It was the heaviest rainfall in the past 40 years. There are many fatalities in the Indian state of Maharashtra.
New Delhi – The death toll in landslides and other incidents following heavy monsoon rains in India has risen to at least 192.
Another 25 people are still missing and 99 have been injured, authorities in the affected state of Maharashtra said. According to information from local media, it is the heaviest rain the state has ever seen in July in the past 40 years.
Some experts warned that extreme events like floods, cyclones and droughts increase with climate change. India had seen several such events in the past few months.
According to the authorities, 375,000 people have been brought to safety from the currently flooded areas. Tens of thousands are without electricity and drinking water. TV images showed people waiting on rooftops while their surroundings were completely flooded. The heavy rain has also destroyed bridges and buildings, damaged telecommunications masts, and flooded roads and tracks.
The monsoon season in South Asia usually lasts from June to September. There is often too much rain, heavy flooding and landslides. The damage is often great, and there are always deaths – but the rain is also important for agriculture, on which a large part of the population lives. dpa
