India floods strand thousands; more than 100 dead

LUCKNOW, India—The Indian air force is dropping paratroopers, food packets and medicine for tens of thousands of people trapped in up to 100 inaccessible towns and villages in northern Himalayas devastated by heavy monsoon rains and landslides over the weekend.

Amit Chandola, a Uttrakhand state spokesman, said the army and other workers reopened dozens of roads Friday by building makeshift bridges, accel

Bulldozer and other vehicles are drifted in a flooded river in Uttarkashi district, India, Monday, June 17, 2013. Torrential rain and floods washed away buildings and roads, killing at least 23 people on Monday in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, officials said Monday. AP FILE PHOTO

erating the evacuation of nearly 62,000 people.

With the sun shining for a third day, thousands of soldiers intensified efforts to reach 80 to 100 towns and villages worst hit by the flooding and rains.

Chandola said the official death in Uttrakhand was 105, but expect that to rise as authorities reach are

as now cut off.