Monsoon Havoc: 10 Killed in Uttarakhand, Flood Threat Grows in UP and Himachal

The southwest monsoon continued to lash large parts of India on Friday, leaving a trail of destruction.

With floods, landslides and transport disruptions across several states. More than 10 people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents, while the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that the wet spell is far from over.

Uttarakhand, Himachal face fresh disruption

Uttarakhand remained on high alert as the IMD predicted extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places. The Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers were flowing in spate, prompting authorities to shut schools in Rudraprayag district as a precaution.

The Char Dham Yatra was also affected after a landslide at Nalu Pani in Uttarkashi blocked the Gangotri Highway, disrupting traffic. Road restoration work is underway.

In Himachal Pradesh, heavy rain continued to disrupt normal life. According to the State Disaster Management Authority, 75 roads remained blocked, while 29 power transformers and five water supply schemes were affected. The IMD has forecast more heavy rainfall in Shimla and Sirmaur districts.

Red alert in western Uttar Pradesh

The IMD has issued a red alert for parts of western Uttar Pradesh, forecasting heavy to extremely heavy rainfall on Friday. The wet spell is expected to continue till July 11, with temperatures likely to dip by 2 to 4 degrees Celsius.

As a precautionary measure, schools remained closed in Ghaziabad, Meerut, Hapur, Bulandshahr, Baghpat, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Saharanpur and Moradabad districts.

In Prayagraj, authorities have stepped up flood preparedness as continuous rainfall pushed river levels higher. Officials said some rivers were nearing the danger mark, though major flood-prone rivers were still below critical levels.

Delhi inundated, Gujarat recovers

Delhi witnessed another spell of intense rainfall on Thursday, leading to widespread waterlogging, uprooted trees and traffic snarls. According to the IMD, some parts of the capital received over 160 mm of rain.

A yellow alert remains in place for Friday, with forecasts of light to moderate rain, thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of 30–40 kmph.

Meanwhile, Gujarat’s Surat continued to recover after receiving 358 mm of rain in just 24 hours, which triggered severe flooding and large-scale evacuations. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel visited the affected areas and directed officials to prepare a long-term plan to address recurring flood problems.

The district has reported 17 rain-related deaths over the past few days.

Rescue efforts continue in Kerala

In Kerala’s Wayanad, search operations continued for two people missing after a landslide earlier this week that claimed six lives. Rescue teams, assisted by sniffer dogs, have been battling persistent rainfall that has slowed debris clearance.

With the southwest monsoon now active across the country, authorities remain on alert as forecasts indicate that heavy rainfall, rising river levels and the risk of landslides are likely to persist in several regions over the coming days.