Floods, landslides claim 47 lives in India’s Uttarakhand

The death count in landslides and floods set off by incessant heavy rains in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand mounted to 47 last night.

Many people still remain trapped under the rubble after the mudslides, report our New Delhi correspondent.

Five deaths were reported on Monday and the remaining on yesterday.

"The number of casualties in Kumaon region alone has crossed 40," Deputy Inspector General Nilesh Anand Bharne said.

Of the 42 victims whose bodies were found yesterday, 28 died in Nainital district, six each in Almora and Champawat and one each in Pithoragarh and Udham Singh Nagar districts, he said.

Director General of Uttarakhand Police Ashok Kumar, who accompanied Chief Minister Dhami on an aerial visit to rain-hit areas of Kumaon region, said roads, bridges and railway tracks have been damaged in Kathgodam near the popular tourist resort town and Lalkuan in Nainital and Rudrapur in Udham Singh Nagar.