Monsoon has arrived with full force in North India, causing misery rather than relief triggering landslides, flash floods, and collapses in parts of Uttrakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and west UP. 7 people have died due to the effects of heavy rain in these regions.
Constant downpour in Himachal Pradesh has also caused trouble for tourists as well as the locals as the Manali-Kullu highway has been blocked after landslides due to flash floods. Another flash flood near the Prashar Lake area has left 200 people stranded near Baggi Bridge. An official notification said, "The Mandi-Joginder Nagar Highway is also closed. The general public/tourists plying on these Highways are advised not to stay on the roads adjacent to mountains as there is a high risk of landslides/rock fall."
The Chandigarh-Manali highway has also been blocked due to landslides causing a traffic jam.
Two people lost their lives in Himachal due to these flash floods as their car was washed away into the Chamera dam. The landslides have also caused the Kedarnath yatra to be suspended for a few days, officials said.
The Indian Meteorological Department has issued a flash flood warning for Himachal Pradesh in the next 24 hours along with a warning of extremely heavy rains for the next five days.
This is also the first time in 62 years since 21 June 1961, that both Mumbai and Delhi have experienced monsoon at the same time. Normally, the monsoon season reaches Kerala on June 1, Mumbai by June 11, and then it reaches Delhi on June 27. The course of monsoon in unusual this year. The IMD termed the monsoon activity over Delhi, Chandigarh, and Haryana as 'vigorous'. Mumbai experienced a heavy downfall as the city faced many situations of waterlogging.