India floods and landslides kill at least 19

Flash floods and landslides, fueled by monsoon rains, have claimed the lives of at least 19 people across India, officials and local media reported Sunday. Rescue operations are underway in the affected regions as authorities grapple with the devastating impact of the extreme weather.

In the northeastern state of Nagaland, bordering Myanmar, eight people were killed. District magistrate Wennyei Konyak confirmed the recovery of four bodies, with ongoing rescue efforts for others. At least 15 individuals sustained injuries in the region.

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We have recovered four of the eight bodies, and rescue work is ongoing.

Meanwhile, Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir reported 11 fatalities. The chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, expressed deep sorrow over a massive flash flood in Rajouri, located in the Jammu region. His office stated that the flood caused extensive damage to public and private property, including the bus stand, and disrupted numerous lives.

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The flood has caused extensive damage to public and private property, including the bus stand, and disrupted countless lives.

Army personnel and state emergency responders successfully rescued 11 people, including five children, in Rajouri district. The India Meteorological Department has issued a warning of potential "extremely heavy rainfall" in Jammu and Kashmir over the next two days, indicating the severity of the ongoing monsoon.

In response to the hazardous weather, officials announced the temporary suspension of the annual Hindu Amarnath pilgrimage in the Kashmir region. The pilgrimage, which saw over 400,000 participants last year, was halted "in the interest of the safety and well-being of all" pilgrims. It will only resume once weather conditions improve and the routes are declared safe. The Hindu pilgrimage to the Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu, a site that attracts millions annually, has also been suspended.

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in the interest of the safety and well-being of all