Indian military deployed as monsoon strands 150,000
Troops were deployed today in western India, including the country’s main financial centre Mumbai, after sudden monsoon rains snapped communication lines, shut down airports and forced thousands of people to walk home during the night.
As the crisis raged, there was no word on some 130 people feared trapped in mudslides in two villages in western Maharashtra state.
At least 62 people died in Maharashtra and southern Kerala state in weather-related tragedies yesterday.
The state-run All India Radio reported about 150,000 people were stranded in railway stations across Mumbai and the capital of Maharashtra.
Early today, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, the state’s top elected official, called the army, navy and home guards to help with the relief effort.
“Inflatable rafts will be used to reach stranded people. Please try to stay where you are and don’t leave your homes,” he said.
Tens of thousands of people were stranded for hours on roads in Mumbai, and its airport – one of the busiest in the country – was shut yesterday evening. All incoming flights were diverted to New Delhi and other airports.
