NEW DELHI – Intense monsoon rains have caused severe flooding in India’s southern states, resulting in the deaths of at least 25 people and forcing thousands into relief camps, disaster officials reported on September 2. In the past two days, Telangana state has been the hardest hit, with 16 fatalities, while nine more people have lost their lives in the neighboring state of Andhra Pradesh. The extreme weather has also caused significant damage to homes and infrastructure.
“Lots of houses have been damaged as well,” stated Mr. Y. Nagi Reddy, director general of Telangana’s disaster response and fire service, noting that the region had experienced 400mm of rainfall within just 24 hours. As a result of the devastating floods, approximately 3,800 people in Telangana have been rescued and relocated to relief camps for safety.
The Indian Air Force has been actively involved in the rescue operations, deploying over 200 rescue officers and delivering 30 tonnes of emergency aid to the affected areas in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. While monsoon rains are a regular occurrence in India, causing widespread destruction annually, experts warn that climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of such extreme weather events.
This latest disaster follows a deadly spell of weather across other parts of India. Last week, at least 28 people were killed over three days in the western state of Gujarat. In August, the northeastern state of Tripura experienced floods and landslides, which claimed the lives of more than 20 people.
The impact of these monsoon rains extends beyond India’s borders, with neighboring Bangladesh, which lies downstream, also suffering from severe flooding. Over the same period, floods in Bangladesh have killed at least 40 people and forced nearly 300,000 residents to seek refuge in emergency shelters.
The ongoing floods highlight the increasing challenges posed by climate change in South Asia, as the region continues to experience more frequent and severe weather events.