Mobile communication networks were disrupted in some areas with thousands of vehicles were waiting for rescue in various locations in Himachal due to roads being damaged. State officials have said that they were trying to reach stranded local and foreign tourists.
Among them were 15 Russians, who were stuck in the Kullu district’s Kasol area.
The priority is to safely evacuate tourists and then focus on repairing roads, water supplies, power lines and other infrastructure, Himachal chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu told reports on Wednesday.
“We have managed to evacuate 50 per cent of tourists,” he said, adding that the number will soon reach 80 per cent.
The infrastructure damage sustained is estimated to be around US$500 million.
Heavy monsoon rains have also battered the states of Uttarakhand, Punjab and Haryana, with river waters rising sharply.
Delhi was on a flood alert as the Yamuna river water level breached the danger mark. At least 100 people have died in rain-related incidents across north India.