Floods, inundations and landslides batter western India
Environment — di Andrea Barolini
At least 127 people have died as a result of the torrential rains that have been pounding parts of India for days. The weather forecast remains bleak.
Floods, inundations and landslides batter western India
At least 127 people have died as a result of the torrential rains that have been pounding parts of India for days. The weather forecast remains bleak.
Numerous areas of India have been struck by torrential rains, which have caused severe flooding and landslides. The death toll is devastating and has not stopped rising for days: at least 127 deaths have been confirmed, according to data released by the authorities.
150,000 people evacuated, homes and hospitals hit
Since Thursday 22 July, the western coast of the Asian nation has been struck by exceptional rainfall. And according to Indian meteorologists, the situation is not expected to improve for at least several more days. For this reason among others, 150,000 people have already been evacuated from the area.
Rescue teams search sludge, debris as India floods' death toll mounts f24.my/7rcK.t
The city of Chiplun in particular has been badly affected — an urban centre of 46,000 inhabitants south of Mumbai, in the Ratnagiri district. Here water literally flooded streets and homes, reaching a level of almost six metres. According to reports in the international press, eight patients at a hospital, admitted because they were suffering from Covid-19, reportedly died due to a power outage that caused the lung ventilators to shut down.
Rescuers still searching for dozens of missing
A total of 114 deaths have been confirmed in the area, that is, in the state of Maharashtra. More than 40 people died as a result of a major landslide that struck the village of Taliye and swept over groups of residents who were trying to flee. The landslide demolished dozens of houses in a matter of minutes, sparing only two concrete structures.
Heavy rain in India triggers floods, landslides; at least 125 dead reut.rs/3kSoDjg
Rescue teams sent to the scene have been forced to dig through the mud in search of victims. Indeed, 99 people are still missing. Around ten more people also lost their lives after being swept away by two other landslides that occurred in nearby areas. In the state of Karnataka, at least nine deaths have been confirmed and four people are reported missing.
"The worst flooding in India since 1982"
Flooding is nothing new for India during the monsoon season. But the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events is increasing due to climate change. In this specific case, the Indian authorities have described the severe weather battering the nation as "the worst since 1982".