At least 24 dead after torrential rains in India

At least 24 people have died in India, nine of them in a temple collapse, and dozens more missing, after heavy rains caused flooding and landslides, officials said on Monday.

Several days of torrential rain destroyed bridges and buildings, washed away vehicles in the states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, located in the north of the country.

During the monsoon, floods and landslides are frequent and cause considerable damage. According to scientists, monsoon rains are stronger and more frequent due to climate change.

Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Prime Minister of the most affected state of Himachal Pradesh, 16 people have died in the past 24 hours, including nine in the collapse of a Hindu temple in Shimla, the state capital.

“The local administration is working to clear the debris in order to rescue people who may still be trapped,” the prime minister said in a statement.

He called on residents to stay at home and avoid going near rivers.

“Schools in that state have been closed,” he added.