NEW DELHI: Ten Malaysians stranded in India’s flood-hit Himachal Pradesh state are safe and expected to reach New Delhi soon, the Malaysian foreign ministry said.
It was reported earlier that 12 Malaysian hikers were missing in the Indian state as their families had lost contact with them.
However, the 12 included one Chinese and one British citizen, Wisma Putra clarified in a statement later.
The Malaysian high commission in New Delhi was able to contact one of the stranded Malaysians and received information that all of them were safe in Manali town, it said.
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“If the evacuation plan goes smoothly, the group is expected to take a flight back to Malaysia on the same day,” the ministry said.
Heavy monsoon rains have caused floods and landslides in several parts of northern India. Himachal Pradesh appears to be the worst affected state, while there is also significant damage to roads and infrastructure in Uttarakhand, Punjab and Haryana.
About 90 people have lost their lives in Himachal, while the death toll in Punjab and Haryana is 21, according to local media reports.
Twelve people were killed in rain-related incidents in a 24-hour period in the state of Uttar Pradesh, according to a government statement on Wednesday evening.
Authorities have sounded a flood alert for many districts in western Uttar Pradesh. In Delhi, thousands of people living near the Yamuna riverbank have been shifted to safer places.
The finance ministry yesterday released about US$920 million to help 22 states affected by the floods.
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