People enjoy the rain near the coast in Mumbai on July 8, 2024. A severe monsoon storm hit India on July 8, flooding parts of the financial capital Mumbai, while at least 10 people were killed by lightning strikes in the eastern state of Bihar, according to government officials. (Photo by Punit Paranjape/AFP)
July 8, 2024
NEW DELHI, India (AFP) — Powerful monsoon storms battered India on Monday, flooding parts of the financial capital Mumbai and killing at least 10 people by lightning strikes in the eastern state of Bihar, officials said.
The Mumbai Municipal Council reported that the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had warned of “heavy to very heavy rainfall” and ordered the closure of schools and colleges on Monday as a precautionary measure.
Heavy rains over several hours flooded many roads in the coastal city and halted some bus and train services.
Ten people were killed in separate lightning strikes in Bihar on Sunday, state Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said in a statement, urging residents to “stay indoors during the severe weather”.
Monsoon rains, which fall across South Asia between June and September, are essential for moderating the summer heat and replenishing water resources, but they also cause widespread death and destruction.
But the number of deadly floods and landslides has increased in recent years, and experts say climate change is making the problem worse.
Floods have also affected the northeastern state of Assam, with eight people killed in the last 24 hours, the Assam Disaster Management Authority said on Sunday.
This brings the death toll from heavy rains since mid-May to 66.
Authorities issued heavy rain warnings in the northern state of Uttarakhand.
Severe storms also frequently produce lightning strikes.
Around 3,000 people were killed by lightning across India in 2022, according to the National Crime Records Bureau.
{“jamaica-observer”:”Jamaica Observer”}
