Severe rainfall in parts of N India wreaks havoc, 37 killed in 2 days; 50-year record broken in HP
Severe rainfall in parts of north India, particularly Himachal Pradesh, continues to wreak havoc, claiming four more lives in fresh landslides and raising the toll of rain-related incidents in the hill State to 17 fatalities. A total of 37 people have been killed in landslides and other rain-related incidents in the last two days in north India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held discussions with senior Ministers and officials to assess the gravity of the situation.
The heavy downpour has caused rivers, including the Yamuna in Delhi, to overflow. Many roads and residential areas across the region are submerged in knee-deep water, overwhelming the strained civic infrastructure.
The record-breaking rainfall on Sunday surpassed the capacity of the local systems to cope.
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge has urged the Central Government to provide additional relief from the PM CARES Fund for the States affected by the torrential rain. In response, the PMO announced that the Prime Minister has held discussions with senior Ministers and officials to evaluate the impact of the excessive rainfall.
Local administrations, along with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams, are working tirelessly to ensure the safety and well-being of those affected.
Meanwhile, heavy rainfall broke 50 years record in Himachal Pradesh. Landslides claimed four more lives in Shimla, and the Shimla-Kalka highway remains blocked, causing significant disruption. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said 16 to 17 people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents in the state over the past two days.
On Monday morning, a landslide struck a house in Theog subdivision of Shimla, claiming three lives in Pallavi village. The deceased persons have been identified as Deep Bahadur, Devdasi, and Mohan Bahadur. Additionally, the body of an elderly woman, trapped under debris following a landslide in Rajhana village on the outskirts of Shimla city, was recovered on Sunday night, hours after her granddaughter’s body was found at the site.
The meteorological department has issued a “red” alert for “extremely heavy rain” on Monday morning, following a day of relentless downpour that triggered landslides and caused significant damage to houses. Rail operations on the Shimla-Kalka route, a UNESCO world heritage site, have been suspended until Tuesday due to landslides blocking the tracks. Educational institutions across the State have been instructed to remain closed on Monday and Tuesday.
The Shimla-Kalka National Highway, near Shoghi, located approximately 16 km from the capital city, remains blocked due to a landslide on Monday.
The district reports over 120 blocked roads, and 484 water supply schemes have been affected. Incidents of uprooted trees, roof collapses, and property damage have been reported, with 10 houses and 20 vehicles affected, said Shimla police officials.
Rescue efforts are underway to help those stranded in various parts of the state. On Monday, the Home Guards successfully rescued 20 persons from Manali, while around 300 people remained stranded in different locations.
The 14th battalion of the NDRF conducted a late-night operation on Sunday, employing anchored ropes, harnesses, and cranes to rescue six individuals stranded in Nagwayin village due to rising water levels in the Beas River.
Chief Minister Sukhu, in a video released on Monday morning, appealed to the public to avoid venturing out in heavy rains, particularly near rivers and nullahs, and to remain vigilant for the next 24 hours as the Meteorological Department has warned of continued heavy rainfall.
He also urged all MLAs to stay in their respective constituencies and assist the people during this distressing time. The state government has established three helpline numbers (1100, 1070, and 1077) to aid those in distress.
Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said 4,680 schemes of the Jal Shakti Department have been damaged, resulting in an estimated loss of Rs 323.30 crore. The Chandigarh-Manali National Highway remains blocked due to landslides and flooding at multiple locations, while the Shimla-Kinnaur road is closed to vehicular traffic due to slides and falling rocks.
Superintendent of Police Mayank Chaudhary confirmed the safety of all stranded individuals, ensuring that food and essential medicines have been arranged. Once the roads are restored, rescue operations will commence. The heavy rains have also severely impacted transportation, with 876 bus routes of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation affected and 403 buses stranded at various locations.
During the monsoon season from July 1 to July 9, Himachal Pradesh received 271.5 mm of rainfall, surpassing the normal rainfall of 160.6 mm by a significant 69 per cent.
In Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed all concerned departments to remain alert due to the potential swelling of rivers from heavy rains in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. In a review meeting, officials were instructed to closely monitor the situation, especially river embankments. The NDRF, SDRF, and disaster management teams have been put on high alert.
Punjab and Haryana have also experienced relentless rainfall for the third consecutive day, resulting in widespread flooding. Authorities are actively engaged in rescue operations to relocate people to safer areas. In view of the prevailing situation, the Punjab government has ordered the closure of schools in the state until July 13. Chandigarh, the capital city, has also witnessed record rainfall over the past three days, leading to water accumulation on some roads.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann urged the people of Punjab not to panic as heavy rains caused flooding in certain areas of the state. Among the worst-affected districts are Mohali, Patiala, Rupnagar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Panchkula, and Ambala.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar canceled all pre-scheduled programmes and called for an emergency meeting with senior officials from various departments, including Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal, to assess the situation.
