Death toll from heavy monsoon rains in northern India rises to 78

NEW DELHI

The death toll from monsoon rains in India's northern Himachal Pradesh state has increased to 78, according to officials on Monday.

A statement issued by the state’s Emergency Operations Center said that in the monsoon rain season till July 6, 50 people have died due to multiple factors, including flash floods, cloudbursts, and drowning.

The statement noted 28 others have died in road accidents in the state.

As many as 121 people have been injured, and 37 are currently missing in the rainy monsoon season typically lasting from June to September in India and neighboring Pakistan.

The state of Himachal Pradesh has suffered heavy damage since mid-June due to flash floods and a large number of cloudbursts.