Northern India has been battered by days of relentless monsoon rains, resulting in widespread destruction and claiming the lives of at least 29 people, according to officials. The heavy downpours have rendered many areas inaccessible, with damaged bridges and blocked roads hampering rescue efforts.

Television footage has captured the alarming scenes of flash floods and landslides triggered by the torrential rain, washing away vehicles, demolishing buildings, and ripping down bridges in the hilly state of Himachal Pradesh—the worst affected region.

Omkar Sharma, a senior official in charge of disaster management in Himachal Pradesh, stated, “In the last two days, the death toll due to monsoon rains has risen to 20 in Himachal Pradesh.” Additionally, nine more deaths were reported in the states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Kashmir, as well as in the Himalayan regions, bringing the total number of casualties since Saturday to at least 29.

Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, expressed deep sorrow at the loss of lives and assured that the government is making all-out efforts to tackle the situation, despite the forecast of further rain.

Rescue operations have been hindered by the continuous rainfall, but authorities are waiting for a respite in the weather to dispatch helicopter missions and save around 300 stranded individuals, including tourists, in the Lahaul-Spiti and Kullu areas of Himachal Pradesh.

The meteorological department of India has predicted more rain across a large portion of the northern region in the coming days. The impact of the heavy precipitation has also been felt in New Delhi, where schools were closed due to the highest single-day rainfall in July in four decades. The capital remains on high alert as the Yamuna river approaches dangerous levels, causing widespread flooding on many roads.

Punjab state has also witnessed streets and neighbourhoods submerged in knee-deep rainwater. Official data reveals that the monsoon rains in the country during the first week of July have already exceeded the average rainfall by approximately two per cent.

The summer monsoon is vital for South Asia, providing around 80 per cent of the region’s annual rainfall. However, it also brings the risk of death and destruction through flooding and landslides. Scientists attribute the increasing intensity and unpredictability of the monsoon to climate change, making it a growing concern for the affected areas.