New Delhi: Rain continues to wreak havoc across India, with the national capital, New Delhi, bearing the brunt of the monsoon fury. Lives have been lost, homes destroyed, and chaos unleashed as heavy downpours persist. On Sunday, North and North-West India witnessed landslides, traffic disruptions, and tragic incidents, leaving at least 28 people dead.
Rajasthan’s Grim Toll:
In the last two days, Rajasthan has mourned the loss of 16 lives due to relentless rains. Among the victims were nine individuals from the same family in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, swept away when their vehicle succumbed to a rain-swollen drain. Meanwhile, Central, South, South-East, and East Delhi grappled with waterlogging and traffic snarls.
Haryana’s Dam Break and Amarnath Yatra Halt:
In Haryana, a dam breach submerged several villages, exacerbating the crisis. The annual Amarnath Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir was halted due to heavy rains in the Shri Amarnathji Yatra area.
Delhi’s Waterlogged Streets:
The national capital faced its share of woes. A seven-year-old child tragically drowned in a water-filled park in Rohini’s Sector 20. Reports of flooding include seven instances of waterlogging and four fallen trees. Najafgarh-Firni Road near Dhansa Stand and Bahadurgarh Stand witnessed traffic disruptions. Gurugram received a deluge, with 70 mm of rain during the day. Streets like Police Line, Bus Stand Road, and Sheetla Mata Road turned into waterlogged mazes, testing pedestrians who waded through knee-deep water.
Himachal Pradesh’s Road Closures:
In Himachal Pradesh, over 280 roads were closed due to landslides and flash floods caused by incessant rains. Tragically, three girls lost their lives, and one person remains missing. Jalaun in Uttar Pradesh also reported fatalities—a woman and her seven-year-old son perished when their house collapsed in Koch due to heavy rains.
Uttarakhand’s Landslide and Karnataka’s Dam Warnings:
A massive landslide at Bhimbali in Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand, temporarily halted the Mandakini river’s flow. Down south, the Pampa Sagar Dam on the Tungabhadra River in Karnataka faced a breach, prompting flood warnings downstream. Repair work necessitates emptying the reservoir from its current capacity of 105 TMC to 65 to 55 TMC.
Bihar Joins the Deluge:
The India Meteorological Department issued an alert for “hefty rainfall.” Karauli in Rajasthan recorded a staggering 38 cm of rain. Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Punjab, Haryana, and Bihar also experienced heavy rainfall. In Jaipur, Rajasthan, torrential rains led to flood-like situations in Karauli and Hinduan. Waterlogged streets and rescue operations marked the crisis.
Punjab and Haryana Receive Relief Amidst Rain:
Parts of Punjab and Haryana welcomed the downpour, providing respite from the oppressive humidity. Mohali, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Rupnagar, and Ambala witnessed showers. Chandigarh, the shared capital of both states, received a whopping 129.7 mm of rain, bringing relief and challenges alike.
