Rain Alert in J&K, Himachal as Cloudbursts and Landslides Claim Lives; Punjab Battles Worst Floods in Decades

The monsoon fury continues to wreak havoc across India, with relentless rainfall triggering landslides, flash floods, and swollen rivers in multiple states. From the hill districts of Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh to the plains of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Telangana, normal life has been thrown out of gear. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued fresh alerts, warning of more rain and storms in the coming days.

⚠️ IMD Rain Alert in Delhi and Northern States

The IMD has issued a forecast for light to moderate rain with strong winds in Delhi until September 2. The national capital has been witnessing continuous rainfall since last weekend, with the Yamuna river flowing precariously close to the danger mark.

Authorities have urged residents in low-lying areas to remain alert as heavy rain in the upper catchment areas of Uttarakhand and Himachal could further raise river water levels.

🕉️ Tragedy Strikes Vaishno Devi Route – 34 Pilgrims Dead

One of the most devastating incidents occurred on the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage route in Jammu and Kashmir, where a massive landslide killed at least 34 people. Several others were injured as boulders and debris tumbled down on devotees making their way to the shrine. Rescue teams rushed to the spot, but bad weather and blocked roads delayed operations.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said he was in constant touch with district authorities and directed rescue efforts on a war footing. He added, “I pray to Baba Kedar for the safety and well-being of everyone affected.”

🌧️ Record-Breaking Rainfall in Telangana

In Telangana, heavy downpours have shattered a 50-year-old rainfall record in Kamareddy and Medak districts, flooding villages and disrupting transportation. Rivers and rivulets are in spate, and authorities are working to relocate residents from inundated areas.

🌊 Flood Situation in Uttar Pradesh – Ganga and Yamuna in Spate

The Ganga and Yamuna rivers in Uttar Pradesh, which were approaching danger levels earlier this week, have started to recede slightly. However, the damage has already been extensive.

Over 1.5 lakh people have been affected, with floodwaters entering residential areas and displacing thousands. Relief camps have been set up, and officials are distributing food and medical aid.

🌧️ Rajasthan Sees Nonstop Rain

In Rajasthan, rain continued for the fourth straight day. Light to moderate showers were recorded in several districts, including Karauli, Udaipur, Pratapgarh, Jhalawar, Chittorgarh, Ajmer, Bhilwara, Banswara, Bharatpur, Rajsamand, and Jaipur.

Low-lying areas have been flooded, and traffic movement in some regions remains disrupted.

🚨 Punjab Battles Worst Floods in Decades

Punjab is facing one of its worst flood crises in decades, with the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers overflowing and submerging farmlands and villages.

• Over 6,600 people have been evacuated from affected districts.
• In Amritsar’s Ramdas area, ATOR (all-terrain off-road) vehicles and boats were deployed to rescue stranded residents.
• In Gurdaspur’s Dera Baba Nanak, drones delivered food, medicines, and water to people trapped in marooned homes.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced that he, along with his cabinet ministers and MLAs, would donate one month’s salary to support relief operations. The state government has also urged the Centre to provide a special relief package.

⛰️ Himachal Pradesh – Flash Floods & Landslides Worsen Situation

Neighboring Himachal Pradesh continues to reel under torrential rain. Flash floods and landslides have claimed multiple lives in Chamba, Kangra, and Mandi districts.

In Bada Bhangal village (Kangra district), flash floods from the Ravi river destroyed several government buildings and homes. Many remote villages remain cut off due to damaged roads and snapped mobile networks.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed grief over the casualties and assured that relief teams were working round the clock despite adverse conditions.

⚠️ IMD Issues Orange & Yellow Alerts

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued:

• Orange Alert for Chamoli, Pithoragarh, Bageshwar, Champawat, and Udham Singh Nagar districts of Uttarakhand, predicting very heavy rainfall.
• Yellow Alert for Uttarkashi, Dehradun, Tehri Garhwal, Rudraprayag, Pauri, Haridwar, Almora, and Nainital, warning of heavy downpours.

Authorities have urged people living near riverbanks, hillsides, and landslide-prone areas to stay alert and avoid unnecessary travel.