Heavy rainfall lashed north and northwest India on Sunday, causing widespread devastation and claiming the lives of at least 28 people. The relentless downpours triggered landslides, traffic chaos, house collapses, and even a dam breach that submerged several villages in Haryana.
The Jammu and Kashmir Administration, responding to the hazardous conditions, suspended the Amarnath Yatra, a pilgrimage route, due to the heavy rains in the area.
Rajasthan bore the brunt of the devastation, reporting 16 deaths over two days. The district of Karauli, particularly hard-hit, received a staggering 38 cm of rainfall.
Tragedy struck in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur where a vehicle carrying nine people, including eight family members, was swept away by a flooded rivulet. Authorities recovered the bodies of all nine individuals, highlighting the destructive power of the heavy rainfall.
The capital city of Delhi and its surrounding areas also experienced severe consequences from the heavy rains. Waterlogging and traffic disruptions plagued central, south, southwest, and east Delhi. The deluge claimed the life of a seven-year-old boy who drowned in a waterlogged park in Rohini’s Sector 20. Officials responded to numerous calls about waterlogging and fallen trees, while traffic was disrupted on several major roads.
Gurugram, a city in Haryana, recorded 70 mm of rainfall, leading to waterlogging in multiple areas, including the police lines, Bus Stand Road, Sheetla Mata Road, and several other thoroughfares.
The India Meteorological Department reported “exceptionally heavy rainfall” in Karauli, Rajasthan, along with significant rainfall in Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Punjab, Haryana, and Bihar. By Sunday evening, Jaipur had received 63.2 mm of rain, Pathankot witnessed 82 mm, and Chandigarh recorded a substantial 129.7 mm.
While the rainfall brought some relief from the humidity in Punjab and Haryana, it also caused flooding in several Haryana villages due to a breach in the Som River embankment. Kanuwala and Bamnoli, villages in Yamunanagar district, were particularly affected, with some areas experiencing up to 4 feet of water, forcing residents to evacuate their homes.
In a separate incident in Punjab, eight family members lost their lives after their SUV was swept away by the swollen Jaijon Choe near the Himachal Pradesh-Punjab border. Two individuals remain missing. The vehicle, traveling from Dehra in Himachal Pradesh to Mehrowal in Punjab for a wedding, was carried 200 meters downstream before getting stuck. Reports indicate the driver proceeded despite local warnings about the strong current. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been deployed to assist in the search and rescue operations.
Heavy rains also impacted other parts of Punjab and Haryana, including Mohali, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Rupnagar, and Ambala.
The severe weather conditions caused widespread damage in Himachal Pradesh, where landslides and flash floods resulted in the deaths of three girls and left one person missing. Over 280 roads were closed, affecting transportation, while 458 power and 48 water supply schemes were disrupted.
In Uttar Pradesh’s Jalaun, a woman and her son tragically lost their lives when their house roof collapsed due to the heavy rains.
Jaipur faced severe flooding, leading to waterlogging and a rescue operation for five people who were swept away at the Kanota Dam.
The widespread devastation caused by the heavy rains across north and northwest India highlights the urgent need for preparedness and effective disaster management strategies to mitigate the impact of such extreme weather events.
