Heavy rain batters India: Punjab inundated, cloudburst in J&K kills 9, Beas floods Manali, Odisha villages marooned; watch videos

PTC Web Desk:  Torrential rainfall across large parts of India has triggered widespread devastation, leaving several people dead, hundreds of villages inundated, and highways blocked by landslides and flash floods. From the Himalayan states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Arunachal Pradesh to the plains of Odisha, Punjab, Delhi, and Haryana, the situation remains grim, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing red alerts for multiple regions.

Punjab: Rivers overflow, troops called in 

Punjab witnessed extensive flooding as swollen rivers, including the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi, spilled into villages. Heavy rainfall combined with the release of excess water from Pong and Bhakra dams worsened the situation in several districts.

Kapurthala and Ferozepur were among the worst affected, with villagers forced to evacuate. Troops from the Rising Star Corps were deployed to rescue stranded residents in Kapurthala, Gurdaspur, and Pathankot. Large swathes of farmland are now submerged, threatening crops and livelihoods.

Jammu & Kashmir: Cloudburst and landslide halt Vaishno Devi Yatra

Jammu and Kashmir has emerged as one of the hardest-hit states. A cloudburst in Doda district claimed four lives on Tuesday, damaging more than 10 houses. The Jammu region, including Kathua, Samba, Ramban, and Kishtwar, remained on edge after heavy rain warnings were sounded.

Adding to the tragedy, a landslide on the Vaishno Devi Yatra route in Reasi district killed five pilgrims and injured at least 14 others. The incident occurred near Inderprastha Bhojnalaya at Adhkuwari, prompting authorities to suspend the yatra until conditions improve. All schools in the Jammu division have been ordered shut, while traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway has been suspended due to recurring landslides and falling stones. A key road in Doda was washed away when a local stream overflowed, isolating several areas. The River Tawi swelled beyond safe limits, forcing officials to issue a flood alert for the entire region.

Rainfall figures highlighted the intensity of the crisis: Kathua received 155.6 mm, Bhaderwah (Doda) 99.8 mm, Jammu 81.5 mm, and Katra 68.8 mm in the past 24 hours. Over the weekend, Jammu recorded 190.4 mm in a single day, the second-highest August rainfall in nearly a century.

Himachal Pradesh: Beas floods Manali

In Himachal Pradesh, flash floods wreaked havoc in the tourist town of Manali, where the Beas breached its banks, sweeping away homes, shops, and even a multi-storey hotel. Roads collapsed under the force of water, and residential areas were inundated. A heavy-duty truck was completely washed away by the current.

The Manali-Leh highway has been blocked at several locations, while stretches of the Kullu-Manali road have also been washed out. Officials closed the Leh-Manali highway for all traffic until further notice, cutting off a vital link for both civilians and logistics. Low-lying areas, including Alu Ground, remain under water.

Arunachal Pradesh: Landslide buries highway

A massive landslide in Arunachal Pradesh crippled traffic along the Balipara-Chariduar-Tawang (BCT) highway. The landslide occurred between Sapper Camp and Nyukmadung in Dirang, burying nearly 120 meters of the road under rock and soil.

Although no casualties were reported, vehicles. including a Gypsy and a Bolero, were severely damaged. The slide, which began near Padma Hotel on August 24, worsened the following day with additional collapses, including a major blockage at Km 191.70. Authorities have urged commuters to avoid the stretch, while the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has deployed teams for round-the-clock clearance operations.

Odisha: 160 villages under water

In Odisha, floods have submerged more than 160 villages in Balasore, Bhadrak, and Jajpur districts after the Subarnarekha and Baitarani rivers crossed danger marks. In Balasore alone, 114 villages across Baliapal, Bhograi, and Jaleswar blocks are under water.

Jajpur’s Dasarathpur block suffered the worst impact, with over 40 villages marooned after a 30-meter breach in the Kani river embankment near Ahiyas Bazar. Relief efforts are underway with shelters providing food and medical assistance. Officials said river levels may begin to recede within 12 hours, but emergency services remain on alert as the peak flood continues to flow downstream. Schools and anganwadi centres have been closed in affected districts.

Delhi & Haryana: IMD issues red alert

The national capital and Haryana also came under the grip of severe weather. On Tuesday, the IMD issued a Red Alert for Delhi, warning of intense rainfall, thunderstorms, and winds strong enough to cause waterlogging and traffic chaos.

Neighbourhoods such as Civil Lines, Lajpat Nagar, ITO, Narela, and Alipur experienced heavy downpours, while radar showed storm activity over western Delhi and adjoining Haryana districts.

Several Haryana districts, including Karnal, Panipat, Sonipat, Gurugram, Rohtak, and Kurukshetra, are under red alert, while Chandigarh remains under an orange alert. Western Punjab also logged its highest rainfall in a decade, according to officials.

Authorities have urged residents to stay away from rivers and low-lying areas and avoid unnecessary travel in hilly regions due to landslide risks. Rescue teams and disaster response units have been deployed across vulnerable districts.