Severe weather in South Asia: the death toll rises to more than 60

In India and Bangladesh, the death toll has risen to more than 60 after severe storms. Thousands of towns were flooded and millions of people had to leave their homes.

After heavy rain and thunderstorms in India and Bangladesh, the death toll has risen to more than 60. In the northeastern Indian state of Assam, six people were killed in floods and three others in landslides, according to the civil protection authorities. Large areas of the state remain under water. 5,140 villages were flooded, and more than 100,000 residents sought refuge in emergency shelters.

So far, 71 people have died in Assam since the start of the monsoon season earlier this month, after 44 people died in April due to heavy rains. Lightning strikes killed 17 people in the latest storm in the eastern Indian state of Bihar, and at least 16 were killed by landslides and floods in the state of Meghalaya.

Severe food and drinking water crisis as a result

In neighboring Bangladesh, the monsoon rains also killed dozens and forced millions to flee. In the district of Sylhet in the north-east of the country, according to the authorities, the flooding has receded, but people are suffering from the consequences, such as a severe food and drinking water crisis. In addition, the outflowing high water caused flooding. According to the news portal “Dhaka Tribune”, large parts of the city of Chittagong in southern Bangladesh are “knee-deep” under water.

India and Bangladesh are hit by monsoon rains annually. According to experts, climate change is making the frequency and intensity of violent storms more difficult to predict. According to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, around 17 percent of Bangladesh’s 160 million people will need to be relocated over the next decade if global warming continues at the current rate.