Emergency workers rescue nearly 1,000 in Himalayas after torrential rains
In a dramatic response to severe weather conditions, emergency workers have rescued nearly 1,000 individuals stranded across various parts of the Himalayas following intense rainfall in northern India. The deluge has resulted in widespread destruction and claimed at least 12 lives, officials reported on Thursday.
The capital, Delhi, experienced heavy rainfall late Wednesday, with eastern areas receiving 147 mm (5.8 inches). This downpour led to the deaths of at least seven people in the city, according to local media.
In Uttarakhand state, a sudden cloudburst triggered catastrophic flooding, killing three people and washing away parts of two bridges. The treacherous weather has made communication difficult in the mountainous terrain, complicating rescue efforts. Over 1,000 people stranded along the Kedarnath pilgrimage route have been saved by rescue teams, although a segment of the national highway has been rendered impassable, as reported by district official Saurabh Gaharwar.
Uttarakhand has a history of devastating floods, notably the 2013 disaster that left nearly 6,000 Hindu pilgrims missing. The current situation remains precarious as rescue operations continue amidst challenging conditions.
In neighboring Himachal Pradesh, flooding has resulted in two fatalities and nearly 50 people reported missing. Rescue operations are underway, with images shared by the state chief minister depicting workers navigating treacherous waters and debris.
Officials in Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh, have described the situation as dire, with efforts focused on retrieving individuals and any potential casualties from the debris. “The situation is quite bad there and we are trying to pull out people, dead bodies (if any) from the debris,” stated Jyoti Rana, a district official.
Recent extreme weather events across the Indian subcontinent have sparked discussions among climate experts, who suggest that climate change may be exacerbating the frequency and severity of such natural disasters. Earlier this week, Kerala experienced devastating landslides following unexpected heavy rainfall, which claimed at least 178 lives.
In Delhi, the heavy rains caused water leakage from the newly constructed parliament building’s glass dome, though repairs have since been completed. The city has faced a string of extreme weather events in recent months, including intense heatwaves and flooding that has previously led to infrastructure failures such as a collapsed airport roof.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as rescue and recovery efforts are ongoing in the affected regions.
