Rain-related deaths

HEAVY monsoon rains and landslides have killed almost 50 people in Nepal and India in recent days, authorities said last Sunday (18).

In western Nepal, at least 22 people died after landslides buried more than 100 houses last Friday (16), police official Narayan Dangi said.

Eleven people were injured, including three airlifted to hospital by army helicopter.

A major relief operation was underway with the police and army clearing debris and distributing food,

tents and clothes.

In the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, heavy rains have killed 26 people since last Friday (16), officials said.

The fatalities included nine labourers who were sleeping and buried alive when a wall under construction in the state capital Lucknow collapsed on their huts, according to a government statement.

The rainfall is hard to forecast and varies considerably, but scientists believe that climate change is making the monsoon stronger and more erratic.