Himalayan Landslides And Floods Killed 10 People, 2,400 Tourists Trapped

JAKARTA - A total of 10 people died as a result of floods and landslides in the Himalayan regions of India and Nepal following heavy rains. Heavy rains also left 2,400 tourists stranded in the northeastern Indian state of Sikkim.

Six people died in the Indian state of Sikkim and four others were killed by landslides in the nearby province of Koshi, Nepal, according to officials.

The rain has been going down since the last 36 hours... we have found the bodies and they have been handed over to the family, Hem Kumar Righttri, a district judge from Sikkim told CNN, Friday, June 14.

"At least 45 houses, roads, bridges and infrastructure were badly damaged due to rainfall," he added.

tricians said some 2,400 tourists were stranded in various tourist attractions in the state after landslides blocked roads with debris and heavy rains damaged several bridges.

"They were stranded but they were safe, we had spoken to hotel owners to accommodate them until the weather improved, no one was on the road... we have advised tourists to stay where they are," he said.

The state disaster response force has been deployed to clear roads. "The damage is severe, so it will take time but hopefully in a week we can restore connectivity," saidxi.

India's Department of Meteorology says heavy rains occasionally will most likely continue in Sikkim on Friday.

The neighboring state, West Bengal, has also been affected by flooding in recent days, with fallen trees, damaged buildings, and high water levels in the Teesta River.