Northern India experienced fatal flooding on Wednesday, claiming at least five lives, according to officials.
With more thunderstorms anticipated, local media reports indicate that 10,000 individuals have been evacuated from the riverbanks in the capital, Delhi, according to a Reuters report.
North India experienced an exceptionally severe monsoon season this August, resulting in the deaths of at least 130 individuals.
The intense rainfall led to widespread devastation, obliterating villages and crippling essential infrastructure.
Northern regions of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Punjab are currently experiencing significant flooding.
The Chenab and Tawi rivers in these areas have overflowed their banks in multiple locations, exceeding the danger mark.
Yamuna River concerns
Landslides caused by swollen rivers have damaged numerous roads, isolating mountainous regions of Jammu and Himachal from the rest of India.
Landslides in Rajouri district in Jammu and Mandi in Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday resulted in the deaths of at least five people, officials reported.
The India Meteorological Department warned of very heavy rainfall in the region on Wednesday.
It further forecasted more rainfall over Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.
The Central Water Commission reported that the Yamuna River, experiencing significant swelling, surpassed its danger mark on Tuesday within the Delhi region.
This development raises concerns about potential flooding in low-lying areas along the riverbanks, prompting authorities to monitor the situation closely and issue necessary advisories to residents.
The increased water levels are likely a result of recent heavy rainfall in the river’s catchment areas, leading to a surge in discharge that is now impacting the capital.
Emergency services and disaster management teams are on alert, ready to respond to any developing situation and ensure public safety.
As a precautionary measure, nearly 10,000 people from low-lying areas were evacuated to government relief camps along the main highways, according to local media reports.
In 2023, the Yamuna River in Delhi reached its highest level in 45 years, leading to the evacuation of residents whose homes were inundated by floodwaters.
Regional flood warnings and casualties
Recent weeks have seen several tourist destinations in Himachal Pradesh affected by landslides, with damaged infrastructure caused by raging rivers.
Authorities issued flood warnings and ordered educational institutions to close, advising people to stay indoors.
Since August 1, nearly 20,000 people have been evacuated in neighbouring Punjab, where 30 deaths have been reported, according to the government.
On Tuesday, the government announced that 150,000 hectares of crops in Punjab, India’s breadbasket state, had been destroyed by gushing floodwaters.
Recent continuous rainfall has led to dam authorities releasing water, resulting in widespread flooding across the plains of India and Pakistan.
Pakistani officials issued a flood alert for Punjab on Wednesday.
The alert came after India announced it would release water from its dams downstream into the eastern province.
Officials stated that this was the fifth such warning New Delhi had issued to Islamabad.
Floods, the worst in 40 years, have claimed at least 43 lives in Punjab and impacted over 3.3 million people since August 26, according to the provincial disaster management authority.
According to the National Disaster Management Authority, 881 people have died nationwide since the monsoon season began in late June.
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