Heavy rain, floods batter northern India

As unprecedented rainfall continue to batter Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh since last week, normal life has been severely disrupted across the region.

In Punjab, as many as 29 lives have been lost between August 1 and September 1 on account of rain-related incidents. Punjab Revenue Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian on Monday (September 1, 2025) said incessant rains and floods have affected almost the entire State causing unprecedented damage to human lives, crops, livestock and infrastructure.

A total of 1,044 villages across 12 districts in the State have been affected. The districts include Amritsar, Barnala, Fazilka, Ferozepur, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Mansa, Moga, Pathankot and S.A.S Nagar.

To take stock of the situation, Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria is slated to visit the flood-affected districts from September 2. He would be visiting Ferozepur, Tarn Taran, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Hoshiarpur and Anandpur Sahib. Besides schools, all higher educational institutions, including colleges, universities, and polytechnic institutes, will remain closed till September 3.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, upon landing in Delhi after returning from China, called up Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to discuss the situation arising due to rain and flooding. He assured all help and support to the State, said government sources.

In Himachal Pradesh, during the past 24 hours, five people died in rain-related incidents. Since June 20, following the onset of the monsoon, the hill State has so far witnessed a loss of 161 lives owing to rain-related incidents and at least 154 in road accidents. As many as 845 houses have been fully damaged, while 3,254 houses have been partially damaged, resulting in a loss to the tune of ₹3,056 crore so far.

The State has seen 91 instances of flash floods, 45 cloudbursts, and 105 landslides. As many as 38 people are still missing, as per data from the disaster management cell of the State Revenue Department. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in the State assembly declared Himachal Pradesh as a natural disaster-affected area.

Haryana government, meanwhile, in view of the heavy rainfall warning, directed all field officers to remain at their headquarters and maintain strict vigilance till September 5. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rainfall in different parts of the State in the coming days.

In Chandigarh, amid incessant rainfall, precautionary measures were being implemented to minimise risks, while long-term strategies are also being drawn up to strengthen the Union Territory’s disaster resilience.