July 10, 2023The India Meteorological Department predicted “extremely heavy rainfall” in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and the adjoining areas of Punjab and Haryana states, citing an interaction between a ‘western disturbance’ and monsoon as the reason – similar to the 2013 flooding in Uttarakhand state, in which 5,000 people were killed and over 5,000 displaced.
After a 10% deficit in rainfall in the month of June, the surge of the southwestern monsoon over the west coast and parts of northern India in the past week led to 2% excess rainfall over the country on July 9, according to the IMD. ‘Heavy rain’ alerts were also issued for Delhi, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. In Delhi, which recorded its highest rainfall in a single day in July since 1982, the government announced schools will be closed on Monday.
Fourteen major landslides and 13 flash floods were reported over the weekend, and over 750 roads have been closed, PTI news agency reported, citing the state emergency operations center. Hundreds of people were stranded in different parts of the state, including 200 tourists in Lahaul and Spiti valleys. Six deaths in several rain-related incidents were reported on Sunday, while the total death toll in the past three days totaled at least 19 across the affected states.