Heavy rain continued to batter several parts of India on Thursday, triggering landslides, river erosion and disruptions to road and pilgrimage routes, while the weather department issued an orange alert for rain in 16 states, including Rajasthan. Uttarakhand was among the worst-affected states in the morning, with landslides reported from Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Uttarkashi districts. A landslide near Gaurikund forced authorities to close the Kedarnath trekking route, and pilgrims were stopped from proceeding further as a precaution. In Rudraprayag, debris near Silli disrupted traffic on the highway for some time. In another incident, boulders rolled down a hillside near a petrol pump and crushed a car. Haridwar also witnessed a close call when a Kanwar pilgrim was swept away by the strong current of the Ganga while collecting holy water. An SDRF team deployed at the ghat responded quickly and rescued the man before he was carried further downstream.

The situation remained worrying in parts of Uttar Pradesh, where swollen rivers and erosion have started affecting villages. In Ballia, erosion along the Saryu river intensified as water entered residential areas. More than 100 families have reportedly left their homes and shifted to safer places. Two houses were swept into the river, while the land underneath several other homes has already been washed away, leaving residents worried about further damage. A similar situation was reported from Gonda, where the falling water level of the Ghaghra river has led to increased erosion along its banks. Several bighas of land and trees have been swallowed by the river. With the monsoon remaining active, people living close to riverbanks are facing an uncertain situation as changing water levels continue to weaken the surrounding land. Authorities are keeping watch on vulnerable areas, while residents in affected villages are moving belongings and family members away from locations considered unsafe.

Heavy rainfall has also caused disruption in Jammu and Kashmir. In Rajouri, a wall of a government primary school building collapsed following intense rain. No casualty was mentioned in the initial information. Meanwhile, a landslide near Akchamal blocked the Kargil-Leh National Highway, forcing authorities to stop vehicular movement on the route. The developments in Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand come as widespread rainfall continues across several regions of the country. The orange alert covering 16 states indicates the possibility of spells of heavy to very heavy rain in vulnerable areas. For the moment, the biggest concern remains mountainous regions where saturated slopes can trigger sudden landslides and falling rocks, while riverbank areas in the plains are dealing with flooding and erosion. The closure of the Kedarnath route has also directly affected pilgrims, who will have to wait for conditions to improve and the track to be declared safe before their journey resumes. With rainfall continuing, travellers and residents in affected areas are being advised to remain cautious, particularly around landslide-prone roads, swollen rivers and fast-flowing streams.