The monsoon, which arrived eight days ahead of schedule, unleashed severe weather across several states on Saturday. From thunderstorms in Delhi to landslides and flash floods in the Northeast, the abrupt weather changes have caused widespread damage and claimed at least 23 lives.
Delhi Sees Temperature Drop After Dust Storm
Delhi experienced intense heat and humidity during the day, with temperatures peaking at 39.7°C at Safdarjung, before a dust storm in the evening brought relief. Wind speeds reached up to 56 km/h, resulting in a sharp drop of 8.4°C in temperature. The minimum was recorded at 25.8°C, 1.1°C below normal.
Fatalities Across States
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Arunachal Pradesh: Landslides in Bana-Seppa road area claimed the lives of seven family members, including children.
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Assam: Eight people died in various landslides reported over the past 24 hours.
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Mizoram: Four people, including three Myanmar refugees, died when houses collapsed due to rain-triggered landslides.
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Himachal Pradesh: Two female tourists lost their lives as trees fell during strong winds in Kullu.
Kashmir Witnesses Snowfall in June
In an unusual event for June, snowfall occurred in higher reaches of Jammu & Kashmir, including Gurez, Tulail, Razdan Top, and parts of Srinagar-Leh highway. Rainfall lashed the plains. Authorities confirmed snowfall in Bandipora, Shopyan’s Peer Ki Gali, and Zojila Pass, disrupting traffic and normalcy.
Sikkim Landslides Trap 1,500 Tourists
Severe landslides in Sikkim cut off roads in many areas, stranding more than 1,500 tourists. Officials said that heavy rains triggered slope failures, leaving tourists stranded in remote areas. Search and rescue operations are underway, with NDRF teams deployed.
Flooding in Mizoram and Other NE States
Heavy rain brought flooding to hilly regions, affecting more than 10,000 people. Relief and rehabilitation efforts are being mobilized, but access remains difficult in several affected zones.
