Death toll tops 550 in flooding in India

NEW DELHI – More than 500 people have been killed by devastating monsoon flooding in northern India and 50,000 remained stranded Friday with more rain in the forecast, authorities said.

Flooding in the mountainous Himalayan state of Uttarakhand coincided with a period when about 60,000 Sikh and Hindu pilgrims were trekking to four sacred sites in the region. Many pilgrims, tourists and local residents were trapped as roads, bridges and houses were washed away.

“We would do the best we can to evacuate all those stranded,” Air Marshal S. B. Deo told reporters.

Local media dubbed the disaster a “Himalayan tsunami,” which could ultimately claim hundreds, even thousands, more lives.

Vijay Bahuguna, Uttarakhand’s chief minister, told the local CNN-IBN news channel late Friday that 556 bodies had been recovered from mud and debris and that more could be buried.

“It’s very tragic that so many people have died in this calamity,” he said.

Tuesday on the Hindu calendar was celebrated as the anniversary of the Ganges River, considered a god, descending to Earth.

Local TV news showed cars, trucks and three-story houses swept away by the raging river and the area around Kedarnath, devoted to Lord Shiva, nearly flattened, with corpses strewn about and no signs of life. Authorities said many corpses were swollen and badly disfigured, making identification difficult.

Forty-three aircraft have been ferrying rescue workers, doctors, equipment, food and medicine into the area and moving victims out, with about 33,000 people rescued after many became trapped by heavy rains during the weekend. Rescue operations have been hampered by bad weather, an estimated 500 roads and 200 bridges damaged or destroyed and the size of the area affected – more than 15,000 square miles.

In nearby Nepal, authorities said 39 people had died and 20 were missing.