60 feared dead in north India floods

Landslides and floods triggered by incessant rains and cloudbursts during past three days have left a trail of ruin across northern India killing at least 60 people injuring hundreds and leaving thousands cut off from the rest of world. The worst hit is India's Uttrakhand mountainous state where incessant rains uprooted trees and sent landslides crashing into homes and temples even as above-the-danger-mark running rivers and streams swallowed roads, train tracks and bridges at many parts disconnecting thousands of tourists and locals from the key areas. Some 40 deaths have been reported in Uttrakhand alone. A senior official said the state has suspended the pilgrimage to four revered sites; Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath following the worst disaster that struck the state breaking an 88-year-old record. Authorities have pressed in the service of army at many places to evacuate the stranded people. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna said leaves of all government employees have been annulled and several helicopters and army choppers are being used for rescue operations. "Until the situation improves, pilgrimage will remain suspended," he said. The official said he is trying his best to collect information from various districts to assess the situation. "About 400 roads have been damaged. Bridges have been swept away. Helicopters are ready but the weather is against us," he said. The metrological department has predicted more rains in the region where as many as 58,000 people are feared stranded due to incessant rains. "The situation might slightly improve from Tuesday evening onwards as the rains are likely to subside," said Anand Sharma, a senior Met official. Heavy rains from the annual monsoon which arrived almost 14 days ago also flooded the Uttar Pradesh state where the army has been called in Mandawar and Rawli areas of Bijnore. The situation in neighboring state Himachal Pradesh is worse, for rains have destroyed homes, roads and buildings leaving thousands of people stranded in the mountainous state. On Tuesday, an official said the State's Chief Minister, Virbhadra Singh, who was stuck in Kinnaur district, cut off due to landslides for the past three days, was airlifted on Tuesday along with over 12 tourists. All roads leading to the district on the border with China's Tibet region were blocked by landslides where over 1,700 people including 25 foreign tourists remained stranded. In another northern state of Haryana, floods have surged the water level in river Yamuna, prompting authorities to sound "high alert" in Karnal, Panipat and Sonepat areas. The river's level is close to the danger mark in capital Delhi too where authorities are evacuating people in low-lying areas. The arrival of India's monsoon ends the long droughts in central India and usually lasts from June to September. However, this year the monsoon has started with a disaster in northern regions of the country.