Flood Emergency in Punjab: 10 Districts Severely Affected, Fresh Rainfall Alert Issued
Jalandhar (The Uttam Hindu): Torrential rains continue to batter several parts of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, leaving behind a trail of destruction and prompting fresh alerts from authorities. Heavy downpours that began last night carried on into the morning, causing significant waterlogging and flooding across major towns and rural areas.
A new weather alert issued early Monday warns of intense rainfall over the next three hours in at least 12 districts of Punjab, including Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Rupnagar, SBS Nagar (Nawanshahr), Fatehgarh Sahib, Patiala, and SAS Nagar (Mohali).
Many of these areas are already struggling with severe waterlogging. If the forecasted rainfall materializes, authorities fear the situation could become even more dangerous for residents, especially in low-lying and flood-prone areas.
In total, 10 districts in Punjab have been severely impacted by flooding this monsoon season. Overflowing rivers and a surge in water coming from the hills have pushed dams and water reservoirs to their limits, with storage capacity now proving insufficient. Officials say that the increasing intensity and unpredictability of flooding each year highlights the urgent need to strengthen disaster preparedness and infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh is also grappling with the aftermath of relentless rain. Multiple tragic incidents have been reported due to landslides and collapsing homes:
In Junga near Shimla, a house collapsed, killing a father and his daughter.
In Badhyal village of Jubbal, a 23-year-old woman died after being buried under debris following the collapse of her home.
In Kotkhai, another elderly woman named Kalawati lost her life in a similar house collapse.
In Shaimi (Sirmaur district), massive boulders fell from a hillside, destroying a house and killing one woman inside.
Rescue operations are underway in both states, and local administrations are urging citizens to remain indoors and avoid areas prone to landslides and flash floods. Meteorological authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, warning that the next 48 hours are critical for much of North India.
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