New Delhi, July 21: Torrential rain, flash floods and landslides continued to wreak havoc across several parts of the country on Tuesday, disrupting normal life, claiming lives and damaging infrastructure, while major pilgrimages in Jammu and Kashmir remained suspended for the second consecutive day.
In Jammu and Kashmir, at least 23 people have died and several others are reported missing over the past two days due to rain-related incidents, officials said. The Amarnath Yatra, Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra and Shiv Khori pilgrimage remained suspended amid adverse weather conditions, leaving hundreds of pilgrims stranded at Jammu, Udhampur, Ramban and other base camps.
Authorities said the Shri Amarnath Yatra will remain suspended until further notice as heavy rain, landslides and flash floods continue to pose safety risks.
The worst-hit district was Poonch, where 17 people lost their lives and six others remain missing. A landslide-triggered house collapse in the district claimed the lives of seven people, including four women. In Rajouri, three people died and one person is missing, while Doda reported three fatalities and six injuries. A cloudburst was also reported in the Safapora area of Ganderbal district.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said heavy rainfall lashed most parts of the Kashmir Valley, including Srinagar, contributing to the deteriorating situation.
The flood situation in Assam also worsened, with more than 3.63 lakh people affected across 15 districts and five additional deaths reported during the last 24 hours. The Army has been deployed to assist state agencies in relief and rescue operations.
Continuous rainfall also triggered flash floods and landslides in four districts of Arunachal Pradesh, causing damage to roads and public infrastructure.
In Mumbai, overnight rain led to widespread waterlogging, disrupting road traffic and suburban railway services. The Andheri subway was temporarily closed after being inundated.
In Uttarakhand, incessant rain forced the administration to suspend vehicular movement on the Dehradun-Mussoorie highway, with traffic diverted through the Kimadi route. The Badrinath, Kedarnath and Yamunotri highways were also blocked due to debris, affecting travel to the Himalayan pilgrimage destinations.
Heavy rainfall also caused three houses to collapse in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, while cloudbursts at four locations in Chamba and Lahaul-Spiti districts of Himachal Pradesh triggered flooding and caused extensive damage.
Authorities across the affected states have intensified rescue and relief operations and urged residents and pilgrims to remain vigilant and avoid unnecessary travel as the spell of heavy rainfall is expected to continue in several regions.
