Intense rainfall battered northern India, causing the Yamuna river to surpass the danger threshold in Delhi.

Floods Wreak Havoc Across North India

Heavy flooding has hit several regions of north India, causing widespread destruction and displacement. The latest round of flooding has affected Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Punjab.

In Delhi, residents living along the Yamuna river were evacuated in 2023 due to floodwaters entering their homes and the river reaching its highest level in 45 years. The swollen Yamuna had breached its danger mark on Tuesday, prompting authorities to take immediate action.

The India Meteorological Department has warned of heavy to very heavy rain in the region on Wednesday, and authorities in Himachal Pradesh have asked people to remain indoors due to flood warnings. Landslides have been triggered and many roads have been damaged in the mentioned regions, disconnecting parts of Jammu and Himachal from the rest of India.

The Governor of Himachal Pradesh during the severe floods in August 2023 was Shiv Pratap Shukla. In Mandi district, three people were killed in the latest landslide, according to state Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. A woman and her daughter were killed after rains brought down a wall in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district.

The monsoon season in India has been particularly intense this year, and the floods have taken a heavy toll. At least 130 people have been killed in north India during August, and in Punjab, 30 people have been killed and nearly 20,000 evacuated since August 1. The swollen Chenab and Tawi rivers have risen above the danger mark at several spots in the mentioned regions.

To mitigate the flood situation, continuous rain has prompted authorities to release water from dams, causing flooding in plains in India and Pakistan in recent days. Water gushing through the plains in Punjab state has destroyed 150,000 hectares of crops, as per the government's statement on Tuesday.

In an effort to protect the safety of the people, nearly 10,000 people have been evacuated to relief camps set up by the government along the main highways as a precautionary measure for those living in low-lying areas. Educational institutions in Himachal Pradesh have been ordered shut, and authorities in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh are preparing for more downpours.

The floods have caused immense destruction to villages and infrastructure, and the situation remains critical in several regions. The government and local authorities are working tirelessly to evacuate people and provide them with essential aid and support. We hope for a swift resolution to this crisis and for the safety and well-being of all those affected.