Around 600 have been killed and 50,000 stranded after a monsoon left northern India heavily flooded.
The situation is bleak, as authorities predict more rain in the forecast for the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The monsoon and flood also coincided with the pilgrimages of approximately 60,000 devout Sikh and Hindu people. Many roads, bridges, and houses were washed away, leaving the pilgrims, tourists, and local residents trapped.
While almost 600 hundred have been confirmed as dead by the Los Angeles Times, the Hindustan Times estimates that 1,000 may have been killed.
At least 45 helicopters and 10,000 soldiers were deployed to rescue those stranded, rescuing at least 33,100 people.
Around 14,000 are unaccounted for, reports the Independent.
“It's very tragic that so many people have died in this calamity,” said Vijay Bahuguna, the state’s chief minister.
A senior official said the death toll could be “shockingly large.”
“The tragedy is huge and damages tremendous with vast tracts of land still submerged under tonnes of debris,” Bahuguna said. “The casualties must run into several hundreds.”
Thirty-nine have also died in Nepal, where 20 remain missing.
Images: ABC-CBN News Twitter, Twitter, Manila Bulletin News Twitter
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