Scary videos show North India hills and plains devastated by monsoon mayhem
Several low-lying areas in Punjab and Rajasthan also experienced flooding. (Photo: Social Media)
Severe rainfall in various parts of northern and northwestern India has severely impacted the region, resulting in the loss of at least 19 lives during the past three days. Several roads, highways and buildings in urban and farmlands and human settlements in rural areas have been submerged under water levels reaching knee height.
Alarming visuals depicting the mayhem, including vehicles floating like flimsy paper vessels, the influx of muddy waters into residential areas, flashfloods and the submersion of structures along river banks due to their swollen state, and instances of land collapses, have been widely shared on the internet by individuals from Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana and Delhi.
Himachal Pradesh
According to the meteorological department, Himachal Pradesh encountered a rainfall of 104 mm on Sunday (July 9), exceeding the usual levels by nearly 13 times.
Doomsday like landslide in Manali, Himachal Pradesh. pic.twitter.com/caBXeZJbug
— Sanat (@imsanatk) July 9, 2023
The consequences of this incessant downpour for 35 hours, proved catastrophic as flooding and landslides wreaked havoc, resulting in the destruction of properties and communication lines worth crores.
Scary visuals from district Sirmaur of Himachal Pradesh. #sirmaur #HimachalPradesh #Flood #Himachal #Himachalrain #Rain #paontasahib pic.twitter.com/AEXNu5Klbu
— Abhishek Sharma (@abhiii_sharmaa) July 10, 2023
The deluge caused the submergence of roads and bridges, rendering them useless. Over 800 roads, including six national highways, had to be closed throughout the state due to the heavy rainfall. The Chandigarh-Manali Highway has also been closed for the public.
#Ravi River
— Supriya Bhardwaj (@Supriya23bh) July 10, 2023
Heavy rainfall continues in #Himachal Pradesh
Major landslides; houses, roads, bridges washed away in the state pic.twitter.com/6MSAPUgOuO
The water in the Parvati River in Kullu's Manikaran was seen flowing over the bridge that connects the main road to the Manikaran Sahab shrine.
#WATCH | Visuals from Gurdwara Manikaran Sahib in #Manali. Water flows above the main bridge into the Gurdwara Sahib. pic.twitter.com/NeHWUXgZuZ
— DD News (@DDNewslive) July 10, 2023
Fresh spells of snowfall in the Lahaul-Spiti district's Baralachala Pass have resulted in the closure of the Manali- Kaza highway.
Fresh snowfall in Spiti Himachal Pradesh in July pic.twitter.com/AyFS770vW4
— Go Himachal (@GoHimachal_) July 9, 2023
Uttarakhand
Tragic consequences unfolded in Uttarakhand as heavy rainfall claimed the lives of at least five individuals in past 24 hours. In response to the alarming situation characterised by landslides and road obstructions, the government promptly issued alerts and warnings to all districts, effective until July 13.
2 persons killed, 4 still missing and 5 injured after a utility vehicle, hit by boulders, fell into a gorge in Tehri Garhwal district. All missing persons are from different parts of the country #accident #Uttarakhand pic.twitter.com/jvRf6UmOJm
— Gaurav Talwar (@gauravtalwarTOI) July 9, 2023
The swelling water levels in major rivers, including the Ganga, further compounded the crisis, as meteorological forecasts predict the likelihood of additional torrential downpours over the next two days.
An under-construction tunnel in the Rishikesh-Srinagar railway route collapsed due to a landslide.
Yesterday's landslide caused by tunnel-boring to lay Rishikesh to Srinagar railway track in Uttarakhand. It's clear Modi's govt has taken no lessons from Joshimath sinking. pic.twitter.com/GoWiRuXQ8K
— Seema Sengupta, (@SeemaSengupta5) March 2, 2023
Jammu and Kashmir
Many sections of the National Highway connecting Jammu to the Kashmir valley sustained damages because of landslides induced by continuous rains.
#NH44 #Jammu #Srinagar highway near #Panthiyal #Ramban area. The road is again damaged due to massive #landslides and land caving. Why did engineers not take these factors into #consideration at planning stage. Who is responsible for this loss?#JammuAndKashmir@OfficeOfLGJandK pic.twitter.com/B9HzPYmw2p
— Sameena Raja - J&K (@SamRaja21700228) July 9, 2023
Chandigarh
Chandigarh experienced an unprecedented downpour, recording a historic high of 302.2 mm of rainfall until 8.30 am on Sunday(July 9). This surpasses all previous records in the city's history, as confirmed by a senior official from the MET department.
A fire broke out in the meter on the electricity pole in Sector 15 of Chandigarh #Chandigarh #Rain #fire #manali @TTRHimachal pic.twitter.com/JJjtowUwFc
— Ashu Aneja (@ashuaneja1) July 10, 2023
For the first time, all the floodgates of Sukhna Lake have been opened to let the excess water discharge.
#WATCH | Floodgates of Chandigarh's Sukhna Lake opened after the water level in the lake rises following heavy rainfall in the area pic.twitter.com/k0kypVG4p9
— ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2023
Delhi
Delhi broke a 41-year-old record by receiving 153 mm of rainfall from 8.30 am on Saturday(July 8) to 8.30 am on Sunday(July 9), marking the highest rainfall in a single day since July 25, 1982, when the city received 169.9 mm of rainfall in a day. The Delhi government, as a result, announced the closure of all the schools in the capital today (July 10).
Where is media’s face, darling of camera & bluff master @ArvindKejriwal since 3 days ??#DelhiRain pic.twitter.com/eLLkxWWVQD
— वेदीजा (@YgSeni_YuIiya) July 10, 2023
The Yamuna River in northern Haryana is flowing above usual safety levels since Saturday. Similar visuals of waterlogged streets and underpasses emerged from Gurugram.
Heavy traffic jam near Rajiv chowk and Subhash chowk in gurgaon. #gururgram rain pic.twitter.com/sImjwsVxSO
— Ashish (@Ashish92557217) July 4, 2023