22 Killed as Heavy Rains Trigger Floods in Northern India

Floods driven by torrential rains in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand have killed at least 22 people and left others missing, according to officials.

According to the Indian Meteorological Department, severe to extremely heavy rain will continue to pour across the state for the next two days.

According to Jyoti Negi, who heads the state's Disaster Management Cell, 18 people died in Nainital, two in Almorah, and one each in Champawat and Udham Singh Nagar districts.

Officials reported that at least eight persons were missing and that several others were trapped beneath the debris. Helicopters were dispatched by the army to assist with the rescue mission.

Heavy rains have flooded highways and ruined bridges around the state during the last few days. Because the roads leading to Nainital were either blocked by landslides or washed away, the town was cut off from the rest of the state.

The Ganges River breaching its banks at Rishikesh, and the Nainital Lake overflowing with flooding, as shown in videos shared on social media.

Heavy rains have caused flooding and landslides in Kerala's southern state, killing at least 28 people.

In India's Himalayan north, landslides and floods are prevalent. They are becoming more common, according to scientists, as global warming contributes to the melting of glaciers in the area.

In Uttarakhand, catastrophic floods killed about 200 people and swept away their homes in February. Thousands of people were killed in flooding in the area in 2013.