The Meteorological Department (IMD) has officially announced the active onset of the southwest monsoon across the country - 9 days ahead of its usual date of July 8. With the onset of monsoon bringing great relief to farmers, many states now face the looming threat of floods. From north to south and hills to plains, images of surging floods are emerging amidst heavy rains. Streets in several major cities are flooded, and incidents of cloudbursts and landslides in the hills have come to light.
In Himachal Pradesh, the monsoon's arrival has already marked the start of devastation. Continuous images of natural disasters from various districts are being reported. The recent destruction from a cloudburst in Kullu on June 25 was a vivid memory as nature revealed its fierce face once more. After a night of rain in Solan district, stones and trees fell onto tracks, suspending services on the Shimla-Kalka railway line. Traffic on national highways was also disrupted for hours due to landslides. The level of the Beas River has risen due to ongoing rain in Mandi district.
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Source: aajtak
Due to the flushing of Largi Dam, the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) has opened all five gates of the Pandoh Dam. Water is entering Pandoh Dam at a rate of 44,000 cusecs per second and is being released at the same rate. Authorities have warned residents to stay away from rivers and streams. In recent days, three cloudbursts have occurred in Himachal Pradesh, leaving several areas on high alert for heavy rain, causing widespread fear. Manali experienced devastating floods two years ago, and once again, the Beas River is changing its course, instilling fear in the hearts of the locals.
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The swift flow is damaging houses and shops along the Beas River. Despite preparations made by the administration, they fall short in the face of severe weather. Over 30 lives have been lost in different incidents related to rain, cloudbursts, and landslides in Himachal Pradesh. The government and administration urge people to maintain distance from rivers. Heavy rains in Kangra Valley have led to road closures. Long queues of vehicles are seen on national highways following landslides. An alert for heavy rainfall was issued by the meteorological department for ten districts in Himachal Pradesh. From July 1, rain is expected to continue in several areas. The Hydromet Division warned of moderate to high flash floods in parts of Bilaspur, Chamba, Hamirpur, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur, Solan, and Una districts within the next 24 hours.
Source: aajtak
Cloudbursts are wrecking havoc in hills while the situation in plains worsens. Areas that were once open fields in Jamshedpur have transformed into ponds. Entire regions appear like rivers. The Bhairavi river near the famous Rajrappa Siddhpeeth (Chhinnamastika Temple) in Ramgarh, Jharkhand, flows with fierce speed, leading to the demise of a young man. In Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, the water level of the Ganges is ascending rapidly, revealing its mighty form. Extensive rainfall in Pali, Rajasthan, has inundated the city, and similar severe impacts are witnessed in Mayurbhanj, Odisha. In Budhabalanga river, high flows have induced flood-like conditions, with escalating water levels worrying locals.
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The meteorological department has forecasted heavy rains in 10 districts of Bihar, including Patna. Meanwhile, the Char Dham pilgrimage in Uttarakhand has been halted for the next 24 hours following a red alert for heavy rain. Garhwal Division Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey confirmed that pilgrims heading towards Badrinath and Kedarnath are stopped at Srinagar or Rudraprayag, and those heading to Yamunotri and Gangotri are held at Vikasnagar and Barkot. A red alert was issued by IMD for Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Champawat, Bageshwar, Udham Singh Nagar, and Haridwar, warning of extremely heavy rainfall.
Source: aajtak
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An orange alert has also been declared for July 1 and 2 in Uttarakhand, warning of flooding and landslides in sensitive or low-lying regions. In Uttarkashi, a cloudburst near Silai Band in Barkot led to a landslide at a hotel construction site on Saturday morning. According to District Magistrate Prashant Arya, debris from the under-construction hotel fell on workers' shelters, rendering nine workers missing. Two bodies have been recovered, and the search for the remaining seven continues. Landslides have also blocked sections of the Yamunotri and Gangotri highways. With relentless rains expected to continue across North India, local administrations in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand urge people to stay vigilant and keep clear of flood-prone or landslide-affected areas. The meteorological department predicts rain will span the entire North Indian region over the next 24 hours.
