Heavy rains devastate North India, over 350 lives lost in Himachal, Jammu and Kashmir

Severe monsoon rains have wreaked havoc across North India, with Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir facing unprecedented destruction. Officials reported that Jammu & Kashmir received 260 percent more rainfall than normal, while Himachal Pradesh has recorded its highest death toll in recent years.

Also read: Cloudbursts trigger devastating floods in Himachal, Uttarakhand; at least 6 dead, dozens missing

In Jammu & Kashmir, Udhampur district alone saw 629.4 mm of rainfall in a single day. Districts like Anantnag, Doda and Kulgam are among the worst-hit, recording rainfall more than 500 percent above average. The death toll in the Union Territory has reached 45, prompting the closure of all schools in the Jammu region until August 30. The Indian Army’s Rising Star Corps and White Knight Corps have launched large-scale rescue operations, saving hundreds, including 50 children from an orphanage in RS Pura.

Himachal Pradesh disrupted completely 

Himachal Pradesh floods caused 310 deaths since June 20, according to the State Disaster Management Authority. Of these, 158 people died in landslides, cloudbursts, flash floods and electrocution, while 152 lost their lives in rain-induced road accidents. Another 369 were injured and 38 remain missing. The state has also suffered massive livestock losses, with over 1,852 animals and 25,755 poultry reported dead.

Punjab and Telangana have also been battered by heavy rainfall. Waist-deep flooding was reported near the Punjab border, while the Army deployed amphibious vehicles in Amritsar for evacuations. In Telangana, sections of National Highway 44 were washed away, forcing air rescues near the Gambhiripet Maneru project.

Authorities warn that if rains persist, the crisis could deepen further.