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2nd LD Writethru: Over 30 killed in torrential rains in northern India

Xinhua, July 1, 2016 Adjust font size:

Over 30 people were killed and several others missing as torrential rains and landslides hit the northern Indian state Uttarakhand early Friday, said officials.

The government was rushing rescue teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to the hilly state, said Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh, after cloudburst and heavy rains caused havoc in Pithoragarh and Chamoli districts of the state.

"NDRF teams have been rushed to the areas affected by cloudburst in Uttarakhand. Additional teams of NDRF are also put on alert," Singh said.

Several major rivers were also rising above the danger level mark and many people were still trapped under debris brought by the heavy rains, said officials.

The incidents took place when many Hindu pilgrims were travelling to holy sites in the mountains and some of them were feared stranded. Endit