According to local sources, at least ten people died in flooding and landslides in India and Nepal's Himalayan regions on Thursday as a result of heavy rainfall. The torrential rains have also trapped 2,400 tourists in the northeastern Indian state of Sikkim.
According to officials, six people were killed in India's Sikkim state, and four more died in neighbouring Nepal's Koshi province due to a landslide.
"It has been raining for the previous 36 hours... We have found the remains and handed them over to the relatives," said Hem Kumar Chettri, a district magistrate in Sikkim. At least 45 roads, bridges, homes and infrastructure had been "badly damaged" by the rain, he said.
The northeastern state of Sikkim, bordered by Bhutan and Nepal, is recognised for its magnificent Himalayan landscapes, which include 28 mountain peaks, 21 glaciers, and over 200 lakes. However, like any mountainous region, it is vulnerable to fatal flash floods and landslides.
State disaster response teams have been dispatched to clean roads. "The damage is really bad so it will take time but hopefully within a week we will be able to restore connectivity," Chettri stated.
The Indian Meteorological Department predicted that "occasional intense spells of rainfall" would continue across Sikkim on Friday. Flooding has also hit neighbouring West Bengal recently, with trees uprooted, buildings destroyed, and rising water levels in the Teesta River.
While the north is dealing with tremendous rains, India has had a record-breaking summer, with a portion of the capital Delhi recording the country's record temperature of 49.9 degrees Celsius last month.
India: At least 10 dead and more than 2400 tourists left stranded after landslide in Himalayan regions
