Indian rescue helicopters fly to Himalayan area where floods killed at least 52

Rescuers are continuing to search for survivors after a glacial lake burst through a dam in India’s Himalayan north-east (Anupam Nath/AP)

Indian air force helicopters were able to land on Monday to rescue people in the Himalayan north-east where a six-year-old hydroelectric dam cracked open last week in intense rain, flooding a valley with glacial lake water and washing away bridges and homes as thousands fled.

Police said rescuers have found 52 bodies so far, and the search is continuing with around 100 people still missing.