Flooding in Uttarakhand, India has caused the death toll to reach over 1,000. Thousands are stranded and awaiting rescue from the Himilayan monsoon. At least eight died in a helicopter crash; one report said 19 people were killed. The chopper, involved in rescue operations, crashed due to bad weather.

Heavy monsoons caused mass flooding and landslides in Uttarakhand, an area to the North of India. Rescues have been slow to come.

1,000 deaths have been confirmed by Sushilkumar Shinde, India's Minister for Home Affairs. He said that the number may rise; it is unstable until rescues are completed.

As many as 15,000 people may still be stranded. Uttarakhand is a remote, mountainous region. Many of those stranded are Hindus on pilgrimages to the temple town of Badrinath.

The monsoons are believed to be the heaviest in 80 years. Entire villages have been swept away.

The rain came earlier than usual this year, surprising and trapping many people. The pilgrims usually return home before the monsoons begin.

Bad weather continues to hamper rescue operations. More rain is expected over the next few days.

Rescue operations via helicopter were suspended on June 24 due to fog.

Officials say that the need to get to affected areas is increasingly urgent and time is running out.

"I just need two to three days of good weather and I can get everyone out," Air Commodore Rajesh Issar, who heads Operation Rahat (Relief), told press.

Officials say that many bodies are piled up around the temple in Kedarnath and several have begun decomposing.

Many of the bodies are unidentified; they are being photographed and DNA samples are being taken.