NEW DELHI, Aug 1, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Heavy monsoon downpours in India's Himalayan foothills triggered flash floods that killed two people, officials said Thursday, with the hunt on for around 28 others still missing. Fatal floods and landslides are common across India during the annual monsoon but experts say climate change is increasing their frequency, intensity and unpredictability. In neighbouring Shimla district, a popular tourist destination in India's rugged north, local official Abhishek Verma said rescue crews were searching for around 20 more people believed missing. Landslides and flash floods killed more than 70 people in the state last year, also washing away arterial roads that left thousands stranded. At least 176 people were killed in the southern state of Kerala this week when landslides hit villages and tea plantations, with search and rescue operations ongoing.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha August 01, 2024 07:44 UTC