At least 22 people have been killed in landslides and flash floods triggered by days of intense monsoon rains in northeast India.
Five people, including three from one family, died on Saturday when their homes were buried by a landslide in the city of Guwahati, Assam state, according to an official flood report.
In the neighboring state of Arunachal Pradesh, which borders China, seven people were killed on Friday when their car was washed away by flood waters. Two others drowned in a separate incident in the same state.
Eight people have died in the states of Mizoram, Tripura and Meghalaya in the last 24 hours due to floods and landslides triggered by rains, official sources said.
Meanwhile, Assam authorities have cut off power in several areas to reduce the risk of electric shock, state Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
Heavy rains also led to flooding in several urban areas of Assam's capital, Guwahati, causing extended power outages on Friday evening and forcing authorities to close schools and colleges on Saturday.
The Indian Meteorological Agency expects more heavy rains in the region in the coming days.
India's annual monsoon season from June to September provides relief from the intense summer heat. However, the rains, vital for crops planted during this period, often cause significant damage, especially in the northeastern regions, which are considered among the most vulnerable to climate change.
Scientists say monsoons are becoming increasingly unpredictable due to extreme weather conditions and global warming, leading to frequent landslides and flash floods in India's northern Himalayas.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
