Heavy rains lashed several parts of North India on Monday, wreaking havoc in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, where over 60 people were killed and thousands stranded due to the landslides and floods.
Several parts of Haryana were also flooded after the water level of the Yamuna rose alarmingly and at least 15 people died in flash floods in Uttar Pradesh.
Flashfloods in the Ganga and its tributaries triggered by incessant rains for over 48 hours left a trail of death and devastation across Uttarakhand killing 37 people, injuring 34 and damaging 164 buildings.
Seven people went missing and five vehicles including a chopper were swept away in the heavy showers which are still continuing at a number of places across the State, Disaster Management authorities in Dehradun said.
The incessant rains led to huge loss of life and property in Himachal Pradesh with ten people losing their lives in Kinnaur and hundreds being stranded in several parts of the State.
The State has been witnessing heavy rains for the last three days and on Monday, the situation worsened in tribal Kinnaur district, where ten people lost their lives due to landslides in different areas.
Five members of a family were killed in Chaugan village, after their house got buried under boulders and debris that fell due to rain. A father and daughter died at Moorang village of the district, when their mud thatched hut collapsed late at night due to the incessant rains. A group of villagers in Moorang rescued a woman, who was trapped in the debris.
Another woman died after her house was washed away in flash flood in Yula village, five kilometers ahead of Tapri suburb that was affected due to a sudden cloud burst.
The Disaster Management cell in Himachal Pradesh secretariat said that a child had also died in Baltrang village after he was hit by a boulder in the village, 25 km ahead of district headquarters Reckong Peo. One person had died on Sunday, when car in which he was travelling was hit by a boulder.
A high alert was sounded in Himachal Pradesh and Army assistance was sought for rescue operations in Kinnaur as it was cut off from the State from Tapri onwards as most of the approach roads and Hindustan-Tibet National highway was blocked at several places due landslides and about 1,700 people were stranded.
About 25 foreigners and a Doordarshan team were among those stranded in Kinnaur. The Disaster Management cell of the Army has been informed and it has already started preparations for launching rescue operations in coordination with the IAF and the Army.
At least 15 people were killed in different incidents in Uttar Pradesh as flash floods lashed Saharanpur district following incessant rainfalls in neighbouring Uttarakhand.
IG (law and order) RK Vishkarma said nearly 45 people were stranded due to the flash floods and were airlifted from Sarsava airbase to safer places by Air Force helicopters.
Incessant rains and cloud burst wreaked havoc across Uttarakhand where about 57,040 pilgrims undertaking the Chardham Yatra are stranded at various places and 30 have died so far. Several others are feared drowned. Rains' fury devastated 164 buildings, washed away 1,015 animals, including 1,000 goats and 15 cows.
Rudraprayag, Uttarkashi, and Chamoli are among worst hit districts. Out of 30 deaths, 20 have been reported from Rudraprayag wherein 25,000 pilgrims are stranded and 11 have sustained injuries. One person is missing. 73 buildings have collapsed here.
Five bodies have been recovered from the river. Around 40 hotels based along Mandakini river were swept away by the rain. The rain devastated two hotels, a GMVNl hut near Chandrapuri area and Sonprayag main market. A GMVN guest house, 19 buildings in Sumadi and Tilwada and Deendayal Park in Rudraprayag were washed away.
District administration claimed to have shifted 500 pilgrims to safer places. Rains washed away Gaurikund-Kedarnath route completely.
Several mini bridges on the route were also either submerged or washed away. Five persons were rescued from Bhimbali area on the route. Some more persons might be trapped under the debris.
Chamoli is second district where two persons died and eight sustained injuries. Four persons have been reported missing from this district.
According to official figures, 27,040 pilgrims, including 1,000 at Joshimath, 10,000 in Badrinath, 6,000 in Ghanghariya and 10,000 in Govind Ghat in the district, are stranded.
Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna who postponed a foreign visit slated for the end of this month, was briefed by District Magistrates on the extent of damage caused by the flashfloods through a video conference. He expressed grief at the loss of lives in the calamity describing it as "huge".
Rescue operations are going on a war footing with the help of ITBP, BSF and the Army but the bad weather is a hindrance, he admitted. Chardham yatra and Mansarovar yatra through Uttarakhand have been suspended which will be resumed after the weather clears up, he said.
The first two groups of Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims going to Tibet through Uttarakhand have been asked to stay put at their respective places at Gunji and Almora until the weather improves and the road network is restored.
The southwest monsoon brought heavy rains in several parts of Haryana also.
Rescue teams evacuated 52 villagers, including 15 children, from a riverine island as the waters of the Yamuna river swelled in Yamunanagar district of Haryana.
A team of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters rescued them.
The rescued villagers are from lapra village in Yamunanagar district. Rescue operations were also on in Karnal district where nearly 200 people were stranded in Shergarh Tapu and Chandrao villages.
Heavy showers in the national Capital for the second consecutive day caused water-logging and traffic chaos in various parts.
According to the MeT Department, Delhi received 17.1 mm rains from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm. Earlier, during the last 24 hours ending at 8.30 am, rain gauges measured 58.5 mm. The city had received 36.6 mm of rains till 5.30 pm yesterday which were the first monsoon showers of the season.
The day temperature in the national temperature dropped sharply today settling at 30.3 degree C which was nine notches below normal while the minimum temperature remained five notches below normal at 23.5 degree C.