465 killed in India heavy rains, floods

A total of 465 persons have lost their lives and over 1.3 million people have been affected by floods and rains in five Indian states during the current monsoon so far.

According to the Home Ministry's National Emergency Response Centre (NERC), the death toll due to the floods and rains is highest in Maharashtra where 138 people have died, while the number is 125 in Kerala, 116 in West Bengal, 52 in Gujarat and 34 in Assam, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

Kerala was the first state where the southwest monsoon set in the end of May, followed by the other states. The journey of monsoon in India begins every year with Kerala on the coast of the Arabian Sea. 

In Assam, around 10.17 lakh people were affected by rains and floods, of whom 2.17 lakh were living in relief camps. Twelve teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been engaged in rescue and relief operations in Assam, the NERC said.

Meanwhile, around 1.61 lakh people were affected by the rains and floods in West Bengal and 1.43 lakh in Kerala. In Gujarat, a total of 15,912 people were evacuated to safer locations.