HYDERABAD, Aug 8: Rescuers are racing to get food and clean water to more than 750,000 people left homeless in four flooded Indian states, officials said Tuesday, as the death toll linked to lashing monsoon rains in the past week rose to 187.
In southern Andhra Pradesh state more than 100 people have died in the past week and 472,000 have been hit by the floods, senior administration official Priyadarshini said.
More than 600 villages in three districts were under water and 296 relief camps had been set up to house those displaced by the flooding, she said in the state capital Hyderabad.
Some 283 boats, including a naval craft, had been deployed to rescue marooned people while seven helicopters were dropping food, drinking water, milk sachets and medicines to those trapped.
The rains were easing and water levels starting to drop, Priyadarshini added.
In neighbouring Gujarat state, the authorities have relocated 190,000 people from Surat, famous for its diamond polishing industry, an official from the state flood control room said.
“Indian army, air force and paramilitary personnel have been asked to assist the relief efforts, distributing food, clean water and moving people from submerged areas,” said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Five people had been washed away by floodwaters in the state, the Press Trust of India news agency said.
Thousands of people in Surat were forced to move out of their houses after water was released from the swollen Ukai dam upstream on the Tapti river which flows through the town.
“The water level in the dam is just one foot below the danger mark at 344 feet (105 metres) and we have to do something soon to relieve the situation,” the official said.
About 300 soldiers equipped with 10 boats and life jackets were rescuing people trapped on rooftops of submerged houses in waterlogged areas, he said.
“We also have four air force helicopters (to drop) food packets and clean water sachets to the people,” he added.—AFP
HYDERABAD, Aug 8: Rescuers are racing to get food and clean water to more than 750,000 people left homeless in four flooded Indian states, officials said Tuesday, as the death toll linked to lashing monsoon rains in the past week rose to 187.
