The rescue workers are desperate to search for victims. Heavy rains, however, hinder the work. And the weather forecasts don’t look good.
New Delhi – After several houses collapsed in heavy monsoon rain and landslides in the Indian metropolis of Mumbai, at least 26 people died.
In the suburb of Chembur, at least 19 people were killed and nine others injured when six accommodations collapsed, police said on Sunday. In a similar incident in another suburb of the city, Vikhroli, local media reported at least seven dead and two injured. There had been torrential downpours in the region since Saturday evening.
Since more buried people were suspected in the rubble, the rescue workers initially continued their search. Persistent heavy rainfall and problems transporting heavy equipment to the affected areas hampered the work. TV recordings showed how helpers cleared away debris with their bare hands and recovered corpses. Residents were advised not to go outside.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the relatives of the victims and promised financial support for those affected. The heavy rains also caused flooding in several areas of the financial metropolis, and train traffic was temporarily interrupted. For the coming days, the regional weather service predicted more heavy rains.
The monsoon season in South Asia usually lasts from June to September. Although rain is vital for agriculture, it also repeatedly causes great damage. dpa
