Death Toll Rises To 55 In Himachal Caused By Heavy Rains, IMD Issues Red Alert

The death toll in Himachal Pradesh has increased to 55 following an incessant rainfall that has caused landslides blocking the roads, damaged properties, and buried numerous devotees.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had earlier issued a "red alert" in several parts of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand and forecasted heavy rainfall in the next 24 hours. However, it was later modified to an "orange alert."

Landslides, flash floods, cloudbursts, and other effects of the heavy continuous downpour have taken lives, damaged properties, and destroyed infrastructure wreaking havoc on the development activities of the two states.

Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said, "Around 55 people have lost their lives in the state till now. The death toll might go up. Restoration work is being done on a war footing. We are focusing on rescuing people who have been trapped. Chandigarh-Shimla 4-lane highway along with other arterial roads opened. Main roads have been opened, states roads will take time to be operational."

IMD on Tuesday said that parts of Dehradun, Pauri, Tehri, Nainital, Champawat, and Udham Singh Nagar were likely to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall.

Roads leading to the revered Badrinath, Kedarnath, and Gangotri shrines were damaged due to landslides. As a consequence, the pilgrimage to these shrines, known as the Chardham Yatra, had to be halted for a period of two days. Major highways were blocked on Monday, including Kalka-Shimla, Kiratpur-Manali, and Pathankot-Mandi, Dharamshala-Shimla routes.