Unforgiving Deluge: Heavy Rains Claim at HLeast 24 Lives in Devastating Tragedy

Heavy Rains Claim at HLeast 24 Lives in Devastating Tragedy

At least 24 people have died due to heavy rains causing floods and landslides in India. Nine of the casualties were a result of a temple collapse. Dozens of others are feared missing as intense rainfall wreaked havoc in the northern states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.

The ongoing torrential downpours have swept away vehicles, demolished structures, and washed away bridges in these states. While flooding and landslides are usual during India's monsoon season, experts emphasize that climate change is making them more frequent and severe.

Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the chief minister of the hardest-hit state Himachal Pradesh, reported that 16 people, including nine in a Hindu temple collapse in Shimla, had lost their lives in the last 24 hours. Sukhu informed that local authorities are actively working to clear debris and rescue those possibly trapped.

The chief minister urged residents to stay indoors and cautioned against approaching rivers. He also mentioned that schools in the state have been closed.

In the neighboring Uttarakhand state, rescue teams rushed to clear debris following landslides triggered by heavy rainfall, with concerns of people being buried underneath. Since Friday, eight people have lost their lives in this state due to the ongoing situation.

The monsoon provides around 80 percent of South Asia's annual rainfall, playing a critical role in agriculture and the livelihoods of millions. However, it also brings devastation each year in the form of floods and landslides.