Heavy rain, floods kill over 100 in India

International Desk , Published: 2023-07-12 13:50:39, Updated: 2023-07-12 13:50:39

More than 100 people were killed in heavy rainfall and flood-related incidents as torrential downpours continued to batter northern India.

Of the total fatalities, 80 died in Himachal Pradesh since the rain began last week, causing massive damage to infrastructure and rivers to swell beyond the danger mark, reports India Today.

An interaction between the monsoon trough and a western disturbance has led to torrential rainfall, triggering floods and landslides. Around 300 people, mostly tourists, are still stuck in the higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh due to incessant rainfall and snowfall there.

In Punjab and Haryana, 15 people lost their lives even as rainfall ebbed in some parts. In neighbouring Uttarakhand, nine pilgrims were killed and 13 others injured in landslides due to boulders falling from mountains in the past 24 hours.

In Delhi, the Yamuna breached the danger mark of 205.33 metres, inundating several low-lying areas along the banks of the river. The water level is dangerously close to touching the mark of 207.49 metres, the highest level which was recorded in 1978. Both road and rail traffic on the Old Yamuna Bridge has been shut as Haryana released more water into the Yamuna from the Hathnikund barrage in Yamunanagar.