Archive for ‘India floods’

11/08/2019

India floods: At least 95 killed, hundreds of thousands evacuated

People wade through floodwaters to reach higher ground following heavy rains in Karnataka state on 8 AugustImage copyright AFP
Image caption India is affected by seasonal monsoon rains between June and September

At least 95 people have been killed by monsoon flooding in southern and western India, while hundreds of thousands have been evacuated from their homes, according to reports.

More than 40 of those killed were in the south-western state of Kerala.

The flooding and landslides caused by the heavy seasonal rainfall have left some areas cut off.

Officials have called on those affected to try to seek shelter on higher ground.

India is affected by monsoon rains between June and September. While crucial to replenishing water supplies, the heavy rainfall also results in death and destruction each year.

Disaster management officials said more than 100,000 people in Kerala had been evacuated into emergency relief camps, while more than 40 had been killed.

“There are around 80 places where flood and rains have triggered mudslides, which we cannot reach,” state police spokesman Pramod Kumar told AFP news agency.

With the rains predicted to continue there in the coming days, the military is attempting to airlift food to stranded villages.

Last year, more than 200 people were killed in Kerala in what was described as the state’s worst flooding in 100 years.

Media caption Aerial shots of flood-hit Indian states

The south-western state of Karnataka and western state of Maharashtra – which is home to India’s financial capital Mumbai – are also experiencing heavy rains, with dozens of fatalities reported and hundreds of thousands of people evacuated.

India’s National Disaster Management Authority issued warnings on Saturday for “heavy” to “extremely heavy” rainfall in several parts of the country, as well as strong winds.

Source: The BBC

28/07/2019

India floods: Over 1,000 train passengers rescued near Mumbai

Indian authorities have rescued 1,050 people from a train after it became trapped by flooding near Mumbai.

Helicopters, boats and diving teams were deployed by the Indian authorities after the Mahalaxmi Express was stranded on Friday night close to the town of Vangani.

Passengers told news agency IANS they were ordered to stay onboard but had had no food or water for 15 hours.

Weeks of monsoon flooding in south Asia has killed over 600 people.

Images released by the NDRF show passengers being rescued in rubber boats.

Members of the National Disaster Resoponse Force (NDRF) rescue stranded passengersImage copyright AFP
Image caption Nine pregnant women are reportedly among those who have been rescued

Train operator Central Railway said all passengers – including nine pregnant women – had been recovered and taken to safety.

A temporary camp has been set up nearby with food and medical supplies.

A spokesperson for the train operator also said alternative travel arrangements had been arranged for passengers affected.

Most areas in the nearby towns of Badlapur, Ulhasnagar, Vangani have been submerged as heavy rains battered the region this week, swelling local rivers.

Other transport has also been hit by flooding in Mumbai, with 11 flights cancelled and several others diverted by from the city’s airport.

 

Source: The BBC
21/07/2019

India floods: Tired tiger takes nap in resident’s bed

A tiger lying on a bed in Assam stateImage copyright WTI
Image caption The tiger was seen relaxing in a bed in Assam state

A female tiger which fled a wildlife park in India’s flood-ravaged state of Assam was found relaxing on a bed inside a local resident’s house.

She is believed to have fled the Kaziranga National Park, where 92 animals have died in recent days amid heavy flooding.

Officials from a wildlife conservation group arrived at the house and created a safe escape route for her.

She was guided in the direction of the jungle.

According to the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), the tigress was first spotted next to a highway on Thursday morning, some 200 metres away from the national park.

She was likely to have been disturbed by the busy road and ended up seeking refuge in the house, which is located near the highway, it said.

Tiger in residence's houseImage copyright WTI
Image caption The house owner fled as soon as he saw the tiger

Rathin Barman, who led the rescue operation, said the tigress entered the house – which is next to a shop – at 07:30 local time (02:00 GMT) and slept throughout the day.

“She was very exhausted and had a nice day-long nap,” he told the BBC.

The house owner, Motilal, who also owns the adjoining shop, fled the house along with his family members as soon as they saw the tiger walking in.

“The great thing was that nobody disturbed her so she could rest. There’s a lot of respect for wildlife in this region,” Mr Barman said.

“[Motilal] says he will preserve the bed sheet and pillow on which the tiger rested.”

WTI officials were later called to the scene and began preparing a safe escape route for her.

They blocked traffic on the highway for an hour and set off firecrackers to wake the animal up. She eventually left the house at 17:30 local time, crossed the highway and went in the direction of the forest.

Media caption Floods cause death and destruction in north India

Mr Barman said it was not clear if she had actually entered the forest or if she had just “walked off into an adjoining area”.

The Unesco-recognised Kaziranga National Park is home to 110 tigers, but none of them have died in the flooding.

Animals killed in the park include 54 hog deer, seven rhinos, six wild boars and one elephant.

Monsoon floods have devastated the eastern states of Bihar and Assam, killing more than 100 people and displacing millions.

The monsoon season, which lasts from June to September, has also wreaked havoc in Nepal and Bangladesh.

Source: The BBC

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