Deadly monsoon rains sweep north India

At least 26 reported killed by early monsoon rains in Uttarakhand state as army leads rescue efforts in flooded areas.

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Torrential rain and floods have washed away buildings and roads, killing at least 26 people in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, officials have said.

Monsoon rains have lashed all of India one month ahead of schedule, officials said on Monday.

“Twenty-six people have died and more than 50 persons are missing, due to flooding, landslides and building collapses caused by heavy rain,” Piyush Rautela, director of Uttarakhand state’s disaster management centre, said on Monday.

Three members of a single family, including a boy died when their house collapsed, crushing them in the state capital Dehradun, Rautela told the AFP news agency.