Monsoon Fury: 10 Dead as Landslides Hit Uttarakhand, Rivers Swell Across North India

Heavy monsoon rains continued to batter large parts of the country on Friday, triggering floods, landslides and widespread disruption across several states.

More than 10 people have died in rain-related incidents, while swollen rivers, blocked highways and school closures have put authorities on high alert. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that the wet spell is likely to continue over the coming days, with heavy to extremely heavy rainfall forecast for several regions.

Uttarakhand, Himachal bear the brunt

Uttarakhand remained among the worst-hit states, with the IMD forecasting extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places. Rising water levels in the Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers prompted the closure of schools in Rudraprayag district as a precaution.

The Char Dham Yatra also faced disruptions after a landslide at Nalu Pani in Uttarkashi blocked the Gangotri Highway. Road-clearing teams have been deployed to restore connectivity.

In neighbouring Himachal Pradesh, heavy rain continued to disrupt normal life. According to the State Disaster Management Authority, 75 roads remained blocked on Thursday evening, while 29 electricity transformers and five drinking water schemes were affected. Shimla and Sirmaur districts are expected to receive more rain on Friday.

Red alert in western Uttar Pradesh

The IMD has issued a red alert for parts of western Uttar Pradesh, warning of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall. The wet spell is expected to persist through July 11, with daytime temperatures likely to drop by 2–4 degrees Celsius.

As a precaution, schools remained closed on Friday in Ghaziabad, Meerut, Hapur, Bulandshahr, Baghpat, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Saharanpur and Moradabad districts.

In Prayagraj, officials stepped up flood preparedness as continuous rainfall pushed river levels higher. District authorities said some rivers were nearing the danger mark, though the major flood-prone rivers were still flowing below critical levels.

Delhi, Gujarat witness flooding

Delhi also experienced another spell of heavy rain on Thursday, leading to waterlogging, uprooted trees and severe traffic congestion across several parts of the city. Some areas recorded more than 160 mm of rainfall, according to the IMD.

A yellow alert remains in effect for the national capital, with forecasts of light to moderate rain, thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of 30–40 kmph.

In Gujarat, floodwaters have begun receding in Surat, where 358 mm of rainfall in 24 hours inundated large areas earlier this week. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel visited the affected regions and directed officials to develop a long-term strategy to tackle recurring flooding linked to nearby creeks.

The state has reported 17 rain-related deaths in Surat district over the past few days.

Search operations continue in Kerala

In Kerala’s Wayanad, rescue teams continued searching for two missing people following a landslide earlier this week that claimed six lives. Search operations, aided by sniffer dogs, have been hampered by persistent rainfall, slowing debris removal efforts.

With the southwest monsoon now covering the entire country, authorities across multiple states remain on alert as forecasts indicate that heavy rainfall is likely to continue over the next few days.