1st LD Writethru: 9 killed in cloudburst in northern India

At least nine people have been killed in a cloudburst that triggered heavy rains and flash floods in the northern Indian state of Uttarkhand in the past 24 hours, a senior police official said Friday.

"Nine bodies have been recovered so far from Chamoli and Didihat areas in the hilly state's Pithoragarh district. Several people have also sustained injuries and many houses washed away in flash floods," he said, on condition of anonymity.

According to weather department, more than 54 mm rain has been recorded in Uttarakhand in the past 24 hours and showers are likely to continue for the next two days. "More rains mean more devastation though disaster management officials are on standby," a weather official said.

Local TV channels showed footage of the Alaknanda river rising above the danger level mark and reported that National Highway-5 has been blocked due to heavy rains and landslide near Devprayag, while another key stretch, Thal-Munsyari Road, has been cut-off and dozens of vehicles stranded.

Cloudbursts and flash floods are common in the Uttarakhand. In June 2013, a multi-day cloudburst centered on the state caused devastating floods and landslides, claiming the lives of over 5,700 people, thus becoming the country's worst natural disaster since the 2004 tsunami. Enditem