Torrential monsoon rains and flash floods have claimed at least 100 lives across the Indian states of Kerala and Assam, with authorities intensifying rescue and relief operations as severe weather continues to disrupt daily life.
According to The Hindu, the death toll in Kerala has risen to 15, while 85 people have died in rain- and flood-related incidents in Assam during the current monsoon season.
Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan said seven people remain missing, adding that rescue and humanitarian operations have been strengthened across the state despite persistent rainfall.
Although the intensity of the rain has eased slightly, precipitation continues in several districts. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has upgraded rainfall alerts to orange in 10 districts, warning of heavy to very heavy showers.
Heavy rainfall that began on Sunday night continued into Monday morning, particularly in the port city of Kochi.
Following a high-level review of the flood situation, the chief minister told reporters that 316 relief camps were operating across Kerala as of 9:00 a.m. Monday, providing shelter to 11,018 people displaced by floods and landslides.
Authorities have ordered the closure of most schools across the state, while the government has also postponed a state-level teacher recruitment examination due to the adverse weather.
The IMD upgraded Kerala’s weather warning from yellow to orange on Monday for all districts except Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Thrissur and Palakkad. The state’s disaster management authority warned that moderate rainfall accompanied by strong winds could continue in several areas.
Meanwhile, flood conditions in Assam have shown signs of gradual improvement, although the humanitarian situation remains serious.
The Hindu reported that approximately 135,000 people remain displaced across five flood-affected districts, down from an earlier estimate of around 200,000, indicating that floodwaters have begun to recede in some areas.
However, authorities confirmed that three more people died in Sivasagar district on Sunday, pushing Assam’s monsoon-related death toll to 85, according to an official government bulletin.
Emergency responders continue to monitor river levels and assist affected communities as seasonal rains are expected to persist across parts of India in the coming days.
Source: The Hindu