New Delhi, Jul 11 (EFE).- Indian authorities raised the death toll to 22 as torrential rains continued to wreak havoc in the country’s north, while rescue work entered its fourth consecutive day in the worst affected areas.
The number of deaths was raised on Tuesday after 13 people were reported dead in rain-related incidents from the city of Shimla, capital of the northern state of Himachal Pradesh.
The metropolitan police superintendent, Sanjeev Gandhi, confirmed the toll to EFE, a day after authorities had reported five deaths from the city.
Rescue teams have carried out as many as 35 emergency operations in the city due to the heavy rains, Gandhi explained.
Nine other deaths had been reported over the past three days from various localities in the states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, which have been widely affected by overflowing rivers and landslides.
Over 500 tourists remain stuck in different parts of Himachal Pradesh due to roads being cut off by falling trees or landslides in the mountains, while at least 515 people have been rescued by the National Disaster Response Force.
Heavy rains continued in the state, especially in the Kullu and Mandi districts, as strong river currents have caused widespread damage to houses and roads.
Indian capital New Delhi, also affected by record rains, kept schools shut on Tuesday as authorities were on alert over the rising waters of the Yamuna river – the main water body in the city – which crossed the danger mark on Monday night.
In its latest bulletin, the India Meteorology Department maintained a high alert for Himachal, but reduced the risk outlook for Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and New Delhi, where “heavy to very heavy rains” were expected in isolated places. EFE
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