STORY: Heavy rains wreak havoc in India's Himachal Pradesh
DATELINE: July 11, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:40
LOCATION: New Delhi
CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT

SHOTLIST:
1. India gate
2. various of rescue operation in Himachal Pradesh by NDRF (courtesy of National Disaster Response Force)
3. local police

STORYLINE:

Heavy rains have triggered landslides, flash floods and inundation in India's northern state of Himachal Pradesh, killing at least nine people in the past two days, officials said Monday.
   
The rains in the state have blocked 828 roads and three national highways. Rain-triggered landslides and flash floods damaged houses, structures and washed away shops and vehicles in some areas as the major rivers of Ravi, Beas, Satluj, Swan and Chenab in the state were rising close to dangerous levels.
   
Videos on social media showed the destructive force of the flooding, including submerged structures and vehicles being swept away.
   
Local weather agency has issued red and orange alerts for several districts in the state due to continuous heavy rainfall ahead in the next 48 hours, with warnings of flash floods and landslides.

The India Meteorological Department has predicted more heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh, where Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu has urged residents to stay indoors.
   
Himachal Pradesh is reported to be the worst hit of the several states in northern India affected by heavy rainfall.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from New Delhi.
(XHTV)