North India has experienced heavy rainfall, triggering devastating floods and landslides in the states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
These remote states are full of forests, hill ranges and snow-covered peaks. They are home to several pilgrimage sites and tourist attraction.
The natural disaster, described by some as a "Himalayan tsunami", was triggered by excessively heavy rainfall of more than 340mm (13 in) in a region home to the headwaters of the river Ganges.
With heavy rains pouring down consecutively for two days since 16 June, the downpour caused flash floods and land-slides in various places like Srinagar, Joshimath, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Govindghat, Kedarnath and Uttarkashi and wiped out houses, building, temples and roads.
Communication and transportation have come to a standstill.
Pilgrimage centres in the region, including Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath are visited by thousands of devotees, especially from May onwards. About 73,000 people were stuck in various regions because of damaged or blocked roads.
The official death toll passed 150, and 14,000 still missing. But unofficial estimates put the number of dead in thousands.
Just three miles further north across the Kedar Dome mountain peak lies the Charbari glacier. The rains appear to have breached this glacier, sending a huge torrent of ice, rock, mud and water across the mountain, engulfing Kedarnath town.
Heavy rain and swollen rivers also caused havoc over a swath of mountainous territory extending from Kedarnath down to the plains, washing away homes, hotels, roads and bridges. The impact was also felt in the western Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh, where many foreign tourists were also stranded.
Caritas India has staff present in the area. It is working with the local partner Karuna Social Service Society, based in Bijnore. Caritas India is getting in touch with the counterparts in Uttarkashi, Joshimath and Rudraprayag.
A 6 member team is currently at the ground trying to obtain information. The local parish priest at Joshimath is visiting the relief camps. Many villages have been devastated or washed away.
Caritas India is looking to support families with basic clothing, food, non-food essentials and sanitary niceties as an immediate step. The relief aid will begin Saturday.
For further information please contact Patrick Nicholson by e-mail or call +39 06 6987 9725.