Nonstop rain batters North India hills with at least 30 dead in Himachal, red alert in Uttarakhand
Heavy rains wreak havoc in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Photo: X/SukhuSukhvinder, ANI
Heavy monsoon rains have caused landslides and floods in the Himalayan regions of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. At least 30 people have been killed in Himachal Pradesh in various incidents since Sunday, including in a Shiv Mandir collapse in Shimla where several more are feared trapped.
What's happening
- A Shiv Mandir at Summer Hill in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, collapsed on Monday, August 14, following torrential rains. Nine people have been killed in the incident; several more are feared trapped under the debris.
Landslides in #HimachalPradesh have caused grave damage & many people have lost their lives. The landslide at Shiv Temple in #Shimla is one such major site where many are still feared trapped. Hoping that they are rescued on time. #HimachalPradeshRains pic.twitter.com/JNWCTB7ZCQ
— Parimal Nathwani (@mpparimal) August 14, 2023
- Rescue operations are currently underway.
- On the other hand, seven people were killed in the Solan district of Himachal Pradesh when a cloudburst hit a village. Six others were rescued.
- Authorities have shut down schools and asked people to remain indoors for their safety. Over 700 roads have also been closed due to flooding and the possibility of landslides.
A house collapsed in the Kaleshdhar village of Mandi, 5 people buried. pic.twitter.com/UMfcQ95VpJ
— Go Himachal (@GoHimachal_) August 14, 2023
- In Uttarakhand, Char Dham Yatra has been suspended over heavy rain. A red alert has been issued for both Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
- The rivers Alaknanda, Mandakini and Ganga have all swelled alarmingly amid heavy rainfall. Residents have been asked to avoid venturing near water bodies.
VIDEO | Water level of Ganga river witnesses alarming rise in Uttarakhand's Rishikesh amid incessant rainfall in the state. pic.twitter.com/MjbvIfYaw3
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 14, 2023
- Landslides have also damaged the UNESCO World Heritage Kalka-Shimla rail track. A picture shows the rail track hanging mid-air. Videos of the inundation are going viral on social media, reportedly taken from different places in the states.
Himachal Pradesh | Kalka-Shimla railway track at km 92/6-92/7 between Jutogh & Summer Hill railway stations is washed away due to heavy rains. The movement of trains between Kandaghat-Shimla is cancelled: State government pic.twitter.com/JfElYbHNcq
— ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2023
9 Died, 15 missing after #cloudburst in Summer Hill, #Shimla. 3 roads and railway track is washed away. #Shimla #Cloudburst #HimachalPradesh #SummerHill #ShivMandir #Baluganj pic.twitter.com/w20B50zyNb
— Sushil Attri 🇮🇳 (@Isushilattri14) August 14, 2023
- Videos also show vehicles and trees submerged in flooded water. A calf is also seen stuck in deep sludge.
Visuals from Mandi #HimachalPradesh pic.twitter.com/XtSjlpKi0z
— Gagandeep Singh (@Gagan4344) August 14, 2023
- Other videos also show people fleeing their cars as a landslide brings trees toppling down.
God, please save Himachal. Prayers 🙏🙏#Cloudburst #HimachalPradesh pic.twitter.com/NME7MhZFfW
— Ajeet (@ajeetweets) August 14, 2023
- Videos also showed houses collapsing like a deck of cards as a result of the deluge.
A 2 storey house collapsed like a deck of cards in kothi gehari, #Mandi #HimachalPradesh pic.twitter.com/pCgk21Xiv0
— Smriti Sharma (@SmritiSharma_) August 13, 2023
- In Uttarakhand, a Dehradun college building collapsed and was swept away.
VIDEO | Dehradun Defence College building in Uttarakhand's Maldevta collapses amid incessant rainfall. More details are awaited.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 14, 2023
(Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/YUZJozBkGz
- Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu also made an appeal to the residents of the state to stay indoors. He also visited the Shiv Mandir site in Summer Hills where rescue operations are underway.
"प्रदेश में हो रही भारी बारिश के चलते लोगो से अपील"#safetyfirst#HimachalFloods pic.twitter.com/y8wSBL0mTm
— Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu (@SukhuSukhvinder) August 14, 2023
Why
- The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the current bout of rain is the result of a fresh spell of Western Disturbance.
- The storm originates in the Mediterranean and brings heavy rains to the mountain areas in India.
- Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district recorded a staggering 273 mm rainfall, with Shapur, Mandi, Shimla, and other areas also experiencing heavy downpours.
Disturbing visuals have emerged from Sambhal, Pandoh - District Mandi, where, as reported, seven individuals have been swept away by flash floods today.
— Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu (@SukhuSukhvinder) August 14, 2023
Active rescue, search, and relief operations are currently in progress to address this dreadful situation. pic.twitter.com/OLgZGgXNlF
- Rishikesh also witnessed exceptionally heavy rainfall of 419 mm in the past 24 hours.
The long weekend that began Friday, August 11, got several people in North India to plan trips to nearby tourist places including places in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Given the current evolving situation, travel to these mountainous regions is not safe.