Monsoon Havoc: 32 Dead Across Seven States Amid Torrential Rains in India
Torrential rains have led to 32 deaths across seven Indian states, with widespread flooding, cloudbursts, and landslides causing significant destruction
01-08-2024Since Wednesday evening, 32 people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents across seven states as monsoon mayhem continues to ravage India. Record rainfall submerged Delhi-NCR, while cloudbursts in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh resulted in 14 fatalities and several missing persons.
The latest figures report 10 deaths in Uttarakhand, four in Himachal Pradesh, five in Delhi, two in Greater Noida, three in Gurugram, three in Jaipur, and five in Bihar. The nationwide death toll from rain-related incidents now stands at 283, with Kerala's Wayanad district being the hardest hit, suffering 256 fatalities from recent landslides.
Delhi-NCR: The region experienced unprecedented rainfall since Wednesday evening, with the weather department recording 108 mm of rain in Delhi—the highest single-day total in July in 14 years. The deluge caused widespread flooding, severe traffic disruptions, and building collapses. Several underpasses were submerged, affecting traffic to and from Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad.
Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh: Heavy rains triggered cloudbursts, killing at least 14 people and leaving scores missing. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts more rain for the next five days as rescue operations continue. In Himachal Pradesh's Shimla and Mandi districts, cloudbursts in the Samej Khud area resulted in four deaths and about 52 people missing. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is monitoring the situation and has assured all necessary assistance.
Bihar: Lightning strikes claimed the lives of five people across two districts since Wednesday evening. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has expressed condolences and announced financial compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the families of the deceased. He urged residents to adhere to advisories issued by the Disaster Management Department.
Kerala's Wayanad: Massive landslides have resulted in over 250 deaths, with ongoing rescue efforts searching for the missing. The Indian Army has rescued nearly 1,000 people, with 220 still unaccounted for. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stated that those rescued have been temporarily relocated to camps, with rehabilitation efforts to commence soon.
Jammu and Kashmir: Flash floods in the Dachan area of Kishtwar caused significant damage to bridges and buildings. Cloudbursts in the upper reaches led to massive water discharges, and rivers in the Rajouri district overflowed, causing severe waterlogging.
Rajasthan: In Jaipur, three people drowned after rainwater flooded the basement of their house. Rescue operations recovered the bodies after hours of effort, including the use of mud pumps to clear the water.
The IMD reported that India received nine percent more rainfall than normal in July, with central regions experiencing a 33 percent excess. However, there were significant deficits in eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Gangetic West Bengal, and parts of the Northeast. The IMD predicts above-normal rainfall for August and September, with a high chance of favorable La Nina conditions developing by the end of August. Rainfall for these months is expected to be 106 percent of the long-period average of 422.8 mm. Since June 1, India has recorded 453.8 mm of rainfall, a two percent increase due to a wetter-than-normal July.
The IMD's latest bulletin indicates that the affected states—Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, and Bihar—will continue to experience heavy rainfall until at least August 7.
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