Precautionary Measures & Wake up Call

 Precautions during a flood 

Here are some precautionary measures to follow in case of a flood:

 

Source- Government of India

• Avoid low spots like ditches, basements, or underpasses. These become extremely dangerous during a flash flood.
• Do not walk through flooded areas. It can be difficult to tell how deep the water is and what lies underneath the water that could hurt you. Even shallow, moving water can make you fall.
• If you have to walk in water, wherever possible, walk where the water is not moving.

Time to Wake up.

The landslides and floods in Himachal Pradesh along with the whole of North India are clear signs of the impact of climate change. These natural disasters have caused significant harm to communities and their properties. Climate change is altering weather patterns and making extreme weather events more frequent and severe. It's time for us to acknowledge the connection between human activities and these destructive consequences. We must act urgently, globally, and implement sustainable solutions to reduce the effects of climate change. Let's wake up and take action before it's too late.

 

Chandigarh Submerged: Floods Wreak Havoc in the City

 Chandigarh-Tricity

Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula that collectively form a Tri City also faced flood threats amid unprecedented rain.

The incessant rainfall in Chandigarh left posh localities in tricity flooded. People could be seen leaving their high-rise buildings in boats and tractor trollies to a safer location, as swollen rain-fed water from the Ghaggar River entered fields, inundating large swathes of land. Several roads including national highways were also blocked as a result of water logging.

In Haryana too, there had been intense flooding in low lying areas so much so that water entered some of the houses of residents

Above is a video of a house in a posh locality in Ambala, Haryana which was flooded due to the rains

Himachal Pradesh Grapples with Devastating Landslides and Floods

 Himachal Pradesh

Video/Voice credits- Namya Vijh

Heavy rainfall resulted in severe flooding and landslides across Himachal Pradesh, primarily affecting residents in Shimla and Manali.

The mandi district of Himachal Pradesh faced heavy rainfall which caused the water level of the Beas river to surge

In the Mandi and Kullu areas, three to four stories of houses constructed on the river banks were seen submerged in the floodwater.

Himachal Pradesh has reported over 100 deaths with an estimated cost of damage from flood and landslides at over Rs 3738 crore. Himachal Pradesh was the hardest hit among North Indian states.

108 people lost their lives in Himachal Pradesh from June 24 to July 14. 36 deaths happened due to landslides, cloud bust, and flash floods and 72 due to Road Accident, Fire, Drowning, fall from Steep Rock, Snake Bite, Electrocution, etc

Above is a picture of a temple in Himachal Pradesh which was completely submerged in water

 

Flood Lashes- Capital City Submerged

 New Delhi

Delhi recorded its highest rainfall in 41 years after the capital city received 153 mm of rain in 24 hours. As per the weather department, an interaction between a western disturbance and monsoonal winds caused an intense rainfall spell over northwest India, including Delhi which experienced the season's first "very heavy" rainfall.

The Safdarjung Observatory, the city's primary weather station, recorded 153 mm of rainfall in 24 hours which is the highest since the 24-hour rainfall of 169.9 mm on July 25, 1982. Climate change as well as the western disturbances can be regarded as the main cause of this havoc.

The overflowing Yamuna had flooded several areas in Delhi, putting the national capital on high alert. During this time of crisis, the slum dwellers were the worst affected. The people living in the slums are facing serious problems like loss of lives and property. They lack basic necessities like proper sanitation and electricity. To address these issues, they are repeatedly visiting the district administration offices, seeking help and support.

The graph above shows the 24 hour highest rainfall on a particular day in the month of July over the years