1,000 feared dead in India floods, landslides

As many as 1,000 people are feared dead in recent flooding and landslides in northern India, reports say.

“We estimate more than 1,000 people have died as unattended bodies are scattered all around,” a local official said on Thursday.

Indian officials said that some 10,000 soldiers have been deployed to reach areas of the state of Uttarakhand, which has been hit by the monsoon rains over the weekend.

The Indian army said that the soldiers were mobilizing to “provide leadership, succor, medical, air and engineer effort.”

Meanwhile, army helicopters have been sent to Haryana State to rescue people stranded in remote villages.

Nearly 140 deaths were confirmed yesterday in Uttarakhand and neighboring states hit by the stormy weather.

Thousands of pilgrims were also stranded in Hindu pilgrimage spots in Kedarnath Valley.

Floods destroyed some 500 houses and government buildings in Himachal Pradesh. The monsoon rains have also caused heavy damage to roads, bridges, and farms in the flood-hit states.

The monsoon season, lasting from June to October, causes floods with widespread destruction. This year, India’s monsoon rains are a month ahead of schedule.