At least 65 people have died in India, including 11 in the collapse of a temple, flooding and devastating landslides, according to a new report released Tuesday by authorities.
Days of heavy rain destroyed bridges and buildings and swept away vehicles in the northern states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
During the rainy season, floods and landslides are common and cause major damage, but their number is increasing with climate change, experts say.
In Himachal Pradesh, worst hit by the bad weather, at least 52 people have died since Sunday, said the state’s prime minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. He appealed to residents to stay at home and stay away from waterways. Schools remain closed.
Images of the affected area showed bodies being pulled from the rubble.
Eleven victims died in the collapse of a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva in Shimla, the local capital.
“Rescue operations are continuing and we are worried that at least 10 people are trapped under the rubble,” district disaster management committee chairman Aditya Negi told AFP.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his “sympathy” to the victims, and promised that local and national authorities would “work together”.
India’s president, Droupadi Murmu, said he was “hurt by the loss of life in accidents caused by heavy rains”.
Significant damage
In the worst-hit areas, major roads and power lines were badly damaged, leaving thousands of people displaced. The railway network also suffered serious damage.
In Uttarakhand state, rescue teams are trying to save people buried by landslides.
Near the banks of the Ganges, in the tourist pilgrimage town of Rishikesh, five people were trapped.
In total, at least 13 people have died since Friday due to severe weather in the state, according to authorities.
In July, several days of monsoon rains caused the deaths of at least 90 people in India, while the Yamuna, the river that flows through the Indian capital, New Delhi, experienced its highest levels since 1978.
Monsoon rain alone accounts for about 80% of annual rainfall in South Asia. These rivers are essential for improving the quality of water flows, for groundwater recharge and for agriculture.
However, this disaster also caused deadly and destructive floods and landslides.
