Floods, landslides wreck life in South Asian nations

Rescuers hunt for survivors as India toll reaches 125; Goa’s floods were its worst in decades, says CM; China cancels flights, moves ships as typhoon approaches; man survives 3 days in flooded garage.

MUMBAI

Rescue teams in India struggled through thick sludge and debris on Saturday to reach dozens of submerged homes as the death toll from landslides and accidents caused by torrential monsoon rain rose to 125.

Indian authorities said more than 135,000 people were evacuated and dozens still missing.

Torrential downpours have lashed India’s western coast in recent days, leaving dozens missing near the financial capital Mumbai and causing the worst floods in decades in the resort state of Goa.

“People have lost virtually everything,” said Goa’s Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, pointing out that the state had not seen such heavy rain in half a century.

He said more than 1,000 houses had suffered serious damage in the area as rising waters flooded homes.

Goa’s floods were its worst in decades, according to its Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who said the monsoons had caused “widespread damage” but no casualties, unlike in neighbouring Maharashtra state, where 76 people died.