Cover News Reporter Chen Ganlu Intern Qin Zihan
According to a number of media reports on the 16th local time, continuous heavy rainfall hit Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand in northern India, causing natural disasters such as floods and mudslides, killing at least 60 people. Among them, a temple in the capital Simla collapsed, killing at least 9 people and trapping 20.
Heavy rain caused many disasters
According to CNN reported on the 16th, devastating flooding during the monsoon season hit the northern Indian states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, and heavy rains and landslides have killed more than 60 people. The state's chief minister, Sukhvind, told the Indian News Agency (ANI) in an interview on the 15th that most of the deaths occurred in Himachal Pradesh, where at least 55 people have died since Saturday.
One of the deadliest incidents, at about 8 a.m. local time on the 14th, flooding caused a temple collapse in the state capital Shimla (a popular tourist area), at least 9 people were killed, 5 people have been rescued so far, but about 25 people are still trapped. According to Agence France-Presse, citing photos from the hardest-hit areas of Himachal Pradesh, rescuers found the bodies of victims in the rubble, major roads, power pipelines and communication networks were disrupted, and some railways were suspended by water due to the washing away of railway beds.
The Times of India also said the recent torrential rains had caused the state to suffer an "unprecedented tragedy". Of the more than 50 victims, 14 died from landslides in the capital, Simla. More than 20 people are still trapped and the death toll is likely to rise further.
The Indian Meteorological Department warned of moderate to heavy rain across the state on the 14th and said the rains could continue until the end of the week. The weather department issued a red alert for the weekend's downpour in the neighbouring state of Uttarakhand.
Rescue operations are progressing slowly
The state's chief minister, Sukhvind, said in a post on the same day, "The local government is working hard to clear the rubble and we have instructed the authorities to ensure that all possible assistance and support is provided to the affected families during this difficult time." ”
Sudesh Dror, commander of India's National Disaster Relief Fund in Uttarakhand, told CNN on the 15th that ten rescue teams were deployed across the state to assist in the operation.
At the same time, August 15 is India's Independence Day, and due to the disaster, Him Kal Pradesh will not organize any cultural programs for Independence Day. Government officials have also urged people to stay away from rivers and geohazard-prone areas. According to New Delhi TV, Indian Home Minister Amit Shah said India's National Disaster Response Force is conducting rescue operations in the state.
According to official data released by Him Machal Pradesh, as of the 14th local time, a total of 41 people have been killed in the past 24 hours, and at least 13 others have disappeared. There are currently 700 roads closed in the state and all schools are temporarily closed on the 14th. At least 8 people have been killed in Uttarakhand since the 11th. The local government is still working to clear the rubble to rescue those who may be trapped.
Climate change increases the frequency of disasters
According to Bloomberg, it is the current Indian monsoon rainy season, heavy rainfall is more common, and secondary disasters such as flash floods, mudslides, and landslides are often occurring. However, experts say the climate crisis is increasing the frequency and severity of these disasters. Under the influence of climate change, precipitation in India has become more uneven, increasing the chance of floods and droughts at the same time.
While heavy rains pose a threat to people's lives, they also adversely affect India's food production. Analysts said that since the beginning of 2022, the erratic weather has kept India's food production declining, prompting the Indian government to restrict exports of wheat, rice and sugar to curb the surge in domestic food prices. Currently, Asian rice prices are soaring to near 15-year highs.
The Indian monsoon rainy season, from June to September, is not uncommon for heavy rainfall to cause floods, mudslides and widespread damage. Meteorological experts believe that climate change has increased the frequency and power of disasters.
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