2023 Himalayan floods explained

Duration:August 14, 2023
Cause:Heavy rains
Type:Flood
Maximum-Rain:16.54inches
Basin:atl
Fatalities:72
Missing:20
Areas:Indian Himalayan Region, including Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh

Floods and landslides on August 14 in the Indian Himalayan Region killed at least 72 people.[1] [2] [3] Losses were estimated at $1.2 billion, and several hundred roads were closed. Portions of Himachal Pradesh received rainfall amounts of more than 12inches.

Preparations

India's weather department stated that moderste to heavy rainfall was expected across the Himalayan Region on August 14, and issued a red alert for heavy rainfall for Uttarakhand.[4]

Impact

Heavy rainfall caused flooding and landslides in Himachal Pradesh, where 19 people were killed in Mandi district. Fourteen people were killed in Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh, after two landslides and a cloudburst.[5] In Solan, roads were flooded and homes were washed away, killing seven people,[6] In Sambal, seven people were also killed during the floods[7] and at least 700 flooded roads were closed in Himachal Pradesh district. All schools and colleges were closed following the floods. In Uttarakhand state, two people were killed. At least twenty people are still missing. In total, 72 people were killed due to the floods.[8]

Portions of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand received up to 16.54inches in 24 hours.

Aftermath

Rescue teams, including personnel from the Indian Air Force, were dispatched to flooded areas.[9] [10] 2,000 people were rescued, and Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, chief minister of Himachael Pradesh, estimated the losses at $1.2 billion.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 50 Dead In Himachal Landslides, Cloudburst, 7 Swept Away By Flash Floods . 2023-08-15 . NDTV.com.
  2. Web site: Şafak . Yeni . Death toll from rains, floods in Indian Himalayan state rises to 55 . 2023-08-18 . Yeni Şafak . en-US.
  3. Web site: Ngashangva . Chonchui . Press . SIBI ARASU Associated . 2023-08-17 . Heavy rain and landslides kill scores of people in Indian Himalayas . 2023-08-21 . Los Angeles Times . en-US.
  4. Web site: Chantler-Hicks . Lydia . 2023-08-14 . More than 30 dead amid floods and landslides in India’s Himalayan region . 2023-08-15 . Evening Standard . en.
  5. Web site: 2023-08-14 . Heavy rains trigger floods and landslides in India's Himalayan region, leaving at least 48 dead . 2023-08-14 . AP News . en.
  6. News: Patel . Shivam . 2023-08-14 . Over 50 killed in Indian Himalayas as rain triggers landslides . en . Reuters . 2023-08-14.
  7. Web site: Himachal rains: 7 swept away in Mandi flash floods, rescue ops underway. May 12, 2024 . The Financial Express. en.
  8. Web site: India: At least 72 people killed in flash floods and landslides triggered by torrential rain in Himalayan region . 2023-08-21 . Sky News . en.
  9. News: Agence France-Presse . 2023-08-14 . Floods and landslides kill at least 49 people in northern India . en-GB . The Guardian . 2023-08-14 . 0261-3077.
  10. Web site: 2023-08-17 . فيديو : شاهد: 72 قتيلاً جراء الفيضانات في منطقة الهيمالايا الهندية وعمليات الإجلاء مستمرّة . 2023-08-21 . euronews . ar.