From Himachal to Kashmir: Torrential Rain Leaves Trail of Death, Destruction and Flooding

New Delhi: Heavy rains in the last few days have created problems in many states. There are reports of floods, landslides and accidents everywhere in Himachal, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, UP and Assam. In Chamba, Himachal, 5 people of the same family lost their lives. In UP also 3 people died due to rain. The Meteorological Department says that there may be heavy rain in North India in the coming days also.

What happened in Chamba?

A family was devastated after a car fell into a ditch on the Pathankot-Bharmaur highway in Chamba on Monday night. There were 5 people from the same family in the car. Everyone died. The youngest child was only 3 months old. It is being said that the family was returning after getting the child treated at PGI, Chandigarh. That night the rain was so heavy that debris came down from the mountain at many places. Roads closed, vehicles stuck. Traffic is almost at a standstill throughout Himachal.

Is the situation worsened in Kashmir and Uttarakhand also?

Cloud burst in Bandipora, Kashmir. Low lying areas were flooded. Many families had to be shifted to safe places overnight. Fields and roads were also damaged. The weather in Uttarakhand is so bad that the administration has stopped the Chardham Yatra for 2 days. Passengers have been stopped in hotels and dharamshalas. Will be allowed to proceed further only when the weather clears.

Are questions also raised after the deaths of 3 people in UP?

A fourth-class child returning from school in Bulandshahr fell into a filled drain. After a long time he was taken out. The administration is now investigating whether there was any negligence on the part of the school and the municipality. In Sambhal too, the wall of a house collapsed due to rain. A mother and her niece were crushed to death. Both these incidents show how weak the security arrangements are in the monsoon. The weather department has given an orange alert of heavy to very heavy rain for the next 2-3 days in parts of Himachal, Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Western UP, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.

How will the weather be for the next few days?

There is still a flood in Assam. Lakhs of people are in relief camps. The administration has only one appeal – do not go near rivers and streams, do not travel unnecessarily in hilly areas and do not take weather warnings lightly.