On Saturday, it was revealed by the southern Indian state authorities of Andhra Pradesh that at least 17 people have died, and dozens more have gone missing as a result of days of severe rainfall. Since Thursday, the state has been pounded by torrential rains, causing major flooding in at least five districts.
Late Friday night, the death toll increased to 17 after three individuals were dead when a structure fell, according to authorities. Ten persons who were trapped under the mud were recovered, but two remain missing.
At least a dozen people were killed earlier on Friday when the bus they were riding was washed away by high rains. On Saturday, search and rescue activities for missing passengers were pursued.
Over the last two days, officials have reported a number of deaths from various areas, with officials warning that the figure could increase as rescue operations continue. Many people have been rescued and shifted to shelter homes by the National Disaster Relief Force, which has been deployed to the hardest-hit and most vulnerable locations.
In one of the worst-affected districts, Kadapa, officials were forced to close the local airport until Thursday due to continuous rainfall and flooding. Officials said dam and tank breaks had caused more floods, stranding hundreds of communities and trapping many families in their houses.
Rainfall in southern India at this time of year is not unusual, but the country has had a particularly protracted monsoon this year, with scientists warning that climate change has worsened the situation by making downpours more violent and frequent.
Floods also hit neighbouring Tamil Nadu states last week, while severe rains created landslides in southern Kerala state last month, killing at least 28 people.
Source: CBC News
