At least 40 killed in heavy rain and landslides in India's Himachal Pradesh

At least 41 people have been killed in landslides caused by torrential rain in India's northern state of Himachal Pradesh. Dozens are trapped or missing, the government said on Monday. At least 10 people were killed after heavy rain, known as a cloudburst , hit Jadon village, in Solan district, on Monday. An eight-year-old boy was among the dead. Six people were rescued, while two houses and a cow shed were washed away, witnesses said. A cloudburst is extremely heavy rain in a short period of time. They are common in mountainous areas. About 100mm of rain fell in an hour, the Indian Meteorological Department said. At least 10 people were killed and 20 others were trapped after a temple collapsed due to a landslide in the city of Shimla on Monday. Five have been rescued. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has called on authorities to offer assistance and support to those affected. “Devastated to hear about the loss of seven precious lives in the tragic cloudburst incident. My heartfelt condolences go out to the grieving families. We share in your pain and sorrow during this difficult time,” Mr Sukhu’s office said on social media. At least 14 people were swept away in Mandi district, the government said. Seven more died in other incidents across the state. Swollen rivers broke their banks in the state, causing damaged to roads and infrastructure. The northern state has been devastated by torrential rain for the past two months, leading to the deaths of more than 100 people since the onset of the monsoon period on June 24. One person was killed and three injured after a cloudburst occurred in the state’s Kullu district on July 17. The weather department has predicted heavy rainfall in parts of Himachal Pradesh and neighbouring Uttarakhand for the next 24 hours. At least five tourists, including a 10-year-old, were buried after a resort in Pauri district in Uttarakhand collapsed amid the heavy rain. Authorities closed schools and colleges and advised people not to leave their homes.

At least 40 killed in heavy rain and landslides in India's Himachal Pradesh

An eight-year-old boy was among those killed in the northern state