Floods in northern India have washed away whole buildings, roads and vehicles

Entire villages washed away: At least 23 dead and 50 missing as days of torrential rain wreak havoc and leave 10,000 pilgrims stranded on a mountainside

• Floods in northern India have washed away whole buildings, roads and vehicles
• More than 10,000 pilgrims were left stranded on a mountain pass as many roads become impassible
• The River Ganges and tributaries are flowing above danger level in several areas of Uttarakhand state

By Olivia Williams
PUBLISHED: 17:31 GMT, 17 June 2013 | UPDATED: 21:36 GMT, 17 June 2013 

At least 23 people have died and 50 more remain missing after torrential downpours in northern India swept away roads, buildings and vehicles.
One building collapse today killed at least three people who were washed away when an entire apartment block toppled into a river, a government spokesman said.
Most of the destruction is concentrated in the state of Uttarakhand, where the Ganges river and its tributaries are flowing at dangerously high levels. 
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Heavy monsoon rain left locals in Uttrakhand state, in the foothills of the Himalayas, fearing for their lives as fast-moving water swept away whole buildings

The swollen rivers have toppled buildings and other vehicles, which are drifting downstream, causing more destruction

River water topped houses and streets, forcing residents of flooded towns to wait for rescue on their rooftops

More than a dozen people have died in the state's Rudraprayag district alone, while another 50 people were missing, according to Amit Negi, an official in Uttarakhand.
Another landslide triggered by the monsoon rains buried a bus, killing three people in Almora district.

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Adding to the crisis, many more people have been left totally stranded in their homes by collapsing roads and bridges.

Floods sweep away houses in India(Video)

Torrential downpours left Sikh devotees from a temple looking for anywhere safe to stand on a destroyed road in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand

Thousands of residents across Uttrakhand have been left stranded as roads and buildings were swept away in front of them

Heavy rains in the foothills of the Himalayas mean many residents have abandoned their homes and possessions

More than 10,000 pilgrims on a mountain pass leading to a Hindu religious site had to be evacuated by helicopter after roads to the pilgrimage spot were unusable.
In response, army and paramilitary troops are leading efforts to rescue scores of people from the rooftops of their flooded homes.
The state government has prepared food parcels and drinking water pouches to be air dropped to villages cut off now that so many roads were washed away.

Casualty figures are expected to rise as the rains continue and missing people are accounted for

Authorities are preparing to evacuate people from the worst-hit areas to relief camps as many villages have become entirely cut-off

The strength of the current in the flood waters of the Bhagirathi River have swept along trucks and entirely submerged houses

'The situation is very grim. The meteorological office has predicted that the rain will continue for another three days at least,' an official said today.
State authorities were also preparing to evacuate people from the worst-hit districts to relief camps, he said.
Flood warnings have been issued across Udhampur district and in the Hindu holy city of Haridwar as rivers breached their banks.
India's capital, Delhi, has also been hit by the heavy rains as many roads were flooded after recent blistering summer heat.

Even major roads have been struggling to cope with the amount of water, as rivers breached their banks

With the heavy rains expected to last another three days, emergency services will struggle to reach stranded residents in need of food and water

The army has tried to rescue residents in the worst affected areas but many routes are impassible from the flood damage

Delhi airport was affected after more than four inches of rain fell in five hours on Sunday afternoon. Passengers were seen having to wade knee-deep in water to get to Terminal 3.
The flooding is an annual occurrence in India, which depends on the monsoon rains for agriculture.
The heavy downpours often cause loss of life and property and has come two weeks early this year

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2343268/Entire-villages-washed-away-At-23-dead-50-missing-India-days-torrential-rains-wreak-havoc-leave-10-000-pilgrims-stranded-mountainside.html#ixzz2WXaNEQ46