More than 50 persons are feared missing as flash floods in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand swept away several buildings on Tuesday, The Indian Express quoted a deputy inspector general of the National Disaster Response Force as saying.

Among those missing are nine soldiers from an armed forces camp in the lower Harsil area.

Nearly 130 persons have been rescued so far, ANI quoted unidentified state government officials as saying. The district magistrate had confirmed four deaths earlier on Tuesday.

Amid a warning for heavy rain and thunderstorms in the state, all schools and Anganwadi centres in Champawat, Pauri, Udham Singh Nagar, Almora, Pithoragarh, Chamoli and Rudraprayag districts have been ordered to stay closed on Wednesday.

While the state government has attributed the flash floods to a cloudburst, data from the India Meteorological Department showed that the Uttarkashi region received only moderate rainfall of 8 mm between 8.30 am and 4.30 pm on Tuesday, reported The Indian Express.

“The data from the area does not fulfil the criteria for a cloudburst, that is 100 mm [of rain] or more per hour,” Rohit Thapliyal, a scientist at the weather agency, told the newspaper. “Only a probe will reveal the reason for the floods.”

Late on Tuesday, Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami said that efforts are underway to restore all services, including electricity and water lines, in the region.

“Every person’s life is precious to us, and relief operations are being conducted swiftly at ground zero,” Dhami added. “In this hour of calamity, the entire nation stands with the victims.”

The Indian Army, the National Disaster Response Force, the State Disaster Response Force and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police are carrying out the rescue operations in Uttarkashi.

The teams are using drones, thermal imaging cameras, victim detection devices and power tools to clear debris and search for those missing.

The Uttarakhand District Emergency Operation Centre has issued emergency helpline numbers: 01374-222722, 7310913129 and 7500737269.