Twelve people died and four others were injured as dozens of houses caved in following a cloudburst in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district on Friday.

A large number of people are feared trapped in the debris and rescue operations have been launched, Disaster Management and Mitigation department officials here said citing initial reports.

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, they said

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

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

Rishikesh-Badrinath and Rishikesh-Gangotri highways have been closed due to landslips triggered by incessant rains.