NEW DELHI – Widespread and severe flooding is currently affecting several states in North India, with the states of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh bearing the brunt of the devastation. The relentless monsoon rains, which began in late August and have continued into early September, have led to overflowing rivers, flash floods, and landslides, causing a significant loss of life and widespread damage to property and infrastructure. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted more heavy rain for parts of the region, raising concerns of further distress.
The situation has been described as the worst flooding in decades for some areas. In Himachal Pradesh, the death toll has climbed significantly, with hundreds of lives lost to landslides and flash floods. Major highways, including the Chandigarh–Manali highway, remain closed due to landslides, cutting off crucial routes for relief and rescue operations.
In Punjab, the government has declared the entire state a disaster-affected area. More than 1,600 villages across 23 districts have been inundated, affecting hundreds of thousands of people. The Bhakra Dam is nearing its danger level, exacerbating fears of further flooding. Over 1.75 lakh hectares of farmland are submerged, leading to devastating losses for farmers.
In response to the crisis, the Indian Army and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed for extensive search and rescue operations. They have rescued thousands of stranded civilians and delivered tonnes of relief material, including food, water, and medicine. The Union Home Ministry has also constituted inter-ministerial central teams to assess the damage and coordinate relief efforts with the state governments.
Meteorological experts attribute the exceptionally heavy rainfall to a rare convergence of weather systems, including an active monsoon and frequent Western Disturbances. This has resulted in a "wettest two-week stretch" in over a decade for the region. Experts also warn that climate change is intensifying monsoon patterns, leading to more frequent and intense rainfall events in short periods, a phenomenon that is becoming the "new normal."
The immediate focus remains on rescue, relief, and rehabilitation of the affected population. With the IMD predicting a wet September, the challenges for disaster management and affected communities are expected to persist. Long-term recovery will require significant resources to rebuild damaged infrastructure and support farmers in recovering from crop losses.
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