Monsoon rains have wreaked havoc across many states in India this week. Conditions have worsened due to floods and landslides in several states including Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Assam, Telangana, Odisha, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh.
New Delhi: Rains are causing devastation in many parts of the country. Life has been severely affected by floods in many areas of Punjab, Assam, and Guwahati. Eight people have died in Chhattisgarh, while seven deaths have been reported each in Telangana and Odisha. The Meteorological Department predicts little hope for relief this week. Meanwhile, as part of disaster relief efforts, railways have provided special train services to evacuate stranded people in Jammu.
Record Rainfall in Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir recorded the highest rainfall in its history in the last 24 hours. Jammu received 380 mm and Katra received 284 mm of rain, leading to the disruption of rail and road traffic. Thousands of passengers and pilgrims are stranded. Railways have run special unreserved trains for rescue. However, a slight decrease in rainfall has accelerated relief and rescue operations.
This rain proved extremely dangerous for pilgrims undertaking the Manimahesh Yatra. Between August 24th and 27th, seven pilgrims died, nine are missing, and eight are reported injured. Approximately 8,000 pilgrims were stranded on the route, of whom 3,457 have been safely evacuated.
Punjab: Devastation in Eight Districts due to Floods
Eight districts of Punjab – Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Firozpur, Hoshiarpur, and Amritsar – have been under severe flood conditions for the past four days. The Army, Air Force, and BSF are conducting large-scale relief and rescue operations. In Gurdaspur, the Army rescued people from flood-affected villages with the help of Cheetah helicopters.
Life has been thrown into disarray in the Bastar division of Chhattisgarh due to floods. So far, eight deaths have been confirmed. The administration is continuously conducting relief and rescue operations. People are being shifted to safer locations as water has entered villages.
Maharashtra: Thousands Evacuated to Safer Locations
Heavy rainfall in Telangana and Odisha has deeply impacted life. A total of seven people have lost their lives in both states so far. In Telangana's Rajanna Sircilla district, Army helicopters rescued several people stranded near the 'Upper Manair Project'. Air Force helicopters are also continuously conducting rescue operations from Hakimpet.
Rivers are in spate in Maharashtra's Marathwada, Nanded, and Latur districts due to heavy rainfall. Nanded received 115 mm and Latur received over 65 mm of rain. More than 2,200 people have been moved to safer locations so far. The administration has set up relief camps in flood-affected areas. In Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, the rising water level of the Shipra River has submerged the Ramghat temple complex. The administration has deployed additional security forces at the ghats and advised people not to go near the river banks.
Life Disrupted by Landslides and Floods
In the Bara Bangal village of Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, several government buildings including a school, panchayat building, dispensary, and food store were washed away by the overflowing Ravi River. With two bridges destroyed, the village's connectivity with the rest of the state has been completely cut off. Meanwhile, the Chandigarh-Manali highway has been closed due to landslides. A large portion of the road in Kullu district has been washed away by the b current of the Beas River. In Uttarakhand, the Meteorological Department has issued a 'Red Alert' for several districts.
The impact of floods is severe in many parts of Assam, including Guwahati. People have been forced to leave their homes as water has inundated residential areas. The state administration has set up relief camps and is evacuating stranded people via boats.
