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More than 100 are dead as heavy monsoon rains batter India

Posted at 7:28 AM, Aug 11, 2019
and last updated 2019-08-11 07:28:45-04
By Sugam Pokharel and Ivana Kottasová, CNN

(CNN) — Heavy monsoon rains have killed at least 114 people in India this week, causing devastating landslides and floods in several parts of the country.In the southern state of Kerala, 57 people died, according to the state government.

More than 165,000 people have been forced out of their homes by the monsoons and have taken refuge in 1,318 relief camps across Kerala. Nearly 200 houses in the state were destroyed in rain-related incidents, according to officials.

In neighboring Karnataka state, 30 people died and 14 are missing due to floods, according to the local government. The state administration has evacuated more than 30,000 people to 924 relief camps.

In the western state of Maharashtra, 27 people died and more than 200,000 have been evacuated, a senior state official told CNN.

A total of 44 teams from National Disaster Response Force, Army, Coast Guard, Navy, and Air Force are taking part in rescue and relief operations.

Large swaths of South Asia were hit by heavy monsoon rains last month, leaving at least 227 people dead across India, Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The monsoon period stretches until September, making recovery difficult for those affected. Hundreds of homes have been damaged or completely destroyed in the first wave of the season, and families are racing to rebuild them before more rains come.