Heavy Rainfall in Northern Indian Himalayan Foothills... Over 37 Dead

On the 20th (local time), a flood occurred in the Kangra region of Himachal Pradesh, causing large-scale damage including the collapse and washing away of a railway bridge.
[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo Mideum] At least 37 people have died due to heavy rains in the foothills of the Himalayas in northern India.

According to Indian media such as the Times of India and foreign news agencies on the 21st, continuous heavy rains in Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh in northern India caused flooding, resulting in twenty-one deaths and six missing persons. Houses were swept away by the floods, and people who could not escape the rain were carried away by the water.

In Kangra district, 344mm of heavy rain fell within 24 hours, causing part of a railway bridge to be washed away by the flood.

In Hamirpur district, sudden flooding submerged buildings, forcing people to evacuate to rooftops.

In northern Uttarakhand state, landslides covered mountain villages with rocks and mud, causing fatalities and road closures.

Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, explained, "The state government is on standby for rescue operations and will seek military assistance if necessary."

In addition, several deaths were reported due to heavy rains in Jharkhand and Odisha states.

AFP reported that in India, floods and landslides during the monsoon season have become more frequent and damaging every year due to various developments such as dam construction and deforestation.

Especially in northern India, which is famous for its perennial snow and attracts many tourists, sudden heavy rains often cause damage to visitors. Last month, heavy rains near a Hindu pilgrimage site in the Kashmir mountain area flooded a tent village of Hindu pilgrims, killing more than fifteen people.

Also, in June, heavy rains in Manipur state in northeastern India caused landslides that buried a railway construction site and military barracks under massive amounts of mud and rocks, resulting in 42 deaths.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.