Uttarakhand floods: Alaknanda River overflows, 15-foot Shiva statue submerges in Rudraprayag – watch

DEHRADUN: Monsoon fury continued to cause widespread destruction across Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, triggering floods, landslides, and large-scale damage. Both states remain on high alert as swollen rivers, cloudbursts, and heavy rainfall push several regions to the brink of disaster.In Uttarakhand, continuous downpours in the hill districts have led to a flood-like situation, especially in Rudraprayag, where the Alaknanda River has risen more than 20 metres, submerging ghats, footpaths, and even a 15-foot-tall Shiv idol near the Belni bridge.

Authorities have issued stern warnings, asking people to stay away from riverbanks. Tributaries such as the Mandakini River are also running dangerously high, posing serious risk to nearby residential zones.Cloudbursts kill 1, 9 missing in Mandi districtAccording to officials, nine people are missing and one has been reported dead following a cloudburst in Mandi. DIG Soumya Sambasivan, Central Range, Mandi, stated that SDRF and NDRF teams are actively conducting rescue operations under the direct supervision of senior officers. In light of the current situation, authorities have issued strict travel advisories and suspended movement in vulnerable areas.Red Alert in Himachal PradeshThe India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert in Himachal Pradesh, warning of continued heavy rainfall across 10 districts.

Officials fear flash floods and landslides, with several areas already reporting heavy waterlogging and property damage.IMD issues heavy rain alert for next 24 hourThe IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in Mandi, Kangra, Sirmaur, and Solan over the next 24 hours. Isolated heavy rainfall is also expected in Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Shimla, Kullu, and Chamba till Monday evening.In the view of the weather report, authorities in both Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have urged residents to stay indoors, avoid riverbanks, and strictly follow official advisories as rescue and relief operations continue across affected areas.