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Dozens of people have died in three days in north India as heavy rains caused widespread flooding. The Indian Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh has been the worst affected area where massive landslides and flash floods that have damaged houses and paralysed life.

The gushing water is sweeping away bridges, homes and cars, and is causing widespread devastation in the state. Newsday asked Satwant Atwal - the additional director general of police who is part of the rescue and relief operations there – about the hundreds of locals and tourists in the state who are still stranded.

"They are in safe places. We are in touch with the air force for air evacuation if need be but we want the weather to let up a little. There were preparatory meetings happening [for the monsoon] since the month of June. But nature is bigger than all of us, and despite our preparedness we are finding it daunting. It has been a little unprecedented this year."

(Pic: Rising waters of the River Beas submerge a temple in Himachal Pradesh state, India; Credit: Reuters)

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