Monsoon fury in North India: Toll rises to 81; Kedarnath shrine in mud

Monsoon rains and unprecedented flash floods continued to spell death and destruction in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, claiming over 80 lives and leaving over 70,000 pilgrims for Himalayan shrines stranded.

The famous hill shrine of Kedarnath in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand bore the brunt of torrential rains and was covered in mud and slush. About 500 people, including several pilgrims, are said to missing in the area, according to top government sources.

The death toll may rise significantly once water recedes and relief teams are able to access the affected areas.

A portion of the Kedarnath temple compound was washed away but authorities said no damages were reported to the structure itself.

The Ram Bada area, a busy spot near the temple, has been completely submerged and was not visible from rescue choppers.

Army Central Command officials said that nearly 6,000 to 8,000 people are stranded in Kedarnath, 2,500 in Hemkund Sahib and around 8,000 in Badrinath.

Flash floods, cloudbursts and landslips have so far claimed 81 lives in northern India. Thousands have been displaced in Uttar Pradesh where several rivers are in spate.

The death toll in Uttarakhand has reached 52. Rudraprayag district was the worst hit with 20 people dead and 73 buildings, including 40 hotels, along the banks of the Alaknanda swept away in the swirling waters of the river.

A total of 71,440 pilgrims bound for the Himalayan shrines of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri are stranded in Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Uttarkashi districts of Uttarakhand with the famous char dham yatra having been suspended due to massive landslides and damage to the road network.

While 27,040 tourists are stranded in Chamoli, Rudraprayag and Uttarkashi have 25,000 and 9,850 pilgrims from various parts of the country stranded, Disaster Management authorities said.

Meanwhile, with a slight let up in the rain today, rescue efforts are being intensified in the affected areas.

More than a dozen helicopters have been deployed in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh for relief and rescue operations with officials saying that all the stranded people are expected to be evacuated soon.

Union Home Secretary R K Singh said food, medicines and blankets were air-dropped in remote areas of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, too, talked to the chief ministers of the two states.

"We have provided seven helicopters to Uttarakhand. The state government has also hired four private helicopters. We are providing helicopters to Himachal Pradesh. Hopefully, all stranded people will be evacuated today," Singh said in New Delhi.

Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who was stranded in Kinnaur district for nearly 60 hours due to landslides, was evacuated this morning by a chopper hired by his Congress party.