Heavy monsoon rains trigger floods, landslides and cloudbursts across India, leaving states on high alert
Across India, continuous monsoon rains cause cloudbursts, landslides and floods. It has killed hundreds and injured thousands. Vulnerable areas continue to be at high risk of flooding and landslides due to the IMD's warning of above-normal rainfall in September.
Aadrika Tayal 
New Delhi (India) August 31: Floods, cloudbursts, and torrential rains are causing havoc across several states. India is struggling with the impact of a severe monsoon. They range from flash floods in Uttarakhand and landslides in Jammu & Kashmir to Chennai's record rainfall and Punjab's worst flooding in almost 40 years.
Concerns for more floods and landslides in sensitive areas have been raised by the India Meteorological Department's (IMD). The department warns that the heavy rainfall will continue into September.
Jammu & Kashmir hit hard by cloudbursts and landslides
Jammu & Kashmir is still suffering from the monsoon's persistent rainfall. A cloudburst in Ramban caused more destruction and sparked flash floods. A landslide in Reasi "flattened a residential house". It has reportedly killed seven family members. There are more casualties and emergency rescue efforts are in progress.
Rescue operations are ongoing in the Kathua district of Jammu division. It is after severe flooding, and more than 200 people have been saved.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Saxena says, "DGP Nalin Prabhat has done a detailed inspection of border arrangements. He was our first senior officer to visit after the floods. We had a detailed meeting with CAPF, district officers, SSP Traffic, and SSP Pathankot for flood relief, rescue, and repair works in Kathua. Rescue operations are underway.”
The Shree Mata Vaishno Devi yatra was suspended for the sixth day in a row on Sunday.
Punjab faces worst floods in 40 years, CM seeks urgent central aid
Punjab is facing one of the biggest flood disasters in decades. Chief minister Bhagwant Mann is asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi to release Rs 60,000 crore in state funds. They are "stuck" with the central government.
Mann writes that the destruction caused by the swelling Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers and excessive rain has affected around 1,000 villages and lakhs of people.
Residents in sensitive regions such as Sultanpur Lodhi and Bholath have been instructed to migrate. This is after the Kapurthala district government issued distress alerts due to the Beas river's 2.35 lakh cusec rise. The Army and disaster response staff are actively participating in the ongoing rescue operations.
Due to the ongoing problems caused by flooding throughout the state, the Punjab administration has decided to keep all schools closed till September 3.
Chennai records extreme rainfall
According to the IMD, since Saturday, there has been widespread, extremely heavy rainfall in several places in the Chennai district. The three areas reported exceptionally high rain of more than 200 mm in hours. According to IMD, a cloudburst occurs when 100 mm of rain falls over 2030 sq km in a single hour.
Rain also causes three flights headed for Chennai to be rerouted to Bengaluru. Due to severe rains, flights from places like Frankfurt, Mangaluru, and New Delhi were forced to divert to Bengaluru airport instead of landing at the city airport.
