Thirty-four dead in northern India floods, landslides

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NEW DELHI, Oct 19: Indian authorities announced on Tuesday that at least 34 people were killed and five others were missing following floods and landslides in northern Indian state of Uttarakhand. Authorities have deployed 15 teams of National Disaster Management Force in addition to Indian Army and Airforce to carry out rescue and search operations in the Himalayan state. Local reports stated that 2,000 people were moved to safer places while 4,000 more are still waiting for evacuation as incessant rains and resultant floods and landslides have washed away roads and several buildings have collapsed.

Thousands of Hindu devotees, who came to the state to visit temples in places like Kedarnath, Badrinath and Gangotri, are facing a difficult situation due to the incessant rains. The death toll is expected to go up sharply as thousands of devotees and tourists are stranded in different places across the Himalayan state. Several Indian states across the North and South have been witnessing torrential rains and floods over the past few days. State authorities in the southern state of Kerala reported yesterday that at least 35 people were killed due to various rain related incidents in the state. The India Meteorological Department have warned that torrential rains would persist in several states across the country and urged the authorities to take all necessary measures. (KUNA)

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