Monsoon Catastrophe: 78 Dead, 269 Roads Blocked as Uttarakhand & Himachal Brace for More Blood‑Curdling Rains

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The spell of monsoon rain continues unabated from the plains to the hills. While farmers and common people in the plains are happy with the rainfall, in the hilly regions it has turned into a disaster. Especially in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, the rain has started to show its destructive face.

In Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, it has been raining continuously since late Sunday night. The heavy rainfall has severely affected daily life. Debris at multiple places has blocked link roads, causing major difficulties for people to move around. Considering the seriousness of the situation, the Chamoli district administration has declared holidays in schools.

Meanwhile, a large amount of debris has fallen between Nandprayag and Karnaprayag on the Badrinath Highway, leading to a complete blockade. For safety, the administration has stopped vehicles at secure locations. The work to clear the debris is ongoing, but continuous rain is making it very difficult.

In Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba district, it is also raining continuously. Because of this, the water levels of rivers and streams are rising rapidly, increasing the risk of floods and other accidents.

Chamba SDM Priyanshu Khati has appealed to people not to go near rivers and streams unnecessarily and to strictly follow the guidelines issued by the administration. He said that the administration is fully alert to handle any emergency, but public awareness is also extremely important.

SDM Chamba Priyanshu Khati said, “Everyone knows it’s the monsoon season, and there’s continuous rain. We have given multiple instructions to administrative officers. They’ve been told to ensure that people stay away from riverbanks. Those who try to set up shelters near rivers have also been instructed to be stopped.”

This warning comes at a time when several areas of the district have recently witnessed cloudbursts and severe waterlogging incidents. Learning from these events, the district administration is determined not to allow any negligence. The Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert in both Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, warning of heavy rainfall in the hills over the next few days. Administration and disaster management teams are on high alert.