A local disaster official said at least four people were missing, while others warned the number was likely to rise
Rescue teams were deployed to India's Himalayan region after flash floods tore down a mountain valley, washing away a major part of a town, in which at least four people were missing.
Uttarakhand State Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said rescue teams were deployed on a war footing. Videos broadcast on social media showed a surge of muddy water sweeping away multi-storey apartment blocks in the tourist region of Dharali in Uttarakhand state.
A local disaster official said at least four people were missing, while others warned the number was likely to rise.
"Luckily, most of the people were at a fair in a safe location," said an official, who asked not to be named since he was not authorised to speak to the media. India's army said its first teams had reached the town.
"A massive mudslide struck Dharali... triggering a sudden flow of debris and water through the settlement," it said.
Dhami said the flood was caused by a sudden and intense downpour. "News of heavy damage caused by a cloudburst... is extremely sad and distressing," he said.
The India Meteorological Department issued a red alert warning for the area, and recorded "extremely heavy" rainfall of around 21 centimetres (eight inches) in isolated parts of Uttarakhand.
Deadly floods and landslides are common during the monsoon season from June to September but experts say climate change, coupled with urbanisation, is increasing their frequency and severity.
