Over 20 Killed in Heavy Rains
At least 22 individuals were reportedly deceased as the relentless monsoon downpours battered northern India, triggering landslides and sudden floods in the area, authorities and local media revealed on Monday.
Educational institutions in New Delhi were shut down considering the risk presented by the intense rains, while residents in the Himalayan states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand were cautioned against unnecessary excursions from their residences.
The fatalities resulting from the floods and landslides were documented in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab, as well as Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) on Sunday.
In Himachal Pradesh, an aerial view showed that flash floods during the weekend caused the collapse of a bridge and the sweeping away of several huts. Helicopters were utilized by authorities to rescue individuals stranded on roadways and bridges due to the rainfall, as depicted in footage from Reuters partner ANI.
Roads throughout the northern states, including Punjab, Delhi, and Uttarakhand, were submerged. In certain areas, rescue personnel employed rubber rafts to save individuals trapped inside their residences, as stated by local media reports.
“Please remain indoors as more heavy rain is anticipated within the next 24 hours,” urged Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in a plea posted on social media late Sunday.
According to a senior official from the weather department, numerous districts in Himachal Pradesh received an entire month’s worth of rainfall in just one day during the weekend.
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As per the department’s records, Delhi, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh have experienced rainfall levels that surpass the average by 112%, 100%, and 70%, respectively, since the commencement of the current monsoon season on June 1.