20 killed in India house collapse

At least 20 people were killed as dozens of houses collapsed following a cloudburst in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand in north India yesterday, the national media reported.
Twelve people were killed in Rudraprayag district, PTI news agency said while according to NDTV, eight more deaths were reported in Kapkot near Almorah in Bageshwar.
Several people are feared trapped under the debris and rescue operations have been launched, Disaster Management and Mitigation department officials said citing initial reports.
According to officials, incessant rains since yesterday followed by a cloudburst in the wee hours yesterday have left a trail of destruction in Timada, Sansari, Giriya, Chunni and Mangali villages in Rudraprayag.
River Saryu and Kaliganga are flowing above danger mark following rains since last night.
Communication and power lines were disrupted and traffic along several roads, including national highways, in the area has been blocked due to landslides, officials said.
The local administration has sought the assistance of the army in view of the large-scale destruction caused by the cloudburst.