Heavy monsoon rains have unleashed destructive floods and landslides in India's Himalayan region, resulting in a death toll of at least 41 people and leaving numerous others stranded. The states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have been particularly hard hit by days of relentless downpours, causing vehicles to be swept away, buildings to collapse, and bridges to be destroyed. The casualties are reported as 33 in Himachal Pradesh and 8 in Uttarakhand.
In Himachal Pradesh's Solan district, a cloudburst claimed nine lives, while two landslides in Shimla, the state capital, resulted in the death of 12 people. The heavy rains have led to flash floods and additional landslides, causing further fatalities and widespread damage. The calamity has left thousands stranded due to damaged roads, disrupted power lines, and communication network failures. Railway lines have been rendered unusable after the ground beneath them was washed away, contributing to the transportation crisis. Efforts are ongoing, but the situation remains critical as more rainfall is forecasted. In Shimla, a Hindu temple collapsed during a landslide, raising concerns of an escalating death toll. To address the hazardous conditions, schools, colleges, and over 700 flooded roads have been closed.
This is not the first instance of such disaster in the region. Last month, severe monsoon rains resulted in over 100 deaths in parts of northern India, particularly impacting Himachal Pradesh. Landslides and floods during the monsoon season are recurrent in the Himalayan north of India, with their frequency increasing due to the effects of global warming, including glacier melting. A notable incident occurred in February 2021 when flash floods took the lives of nearly 200 people and destroyed homes in Uttarakhand. The India Meteorological Department issued warnings of ongoing moderate to heavy rainfall, with a red alert indicating intense downpours. As India grapples with these recurring catastrophes, concerns about climate change and its influence on extreme weather events continue to grow.
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