The heavy rains caused widespread damage in several parts of north India, including landslides, flash floods, and waterlogging. At least 19 people were killed in rain-related incidents, and many more were injured.
In cities and towns across the region, many roads and residential areas were submerged in knee-deep water with the civic system unable to hold on in the face of record rains, PTI news agency reported.
Frightening images of the chaos unleashed by the rains were shared online by people from Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Delhi, among other places. Vehicles floated like paper boats on inundated roads. Muddy waters gushed into residential areas. Temples and other structures were submerged on the banks of the swollen rivers. Land cave-ins were seen in several places.
The weather office has predicted more showers over the next couple of days. The Indian Metrological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy to extremely heavy rain for Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.
The national capital city recorded 153 mm of rainfall in 24 hours, highest in single day in July since 1982. Moderate rain is expected in Delhi on Monday, said the weather department, adding that light rain is expected till July 15.
A 58-year-old woman was killed in Delhi when the ceiling of her flat came crashing down on her, while four people died in rain-related incidents in Rajasthan.
In Jammu and Kashmir, two Army soldiers died after being swept away in flash floods in the Poonch district on Saturday.
A woman and her six-year-old daughter were killed in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar on Sunday morning after their house collapsed due to heavy rain. Three of a family were killed in Himachal Pradesh’s Shimla in a similar incident.
