Himachal, Uttarakhand battered by heavy rain; dozens killed
At least 52 people were killed in landslides and flooding caused by heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh, while 13 are dead or missing in Uttarakhand. The torrential downpour destroyed buildings, washed away vehicles, and disrupted key road and rail links. The states were hit by floods and extreme rainfall in July as well. Major highways were blocked, and the historic Kalka-Shimla railway track was damaged. The devastating weather events serve as a reminder of the impact of the climate crisis and the need to protect the Himalayan ecosystem.