Rescue teams frantically searched for survivors in India's flood-ravaged state of Uttarakhand on Friday as the death toll exceeded 550, state disaster officials said. According to dpa, more than 13,800 people were missing and another 32,000 people, many of them pilgrims, were believed to be trapped as a result of torrential monsoon rains that have triggered floods and landslides. State disaster relief minister Jaspal Arya said the rescue operations were being carried out on a "war footing." "Forty-five helicopters are combing areas to find people and drop food supplies, as road links are destroyed," Arya said. Television footage showed stranded people climbing down cliffs, aided by soldiers. Around 73,000 people have been evacuated so far.
