Landslides, floods claim 65 lives in India

At least 65 people were killed as heavy monsoon rains triggered landslides and floods in northern India, news reports said Tuesday. Flash floods in the river Ganges and its tributaries in the north-eastern hill state of Uttarakhand led to landslides and house collapses killing 40 people since Sunday, state-run Doordarshan television channel reported. More than 20,000 tourists and pilgrims were reported stranded across the state as swollen rivers damaged roads and swept away bridges, and landslides blocked several highways. At least 15 people were killed in Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh state in the foothills of the Himalayas, according to DPA.