"Tsunami" in the Himalayas kills 5,000 people

India's Minister for Disaster Management and Natural Disaster Management Yashpal Arya said on June 23 that at least 5,000 people have died due to floods in the northern state of Uttarakhand.

"At least 5,000 people have died in the floods that have caused widespread damage, especially in the Kedarnath valley," Mr Arya was quoted as saying by media.

Heavy rains and floods submerged a statue of Lord Shiva in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand on June 18. (Photo: AP)

Rescue workers and the army have rescued all the pilgrims stranded in Kedarnath valley, the Hindu town at the centre of the flood.

The flood, which has been likened to a tsunami in the Himalayas, took local residents and authorities by surprise last week.

The Indian Meteorological Department has warned that the region will continue to experience rain in the coming days. Meanwhile, the newspaper "Indian Truth" reported that about 19,000 people are still stranded in three areas of Uttarakhand state./.

According to (Vietnam+) - DT