Flood in northern India

Floods caused by heavy rains in the Himalayas have triggered flooding in many parts of India with Uttarakhand, Assam, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in the north being worst affected. In total up to 1500 villages have been affected with a death toll of over 60 and many more people missing.

Uttarakhand was badly affected with 48 hours of continuous rain causing landslides and flooding. 17 people are reported to have been killed in a landslide, with 6 more people left injured.

The state of Uttar Pradesh - which neighbours Nepal - was also inundated. Major rivers and tributaries in the area have risen to dangerous levels, flooding many large areas. Thousands of people have been left cut off and homeless across the districts of Uttar Pradesh, with reports of the death toll in the area approaching 30.

Local authorities are concerned that a lack of clean drinking water, food and sanitation means the possibility of water-borne diseases increases. Rescuers have been attempting to reach the villages via submerged roads to deliver food, tents and medicine.