19 Jul 2018 | 11:06 PM UTC
India: Heavy rains and flooding leave 16 dead in Kerala as of July 19 /update 3
Heavy rains and flooding leave at least 16 dead and some 10,000 displaced in Kerala state as of July 19; heavy rains forecast in northern, central, and eastern India in the coming days
Event
Recent heavy rains and flooding have left at least 16 people dead and some 10,000 others displaced in Kerala state as of Thursday, July 19. Among the districts most severely affected by the rains are Kottayam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, and Idukki.
Monsoon rains are forecast to bring heavy rainfall to parts of Rajasthan state, western Madhya Pradesh state, Vidharba region (Maharashtra state), southern Chhattisgarh state, and northern Telangana state in the coming hours. Periods of heavy rainfall (between 10-20 cm [4-8 in] in total, with locally higher amounts possible) may also lead to potential flooding and landslides in parts of northern, central, and eastern India in the coming days, including areas in West Bengal state, Jharkhand state, Odisha state, Chhattisgarh state, Bihar state, Uttar Pradesh state, Madhya Pradesh state, and the National Capital Region (Delhi). Transportation disruptions and power outages are possible in areas affected by heavy rain and flooding.
Context
As of July 17, monsoon rains have left over 500 people dead and have damaged 55,000 homes and thousands of hectares of agricultural land in India.
India's monsoon season generally runs from June through September. The current season is expected to bring normal levels of rainfall, with a 20 percent chance of above-average or below-average precipitation.
Advice
Individuals present in the abovementioned states are advised to monitor weather forecasts, refrain from traveling to flooded areas, and follow any instructions issued by local authorities. Remember that driving or walking through running water can be dangerous - 15 cm (6 in) of running water is enough to knock over an adult - and that floodwater may contain wastewater or chemical products; all items having come into contact with the water should be disinfected and all foodstuffs discarded. Be aware that the risk of contracting water- and mosquito-borne diseases tends to rise after periods of heavy rain.
