Monsoon Death Toll in Northern Region Hits 240

21/07/2005| IslamWeb

At least 10 people were killed when their homes collapsed and another eight were missing after being swept away by floodwaters in northern India, bringing the death toll from annual monsoon rains to at least 240, government officials said yesterday.

Authorities accused neighbouring Nepal of relieving pressure on overburdened dams there by opening sluice gates that sent water gushing downstream into India's Uttar Pradesh State, partially submerging dozens of villages in Gorakhpur district, 260 kilometres east of Lucknow, the state capital.

"The Nepalese authorities released water without warning in the Sharda and Gandak rivers. Floodwaters have entered at least 200 villages, affecting more than 18,000 people," Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Minister Munna Singh Chauhan said.

There was no immediate comment by the Nepalese government.

Eight people were swept to their deaths by the flood waters on Tuesday night in the district, Chauhan said. State authorities asked the army to help in relief and rescue operations.

Also on Tuesday night, two adjacent homes collapsed when a tree fell on them during heavy rains in Barabanki, a town in northern Uttar Pradesh state, killing 10 people sleeping inside, said Surya Kant Mishra, a state government official.

"Five injured have been hospitalised," Mishra said.

Barabanki is 30 kilometres southeast of Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh state.

State authorities have asked the Federal Government to take up the matter with the Nepal. Under a water sharing agreement, Nepal must inform the Uttar Pradesh State Government about the release of any excess water.

Monsoon storms have claimed 131 in western Gujarat State, 55 in Uttar Pradesh, 23 in central Madhya Pradesh state, 15 in northeastern Assam State, eight in southern Andhra Pradesh state, seven in western Maharashtra state and three in the northern state of Jammu-Kashmir.

PHOTO CAPTION

Indian village children use poles to paddle a raft across floodwaters near the village of Ghagpara, some 70kms north-west of Guwahati. (AFP)