Heavy Rain Falls Across Northern India, Bringing Death and Destruction

Torrential rain has swept across northern India, leaving a trail of destruction and devastating lives. At least 22 people have lost their lives as a result of the flash floods and landslides that have ravaged the region. The unprecedented rainfall has brought the national capital, Delhi, to a standstill, with schools shut for the weekend and authorities urging people to stay indoors.

The deluge has been particularly severe in the Himalayan states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, where flash floods have brought down bridges and swept away hutments. Rescue personnel have been using helicopters and rubber rafts to evacuate people stranded on roads and in their homes. The streets of Punjab, Delhi, and Uttarakhand have been flooded, with knee-deep water submerging roads in many areas.

Himachal Pradesh’s Chief Minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, has appealed to people to stay indoors, warning of more heavy rain expected in the next 24 hours. The state’s roads have been severely affected, with over 700 roads blocked due to landslides. Delhi, meanwhile, has received the highest precipitation in a single day in July in 40 years, with 153mm of rain recorded on Sunday.

The northern states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Punjab have been particularly hard hit, with the Times of India reporting at least 22 deaths on Sunday. The Press Trust of India has reported that 15 people have been killed over the past 24 hours across six northern Indian states.

The heavy rainfall has been attributed to the summer monsoon, which brings 70-80% of South Asia’s annual rainfall. However, climate change is making the monsoon stronger and more erratic, according to scientists. The unpredictable nature of the rain has made it challenging for authorities to forecast and prepare for the deluge.

As the region struggles to come to terms with the devastation, officials are working to repair damaged infrastructure and provide aid to those affected. The Indian meteorological department has forecast more rain across large parts of northern India in the coming days, warning of continued disruption and destruction.