Dehradun/Shimla: A new wave of torrential rain and landslides has left a trail of destruction in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, claiming 18 lives, leaving around 20 missing, and stranding hundreds across the two hill states.
In Uttarakhand, incessant downpours overnight triggered flash floods and landslides, killing 15 people. According to the State Emergency Operation Centre, at least 16 individuals remain missing, while over 900 stranded residents and tourists were rescued by joint teams of the NDRF, SDRF, and fire services.
Dehradun bore the brunt of nature’s fury, with 13 deaths reported, including eight migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh’s Moradabad who drowned when their tractor-trolley was washed away by the swollen Tons river in Vikasnagar. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced ₹2 lakh in ex-gratia for each victim’s family. In separate incidents, one death each was recorded in Nainital and Pithoragarh.
The heavy rains also marooned 400–500 students at the Devbhoomi Institute in Paundha before they were safely evacuated. Authorities have issued fresh weather warnings for Dehradun, Champawat, and Udham Singh Nagar, with major rivers such as the Ganga, Yamuna, and Tamsa flowing at critical levels.
Himachal Pradesh too faced widespread devastation. In Mandi’s Bragta village, three members of a family—including two women and a child—were killed after their house collapsed in a massive landslide. Flash floods in Dharampur swept away vehicles, submerged the bus stand, and caused severe losses to businesses. Meanwhile, in Shimla, multiple landslides buried cars and disrupted connectivity as debris blocked the main circular road.
Thunderstorms, accompanied by strong winds, lashed several parts of the state, with wind speeds touching 37 kmph in Bilaspur and Kufri. Four persons remain missing in different districts.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has directed district officials to expedite relief and rehabilitation efforts. Meanwhile, opposition leader and Union Minister Anurag Thakur criticized the state government’s response, saying the Centre, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had already extended significant assistance, including ₹1,500 crore in relief funds.
The fresh spell of rain has come as a double blow to the hill states, which are still reeling from last month’s monsoon deluge. Official records show Himachal alone has lost more than 230 lives since June 20.
