mm. Shahpur Kandi recorded 23.2 mm followed by 20.7 mm at Ambala, 19 mm at Madhopur, 13 mm at Narnaul, and 5.8 mm at Amritsar.
The weatherman has forecast more rainfall at a few places in the region on Saturday. The maximum temperature has also dipped a few notches in the region.
In Himachal Pradesh, a man was killed and his son injured due to lightning at Vikasnagar in Dehra Dun.
Pilani in Rajasthan recorded 55.2 mm of rainfall followed by Sriganganagar at 23.7 mm.
Meanwhile, the flood situation in Orissa has worsened with the opening of 59 gates of Hirakud dam to discharge excess rain water, even as the State government geared up to meet the threat.
A high alert has been sounded in 11 districts of the State