More than 20 dead as heavy rains hit Indian state

Aug 14: More than 20 people have died in rain-related incidents in the past 24 hours in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, a top official said.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that heavy rains have triggered landslides and flash floods in the hill state.

Earlier on Monday, a temple in Shimla town collapsed after a landslide.

Sukhu tweeted that nine bodies had been retrieved from the site.

He also tweeted about a flash flood and cloudburst that had occurred in other parts of the state, in which 14 people had died.

Thousands of tourists visit the hill state of Himachal Pradesh, especially its capital Shimla, around the year to enjoy its cool weather and picturesque scenery.

But the state has been experiencing heavy rains during the monsoon season, leading to flooding, landslides and cloudbursts which cause further damage.

Videos shared on social media over the past few days show vehicles and buildings being swept away by gushing rivers, trees falling on cars and tourists stranded due to road closures.

Sukhu has appealed to people to stay indoors and not go near rivers.

Incessant rains have also been battering the neighbouring state of Uttarakhand for the past couple of days. The hill state is home to many revered Hindu shrines and sees a large number of tourists around the year.

On Monday, officials said that the Char Dham Yatra - a pilgrimage to the four holiest sites for Hindus in the state - has been suspended for two days due to the rains.

Videos shared on social media showed huge boulders blocking the path to the Kedarnath temple, which is part of the Yatra.

Environmentalists have frequently raised concerns over infrastructural changes made to accommodate an influx of tourists in India's Himalayan states. They say that this could cause havoc in these ecologically fragile regions, especially when combined with extreme weather events.