North India Ravaged by Heavy Rainfall, Claiming Lives and Causing Widespread Devastation

New Delhi: Severe rainfall across multiple regions in northern India has caused widespread devastation, resulting in the loss of at least 19 lives over the past three days.

Numerous roads and buildings in cities and towns have been submerged in water, with levels reaching knee-deep. The meteorological department has forecasted further heavy downpours for Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Delhi, and surrounding areas in the coming days.

Alarming images depicting the chaotic aftermath of the deluge, such as vehicles floating like paper boats, muddy waters invading residential areas, structures submerged along the riverbanks, and land cave-ins, have been shared online by individuals from Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Delhi.

In Himachal Pradesh, incessant rain has triggered landslides and flash floods, causing extensive damage to houses, structures, and disrupting normal life. Flash floods in Manali, Kullu, Kinnaur, and Chamba swept away some shops and vehicles, while major rivers like Ravi, Beas, Satluj, Swan, and Chenab are currently flowing at dangerous levels.

Neighboring Uttarakhand has also experienced landslides and flash floods, with reports indicating that water levels in rivers and streams have exceeded the danger mark.

Due to heavy rainfall leading to waterlogging, all schools in Gurgaon and Delhi remain closed today. The Gurgaon administration has also advised corporate houses to work from home to mitigate traffic congestion.

The Delhi government has established 16 control rooms to monitor flood-prone areas following Haryana's release of over one lakh cusecs of water from the Hathnikund barrage into the Yamuna river. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will chair a high-level meeting to address the issue of waterlogging in the city and the rising water levels of the Yamuna.

A red alert has been issued for the Kathua and Samba districts of Jammu and Kashmir. However, the Amarnath Yatra, which was suspended for three days, has resumed from the Panjtarni and Sheshnag base camps.

Heavy rainfall in several parts of Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana has resulted in significant waterlogging and flooding in low-lying areas, prompting authorities to take immediate action in the most severely affected regions.

According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the convergence of a western disturbance and monsoonal winds is causing an intense spell of rainfall in northwest India.