18 Killed, 9 Feared Dead as Rain Wreaks Havoc Across States

(Clockwise from top) People wade through a waterlogged road in Assam; Rescue work underway after a vehicle carrying tourists plunged into the Teesta river in Sikkim; premises of a house inundated with floodwater after heavy rainfall in Karnataka. PTI

- HT Correspondents

GUWAHATI/KOLKATA/BENGALURU/KOCHI: At least 18 people were killed on Friday and nine others were feared dead as monsoon fury swept the eastern and southern parts of India, with India Meteorological Department predicting intensity of rains remaining the same on Saturday.

Experts attributed the heavy rainfall in north eastern states, particularly in Sikkim, western coast of Karnataka and Kerala since Wednesday to early onset of monsoon coupled with cyclonic activity in Bay of Bengal.

Northeast In Meghalaya, two people were killed, and one death each was reported from Nagaland and Mizoram in landslides and flash floods triggered due to heavy rainfall. Disruption of power supply was also reported from several areas across the region.

According to an official release from Meghalaya's revenue and disaster management department, two deaths were reported on Friday — one due to a landslide and another due to drowning, both in East Khasi Hills — and three people were injured. Over 1,000 people across 25 villages have been affected in the last two days, with damages reported to roads, power lines, homes, and schools.

In Assam, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the situation was "critical". Many areas in Guwahati were water-logged, leading to power cuts, landslides, and chaos at the airport. Most educational institutions remained shut on Friday.

Sunit Das, scientist at IMD's office in Guwahati, said the heavy rainfall is due to a depression over Bangladesh.