Kathmandu [Nepal], August 5 – Heavy rain continued to batter several Indian states leaving dozens dead, displacing thousands and disrupting transport as flooding, lightning and landslides affected large parts of the country.
In the eastern state of Jharkhand lightning strikes killed 14 people and injured eight on Tuesday. Giridih district reported the highest toll with nine deaths followed by Dumka with three and Latehar with two, according to Indian media reports.
In Uttar Pradesh’s Mirzapur district, three people died in separate rain-related incidents. Two children drowned in a water-filled pit while a 25-year-old man was killed after being struck by lightning.
Southern Kerala has also been severely affected by continuous rainfall since Aug 1. The death toll has reached 25 while four people remain missing. Flooding and incessant rain have forced thousands of residents to leave their homes with more than 18,000 people currently staying in government relief camps, according to the Kerala government. Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Alappuzha are among the worst-hit districts.
Meanwhile, heavy rain and landslides have blocked more than 300 roads across the northern Himalayan states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Around 160 roads remain closed in Himachal Pradesh while more than 100 are shut in Uttarakhand. Authorities also ordered schools up to Grade 12 in Dehradun and Bageshwar districts to remain closed on Wednesday as a precaution.
