Record rains devastate India
2005-07-28 08:07
Mumbai - At least 245 people have died in landslides and building collapses in western India following the heaviest rains ever recorded in the country, a government minister and police said on Thursday.
At least 88 of the deaths took place in the Maharashtra state capital Mumbai, India's financial centre, Maharashtra deputy chief minister R R Patil said.
Meanwhile the Maharashtra state police control room said 157 people had died in wall collapses, landslides and drownings in other parts of the state, which has been lashed by monsoon rains since Monday.
"Another 200 people are feared dead across the state," said an official in the control room, asking to remain anonymous.
The torrential rains had eased on Thursday but skies remained overcast and more rain was forecast.
"Moderate rains are expected in the city on Thursday while heavy rains are expected in the suburbs of Mumbai," a weather official said.
The city's weather bureau said that Mumbai received 944.2mm of rainfall in a 24-hour period ending mid-morning on Wednesday, the most rainfall ever recorded in a single day in India and beating a record which has stood since July 1910.
Aerial pictures of Mumbai telecast by the Hindi news channel Aaj Tak showed large parts of the city marooned in debris-laden water.
Long queues of cars, trucks and other vehicles were seen stranded on main arteries and highways linking different parts of the city.
Schools in Maharashtra which closed on Wednesday remained shut while banks and stock markets were also closed on Thursday.
Authorities were air dropping food and water to stranded residents of Mumbai and Raighad district, about 170km south of the city, Aaj Tak reported.
- AFP