Relentless rain batters India, unleashes floods and landslides across states

India’s monsoon continues to batter the country with unrelenting force, triggering fresh landslides, flash floods and waterlogging that have brought life to a standstill across multiple states. From the Himalayan hills to the heartland cities, the downpour has unleashed devastation, forcing mass evacuations, cutting off vital roads, and claiming lives.

Authorities remain on high alert as rivers swell, bridges collapse, and rain-triggered landslides flatten homes. With the season showing no signs of retreat, fear and uncertainty deepen in states already scarred by weeks of flooding.

Himachal Pradesh: Hills under siege

Himachal Pradesh once again faced the brunt of nature’s fury as torrential rain triggered landslides and flash floods across districts. In Mandi, the overflowing Sauli Khad river inundated the Dharampur bus depot, sweeping away buses, cars, and two-wheelers in the dead of night. Evacuations stretched into the early hours, even as panic gripped residents.

A massive landslide in Shimla blocked roads and trapped vehicles, while authorities suspended rafting and paragliding in Kullu until September 30 over safety concerns. The toll climbed further after three people were buried alive when debris from a cliff crashed onto a home in Nihri.

Since June, the state has reported 409 deaths and losses exceeding ₹4,500 crore, underscoring the scale of devastation.

Jharkhand: Ground caves in after deluge

Ranchi reeled under severe waterlogging on Monday, but the shock came at the Kanta Toli flyover where the road collapsed under accumulated rainwater. A Scorpio SUV partially sank into the subsided surface, triggering alarm. Locals rushed to rescue the driver, averting tragedy.

Uttarakhand: Cloudbursts and collapsed bridges

Uttarakhand was pounded by heavy overnight rain that left homes submerged, shops destroyed, and a bridge washed away in Dehradun. A cloudburst in Karligad unleashed chaos, sweeping away shops as SDRF and NDRF teams raced to rescue residents.

In Prem Nagar, dramatic visuals emerged of a youth clinging to an electricity pole in the raging Tons river before being saved after hours-long efforts. The Dehradun district administration ordered schools shut as Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami personally monitored the situation.

J&K: Cracks, collapses and a shifting house

In Rajouri, a newly built 32-km road has been washed out after two weeks of relentless rain and landslides, cutting off schools, hospitals and entire villages. In Badhal, a two-storey house shifted 50 metres downhill intact, triggering panic among residents. At least seven houses were damaged as land subsidence worsened the crisis.

Nearly 400 villagers in Poonch were moved to shelters after homes developed cracks from continuous rainfall. Relief efforts are underway as locals demand urgent restoration of damaged roads and infrastructure.

Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad: Cities underwater

The national capital has seen low-lying areas repeatedly submerged, with iconic landmarks like the Red Fort surrounded by waist-deep water and the Yamuna crossing danger levels multiple times. In Gurugram, viral images of cars floating on flooded roads highlighted the urban chaos.

Mumbai’s persistent rain has crippled transport, with a monorail breakdown and submerged subways, while Hyderabad over the weekend saw flooded streets and two men missing in separate incidents.