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North India floods: Bad weather hits rescue operations Race to save India Uttarakhand flood victims
(about 4 hours later)
Bad weather is hampering rescue operations in the flood-hit northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, where nearly 150 people have died. A massive rescue operation is under way to reach survivors in the flood-hit Indian state of Uttarakhand, where nearly 150 people have died.
Rain and cloudy weather prevented helicopters from taking off from the capital, Dehradun, early on Thursday. More than 62,000 pilgrims are stranded after the floods swept away buildings and triggered landslides.
More than 62,000 pilgrims are stranded in the state. A large number of them are reported to be trapped in the holy town of Kedarnath, located in a valley.
State Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna has described the floods as a "Himalayan tsunami" and said "very heavy casualties" are feared. State Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna has described the floods as a "Himalayan tsunami".
Flood-related deaths have also been reported in Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh states and neighbouring Nepal.Flood-related deaths have also been reported in Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh states and neighbouring Nepal.
The monsoon season generally lasts from June to September, bringing rain which is critical to the farming output, but this year the rain in the north of India and parts of Nepal has been heavier than usual.The monsoon season generally lasts from June to September, bringing rain which is critical to the farming output, but this year the rain in the north of India and parts of Nepal has been heavier than usual.
The BBC Hindi's Nitin Srivastava in Dehradun says there are reports of rain in the affected areas and a light drizzle in the capital, leading to a temporary suspension of rescue operations. Media reports say military helicopters and the army are mainly targeting Kedarnath in Rudraprayag district, where portions of a famous Hindu temple have been washed away and the shrine is "submerged in mud and slush".
Air force official R Isser told the BBC that five rescue helicopters cut short their trips and returned to Dehradun because of bad weather early on Thursday. 'Unprecedented'
The operations resumed later in the morning, officials said. State-run broadcaster Doordarshan reported that about 90 guest houses for pilgrims in Kedarnath and neighbouring areas had been swept away, raising fears of more deaths.
The floods have swept away buildings and triggered landslides in some places, blocking roads. More than 20 bridges have collapsed. "I heard a loud explosion and a lake above Kedarnath town burst its banks. The floods arrived minutes later and everything was gone in 15 minutes," Dinesh Bagwari, a priest at the temple, told the BBC Hindi.
Senior Uttarakhand official Om Prakash told the state broadcaster Doordarshan that the death toll in the floods in the state had gone up to 150, and that several villages in Chamoli and Rudraprayag districts were still inundated. "We spent 36 hours without water or food. I saw several hundred people trapped in inhuman conditions. Five of my family members are missing and my 17-year-old son is stranded there."
More than 5,500 soldiers and hundreds of paramilitary and disaster management officials are working to rescue and provide emergency supplies to thousands of tourists and pilgrims stranded in towns and temples. Twenty helicopters have been deployed.
Uttarakhand police official RS Meena said that 15,000 people have been evacuated from the flood-hit areas by land and air so far.
Rescue operations were halted on Thursday morning due to rains and bad visibility, but resumed later in the day after the weather improved.
Senior Uttarakhand official Om Prakash said the death toll in the floods in the state had gone up to 150.
Mr Bahuguna said the death and destruction in the floods was "unprecedented", and that the toll would rise further.Mr Bahuguna said the death and destruction in the floods was "unprecedented", and that the toll would rise further.
The vice chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority told The Indian Express the rains in Uttarakhand had been the "heaviest in 60 years".The vice chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority told The Indian Express the rains in Uttarakhand had been the "heaviest in 60 years".
India's PM Manmohan Singh has described the situation there as "distressing" and announced a 10bn rupee ($170m; £127m) aid package for the state.India's PM Manmohan Singh has described the situation there as "distressing" and announced a 10bn rupee ($170m; £127m) aid package for the state.
"The maximum devastation has been in [the temple town of] Kedarnath and its vicinity," he said. "The priority is to rescue the stranded and provide urgently needed succour to those most needing it.""The maximum devastation has been in [the temple town of] Kedarnath and its vicinity," he said. "The priority is to rescue the stranded and provide urgently needed succour to those most needing it."