Monsoon: North India Battered By Rains, Landslides; Himachal Toll Hits 20, Red Alerts Issued Amid Flash Floods

Early monsoon rains caused a cloudburst in Uttarakhand, killing two and leaving seven missing, prompting a red alert and halting the Chardham Yatra. Himachal Pradesh also faces heavy rainfall, landslides, and 20 deaths.

File image.

Source : पराक्रम चन्द

In Uttarakhand, a cloudburst in Uttarkashi district early Sunday left two construction workers dead and seven missing as the monsoon covered the entire country almost a week earlier than usual, bringing rain in Delhi and other northern states, triggering landslides in several hilly areas and sending rivers into spate. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for heavy rainfall on June 29 and 30 in several districts of Uttarakhand, including Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Haridwar and Nainital. 

The authorities have put the Chardham yatra on hold for a day for the safety of pilgrims. 

According to the Shimla Meteorological Centre, a red alert has been issued for very heavy downpours in 10 districts of Himachal Pradesh, where the death toll from rain-related incidents climbed to 20 since the onset of the monsoon in the state on June 20. The services on the Shimla-Kalka rail line were suspended for hours till the debris and trees fallen on the tracks following overnight rains were removed. Three fatalities due to rain-related incidents were reported in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll since the onset of the monsoon in the state to 20.

The Superintendent of Police Gaurav Singh of Solan said that two-way traffic has been restored near Chakki Mod on NH-5, which was damaged due to landslides, and police are facilitating traffic movement. An alternative route via the Jangeshu road was also closed due to fallen debris, which is being cleared. 

Meanwhile, the Met Office has warned of landslides, waterlogging, damage to vulnerable structures, traffic congestion and disruptions in essential services.

According to news agency PTI, several videos of passengers, waiting for hours, expressing their anger have surfaced online. Stones, trees and debris have fallen at various stretches of the rail line not only in Koti but also till Shimla. A bridge on the road leading to the Himuda Complex near the Truck Union in the Barotiwala industrial area of Solan district has been washed away, and the road to the Himuda Complex Mandhala and Bagguwala is closed.

The weather body has cautioned of moderate to high flash-flood risk in parts of 10 districts – Bilaspur, Chamba, Hamirpur, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Solan, Sirmaur and Una – till Monday. The Met Office has issued an orange warning of heavy to very heavy rains in isolated areas of Himachal Pradesh on Monday and predicted a wet spell in the hill state till July 5.

(With inputs from PTI.)