Flood fury in S Asia, UN chief worried

New Delhi/United Nations, July 16

The flood fury continued in Bihar and Assam on Tuesday with the death toll in the region mounting to 55, even as a red alert was sounded in Kerala after the     weather office predicted extremely heavy rains in the state.

Concerned over the worserning flood situation in South Asia, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has offered UN assistance to India and other flood-affected countries in the region.

According to officials, unusual torrential rainfall in catchment areas in Nepal and subsequent massive discharge of water in rivers led to flash floods in Bihar where more than one lakh people have been moved to safer areas.  

The deluge has affected 33 districts of Assam and claimed 17 lives. More than 45 lakh people have been hit by the nature's fury, they said.  

Ninety per cent of the famed Kaziranga National Park in Golaghat and Nagaon districts of the state is still submerged, a statement from the Assam 

Ministry of Forest and Environment said. 

“The UN stands ready to work with the authorities in the affected countries as they respond to the humanitarian needs resulting from this ongoing monsoon season,” his deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said.

Guterres “is saddened by the loss of life, displacement of people and destruction of property due to the heavy monsoonal rains and associated flooding across South and South-East Asia, most notably in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar,” Haq said. — PTI

Nepal toll mounts to 78

• Floods and landslides caused by incessant rains across Nepal have claimed at least 78 lives, left 40 persons injured and displaced around 17,500 others
• The Himalayan state has been hit by heavy rainfall since Thursday. More than 25 districts have been affected. Thirty-two persons are still reported to be missing

28 die in PoK flashfloods

• Heavy rains and flashfloods have wreaked havoc in the Neelum Valley in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, killing at least 28 persons and sweeping away mosques and houses
• Over 150 houses in the Laswa area of the valley were damaged and dozens of people were swept away in floods that officials said were caused by a cloudburst. Two mosques were also completely destroyed
• The Pakistani military airlifted 52 stranded persons from a village and shifted them to camps and safer places

‘33 dead in bihar’ 

Unusual torrential rainfall in catchment areas of Nepal and subsequent massive discharge of water in rivers led to flashfloods in Bihar where 33 persons have died and over one lakh have been evacuated.— Nitish Kumar, Bihar Chief minister

‘NDRF teams on job’

As many as 19 NDRF teams have been deployed in flood-hit Bihar. The Centre is ready to provide all necessary help to the state. Amit Shah has instructed officials to be in touch with the authorities in flood-hit states to help them.— Nityanand Rai, Minister of state for home

‘Ready to respond’  

The United Nations stands ready to work  with the authorities in the respective flood affected countries across 

South Asia as they respond to the humanitarian needs resulting from this ongoing monsoon season.— Antonio Guterres, UN chief

‘Help in relief OPs’

Life has been badly affected. I appeal to Congress workers in all these states (Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Tripura and Mizoram) to help out in the relief and rescue work for the common people.— Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader