As the monsoon intensifies in northern India, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are grappling with widespread destruction. From blocked roads and damaged infrastructure to disrupted water supplies and search operations for the missing people, the situation remains grim in both states as they now face the fallout of intense rainfall and weather alerts issued for the coming days.
Himachal Battles Landslides and Flash Floods
In Himachal Pradesh, 235 roads reportedly remained blocked on Monday, July 6, with Mandi accounting for 176 of them and 36 in Kullu. The State Emergency Operation Centre reported that 174 water supply schemes are also disrupted, with Mandi bearing the brunt.
So far, the death toll ahs risen to 80, with 52 fatalities directly related to natural disasters such as flash floods, landslides and cloudbursts; whereas, 28 deaths were due to road accidents, as per a report by the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA). As per the data, 17 rain-related deaths were reported in Mandi, followed by 11 in Kangra.
Search and rescue operations are currently underway in Mandi’s Thunag, Gohar and Karsog subdivisions, where 28 people have gone missing due to cloudbursts and landslides. Multiple agencies, including the NDRF, SDRF, Army, ITBP and Home Guards, are part of the ongoing efforts.
According to Mandi Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan, "Every possible effort is being made to find the missing people after the disaster." He also said that 50% of the drinking water schemes have been restored in Janjehli, where Bailey bridges are being installed to reconnect cut-off areas.
Additionally, a yellow alert for heavy rainfall has been issued for Una, Bilaspur, Solan and Sirmaur on July 8 and 9, with Sirmaur remaining under alert for July 10. Light to moderate rainfall is expected across Himachal till July 13.
Uttarakhand Sees Torrential Rains, Orange Alert in Nainital
Uttarakhand, too, is witnessing nature’s fury. Hilly districts like Bageshwar, Chamoli and Tehri have recorded rainfall well above seasonal norms. Bageshwar alone has received 765.5 mm so far this monsoon. In contrast, plain areas like Udham Singh Nagar are experiencing below-average rainfall, resulting in high humidity and temperatures hovering between 30-33°C.
The Meteorological Department has sounded an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rain in Nainital, Champawat, Rudraprayag and Bageshwar between July 8 and 10, with winds reaching up to 50 km/h.
Infrastructure damage is also a concern, with landslides reported in Rudraprayag and Bageshwar, and a dangerous pothole on the Shipra River bridge in Bhawali prompting demands for urgent repair.
Despite the contrast in rain intensity across regions, both the hills and plains of Uttarakhand remain on edge as monsoon activity is expected to intensify in the coming days.
Uttar Pradesh on Edge as Rain Triggers Flooding and Waterlogging
Widespread rainfall caused significant waterlogging and flood-like conditions in parts of Uttar Pradesh. In Moradabad’s Bholanath Colony, drain and rainwater have submerged 15–20 houses, forcing residents to wade through waist-deep water.
In Varanasi, the Ganga River surged to 62.63 metres, just 8.63 metres below the danger mark. The rising waters have inundated over 100 small temples between Assi and Rajghat, submerged Manikarnika Ghat, and pushed cremations onto stairs and rooftops. Authorities remain on high alert despite slight stabilisation by Saturday morning.
Other districts such as Kanpur and Bundelkhand also witnessed intense downpours on Friday night, leading to rapid street flooding. Rainfall ranged from 21 to 33 mm across key towns in the Bundelkhand region. In total, over 25 cities in Uttar Pradesh recorded rainfall through the day.
The IMD has issued a rain alert for 44 districts across the state, forecasting heavy rainfall in 13 districts and thunderstorm activity with lightning in 31 others.
