Dehradun: At least 20 people were killed and four others were injured as dozens of houses caved in following a cloudburst in Rudraprayag and Bageshwar district in Uttarakhand today.

While 12 people were killed in Rudraprayag district, eight more deaths were reported in Kapkot near Almorah in Bageshwar district.

Several people are feared trapped under the debris and rescue operations have been launched, Disaster Management and Mitigation department officials said citing initial reports.

According to officials, incessant rains since yesterday followed by a cloudburst in the wee hours today have left a trail of destruction in Timada, Sansari, Giriya, Chunni and Mangali villages in the district. River Saryu and Kaliganga are flowing above danger mark following rains since last night. Rishikesh-Badrinath and Rishikesh-Gangotri highways have been closed due to landslips triggered by incessant rains.

Communication and power lines are disrupted and traffic along several roads including national highways in the area is affected, officials said.

The local administration has sought the assistance of the Army and the ITBP in view of the large-scale destruction caused by the cloudburst in Rudraprayag district.