Rescue efforts gain pace after rain batters north India; 31 dead in Himachal | Key points

Northwest India has been witnessing incessant rainfall for the last three days, with many areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan recording “heavy to extremely heavy” precipitation. Several state governments have ramped up relief and rescue efforts in the affected districts, navigating the trail of destruction left behind by the downpour.

Here’s a round-up of latest developments:

1. 01

   Himachal worst hit; severe damage to infrastructure

   CM Sukhu said excessive damage has been caused by the rainfall, while pointing out that there is not even a single panchayat in the state where roads and water supply schemes have not been damaged. According to officials, the Shimla-Kalka highway, which was blocked for vehicular traffic due to a cave-in following a landslide at the Chakki Mor area near Jabli, has been partially restored for one-way traffic.

   The state education department, meanwhile, has issued an order stating all government schools will be closed till July 15. As per the state emergency response centre, Himachal has suffered a cumulative loss to the tune of Rs 1,050 crore since the onset of monsoon on June 24.

   #WATCH | Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu conducts an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas of the state.

   (Video: CMO) pic.twitter.com/UVrIF3bstj

   — ANI (@ANI) July 11, 2023

   The supply of essential items was hit in several areas, including Shimla and Manali, as the Chandigarh-Manali and the Shimla-Kalka national highways were closed following landslides, caving-in of roads and flooding. Several areas in Kullu and Mandi remained without electricity as 2,577 transformers were disrupted, while the water supply was also affected in many areas as 1,418 water supply schemes suffered damage.

   The meteorological department has warned of the possibility of moderate to high flash floods in Shimla, Sirmaur and Kinnaur districts.

   People stand by a road washed away by the River Beas swollen due to heavy rains in Kullu District, Himachal Pradesh, July 11, 2023. (AP Photo)

2. 02

   Uttarakhand: 4 pilgrims killed in landslide; bridge washed away in Jummagad river

   Four pilgrims from Madhya Pradesh died and seven more were injured when a landslide triggered by heavy rainfall buried three vehicles near the Gangnani bridge on the Gangotri National Highway in Uttarkashi.

   Meanwhile, floods in Jummagad river in the border area of Chamoli district has washed away the bridge built on it, blocking the Indo-Tibet border road there while contact with over a dozen border villages has also been lost.

   VIDEO | Three killed as several vehicles get buried under debris from rain-triggered landslide on Gangotri National Highway in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi. pic.twitter.com/tx36sF0yGy

   — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 11, 2023

   The Joshimath-Malari border road is now blocked and traffic connectivity to over a dozen border villages in the area has also stopped.

3. 03

   Delhi: Thousands moved to safer places as Yamuna swells further

   The Delhi government on Tuesday said thousands of people living in the floodplain of the swollen Yamuna river in the city have been shifted to makeshift accommodations in safer places and provided with food and water.

   Saurabh Bharadwaj, the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government's water minister, said the evacuation process was underway.

   The affected people are being shifted to places in the East, North, Northeast, Southeast, Central and Shahdara districts of Delhi where more than 2,700 tents have been arranged for them, Bharadwaj said at a press conference.

   The old iron bridge was closed for traffic as the water level of the Yamuna river crossed the danger mark in New Delhi on Tuesday. Express Photo by Tashi Tobgyal

   The river has now exceeded that. Its water level crossed the danger mark of 205.33 metres on Monday evening, much earlier than anticipated.

4. 04

   Weather clears in Punjab, Haryana; authorities step up relief efforts

   The rain ebbed on Tuesday in Haryana and Punjab after three days of incessant downpour, which left behind a trail of destruction in several parts of the twin states where properties worth crores were damaged and nine lives lost. The governments in both states have stepped up efforts to provide relief to the affected people.

   On Tuesday morning, the weather was clear at most places in the region, which brought relief to the people after the incessant downpour inundated homes and caused extensive damage to crops and vegetables in many districts.

   Officials said relief shelters have been set up in the affected districts, including Rupnagar, Patiala, Mohali, Ambala and Panchkula, in the two states.