NEW DELHI, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- At least 21 people were killed and over 50 others went missing as torrential rains triggering cloudbursts, landslides, flooding and waterlogging wreaked havoc in north India, officials said Thursday.
Heavy rains battered the Indian capital territory and its outskirts Wednesday evening and left most parts of the city waterlogged. The rains and inundation of roads severely affected traffic, leaving commuters stranded for hours.
Reports said at least 10 people -- five in Delhi, three in Gurugram and two in Greater Noida -- were killed in the rain-related incidents.
The incessant downpour, which saw parts of the city receive record rainfall, prompted the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a red alert for Delhi. The IMD advised residents to stay indoors, secure their homes, and avoid unnecessary travel. The situation also prompted the Delhi government to close all schools on Thursday.
The cloudbursts caused massive devastation in the three districts in the northern part of India by damaging bridges, houses and roads.
Videos shared on social media show a building housing a vegetable market collapsing on a road.
The local government has pressed into service disaster response force personnel to help trace the missing. Officials had been instructed to make all necessary arrangements.
On Tuesday, multiple landslides hit the southern Indian state of Kerala's Wayanad district, causing large-scale destruction to life and property.
According to India's official broadcaster All India Radio, the death toll in the landslide-affected region has risen to 260.
A full-scale rescue and relief operation involving NDRF, army and Air Force personnel is underway in the affected area to help survivors, trace the missing and pull out bodies from the debris. ■
