Northern India Faces Deadly Torrential Downpours: 11 Dead, Over 250 Missing

At least 11 people have perished due to heavy rainfall across northern India, with more than 250 reported missing, including pilgrims on a famous Himalayan route. The IMD recorded significant rainfall in Dharamshala. Rescue operations are ongoing in Shimla, and extreme weather events, exacerbated by climate change, continue to affect Delhi.

At least 11 people died after heavy rain lashed various parts of northern India on Thursday, with more than 250 people missing in the Himalayas, including pilgrims on a well-known pilgrimage route. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported receiving 183 mm (seven inches) of rain in the past 24 hours in Dharamshala, a prominent tourist location in Himachal Pradesh.

Over 50 people were reported missing in Shimla and its surrounding areas, according to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in a post on X. Rescue operations are currently underway. State revenue minister Jagat Singh Negi told the ANI news agency that two people died after a power project barrage breach obstructed connectivity in the region.

The Indian Express reported that four people died following a cloudburst in Uttarakhand, leading to 200 pilgrims being stranded as rains washed away a section of their walking path. Climate change is blamed for frequent torrential rains, which, along with persistent construction, have resulted in deadly flash floods and landslides in India, Pakistan, and Nepal in recent years.

Residents in Delhi experienced sudden, heavy rain on Wednesday evening, leading to severe waterlogging. The IMD recorded 147 mm (5.8 inches) of rainfall in eastern parts of the capital and its suburbs. At least five people died, local media outlets reported. Visuals from ANI showed flooding in northern Delhi, where three students drowned in a flooded basement last week.

Extreme weather events have become increasingly common in Delhi, ranging from soaring temperatures to floods and intense rainfall, which have caused significant disruptions, including a roof collapse at the city's airport.

(With inputs from agencies.)