At least 66 people are still missing a week after flash floods hit the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, according to an official statement. Only one body has been recovered so far, the statement added, revising an earlier death toll of four. Nearly half of Dharali village was submerged on 5 August in a mudslide caused by heavy rains and flash floods. An army camp nearby also suffered extensive damage. Rescue operations are continuing at the site of the disaster as workers search for missing people. The work has been affected by inclement weather and the blockage of a key highway near the site due to the mudslide. Weeks of heavy rain have pounded Uttarakhand, with Uttarkashi region – home to Dharali village – among the worst hit by flooding. Around 1,300 people have been rescued from near Dharali since last week, officials said. Heavy rains last week had led to the swelling of the Kheerganga river in the region, sending tonnes of muddy waters gushing downwards on the hilly terrain, covering roads, buildings and shops in Dharali and nearby Harsil village. Videos showed a giant wave of water gushing through the area, crumpling buildings in its path, giving little time for people to escape. Uttarakhand’s chief minister and other officials initially said the flash floods were caused by a cloudburst, but India’s weather department has not confirmed this. Vinay Shankar Pandey, a senior local official, said a team of 10 geologists has been sent to the village to determine the cause of the flash floods.

Full report : Flash floods in Indian state of Uttarakhand leave one dead, 66 still missing as rescue efforts continue.