Punjab, Himachal, Jammu reel under flood fury as heavy rains wreak havoc; death toll climbs | Updates

Visuals from Punjab after massive floods

Several parts of India are facing massive flood situations after incessant rainfall continues to lash the cities. Major impact of the rainfall has been felt by Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh after massive loss of life and property was reported.

Punjab floods

Punjab is currently experiencing its worst floods in nearly four decades and all 23 districts of the state have been badly affected. On Wednesday, authorities said that the Bhakra dam is around one foot short of its maximum capacity of 1,680 feet. The Rupnagar administration issued an alert on Thursday, urging people near the Sutlej river to move to safer places.

More than 3.5 lakh people have been displaced due to floods in the state and nearly 1.75 to 1.85 lakh hectares of farmland have been damaged, media reports have said. The death toll related to the floods in Punjab crossed 37 on Wednesday.

The water level in the Bhakra dam rose to 1,678.97 feet on Thursday morning, compared to its maximum capacity of 1,680 feet, following rainfall in its catchment areas. The water inflow in the dam was 95,435 cusecs, while the outflow was 73,459 cusecs.

The Rupnagar Deputy Commissioner Varjeet Singh Walia has urged people residing in low-lying areas near the Sutlej river in several villages of Nangal and Anandpur Sahib to move to safer places or go to relief camps set up by the district administration.

Floods in Jammu and Kashmir

After heavy rainfall lashed Jammu and Kashmir, SDRF jumped into action and initiated rescue operations in the flood-affected areas on Thursday.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) SDRF Masroor Ahmad Mir said that nearly 600 to 650 civilians have been shifted to safe locations from the flooded areas in south Kashmir.

"The rescue operation is underway, given the flood situation. We have rescued many people in South Kashmir and relocated them to safer areas. 600-650 people have been shifted to safer locations," SSP Mir said.

Himachal Pradesh floods

Himachal Pradesh has been battered by relentless monsoon rains, triggering flash floods, landslides and cloudbursts. The disaster has claimed more than 70 lives so far, with Mandi district among the worst-hit.

Apart from that, key highways, including Shimla-Kalka and Manali-Chandigarh, have been blocked due to over 1,000 road closures across the state. Several bridges, including the historic Panchvaktra bridge, have been washed away, while many villages remain cut off from rescue services.

As many as 343 lives have been lost since the onset of this year's monsoon on June 20, with 183 fatalities from rain-related incidents such as landslides, flash floods, and lightning strikes, and 160 deaths in road accidents, the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) said on Thursday.

A cumulative report by the SDMA for up to September 3 has shown widespread human and economic loss across all 12 districts. "The monsoon this year has caused unprecedented disruption to life and property, with thousands affected directly and indirectly," an SDMA spokesperson said.

(With agency inputs)