BEIJING, June 19 (Xinhuanet) -- Flooding and landslides triggered by monsoon rains in northern India have claimed more than 130 lives, making it one of the deadliest monsoon seasons in recent years. The Indian disaster relief bureau says the death toll could still rise, as communications have been cut in many places.
Meanwhile, more than 73,000 pilgrims headed for major shrines in the Himalayas remain stranded in Uttarakhand, and about 1,700 tourists are stuck in Himachal Pradesh. The local media says this year’s rains in northwest and central India are at least twice as heavy as the average.
The National Disaster Management Authority says a response force of 540 people has been deployed since Sunday, in addition to the army and border police. Rescue operations are also underway in northern India after early monsoon rains swelled the Ganges, India’s longest river.
(Source: CNTV.cn)
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