Nearly 1,900 dead in India rains, floods this year

Nearly 1,900 people were killed and 46 others reported missing in rains and floods across India this year, Home Ministry officials said today.

They said the rains and floods affected more than 25 lakh people in 22 states of India.

The highest number of 382 people's deaths in Maharashtra followed by 227 in West Bengal in rains, floods and landslides that hit as many as 357 districts in the country.

A total of 1,874 people died, our New Delhi correspondent reports quoting the officials.

Though monsoon continues to be active in a few parts of India now, the season officially ended on September 30. During the four-month period, India recorded the highest rainfall since 1994, according to the India Meteorological Department.

In Maharashtra, where 22 districts were hit by floods, 382 people died, 369 were injured and 7.19 lakh people were forced to seek shelter in 305 relief camps.

The monsoon rains and floods hit 22 districts in West Bengal, where 227 people lost their lives, 37 received injuries, four were reported missing.

In Bihar, currently reeling under floods, 161 people have lost their lives and a total of 182 people were killed, 38 were injured and seven have gone missing in Madhya Pradesh. In Kerala, heavy rains and floods claimed 181 lives and injured 72.

Twenty-two districts in Gujarat were hit by monsoon resulting in the loss of life of at least 169 people and in Karnataka, 106 people perished in rains and floods in 13 districts.

The rains and floods claimed 97 lives in Assam where 32 districts were hit by the deluge.