New Delhi: Over 180 people feared dead and 10 million have been affected after heavy rains caused floods and landslides in West Bengal, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Manipur and Odisha.
Exacerbated by Cyclone Komen, which struck the east coast on Friday, the rainfall has made major rivers overflow, inundating villages in parts of West Bengal, Odisha and Manipur. The rains also caused a landslide in Manipur.
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West Bengal
“In the last four years, there has been no flood like this year. So far, we have witnessed man-made floods and we have restricted them quite successfully. But the situation at present is rendered beyond control,” West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said.
Banerjee said the release of water from over-full dams in the neighbouring states of Jharkhand and Odisha had worsened the flooding in West Bengal, where at least 70 people have died so far. A total of 2,213 relief camps have been set up for about five million people and 234 boats deployed for rescue and relief operations in West Bengal.
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Manipur
In Manipur, 23 people died and thousands rendered homeless by the floods have taken shelter in safe places and relief camps. Twenty people were swept away by a landslide in Chandel district.
Several villages in Manipur were inundated on Tuesday by fresh downpours and the national highway linking state capital Imphal and the border town of Moreh was cut off by landslides. Thoubal, Chandel, Bishnupur and Imphal West districts were under flood water as the situation in the region remained unchanged, sources in the state irrigation and flood control department said.
Officials said teams from the National Disaster Management Response Force and the army had been sent on search and rescue operations but roads and bridges had been washed away, making it difficult to reach stranded survivors.
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Odisha
The floods in northern Odisha eased as waters receded from villages. Floods have claimed five lives so far in the last week and affected nearly five lakh people.
More than 1,500 people have been evacuated to safer places by rescue and relief teams. Seven relief camps have been set up and 132 boats pressed into service for rescue operations. A total of 1,574 people were evacuated by rescue and relief teams. Seven relief camps were set up and 132 boats pressed into service for rescue operations.
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Gujarat
Around 40 lakh people have been affected in Gujarat. More than 10 lakh food packets have been airdropped or distributed and the government is assessing the damage in Banaskantha, Sabarkantha and Kutch districts. Extensive damage to cattle and crops has been reported in north Gujarat.
India has monsoon rains from June to September, which are vital for agriculture. But the rains often cause damage affecting millions of people, devastating crops, destroying homes and sparking outbreaks of diseases such as diarrhoea.
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Rajasthan
In Rajasthan, no rains have been reported in the last six days but 38 have died owing to the flood in many parts of the state. Many have died due to swimming in swollen rivers and lakes.
More than 630 people have been rescued from various districts in Rajasthan. Relief materials have been distributed to the affected population. Authorities are assessing the damage in Jalore, Sirohi, Barmer and Pali district.
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–Myanmar calls for help–
Myanmar on Tuesday said it had appealed for international assistance to help provide food, temporary shelter and clothing for more than 210,000 people affected by widespread flooding following weeks of heavy monsoon rains.
At least 47 people have died in the floods, according to the government.
“We are cooperating and inviting international assistance. We have started contacting possible donor organizations and countries,” Ye Htut, Minister of Information and spokesman for the President’s Office, said.
He said international assistance was also needed to relocate people and rebuild communities after the flood waters retreat. With a per capita GDP of $1,105, Myanmar is one of the poorest countries in East Asia and the Pacific.
The Chinese Embassy in Yangon began providing relief supplies to stricken areas this week.