Over 80 killed as heavy rains continue to batter North India

Over 80 persons died across North India in the past three days as heavy rains continued to lash the region for the third day on Monday.

Many parts of Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Chandigarh, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Delhi have received heavy rainfall since July 8. The India Meteorological Department has said that the weather conditions were caused by the interaction of a western disturbance and monsoon winds.

Uttar Pradesh alone reported 42 rain-related deaths in the past three days, The Indian Express reported. Twenty-two of these deaths occurred due to lightning, 14 people died by drowning and six casualties were because of “heavy rainfall”, the newspaper cited information from the state relief commissioner’s office.

Disaster management officials also said that 20 residents have died in Himachal Pradesh, 15 in Jammu and Kashmir, five in Delhi and one each in Rajasthan and Haryana, reported the Hindustan Times. Two persons have also died in Punjab, while four died in Uttarakhand.

The rainfall led to flooding and landslides that washed away homes, roads and bridges in some areas.

Himachal Pradesh

In Himachal Pradesh, incessant rain triggered landslides and flash floods, leaving homes and other structures damaged, reported NDTV. Some shops and vehicles were also washed away in flash floods in Manali, Kullu, Kinnaur and Chamba due to the rise in water levels of all major rivers in the state, including Ravi, Beas, Satluj, Swan and Chenab.

State minister Jagat Singh Negi said on Monday that while 20 people have died in the state, most of them are due to road accidents and not landslides or flash floods.

“Over 1,300 roads, including major national highways, district, and link roads in the state, are affected,” he added. “We are on high alert for the next two day.”

Principal Secretary of Revenue Department Onkar Chand Sharma said that Himachal Pradesh has suffered a loss of Rs 780 crore since the onset of monsoon on June 24.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that his government will begin evacuation of those stranded in the state.

“Alternate routes will be prepared for the roads that are completely damaged,” he said, according to ANI. “The floods have caused severe damage to the state. Our attempt is to restore electricity and provide fresh water at the earliest.”

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department predicted a reduction in rainfall over Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana and Chandigarh from Tuesday.

Uttarakhand

In Uttarakhand, four pilgrims from Madhya Pradesh died and seven more were injured when a landslide triggered by heavy rainfall buried three vehicles in Uttarkashi.

Bhatwadi Sub-Collector Chatar Singh Chauhan told PTI that three of the four bodies have been recovered and efforts are underway to pull out the fourth person from the rubble.

The state is witnessing landslides and flash floods with reports of water levels in rivers and streams crossing the danger mark.

The weather department has issued a red alert for Uttarakhand for Tuesday and spells of heavy rain have been forecast for several days. A red alert requires authorities to take action to tackle an adverse weather-related situation.

The heavy downpour has led to the closing down of 171 roads, including 16 state highways. Schools have been closed till Wednesday in badly-hit districts.

Punjab

Two persons have been washed away in flash floods triggered by the heavy downpour in Punjab, reported The Indian Express.

Nawanshahr Deputy Commissioner Navjot Singh Randhawa said that the deaths took place due to the as the two youths reportedly ignored the heavy flow of water in the Sutlej river and decided to take bath. Randhawa has urged the residents, especially the youths, to be more careful in the present situation.

In Jalandhar district, a breach in a temporary embankment along Sutlej river led water to gush into the Punjab Police Training Academy on Monday morning. Officials said that around 4-5 feet of river water submerged at least a dozen vehicles.

Water also entered households in nearby areas.

Delhi-NCR

In Delhi, the water level of the Yamuna river has breached the danger mark and is now hovering at 206.32 meres as of 8 am on Tuesday, reported India Today.

The development came as more rain has been predicted for the entire week in the city. Parts of Delhi and Gurugram are facing waterlogging.

Those living in low-lying areas of the Yamuna floodplains are being evacuated.

Uttar Pradesh

The IMD has predicted heavy rainfall along with thunderstorms and lightning at several places in the state.

Thunderstorms and lightning are very likely in more than 65 districts, including Lucknow, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Lakhimpur Kheri, Kanpur, Unnao, Rae Bareli, Amethi and Ayodhya, according to the weather department, reported the Hindustan Times.

It has also issued an orange alert in 12 districts – Bareilly, Lakhimpur Kheri, Siddharth Nagar, Gonda, Balrampur, Shrawasti, Bahraich, Shahjahanpur, Sitapur, Barabanki, Pilibhit and Maharajganj. An orange alert indicates very heavy rains in the range of 6 centimetres to 20 centimetres.