Flash floods in the Indian Himalayas killed at least four people, officials said, as rescue workers searched for dozens of other people missing in the deluge.
Officials feared that the death toll could go up. Videos on social media showed a strong gush of muddy water and debris washing away homes and other tall structures in the state of Uttarakhand.
Teams from the Indian Army and other forces were deployed to help with the rescue, officials said. But some officials said the threat of further landslides was complicating the efforts.
Government officials “are working in tandem, taking all possible measures to save precious lives,” India’s defense minister, Rajnath Singh, said on X.
Prashant Arya, the district magistrate in Uttarkashi, the district in Uttarakhand with the worst damage, said the full extent of the death toll and destruction would take time to tally, as the focus remained on rescue efforts. He said communication lines in the area had been affected.
“A lot of water has come at once and suddenly,” Mr. Arya told Indian news outlets. “There are restaurants and guesthouses on the path.”
Uttarakhand is prone to floods and landslides. in 2013, The state suffered its deadliest floods which left over 6,000 people dead.
Hari Kumar covers India, based out of New Delhi. He has been a journalist for more than two decades.
Mujib Mashal is the South Asia bureau chief for The Times, helping to lead coverage of India and the diverse region around it, including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan.
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