“Monsoon Turns Deadly”: Floods, Landslides and Chaos Sweep Across North India, Over 400 Dead in Himachal Alone

New Delhi: This year’s monsoon has unleashed devastation across Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, leaving behind a grim trail of destruction. Torrential rain, floods, and landslides have claimed hundreds of lives, washed away infrastructure, and triggered fresh waves of panic as heavy rainfall continues to pound these states.

In the national capital Delhi, repeated downpours in August and September submerged low-lying areas. Viral visuals showed cars floating in waterlogged Gurugram, while the historic Red Fort was left surrounded by waist-deep water, forcing road closures. Adding to the crisis, the Yamuna river breached the danger mark multiple times, sparking widespread flood fears.

Mumbai too reeled under relentless rain, with arterial roads and subways submerged. A monorail broke down last month due to inundation, stranding commuters. In Hyderabad, heavy weekend rainfall left roads submerged, with two men reported missing during the downpour.

The situation is most alarming in Himachal Pradesh, where overnight rain triggered widespread chaos. In Mandi district, rainfall that began late Monday intensified by midnight, forcing terrified families out of their homes. The overflowing Sauli Khad river engulfed the Dharampur bus depot, submerging buses, cars, and two-wheelers. Several houses were also flooded.

“Evacuation continued through the night. Thankfully, no deaths reported so far,” said DSP Sanjeev Sood.

Elsewhere in the state, a massive landslide in Shimla’s Himland area buried several vehicles and blocked a key road, paralyzing traffic. Authorities immediately suspended all adventure sports in Kullu, including rafting and paragliding, till September 30.

Tragedy struck in Mandi’s Nihri area, where a landslide crushed a house, killing at least three people. Two survivors have been rescued, while operations continue.

The toll is staggering — since June 20, 409 people have died in Himachal Pradesh alone in rain-related incidents and accidents. Of these, 180 lost their lives in road crashes. Over ₹4,504 crore worth of losses have been recorded, with 41 people still missing, according to state authorities.

Elsewhere, Ranchi faced severe waterlogging on Monday. A dramatic incident occurred under the Kanta Toli flyover, where stagnant rainwater weakened the road. A Scorpio N SUV suddenly sank 30% into the caved-in ground, shocking onlookers. Locals rescued the driver, who escaped unhurt, though the vehicle was badly damaged.