NEW DELHI: Heavy monsoon rains continued to wreak havoc across northern India on Wednesday, triggering floods, landslides, and widespread disruptions in Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Delhi. With rivers overflowing their banks, schools shut, pilgrimages suspended, and thousands displaced, state governments and disaster management authorities remain on high alert as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued fresh red alerts for multiple districts.
Jammu and Kashmir
The flood situation worsened significantly on Wednesday in Jammu and Kashmir, with nearly all rivers and streams flowing above the flood mark as Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired a meeting to assess the latest conditions across the UT.
At 1 p.m., Chenab, Tawi, Ravi, Basantar, and Ujh rivers were flowing above the flood level in Jammu, and the Jhelum, Vishow, Sindh, Sheshnag, Lidder, and other streams and nallahs in Kashmir were fast reaching the flood mark.
J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday chaired a review meeting to assess the situation caused by continuous heavy rainfall in the state. He directed officials to intensify relief efforts, clear waterlogged areas, protect essential services, and carry out evacuations where necessary.
Authorities have closed schools and colleges both in the Jammu division and the Valley for the day.
Meanwhile, due to ongoing poor weather and safety concerns in the Trikuta Hills in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra is still on hold for the ninth day in a row on Wednesday.
Heavy rains continue in Punjab and Haryana; red alert issued for several districts
Several parts of Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh witnessed heavy rainfall on Wednesday, with the Meteorological Department issuing fresh warnings for thunderstorms and lightning across multiple districts.
In view of the ongoing flood situation in Punjab, all schools and colleges will remain closed till September 7 as directed by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann.
Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains on Wednesday shared a post on X stating the directive and urged everyone to strictly follow the local administration’s guidelines. “As directed by Hon’ble CM Punjab Sh. Bhagwant Singh Mann Ji, in view of the flood situation, all Govt/Aided/Recognised & Private Schools, Colleges, Universities & Polytechnics across Punjab will remain closed till 7th Sept 2025. Everyone is requested to strictly follow the local administration’s guidelines,” Bains said in a post.
Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha announced the allocation of funds from his Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLAD) for strengthening flood protection embankments and for relief and rehabilitation.
Chadha shared a post on X, saying, “Punjab is battling one of the worst floods in recent history. Homes destroyed, farmlands submerged, cattle lost & 30 precious lives gone. From my MPLAD Funds, I am allocating ₹3.25 Cr towards: ₹2.75 Cr for strengthening flood protection embankments so that our villages remain safe from floods in future. ₹50 Lakh for relief & rehabilitation. This is Punjab’s money, for Punjab’s people.”
Amid heavy rainfall in Punjab, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red alert warnings for several districts, including Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Nawanshahr, Rupnagar, Moga, Ludhiana, Barnala, and Sangrur. Haryana’s Yamuna Nagar, Ambala, Kurukshetra, Panchkula, and SAS Nagar are also under the same warning.
Meanwhile, over 5,500 civilians and 300 personnel of paramilitary forces have been rescued, more than 3,000 civilians received medical aid and 27 tonnes of ration and essential supplies have been delivered to flood affected communities, the Army’s Western Command said on Wednesday.
In Chandigarh, heavy rain is very likely to lash parts of Rajpura, Dera Bassi, Mohali, Chandigarh, and Kharar in Punjab.
In Haryana, the situation appears more intense. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and heavy rain are very likely in districts such as Nuh, Taoru, Ballabgarh, Sohna, Gurugram, Bahadurgarh, Faridabad, Kharkhoda, Sonipat, Ganaur, Samalkha, Bapouli, Gharaunda, Karnal, Israna, Panipat, and Nilokheri. Moderate rainfall, coupled with thunderstorms, has been forecast in a wider belt covering areas including Firozpur Jhirka, Punahana, Hodal, Hathin, Palwal, Rewari, Pataudi, Jhajjar, Berikhas, Sampla, Rohtak, Indri, Thanesar, Gohana, Safidon, Asandh, and Radaur.
Himachal
The 2025 monsoon season has so far claimed 341 lives in Himachal Pradesh, including 182 in rain-related incidents and 159 in road accidents, according to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA). The cumulative damage since June 20 has been pegged at over Rs 3,52,541 lakhs, reflecting the scale of devastation across the hill state.
An SDMA spokesperson said that the rain-related fatalities include 23 deaths in landslides, 9 in flash floods, 17 in cloudbursts, 33 in drowning, 14 in electrocution, 14 from falls in steep terrain, and 40 in other weather-triggered accidents.
The SDMA report listed 341 deaths, 389 injuries, and 41 people reported missing. It added that 27,667 animals and 25,755 poultry birds have perished.
Mandi reported the highest rain-related toll at 29 deaths, followed by Kangra with 31 and Chamba with 20. Road accident deaths were highest in Chamba (22), Mandi (22), and Kangra (19). Heavy infrastructure losses were reported in Mandi, Kangra, and Kullu districts.
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand too continues to reel under the impact of incessant rainfall.
The extreme weather conditions have prompted authorities to order the closure of schools in several districts as a precautionary measure.
A red and an orange alert has been issued by the Meteorological Department and the Char Dham Yatra and Hemkund Sahib Yatra have been delayed until September 5.
Delhi
Following the early morning showers in Delhi-NCR, the Yamuna water level touched 207 metres at the Old Railway Bridge around 1 pm.
The rising water level of the Yamuna River has led to severe flooding in several parts of Delhi on Wednesday, prompting large-scale evacuations and relief measures.
Low-lying areas along the river have been worst hit, with Yamuna Khadar, Mayur Vihar Phase-I, and Nigam Bodh Ghat inundated. Floodwaters also entered the Monastery Market and nearby residential and commercial areas.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the forecast for today says, “Generally cloudy sky with moderate rain”. “Thunderstorm with rain” for tomorrow, “Generally cloudy sky with moderate rain” for September 5, “Thunderstorm with rain” for September 6, and “Generally cloudy sky” for September 7 and 8.
Meanwhile, amid heavy rainfall in several Indian states, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red alert warnings for several districts across Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, northern Punjab, northern Haryana, eastern Rajasthan, southwest Uttar Pradesh, northwest & eastern Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.
Agencies