Rains pound north India; 8 killed

Incessant showers trigerred flash floods and landslides in the hill states of northern India with at least eight people killed on Monday in rain-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana.

In the wake of heavy rains, a ‘red alert’ was issued in Punjab where educational institutes have been ordered to remain closed on Tuesday. Schools have been closed in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir and in most places of Himachal Pradesh.

Heavy rains led to landslides which blocked the roads to Badrinath, Kedarnath and Yamunotri, affecting the Chardham Yatra, while traffic snarrled in the national capital due to waterlogging following heavy rains.

The Punjab government has asked district authorities to maintain vigil to avert any untoward situation due to heavy rains, an official said.

Punjab has been witnessing widespread rain for the last two days and the downpour continued on Monday, prompting state authorities to review preparations to tackle a flood-like situations.

Incessant rains in Punjab and Haryana could cause damage to kharif crops and dip in their yield, farm experts said.

In Haryana’s Ambala, a 45-year-old man died when the roof of his home collapsed due to heavy rains, police said.

Torrential rains trigerred flash floods in Himachal Pradesh, sweeping away a man and a girl in Kangra and Kullu districts, respectively. A “high alert” has been sounded for Kullu district.

Several houses were also swept away in flash floods as the Beas is flowing at a dangerous

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