25 people die in North India floods, 13 in Uttar Pradesh.

25 Fatalities Reported in Rain-Battered Northern States

At least 25 fatalities were reported Wednesday in the rain-battered northern states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, taking the overall death count from this monsoon’s relentless rain, landslides, and flash floods in the region to 116. Uttar Pradesh registered the most deaths at 13 in the past 24 hours, with nine people drowning and one person each dying from lightning strike, snakebite, and house collapse. The weather office has issued a “yellow” alert for 58 districts, predicting heavy rainfall on Thursday.

Rescue and Evacuation Efforts Gain Pace

Amid the growing death toll, rescue and evacuation efforts have gained pace, especially in Himachal Pradesh, the worst-hit state. Around 25,000 people stranded in Kullu district, including around 3,000 in the Kasol area, have been safely evacuated. Additionally, 52 schoolchildren stuck at Sissu in Lahaul and 70 girls from colleges in Haryana’s Jind, who were marooned in Solang valley, have been rescued. However, rescuing nearly 300 people, mostly tourists, from tented camps near Chandratal lake in Lahaul and Spiti district has been challenging due to bad weather conditions. Relief camps have been opened at various places for people who lost their homes in the flooding and landslides.

Flash Floods and Landslides Cause Widespread Damage

Flash floods and landslides caused by heavy rain have disrupted traffic and caused widespread damage across the affected states. In Himachal Pradesh, authorities used helicopters to rescue people, and NDRF rescuers fixed zip lines to help people cross the swollen Beas river. Streets in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttarakhand were flooded, and rubber rafts were used to evacuate people trapped inside their homes. In Uttarakhand, over 250 roads remained blocked, including key highways, and the Ganga river was flowing close to the danger mark in Haridwar and Rishikesh. In Punjab, Faridkot district reported three deaths, and several villages in Sangrur district were inundated after the Ghaggar river breached its banks in three places.

Relief Efforts and Assistance Provided

Relief camps have been set up at various locations, and authorities have provided assistance to those affected by the floods and landslides. A total of 873 roads are still blocked for traffic, and 1,956 transformers and 1,369 water supply schemes are disrupted in Himachal Pradesh. In Punjab, the state government has set up 127 relief camps, and over 13,000 people have been shifted to safer places by NDRF, SDRF, state police, and Army rescuers. In Haryana, the death toll in rain-related accidents increased to 11, and in Uttar Pradesh, flood alerts were sounded as the Ganga and Yamuna rivers were flowing above the danger level in certain districts.

Conclusion

The rain-battered northern states of India are facing the brunt of heavy rainfall, landslides, and flash floods, resulting in a significant number of fatalities and widespread damage. Rescue and evacuation efforts are underway, with authorities working tirelessly to provide assistance to those affected. The situation remains challenging due to bad weather conditions, blocked roads, and disrupted infrastructure. The affected states continue to remain on high alert as heavy rainfall is predicted in the coming days.