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Death toll in southern India floods climbs to 62 over five days
Mumbai, Aug 6, 2006 The nationwide death toll since the start of the rainy season in May is now 432. In Andhra Pradesh state the water level in the Godavari River rose 10 feet (three metres) above the danger mark, prompting authorities to move over 93,000 people to safer places, the chief minister of the state Y.S. Rajshekhar Reddy said. Another 10,274 families were evacuated in East Godavari district, Reddy said. More than a dozen helicopters, and naval and civilian boats were pressed into service to rescue people. Torrential rain has been lashing neighbouring Maharashtra from late Saturday with the worst hit districts Nanded, Ingoli, Parbhani, Vashi and Yeotmal in the north and central parts of the state, an official said. "There are at least 18,000 people being rescued from the worst affected regions," said Bhupathi Pandey, Maharashtra's relief and rehabilitation secretary. Army, navy and air force personnel were helping in the rescue, he said. Heavy monsoon rains, which sweep India from late May to September, also caused flooding in much of the state capital Mumbai, bringing rail and road traffic to a halt in the country's financial centre. Low lying northern and central suburbs of the city were submerged, Pandey added. The weather office predicted more rain in Maharashtra over the next 12 hours. A air force spokesman said in New Delhi that helicopters rescued 11 people trapped in a bus that was sinking in swelling rain water in Maharashtra's Buldhana district. The 11 passengers had perched on top of the bus, the Press Trust of India news agency reported. "So far, 101 sorties have been undertaken and 75 tonnes of relief materials, including food, water and medicines have been airdropped in rain-devastated areas," said Squadron Leader Mahesh Upasani. Army reinforcements equipped with boats, bulldozers and engineering equipment have been rushed to the affected states, he added. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters When the Earth Quakes A world of storm and tempest
Indonesian Volcano Decreases Activity But Red Alert Remains
Jakarta (AFP) Aug 03, 2006Volcanic activity at Indonesia's simmering Mount Karangetang is decreasing but oozing lava still poses a threat for thousands of villagers living around its slopes, officials said Thursday. The volcano, on North Sulawesi's Siau island some 2,300 kilometres (1,400 miles) northeast of Jakarta, was put on its top alert last month, meaning an imminent eruption is feared. |
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