India floods: As flooding and landslides ravage multiple states, residents of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are advised to stay indoors, while Delhi schools suspend operations due to the inclement weather.
North india floods 2023: North India Witnessed Havoc as Monsoon Rainfall Claims 22 Lives and Disrupts Normal Life
In an unprecedented monsoon surge, northern India, including the national capital, Delhi, faced the wrath of nature, with incessant torrential downpours causing deadly landslides and flash floods. Reports confirmed a death toll of 22, as the region grappled with the most significant rainfall in decades.
The weekend’s relentless rainfall forced Delhi schools to halt operation
s, while authorities in the Himalayan states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand strongly advised residents to stay home unless absolutely necessary.
The Times of India noted fatalities from floods and landslides in the northern states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Punjab. In particular, Himachal Pradesh was hit hard with flash floods toppling a bridge and obliterating several shanties.
Helicopters were deployed for rescue operations, aiding those stranded on rain-swamped roads and bridges, according to visuals from ANI.
With flooded streets spanning across Punjab, Delhi, and Uttarakhand, rescue teams mobilized rubber rafts to help citizens marooned within their residences, as reported by local media.
In a social media appeal on Sunday, Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, urged residents to stay indoors due to anticipated heavy rainfall over the next 24 hours.
Sunday witnessed Delhi’s roads submerged in water, registering a staggering 153mm of rainfall – the most substantial single-day precipitation in July over the past four decades.
A senior official from the weather department stated that over the weekend, certain districts in Himachal Pradesh recorded a month’s rainfall in a single day.
As per the weather department, Delhi, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh have recorded rainfall exceeding the average by 112%, 100%, and 70% respectively, since the monsoon season kicked off on 1st June.
The Press Trust of India stated that 15 casualties occurred over the last 24 hours across six northern Indian states. Additionally, Omkar Sharma, a disaster management official, informed that landslides in Himachal Pradesh have obstructed around 700 roads.
The Indian meteorological department anticipates more rainfall across northern India in the coming days.
The annual summer monsoon, accountable for 70-80% of South Asia’s total rainfall, often leaves a trail of devastation due to flooding and landslides. Although the monsoon’s intensity and timing are challenging to predict, scientists assert that climate change is enhancing its strength and erratic nature.”