More than 100 people killed in landslides and floods in western India
More than 100 people have died and dozens are missing after landslides, floods, house collapses and other accidents caused by monsoon rains in western India, officials said Sunday.
The deaths were recorded in Raigad, Satara, Balgar and Ratnagiri districts of Maharashtra state, in addition to Mumbai, the state capital.
Raigad saw the most deaths, as a massive mudslide devastated an entire village, Tilai, on Friday. "We have found 49 bodies so far, nine of them are today," Raigad disaster management official, Sagar Pathak, said by phone.
About 35 people are still missing, Pathak said, and the chances of finding any survivors are slim. "Everything is covered with several feet of mud, (the sky) is still raining, and search and rescue operations are still going on," he said.
Maharashtra's Minister of Relief and Rehabilitation, Vijay Wadetiwar, announced that 138 people have died across the state, and 59 are missing.
Heavy rain since Thursday has damaged bridges, buildings and roads in the area.
Officials said several villages were stranded. Rescue teams moved to this area by boat and helicopter.
The Met Office predicted more rain in the next 24 hours.
Landslides and floods are common during India's rainy season, which runs from June to October.
