Up to 32 individuals have perished in rain-related incidents across seven states since Wednesday evening, as the monsoon havoc persists in India. The record-breaking single-day rainfall submerged Delhi-NCR, while cloudbursts in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh resulted in the loss of at least 14 lives, with several others still unaccounted for. The most recent data indicates that there have been 10 fatalities in Uttarakhand, four in Himachal Pradesh, five in Delhi, two in Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh, three in Gurugram in Haryana, three in Jaipur, Rajasthan, and five in Bihar.
The total number of deaths across the country from rain-related incidents has now reached 283, with Wayanad in Kerala bearing the brunt with 256 fatalities. On Tuesday, three significant landslides caused by continuous rainfall struck the mountainous regions near Meppadi in Wayanad, Kerala. Despite ongoing rescue efforts at full speed for the third day in a row on Thursday, many individuals are still unaccounted for.
Latest updates regarding rain fury in India:
- On Wednesday evening, Delhi-NCR experienced relentless rainfall, with the weather department reporting that the national capital received 108 mm of precipitation since the previous evening, marking the highest daily total for July in 14 years. The heavy rains resulted in widespread flooding in various parts of the city, severely disrupted traffic flow, and led to the collapse of walls.
- Recent visuals indicated that numerous underpasses in the Delhi-NCR region were inundated, significantly impacting traffic on routes leading to Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad, all of which are part of the national capital region (NCR).
- Intense rainfall has resulted in cloudbursts in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, leading to the deaths of at least 14 individuals, with many others reported missing. The Meteorological Department has predicted additional rainfall over the next five days in both mountainous states, while rescue operations continue. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is actively monitoring the situation in Himachal Pradesh and has assured that all necessary assistance will be provided, as reported by news agency ANI.
- According to a report from the news agency PTI, five individuals have lost their lives due to lightning strikes in two districts of Bihar since Wednesday evening, as stated by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO). Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed his condolences for the deceased and declared a financial compensation of Rs 4 lakh for the families affected by this tragedy. Additionally, he urged the public to adhere to the advisories provided by the Disaster Management Department.
- More than 250 individuals have lost their lives in extensive landslides in Wayanad, Kerala, as search and rescue efforts persist in locating those who are still missing. The Indian Army has successfully rescued close to 1,000 people, while 220 individuals remain unaccounted for. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has announced that the rescued individuals have been temporarily relocated to camps, and efforts for their rehabilitation will be promptly initiated.
- Over 250 people have perished in massive landslides in Kerala’s Wayanad, as rescue operations continued on Thursday in search of those missing. The Indian Army has rescued nearly 1,000 people and 220 are still missing. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that rescued people are temporarily shifted to camps and rehabiliation works will be done at the earliest.
- The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) announced on Thursday that India experienced a rainfall increase of nine percent above the normal levels in July, with the central region of the country receiving an excess of 33 percent. The weather agency reported significant rainfall shortages in eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Gangetic West Bengal, and certain areas of the Northeast, as conveyed by the news agency PTI.
- Additionally, the IMD forecasted that India is expected to witness above-normal rainfall in August and September, with a strong likelihood of favorable La Niña conditions emerging by the end of August. The meteorological department indicated that the anticipated rainfall during these months would reach 106 percent of the long-term average of 422.8 mm. Since June 1, India has recorded a total of 453.8 mm of rainfall, representing a two percent increase attributed to the wetter-than-usual July.
- The latest bulletin from the IMD also highlighted that the seven states currently experiencing rain-related fatalities will not receive immediate respite. Heavy rainfall is predicted for regions including Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, and Bihar, among others, until August 7.