Days of torrential downpours have washed away vehicles, demolished buildings and destroyed bridges in the northern Himalayan states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. In Himachal Pradesh, 50 people were killed in the past 24 hours, up from an earlier official toll of 41. At least eight others have also been killed since Friday in neighbouring Uttarakhand state, officials said. Images from hard-hit areas in Himachal Pradesh showed bodies being pulled out of piles of dark earth that had crushed buildings and smashed roofs. The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, said she was "hurt with the loss of lives in accidents because of heavy rains" and offered her condolences to the families who have suffered in Himachal Pradesh.

Source: Daily Sun August 15, 2023 03:38 UTC