Heavy Rainfall claims 15 lives in Uttarakhand and Himachal, more showers forecast

Heavy rainfall has wreaked havoc in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, leaving a trail of destruction.

Overflowing rivers, caved-in roads, damaged homes, and overturned vehicles are the scenes reported from both states.

So far, 15 people have died in Uttarakhand and three in a landslide in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh.

Dehradun, Uttarakhand, has been battered by very heavy rain since Monday night. Several areas, including Tapovan, Sahastradhara, and the IT Park, have seen extensive damage to roads, houses, and shops.

In total, 16 are reported missing, and over 900 people remain stranded as swollen rivers wash away bridges and roads.

The highest casualties have been reported from Dehradun, with 13 dead, while Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar recorded one death each.

In Prem Nagar, Dehradun, a bridge near Uttaranchal University collapsed due to flash floods, cutting off connectivity to hostels. Telephone lines were also damaged, and multiple electricity poles were uprooted. Restoration work is underway to resume power and communication services.

Interaction between easterlies (winds that blow from east to west) and westerlies (winds that blow from west to east) or air masses over the region leads to heavy precipitation. Uttarakhand has received 1,375.9 mm of rain between September 1 and 16, a 24 percent surplus compared to the normal 1,108.8 mm.

Himachal Pradesh has also been badly affected. Heavy rain on Monday night triggered floods and landslides, killing a family of three in Mandi district when debris from a nearby cliff buried their home. Vehicles have been swept away, and shops damaged.

Since the monsoon began on June 20, 417 people in Himachal Pradesh have died, 45 are missing, and 477 are injured. The state has received 46 percent surplus rainfall between September 1 and 16. A yellow alert for heavy rain is currently in effect in five districts.

In Shimla, a five-storey building in Panthaghati was evacuated due to a landslide threat. Another landslide on Tuesday buried dozens of vehicles, disrupting traffic and leading to the closure of National Highway 5. The highway connects Firozpur in Punjab to the Sino-Indian border at Shipki La.

The Dharampur bus stand in Mandi district suffered severe damage, with multiple buses being swept away. Images from the scene show the destruction caused by overnight rain.

So far this year, Himachal Pradesh has reported 46 cloudbursts, 97 flash floods, and 140 landslides. With 655 roads closed, including parts of three national highways, and 1,250 power transformers and 160 water supply schemes disrupted, the latest rainfall has worsened an already fragile situation.

Authorities are closely monitoring the situation as more rain is expected in both states.