At least 15 people have been confirmed dead and 16 others reported missing after days of torrential rainfall triggered landslides in northern India, officials said on Wednesday.

The worst-hit area is Dehradun district in Uttarakhand, where 13 bodies were recovered after heavy downpours swept away shops, damaged houses, and blocked major roads. Fatalities were also reported in Pithoragarh and Nainital districts, with one death recorded in each location.

Authorities said rescue operations are ongoing, with search teams deployed to locate those missing and clear debris. More than 170 roads across the state remain blocked, severely disrupting movement and relief efforts.

The landslides also caused significant damage to infrastructure, with markets and residential areas in low-lying zones particularly affected. In Sahastradhara, a popular tourist area in Dehradun, floodwaters breached roads and destroyed several shopfronts.

Uttarakhand, a Himalayan state prone to extreme weather, faces heightened risks of flooding and landslides during the monsoon season. Experts warn that intense rainfall events, likely worsened by climate change, are making the region increasingly vulnerable to disasters.