Himachal Pradesh state in northern India has experienced lethal landslides in recent weeks. Reuters
Himachal Pradesh state in northern India has experienced lethal landslides in recent weeks. Reuters
Himachal Pradesh state in northern India has experienced lethal landslides in recent weeks. Reuters
Himachal Pradesh state in northern India has experienced lethal landslides in recent weeks. Reuters

Himachal Pradesh landslide kills 7 as monsoons strike India again


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Seven people have been killed and three are missing following a landslide in India’s northern Himachal Pradesh state, officials said on Friday.

The victims add to a growing death toll from heavy monsoon rains in the country.

This also raises further fears about the proliferation of extreme weather events and impact of climate change around the world.

State Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said seven bodies had been recovered during rescue operations that were still under way.

“Three people are still missing and rescuers are looking for them,” he said.

In the Rajouri district of the neighbouring Jammu and Kashmir region, at least three people were reported dead from floods triggered by heavy rain, officials said.

“I am 58 years old and I have never seen such a severe flood in my life,” said Ved Prakash, a resident of Rajouri. He added that a local bridge was swept away by the deluge.

Himachal Pradesh rocked by series of deadly landslides and floods

Landslides and flooding have stranded dozens of tourists in recent days in parts of Himachal Pradesh, a scenic Himalayan region where many people from hotter parts of the country travel to escape high summer temperatures.

Some roads around areas where landslides occurred have been closed as a safety measure, said Saju Ram Rana, a police official in Himachal's Kinnaur district.

In the remote village of Honzar in the hills of Kashmir, the death toll from a flash flood on Wednesday rose to seven people, with 19 missing. A senior official there said rescue operations were under way but there was little chance of finding any more survivors.

From floods in China and Western Europe to forest fires in Lebanon and Turkey and heatwaves in North America, many parts of the world have been hit by extreme weather in recent weeks, raising fresh concerns about the impact of climate change.

In India, there have been increasing instances of extreme weather in recent years, causing large-scale damage to life and property.

Environmentalists warn climate change and indiscriminate construction in India's fragile coastal regions could lead to more disasters.

Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
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Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
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Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

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Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

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Director: Christian Carion

Starring: James McAvoy, Claire Foy, Tom Cullen, Gary Lewis

Rating: 2/5

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
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La Mer lowdown

La Mer beach is open from 10am until midnight, daily, and is located in Jumeirah 1, well after Kite Beach. Some restaurants, like Cupagahwa, are open from 8am for breakfast; most others start at noon. At the time of writing, we noticed that signs for Vicolo, an Italian eatery, and Kaftan, a Turkish restaurant, indicated that these two restaurants will be open soon, most likely this month. Parking is available, as well as a Dh100 all-day valet option or a Dh50 valet service if you’re just stopping by for a few hours.
 

Updated: July 30, 2021, 4:17 PM`