On Thursday morning, catastrophic scenes unfolded across Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand

Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand Weather Alert: On Thursday morning, catastrophic scenes unfolded across Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand as severe rainfall and cloudbursts caused widespread damage. In Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, a building collapsed and was swept away by the floodwaters, as captured in distressing video footage. Simultaneously, in Uttarakhand, dramatic scenes emerged of pilgrims being airlifted from the Badrinath Yatra route and floodwaters inundating Jageshwar Dham.

The intense rainfall has resulted in tragic losses and significant disruption. In Himachal Pradesh, heavy rains have claimed two lives, and around 50 people are reported missing in Shimla, with 33 feared missing in Rampur and three in Kullu. In Uttarakhand, the death toll has reached five, including two children, with 200 pilgrims stranded due to disruptions on the Kedarnath yatra route.

The Mandakini River in Sonprayag has necessitated the evacuation of residents to safer areas, and three houses were moved in Thati village, Budha Kedar. In Kullu, the River Beas is flowing rapidly with increased water levels.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has visited the affected areas in Baheda Tehri Garhwal to oversee ongoing rescue and relief efforts. In response to the crisis in Himachal, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has assured support from the Centre, including the deployment of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams for rescue and relief operations.

The NDRF, police, and local rescue units are grappling with significant challenges, including river erosion and washed-out routes. Banshidhar Tiwari, Director General (Information), reported that approximately 20 to 25 meters of footpath near Bhimbali, Kedarnath, has been washed away, with boulders blocking key routes.

In Himachal Pradesh, Kullu Deputy Commissioner Torul S. Ravish highlighted extensive damage, particularly in the Nirmand block, where two Public Works Department (PWD) bridges were washed away and 8-9 houses were lost. Search and rescue operations are underway with the assistance of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and NDRF teams.

In light of the severe weather, registrations for the Char Dham Yatra have been temporarily suspended, and a safety advisory has been issued urging devotees to postpone their travel. DGP Abhinav Kumar emphasized, “The Meteorological Department has issued an alert for heavy rain in most districts of Uttarakhand. Your safety is our priority.”

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