(Morning News) Indian officials said on Tuesday (3rd) that at least 16 people were killed and 250,000 were displaced by heavy rains in eastern India.
In West Bengal, 11 people have been killed a few days ago as floods washed away houses and caused landslides. During the Indian monsoon season from June to September, floods and landslides are common and cause extensive damage. Experts say that climate change has exacerbated the annual rainfall.
West Bengal State Disaster Management Minister Ahmed Khan said that in the past two days, two river banks in six regions of West Bengal were washed away and floods affected at least 500,000 people. Officials said five of the 16 victims were washed away in the flood, and the rest died when their mud hut collapsed.
Ahmed Khan added that dozens of people were rescued by military helicopters from the roof of a flooded building, including a 100-year-old woman and a nine-month-old baby. After the water from a nearby dam leaked, it caused a sudden flood, and the panicked residents had to flee to higher ground. Ahmed Khan said: “We are worried that dozens of people are still trapped. Indian Air Force helicopters and disaster management personnel are working hard to rescue them.”
Senior national official Deribedi said that the authorities have set up more than 40 relief centers for displaced people in flood-affected areas.
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