Authorities deployed helicopter to airlift Hindu pilgrims stranded in the hilly region of India's northern Uttarkashi district on Tuesday (June 18) after continuous rainfall wreaked havoc and resulted in the swelling of the arterial rivers.

According to media reports nearly 5,000 Hindu pilgrims, who had visited Gangotri (origin of river Ganga) in the Himalayas, are stranded at various places in the district.

The paramilitary, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), which is deployed in rescue and relief operations, has set up camps at various places to provide food, medicine and shelter to the distressed people.

Torrential rain eroded the soil along River Ganga in Uttarakhand state, plunging several houses into the swollen river and leaving at least 11 people dead and more than 50 missing.

The June to September monsoon is crucial for farm output and economic growth in India, where just over half of the land is rain-fed.

The farm sector makes up about 15 percent of the nearly $2-trillion economy that is Asia's third-biggest.

Rainfall is expected to be at 101 percent of the long-term average in July and 96 percent in August, two key months for the planting and maturing of crops.

Presented by Adam Justice