The monsoon season brings disastrous floods to the northern Indian regions of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, where heavy rains and landslides have killed over 60 people, CNN reported.
Heavy Rains and Fatalities
In Himachal Pradesh, where most have died, chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu told the Indian news agency ANI on Tuesday, August 15, that at least 55 people had died since the weekend. He also warned that the number of fatalities may climb while rescue and recovery efforts are still ongoing.
At least nine people lost their lives on Monday, August 14, when a temple in Shimla collapsed due to floods, as reported by India Today. Sukhu told ANI that the incident occurred at approximately 8:00 AM local time on Monday morning when he visited the shrine.
Sukhu said on X (formerly known as Twitter) that the corpses of the deceased have been recovered and that the local government has been working hard to clear the debris.
Only five people have been pulled out so far, but there are still around 20 to 25 individuals trapped as of Monday.
Sukhu added on X, "We have directed the authorities to ensure all possible assistance and support to the affected families during this trying period. I appeal to people to stay indoors, to not venture near rivers and landslide-prone areas."
Meanwhile, Uttarakhand's Disaster Management Secretary Ranjit Sinha told CNN that torrential downpours had killed five people in the state. Sudesh Drall, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Commander in Uttarakhand, also said ten NDRF teams had been sent around the state to aid with rescue efforts.
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Relief and Rescue Operations
As the Indian Meteorological Department has issued a red warning for the state owing to the continuing heavy rain, traffic police authorities have also recommended that people refrain from traveling.
Videos and photos uploaded on social media show washed-out highways and damaged trees, as well as huge rocks being hurled by the force of water rushing down slopes.
An online message by India's home affairs minister Amit Shah described the deaths as "extremely distressing." Reportedly, teams from the NDRF are actively engaged in relief and rescue operations alongside local administration. "I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families," Shah added.
One of the worst-affected states in India during the monsoon season is Himachal Pradesh, located in the country's north. Death toll from flash floods and landslides in the state rose to above 30 in the month of July.
According to a statement released by Sukhu's office on Monday, the number of cloudburst incidents, or very violent and catastrophic downpours, in the state during monsoon season was the strongest it has been in half a century.
