New Delhi, Jul 25 (EFE).- Three people have died from electrocution in the past 24 hours due to monsoon rains in western India, with the severe weather also leading to the closure of metro stations and the suspension of some flights, officials said on Thursday.
The fatalities occurred in Pune, a city in the western state of Maharashtra, said Nishikant Raut, spokesperson for the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL).
Another 260 people have been rescued, Raut added.
In the last 24 hours, Maharashtra has experienced at least 64 rain-related incidents, including wall and tree collapses and short circuits in vulnerable areas.
The regional fire department said it has deployed at least 300 firefighters to manage these incidents.
The Indian army has also been called in to assist with relief operations due to the severity of the storm.
Television broadcasts on Thursday morning showed traffic congestion on major roads in Mumbai, the regional capital, and flooding in metro stations, leading to their closure.
Poor visibility caused by the downpour has significantly disrupted operations at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, affecting many flights.
“Heavy rains in Mumbai are affecting flight operations and resulting in cancellation and diversion of some of our flights,” state-run carrier Air India said on X, formerly Twitter.
India’s Central Railway department announced that trains were operating at reduced speeds due to low visibility in the affected region.
“Due to heavy rains and increased water levels in various rivers, (some) trains are canceled. engers are requested to kindly note and plan their travel accordingly,” Central Railway spokesperson Swapnil Nila said on X.
The monsoon season in India and other South Asian countries lasts from May to September, causing significant human and material losses in vulnerable regions.
Since the end of May, more than 50 people have died in rain-related incidents in the northeastern state of Assam. EFE
rlc-bks/ks
