Torrential rains batter North & Northwest India, 29 dead

Heavy rains in Delhi led to widespread waterlogging and traffic disruptions, with a seven-year-old boy drowning in a flooded park

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Heavy rains lashed north and northwest India on Sunday, leaving at least 29 people dead in rain-related incidents.

The torrential downpours triggered landslides, caused traffic chaos, led to house collapses, and breached a dam, inundating several villages in Haryana. This was the second consecutive day of severe weather, with Rajasthan, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Delhi among the worst-hit regions.

Rajasthan bore the brunt of the relentless rain, with 16 deaths reported over two days-two on Saturday and 14 on Sunday. The state's Karauli district was particularly affected, recording an "exceptionally heavy rainfall of 38 cm, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The torrential rains created a floodlike situation in Karauli and Hinduan, prompting rescue operations and a heightened state of alert.

In Jaipur, the state's capital, waterlogging was reported at several locations, leading to significant disruptions. Five people were swept away at the Kanota Dam in Jaipur, sparking a large-scale rescue operation. The situation prompted Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma to convene an emergency meeting with officials to strengthen disaster management efforts.

"Safety of all citizens of Rajasthan is our top priority.

Necessary guidelines have been given to strengthen all disaster management arrangements immediately," Sharma posted on X, formerly Twitter.

In Punjab's Hoshiarpur district, a tragic incident claimed the lives of nine people, including eight members of a single family.