At least four people have been killed and buildings swept away after floodwater crashed through a Himalayan village in India.
Uttarakhand state’s chief minister said police and the army were “on a war footing” as they search for survivors.
Video shows the dramatic moment the water barrelled through Dharali, about six miles from the popular tourist site Harsil.
“About a dozen hotels have been washed away and several shops have collapsed,” said local official Prashant Arya.
Villagers fear it could be worse – with up to a dozen people still under rubble and 20 to 25 hotels and homestays destroyed.
India‘s national disaster management authority has requested three helicopters to help with rescue efforts in the mountainous terrain.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on X that he had spoken to the chief minister and “no stone is being left unturned in providing assistance to the people”.
More heavy rain is forecast in the days ahead and local schools have been asked to stay shut.
Monsoon rains have also hit other areas of India, such as Prayagraj on the banks of the Ganges. Pic: AP
Brief, intense downpours known as cloudbursts are becoming more common in Uttarakhand, according to experts, who say it’s partly down to climate change.
Uttarakhand is in India’s far north, bordering Nepal and China, and is already prone to flooding and landslides in monsoon season.
Damage from such events has also become worse due to unplanned development.
India isn’t the only country experiencing intense storms this week.
Hong Kong issues ‘black’ storm alert as rain record broken
Hong Kong issued another maximum “black” warning after heavier than usual monsoon rains caused flooding and landslides.
More than 35cm (13.8 inches) had fallen by 2pm local time on Tuesday, according to city authorities, the highest daily amount for August since 1884.
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Video showed water gushing through the streets and partially submerged cars. Most schools and public services in the region have been closed.
It’s the fourth “black” alert in eight days – a new record.
The storms have also affected the wider region, including Macau and Guangdong province, where five people died and more than 1,300 rescuers were deployed at the weekend.
