As the monsoon tightens its grip over North India, a wave of rain-related disruptions has swept across the region, prompting alerts, travel halts, and intensified rescue efforts.
In Delhi-NCR, Saturday brought light to moderate showers, with gusty winds reaching up to 50 km/h in isolated areas. Localities such as Rohini, Pitampura, Rajouri Garden, Dwarka, Karawal Nagar, and IGI Airport experienced scattered rainfall. The IMD has issued warnings of thunderstorms, urging caution amid fluctuating weather conditions.
Further north, Uttarakhand is facing a more severe situation. A red alert for heavy rainfall has forced the suspension of the Char Dham Yatra for the next 24 hours. Pilgrims en route to Badrinath and Kedarnath are being stopped at Srinagar and Rudraprayag, while those heading to Yamunotri and Gangotri are being held at Vikasnagar and Barkot. Efforts are underway to safely evacuate devotees already present at the shrines.
Tragedy struck Uttarkashi, where a cloudburst near Silai Band in Barkot triggered a landslide at a hotel construction site. At least nine labourers are missing, with rescue operations ongoing despite heavy rain. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), police, and local teams are battling difficult terrain and persistent rainfall to locate survivors. Meanwhile, landslides have blocked stretches of the Yamunotri and Gangotri highways, cutting off access to key pilgrimage routes.
Himachal Pradesh, too, is on high alert. The IMD’s Hydromet Division has warned of flash flood risks in Bilaspur, Chamba, Hamirpur, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur, Solan, and Una districts. Torrential rain is expected to cause surface runoff, raising the threat of flooding in vulnerable areas. In Mandi, officials released 36,000 cusecs of water from Pandoh Dam after upstream flushing at the Larji Dam, triggering a significant surge in the Beas river. Locals and tourists have been sternly warned to keep away from riverbanks.
As the monsoon intensifies, authorities across Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand are urging residents to remain vigilant, avoid landslide-prone or low-lying zones, and heed weather alerts. With more rain forecast in the next 24 hours, the situation remains dynamic and potentially hazardous across the northern belt.
