India monsoon floods, landslides kill more than 100 since July, say officials

Official data reveals that floods and landslides triggered by monsoon rains have claimed over 100 lives in India since July, with thousands more displaced from their homes. Experts attribute the increasing severity of these events to climate change, which has made the monsoon phenomenon more erratic and deadly in South Asia. The state of Assam, particularly the Sivasagar district, has borne the brunt of the annual rains, with at least 87 fatalities reported, as areas remain submerged.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has appealed for public donations to aid relief and rehabilitation efforts, emphasizing the irreparable loss of human life amidst the destruction. Similar devastation was witnessed in Kerala, where at least 15 people have perished and seven are missing following prolonged heavy rainfall. Over 300 relief camps have been established, accommodating more than 10,000 individuals who have sought shelter as swollen rivers and landslides have breached their banks.

In Jammu and Kashmir's Himalayan region, the death toll stands at 31, as reported by the state broadcaster. Monsoon-related disasters are a recurring challenge in India, particularly during the country's long summer months, which often witness water scarcity and drought conditions.