Search and rescue operations are underway in Rampur, Shimla, following heavy rains. (Image source: PTI)
Drownings, building collapses and electrocutions occurred in Delhi's National Capital Region, while Himachal Pradesh was devastated by heavy rains and flash floods that washed away highways in Uttarakhand.
Heavy rains on Wednesday wreaked havoc in parts of northern India, leaving more than 15 people dead and many missing. Drownings were reported in the Delhi-NCR due to massive waterlogging, building collapses and electrocutions, while Himachal Pradesh was devastated by heavy rains and flash floods that washed away highways in Uttarakhand. Flooding also occurred in parts of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) in its forecast said more rainfall is expected in the northern parts of the country. The IMD predicts heavy to very heavy rainfall on August 1 in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
7 dead in Delhi-NCR
At least seven people were killed and three injured as Delhi was hit by heavy rains on Wednesday.
A woman and her son drowned in a waterlogged drain near Koda Colony in Delhi's Ghazipur district, while a 12-year-old boy died due to electrocution in Bindapur area in Dwarka district. One person was killed and three others injured in a building collapse after heavy rains in Subzi Mandi area, including two in Shastri Park and one in Defense Colony.
Three people were electrocuted when high-voltage power lines snapped due to heavy rains near IFFCO Chowk metro station in Gurgaon around 10 pm on Wednesday.
Delhi Police received 2,945 calls about traffic jams, 127 calls about water logging, 27 complaints about collapsed buildings and 50 complaints about uprooted trees in the past 24 hours.
Himachal Pradesh hit by heavy rains, killing 2 people
Heavy rains lashed Himachal Pradesh's Shimla and Mandi districts on Wednesday, causing damage in the area due to torrential downpours. After two heavy rain incidents in Himachal Pradesh, although two people died, more than 50 people are still missing. Incidents of heavy rain were reported in Rampur tehsil of Shimla, Padhar tehsil of Mandi district and Jaon and Nirmand villages of Kullu.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sohu said teams from NDRF, SDRF, police, home guard and fire brigade are involved in disaster relief, search and rescue operations.
Current situation of Himalayas
The minister said CM Sukhu has called an emergency meeting as several bridges were damaged due to incessant rains in the state.
A video that has gone viral on social media shows a multi-storey building collapsing and being swept away by the raging waters of the Parvati river in Himachal Pradesh. The water level in the Beas River has also exceeded the danger level.
10 dead in Uttarakhand
Heavy rains and flash floods paralyzed life in parts of Uttarakhand, with Tehri and Rudraprayag districts the worst affected. Landslides and rain-related incidents have killed at least 10 people since Wednesday night.
SDRF has evacuated nearly 1,000 pilgrims who were stranded in different areas of the Kedarnath trek due to rains and landslides. The walking track leading from Gaurikund to the Kedarnath shrine in Rudraprayag district was severely damaged at at least nine places, authorities said.
About 20-25 meters of the national highway connecting Rudraprayag and Rishikesh was washed away, making it difficult for vehicles to move. About 30 meters of the highway between Sonprayag and Gaurikund was either washed away or affected by debris brought by landslides.
Waterlogging in parts of UP and Punjab, 3 dead in Jaipur
In Jaipur, three people died after being trapped in a flooded basement during heavy rains.
Heavy rains also disrupted life in parts of Uttar Pradesh and Punjab on Wednesday.
In Lucknow, heavy rainfall resulted in widespread waterlogging around the UP Vidhan Sabha and affected several areas in the state capital. In Varanasi, water entered parts of the Manikarnika Ghat crematorium and people had to wait for cremation.
In Bathinda, rainfall resulted in flooding in several areas.
