More than 230 dead, over a million affected by heavy rains in India
New Delhi, Jul 4 (EFE).- At least 230 people have died and over a million have been affected by heavy monsoon rains that have hit India in recent weeks, causing severe flooding and landslides in northeastern regions.
The worst-hit state is northeastern Assam, where heavy rainfall and flooding have claimed 160 lives over the last three weeks, including one in the last 24 hours, according to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority.
The rains continue to affect over 1.3 million people, including just over 150,000 who are staying in relief camps, according to the ASDMA latest data.
At least 16,000 houses have been either damaged or completely destroyed due to the rainfall since mid-June, according to the report.
Nearly 50 people were killed in northeastern Manipur, where they caused a massive landslide last week that affected a military camp.
Rescue efforts continued on Monday, with 47 bodies recovered, while another 14 people are still missing, the Itanagar National Disaster Response Force posted on Twitter.
In the neighboring Meghalaya, the authorities reported 20 deaths from floods and landslides in recent weeks, including a member of the rescue teams and several children.
The Indian Meteorological Department lowered the rain warning level from yellow to green for most states in northeastern India from Wednesday.
However it warned of heavy rainfall for the west and northwest that could trigger more flooding and landslides.
Landslides and floods are common in India, especially during the monsoon season between June and September, when heavy rains lash the region. EFE
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