Dozens die in floods

AT least 23 people have been killed and more than half a million people affected as floods driven by torrential monsoon rains ravaged India’s northeastern states.

As many as 12 deaths were reported in drownings, landslides and electrocutions in the first wave of floods in Assam since last Wednesday, state disaster management official Suman Ahmed said.

Five of these deaths were reported over the weekend, he added.

Authorities were rescuing villagers from low-lying and inundated areas.