Monsoon Mayhem Claims Over 90 Lives In Himachal; Yellow Alert Issued In Uttarakhand

Parts of northern India, particularly Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, are facing severe challenges due to the monsoon season. The continuous heavy rainfall has resulted in devastating floods and landslides. The death toll in Himachal Pradesh has risen to nearly 90, with 39 fatalities reported over a span of four days.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for Dhanauri, Rudraprayag, and Khanpur in Uttarakhand on Thursday and Friday. Additionally, an orange alert has been issued for Roorkee, Laksar, and Bhagwanpur on July 15 and 16, indicating a high risk of adverse weather conditions.

The national capital, Delhi, is also grappling with flooding and waterlogging in various areas and markets such as ITO, Kashmere Gate, and Geeta Colony. This is primarily due to the unprecedented rise in the water level of the Yamuna River, which has reached 208.41 meters.

In Uttarakhand, numerous routes, including national highways, have been closed due to landslides triggered by heavy rainfall. This has disrupted normal life and impacted the Chardham Yatra pilgrimage. The Badrinath National Highway, located in Chamoli district, is closed at five different points between Chamoli and Joshimath due to landslides.

Landslides have also led to the blockage of over 300 roads in Uttarakhand, including the Yamunotri National Highway and the Gangotri Highway.

According to the IMD, there are predictions of heavy rainfall in Dehradun, Haridwar, Pauri, and other areas of Uttarakhand, exacerbating the ongoing challenges caused by the monsoon season.

1,058 villages in 14 Punjab districts affected by floods

As many as 1,058 villages of 14 districts in Punjab are affected by floods, according to an official statement.

The affected villages include 364 in Rupnagar, 268 in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, 250 in Patiala, 71 in Jalandhar, 30 in Moga, 25 in Hoshiarpur, 16 in Ludhiana, three each in Sangrur and Ferozepur, and six in Tarn Taran, it said. At gaushalas in Brahman Majra, Sirhind, Fatehgarh Sahib, 800 bovines have been saved is rescue operations, the statement issued here said. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will soon release Rs 71.50 crore to provide all possible help to people in flood affected areas, he said.