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Torrential rains battered northern India on Thursday, cutting off Kashmir from the rest of the country and triggering landslides, floods and widespread
damage. All road links, including the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, remained closed after multiple landslides and road washouts, leaving more than 3,500 vehicles stranded since August 26. Other key routes, such as the Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch and Batote-Doda-Kishtwar highways, were also shut, while rail traffic in the Jammu division has been suspended for nine days. Pilgrims and residents remain stranded as floodwaters continue to disrupt movement across the region. A landslide near the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra claimed 34 lives, officials said.
Himachal Pradesh Landslides
In Himachal Pradesh, incessant rainfall triggered a deadly landslide in Kullu district, where two houses collapsed. One person was killed, three were rescued and six others remain trapped under rubble, according to district officials.
The State Emergency Operation Centre reported that 1,292 roads are closed. Since the monsoon began on June 20, Himachal has witnessed 95 flash floods, 45 cloudbursts and 127 major landslides. At least 343 people have died in rain-related incidents and accidents, while 43 remain missing. Damages are estimated at more than Rs 3,690 crore.
Uttarakhand Floods
In neighbouring Uttarakhand, a forest officer died after being swept away by an overflowing drain in Nainital district. Authorities said 54 roads, including national highways, were blocked by landslides, further crippling connectivity in the hill state. Rescue operations remain hampered by continuous rain.
Delhi floods, Yamuna River Rising
In the national capital, the water level in the Yamuna at Old Railway Bridge remained steady at 207.46 metres between 11 am and 12 noon on Thursday, officials said. While officials expect the water to gradually recede, several low-lying areas, including parts of Delhi Secretariat, which houses the offices of the chief minister, cabinet ministers and key bureaucrats, and Kashmere Gate, were inundated.
Relief camps have been set up, with over 8,000 people moved to temporary tents and more than 2,000 relocated to permanent shelters, according to the revenue department. Floodwaters also reached the Shri Marghat Wale Hanuman Mandir, where devotees said the rising Yamuna "bathes the idol of Lord Hanuman" every year.
Punjab floods
Punjab is witnessing one of its worst floods in decades, caused by swollen rivers Sutlej, Beas and Ravi, along with seasonal rivulets. Officials said 37 people have died and more than 3.55 lakh people have been affected. Crops on over 1.75 lakh hectares of farmland have been destroyed.
Schools Closed
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan visited Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts on Thursday to assess the situation and meet affected farmers. The Punjab government has extended the closure of all schools and colleges until September 7.
Record rainfall in North India
Rain-battered north India has just experienced its wettest two-week spell in at least 14 years, according to the Times of India. From August 22 to September 4, the region recorded 205.3 mm of rainfall, nearly three times the normal average of 73.1 mm. This period alone accounted for 35% of the region’s seasonal rainfall quota.
Since the monsoon began on June 1, northwest India has logged 691.7 mm of rain - 37% above normal. If trends continue, this year could see the second-wettest monsoon in 50 years, behind 1988’s 813.5 mm and ahead of 1994's 737 mm, The Times of India reported.
Relief Ops On
In Punjab and Haryana, efforts are underway to restore water supply and drain flooded areas. In Rajasthan, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma directed MLAs to inspect flood-hit constituencies from Sept. 5–7 to coordinate relief work.
Meanwhile, the Border Security Force said floods damaged more than 110 km of fencing along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab and Jammu. Nearly 90 border posts have been inundated, prompting a "mega exercise" to restore outposts and fencing.
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