Almost 600 dead in India floods; more heavy rain predicted

The death toll from monsoon rains in Northern India has reached 570, according to the latest figures from the Indian Government.

However that number is expected to rise significantly.

Thousands of pilgrims were visiting religious temples in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand when the storms struck.

The heavy rain triggered flash floods and landslides leading to what is being described as an precedented level of destruction.

Soldiers are working to evacuate tens of thousands of people still stranded in northern India.

Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said that with bad weather and heavy rainfall predicted over the next two days, there was an added urgency to reach the approximately 50,000 people still stranded in the flood-hit Uttarakhand state.

Shinde said air force helicopters were dropping food and drinking water to those stranded in inaccessible areas. More than 30,000 people have been rescued from the worst-hit districts over the past five days.

Thousands of homes have been washed away or damaged in the state.

Monsoon flooding is an annual occurrence in India, causing enormous loss of life and property.