The downpour brought widespread destruction to the remote ski resort, about 22 kilometers (14 miles) from the main town of Manali in the Kullu district of the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh Thursday, a police spokesman said.

"The people who died were mostly migrant labourers from Nepal and were at the under-construction Rohtang tunnel when they were hit by the downpour which led to the flashflood," he said.

When completed, the Rohtang tunnel will connect Kullu to the Lahaul valley.

"At least 30 people are injured, 18 of whom are (in a) serious (condition) and who have been rushed to hospital," the police official said.

In July, at least 100 people were feared killed when a workers' camp constructed at a power project in the Kullu district was swamped by a flashflood.

The casualties were also workers, mostly migrant labourers from India's Bihar state and from Nepal.

TERRA.WIRE