Relentless rain batters Himachal, Delhi on high alert
Over 500 people remain stranded across Himachal Pradesh following the havoc. (Photo: ANI)
Most regions in northern India have witnessed casualties, property damage, and disruptions in commute and electricity due to persistent heavy rainfall over the last four days. Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh have been particularly affected, experiencing issues such as waterlogging, flash floods, and landslides.
In response to the mayhem, the Indian Army and National Disaster Response Force(NDRF) have escalated relief and rescue operations in the impacted areas, mostly in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
The Central Water Commission has issued a high alert in Delhi, asking people in the low-lying areas to avoid going near the Yamuna.
Himachal Pradesh
The hilly state region has been severely affected by the destructive monsoon havoc, with Manali, Kullu, Kinnaur, and Chamba suffering the most devastating consequences.
As per the state government's records, a total of 72 deaths have been reported in the state from June 26 until Monday(July 10).
Disturbing visuals from Parwanoo, Himachal surfaced where a flash flood washed away parked vehicles in a residential area near Solan.
Big Scale Damage in Himachal Pradesh 🙏🏻🙏🏻
— Weatherman Shubham (@shubhamtorres09) July 10, 2023
Live Visuals from Parwanoo
10th July 2023
Solan , Himachal Pradesh pic.twitter.com/5zTAzo8K2w
During a rescue operation late Sunday night, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) successfully saved six individuals stranded in Nagwain village in Mandi.
#WATCH | Himachal Pradesh: In a late-night rescue operation, NDRF team rescued 6 people who were stranded in the Beas River near Nagwain village in Mandi district due to the rise in the water level of the river following incessant rainfall in the state.
— ANI (@ANI) July 10, 2023
(Visuals: NDRF) pic.twitter.com/RQMlHKnBUV
A video of a truck submerged in the Beas River in Kullu illustrates the extent of the calamity.
#WATCH | Furiously flowing Beas river engulfs a truck in Kullu of Himachal Pradesh
— ANI (@ANI) July 10, 2023
(Video shot by a local and confirmed by police) pic.twitter.com/jkT6B8yzB9
In the Kotkhai subdivision of Shimla district, a road suffered a collapse at Kokunala.
#WATCH | A road collapsed at Kokunala in the Kotkhai subdivision of Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.
— ANI (@ANI) July 10, 2023
(Video Source: Shimla Police) pic.twitter.com/STWnBkDJDJ
A portion of a bridge being washed away in the Baddi Nalagarh Industrial Area of Solan was also caught on camera, amid non-stop rainfall in the state.
#WATCH | Portion of a bridge washed away in the Baddi Nalagarh Industrial Area of Solan amid incessant rainfall in Himachal Pradesh pic.twitter.com/qckEAcMYbR
— ANI (@ANI) July 10, 2023
Several bridges in Baddi, Kullu, and Una have been destroyed, and the Largi power project in Kullu has been submerged in water. The state has incurred losses amounting to Rs 3,000 crore due to the rains, with Shimla, Kullu, and Manali being the districts most severely affected.
The increased water level of the Beas River also resulted in the collapse of the Panchvaktra bridge in Mandi. The historic bridges connecting Aut village to Banjar and Pandoh village were swept away by the overflowing Beas river in the Mandi district.
To date, the state has encountered 39 landslides, one cloudburst, and 29 incidents of flash flooding.
Delhi
In the national capital, the Yamuna River, which exceeded the critical level of 205.33 meters last night (July 10), surged to 206.32 meters at the Old Railway Bridge this morning (July 11). This rise in water level occurred earlier than anticipated due to the additional water released into the river by Haryana from the Hathnikund barrage, according to the Central Water Commission (CWC).
#WATCH | Water level of River Yamuna continues to flow above the danger level in Delhi's Old Railway Bridge area. Railway and traffic movement on the Bridge has been stopped.
— ANI (@ANI) July 11, 2023
At 8 am today, water level of River Yamuna recorded at 206.32 metres at Old Railway Bridge. The highest… pic.twitter.com/sn4FGWQp9H
The CWC has issued a high alert in Delhi, asking people in the low-lying areas to avoid going near the Yamuna and evacuate.
Why is this happening?
The data from IMD and ISRO suggests that the unexpected rain in the region is triggered by monsoons and the western disturbance coming together, as opposed to climate change, as said by some experts initially.
But indiscriminate urbanisation and changes in land usage have made the situation worse, for sure.