At least 10 people were killed and more than 50 went missing as flash floods and landslides hit India's northern mountainous state of Uttarakhand, dpa quoted officials and media as saying Saturday. The floods came after a cloudburst in the Uttarkashi district swept away homes, bridges, and a large portion of the main highway in the region late Friday. "At least seven people, including three fire service personnel, were killed in the floods and landslides since Friday night," an inspector at the police control room in Uttarkashi said by phone. "We also have reports of three deaths in similar incidents in the adjoining district of Chamoli," he said. Meanwhile, broadcaster CNN-IBN reported that more than 50 people were still missing in the flood-hit areas as disaster management personnel braved heavy rains to carry out rescue and relief work. Local authorities estimated that 2,000 people were affected, many of whom had sought refuge in government-run shelters. Hundreds of Hindu pilgrims were also left stranded. With levels of the state's Bhagirathi and Ganga rivers on the rise and the regional weather bureau forecasting heavy rains until Monday, local agencies were placed on high alert. Cloudbursts are a common occurrence in India's mountainous states during the country's monsoon season between June and September. More than 400 people have died during the current monsoon season across India, according to the federal Home Ministry.
