3 dead and a dozen missing as torrential rains cause flash flood in north India
NEW DELHI (AP) — Three people died and at least a dozen are feared missing after being swept away in a flash flood triggered by torrential rains in the north Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, local authorities said on Thursday.
A rescue operation has been launched to trace the missing, said Dinesh Sharma, a local government spokesperson in Kangra. The town is about 18 kilometres (11 miles) from Dharamshala, a popular tourist destination known for its Tibetan culture and as the home of Tibetan spiritual leader, Dalai Lama.
Sudhir Sharma, a lawmaker from Dharamshala, said in a social media post that at least 15 to 20 workers resting in a temporary shed near the site of a hydroelectricity power project were swept away after water levels at a local reservoir rose suddenly late Wednesday.
In a status report issued Thursday, the state government confirmed at least eight people were missing in Kangra and three in nearby Kullu. The authorities have evacuated around 50 stranded tourists to safer places in the state.
The state government confirmed three people died, but did not provide details.
Flash floods and cloudbursts are common in India's mountain states such as Himachal Pradesh during the monsoon season. Deforestation to make way for infrastructure development and expansion of hydel power projects has often led to calls by critics for environmental accountability and disaster preparedness in such states.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Bloomberg
19 hours ago
- Bloomberg
India's Rice Bins Are Stuffed and Another Record Crop is Coming
India's stash of rice is running at the highest for this time in at least two decades, raising the risk it will run out of room to store it all as another record crop looms. Overflowing reserves — equal to more than one-tenth of the annual global production — are becoming a headache for the world's second-biggest grower as authorities struggle to create extra storage. Forecasts of above-average rains have raised expectations that the nation will reap another bumper crop this year, increasing the risk of the grain rotting in open storage facilities.
CBS News
a day ago
- CBS News
West Virginia region hit by deadly flash flooding again faces torrential rain
A northern West Virginia region still cleaning up from flash flooding less than two weeks ago was hit with torrential rains that sent creeks over their banks again Thursday night. A flash flood warning was issued for the Wheeling area, about an hour's drive southwest of Pittsburgh. The National Weather Service said up to 2 inches of rain fell, and more was possible later. Residents posted video on social media showing streets turned into rivers. Some said the storms formed quickly and that homes that were hit from the last round of flooding were taking on water again. Much of the Eastern U.S. suffered through days of dangerous heat this week before the latest storms arrived. The West Virginia Emergency Management Division posted a photo of a measuring tape in floodwaters with the caption, "From 'dry as a bone to 5 inches' in 45 minutes this evening in the Elm Grove area." Water, mud and debris cover National Road in Wheeling, Thursday, June 26, 2025. Jennifer Compston-Strough / AP "If you're in a low-lying or flood-prone area, be ready to move to higher ground," the agency said. On June 14, nine people, including a 3-year-old, died when as much as 4 inches of rain fell in parts of Wheeling and Ohio County within 40 minutes. Dozens of homes, businesses and roads were impacted by flooding, and at least 75 vehicles were pulled from two area creeks. Gov. Patrick Morrisey declared a state of emergency in the county. The unexpected deluge overwhelmed local waterways and infrastructure and submerged vehicles in small towns east of the Ohio River, including Triadelphia and Valley Grove, CBS affiliate WTRF reported. The body of Sandra Kay Parsons, 83, of Triadelphia, was found in the Ohio River on Tuesday. Officials in Ohio County released her identity after receiving confirmation from a medical examiner. Two other victims were identified last week: Jesse Pearson, 43, of Triadelphia; and Connie Veronis, 71, of Moundsville. Seven of the nine victims were from Triadelphia, population 660. In February, West Virginia was hit with heavy rains and dangerous flooding that left at least three people dead and caused millions of dollars in damage. Four months later, West Virginia's McDowell County — one of the poorest counties in one of the poorest states in the U.S. — is still working to recover.
Washington Post
a day ago
- Washington Post
Flash flooding again hits West Virginia communities still trying to clean up from deadly deluge
WHEELING, — A northern West Virginia region still cleaning up from flash flooding less than two weeks ago was hit with torrential rains that sent creeks over their banks again Thursday night. A flash flood warning was issued for the Wheeling area, about an hour's drive southwest of Pittsburgh. The National Weather Service said up to 2 inches (5 centimeters) of rain fell, and more was possible later.
