North India Monsoon Havoc Sparks Floods, Landslides and Deaths Amid Relentless Rainfall
26 June 2025, New Delhi
The onset of the monsoon has triggered widespread chaos across several northern and western states of India. Instead of bringing seasonal relief, the heavy rains have led to flash floods, cloudbursts, landslides, and road accidents in regions including Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. Authorities have issued multiple alerts as rescue operations are underway in the worst-affected areas.
In Himachal Pradesh, two cloudbursts struck the Kangra and Kullu districts on Wednesday evening, resulting in sudden flooding. At least three people lost their lives, and 10 others are feared missing. The Manuni stream in Kangra’s Khaniyara region overflowed rapidly, sweeping through a labor colony near the Indira Priyadarshini hydroelectric plant. Officials fear that 15 to 20 workers may have been swept away. Search and rescue teams have been deployed and operations are ongoing.
In Uttarakhand, heavy rainfall has triggered multiple landslides across districts such as Tehri, Chamoli, Nainital, Pithoragarh, and Dehradun. The worst incident occurred in Rudraprayag, where an 18-seater bus plunged into the Alaknanda river, resulting in one death and injuries to seven passengers. The injured have been shifted to the district hospital. Authorities have issued flood warnings in eight districts and urged locals to avoid travel in hilly areas.
Rajasthan has also seen a sharp rise in rainfall over the last 48 hours. Cities like Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, and Jaisalmer recorded up to 180 mm of rainfall, causing severe waterlogging and traffic disruptions. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted continued heavy downpours in western Rajasthan over the coming days and advised the public to remain indoors wherever possible.
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Meanwhile, in Delhi-NCR, the long-awaited monsoon is expected to arrive between June 26 and June 30. The IMD has forecast moderate to heavy rainfall for the capital and surrounding areas, bringing much-needed relief from heatwaves and high humidity. Civic bodies have begun desilting drains and preparing for possible waterlogging.
In the southern and western regions, Maharashtra and Karnataka are also grappling with monsoon-induced disruptions. In Shirpur and Washim (Maharashtra), waterlogging has affected daily life, while in Shiradi Ghat and Hassan (Karnataka), landslides have disrupted highway traffic. The IMD has placed both states under a three-day heavy rain alert. Across all affected areas, local administrations and disaster response forces remain on high alert as more rain is expected.