More than 180 people have died and nearly 10 million have been affected by the massive flood situation in India across West Bengal, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Manipur and Odisha.
In West Bengal alone, 70 people have died so far due to floods. Lightning strikes, electrocution and drowning have been common direct causes of death. Rains have not stopped ever since Cyclone Komen made landfall in Bangladesh almost a week ago although the threat later merged into deep depression.
Rescue operations in the state includes setting up of 2,213 relief camps for five million people. Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee stayed back in office the whole Sunday night to assess the situation.
Elsewhere in the west, in Gujarat alone 71 people have died across 14 districts and around 4 million people have been affected in all. The special forces and army are helping by airdropping or distributing food packets to flood victims. More than 1 million such packets have been distributed so far.
In the state of Rajasthan, 38 have died during the past few days due to heavy rainfall and floods. Most districts are bearing the brunt of heavy rain.
In the districts of Jalore, Jhalawar, Baran, Sirohi, Barmer and Dungarpur, the situation is especially bad. Around 630 people have been rescued so far.
In Manipur, thousands have been rendered homeless as a result of floods. 23 people have died including 20 from a landslide in Chandel district.
The national highway linking state capital Imphal and the border town of Moreh has been cut off by landslides.
Elsewhere in Odisha, the flood situation has reportedly eased. “Water from all villages which were marooned due to recent floods has been cleared, as reported by the district collectors,” said Special Relief Commissioner GVV Sarma.
A total of 1574 people have been rescued by relief teams here.
