Rain-ravaged India: Grappling with floods and landslides in a watery ordeal

Nattapong WestwoodPublished: 12:08, 13 July 2023| Updated: 11:18, 22 December 2023

345 1 minute read

Rain-ravaged India: Grappling with floods and landslides in a watery ordeal — People stand by a road washed away by the River Beas swollen due to heavy rains in Kullu District, Himachal Pradesh, India, Tuesday, July 11, 2023. Heavy monsoon rains caused landslides and flash floods in the country's north, killing at least 15 people over the past few days. (AP Photo/Aqil Khan)

Picture courtesy of Aqil Khan, AP

India is grappling with a heightened disaster situation following continuous heavy rainfall that has led to extensive flooding and landslides. The fatality count has tragically risen to at least 66, with severe damage reported across multiple states in the northern part of the country.

Today, 33 casualties were confirmed in the Himachal Pradesh state in northern India. Further south in Uttarakhand, 12 lives have been lost. In addition, nine individuals were tragically killed when remnants of collapsed buildings fell on their cars while driving on a highway. Ten more were drowned in Punjab state, with an additional 11 fatalities reported in Uttar Pradesh, reported KhaoSod.

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Local police in Himachal Pradesh reported that their rescue units are assisting 40 foreign tourists, including 14 Russians and 12 Malaysians, as well as several hundred Indian nationals stranded in popular tourist spots. Extreme rainfall and flooding have resulted in disconnected roads and destroyed bridges.

Sukhwinder Singh, the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, shared on Twitter…

“Their evacuation is very difficult due to heavy rainfall and bad weather. We are exploring all possible options to aid those affected.”

Rain-ravaged India: Grappling with floods and landslides in a watery ordeal | News by Thaiger — A man looks at a swollen Beas River following heavy rains in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, India, July 9. Picture courtesy of AP/Aqil Khan)

Monsoon-associated flooding and landslides are not uncommon in India during the monsoon season however, experts assert that climate change dynamics are exacerbating the severity and frequency of such disasters.

Last year, floods are wreaking havoc on two of India’s northern states, destroying homes and leaving people stranded. Since August 19, at least 32 people in Uttarakhand state and Himachal Pradesh state have been killed in floods and landslides, often due to houses collapsing in the floods.

Nattapong Westwood

Nattapong Westwood is a Bangkok-born writer who is half Thai and half Aussie. He studied in an international school in Bangkok and then pursued journalism studies in Melbourne. Nattapong began his career as a freelance writer before joining Thaiger. His passion for news writing fuels his dedication to the craft, as he consistently strives to deliver engaging content to his audience.