Jun 28, 2016

Annual monsoon rains have progressed to parts of western and central India, easing fears of millions of desperate farmers after two straight years of drought, the weather department said. Farmers rely on the monsoon rains, which hit the Kerala coast every year and then sweep across the country, to water their crops and replenish dams and reservoirs. The arrival of the monsoon is always keenly watched in India, but even more so this year as much of the country reels from the drought. However, dozens of people have been struck by lightning and killed during the rains, disaster management officials said.
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Dec 6, 2015

Chennai, India’s monsoon floods

Quinn Kelley 0 Comment The Baltimore Sun, Weather, World Chennai, flood, India, monsoon, Tamil Nadu

18 Photos

The heaviest rainfall in more than 100 years has devastated swathes of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, with thousands forced to leave their submerged homes and schools.

: Volunteers rescue flood affected people on a country boat from a residential area in Chennai, India, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015. The heaviest rainfall in more than 100 years has devastated swathes of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, with thousands forced to leave their submerged homes and schools, offices and a regional airport shut for a second day Thursday.( AP Photo)

: People carry children on their shoulders and wade through flood waters in Chennai, India, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015. The heaviest rainfall in more than 100 years has devastated swathes of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, with thousands forced to leave their submerged homes and schools, offices and a regional airport shut for a second day Thursday.( AP Photo)

: Indian army soldiers rescue a man from flood waters in Chennai, India, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015. The heaviest rainfall in more than 100 years has devastated swathes of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, with thousands forced to leave their submerged homes and schools, offices and a regional airport shut for a second day Thursday. (R Senthil Kumar / Press Trust of India via AP)

: Flood-affected people receive food packets being distributed by navy personnel in Chennai, in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Friday, Dec. 4, 2015. The relentless rains that lashed the state for three days eased Friday, but the misery of tens of thousands of people was far from over, with large parts of the main city still underwater along with the region’s biggest airport. (AP Photo/Arun Sankar K)

: Flood-affected people stretch out their hands to receive packets of biscuits being distributed in Chennai, in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Friday, Dec. 4, 2015. The relentless rains that lashed the state for three days eased Friday, but the misery of tens of thousands of people was far from over, with large parts of the main city still underwater along with the region’s biggest airport. (AP Photo/Arun Sankar K)

: Flood-affected people stretch out their hands to receive packets of biscuits being distributed in Chennai, in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Friday, Dec. 4, 2015. The relentless rains that lashed the state for three days eased Friday, but the misery of tens of thousands of people was far from over, with large parts of the main city still underwater along with the region’s biggest airport. (AP Photo/Arun Sankar K)

: In this photo provided by the Press Trust of India, a woman who lost a relative in the floods cries as she speaks on the phone at a hospital in Chennai, India, Friday, Dec. 4, 2015. The relentless rains that lashed the state for three days eased Friday, but the misery of tens of thousands of people was far from over, with large parts of the main city still underwater along with the region’s biggest airport. (R. Senthil Kumar/Press Trust of India via AP)

: A flood-affected man waves to a coastguard chopper in Chennai, India, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015. Although floodwaters have begun to recede, vast swaths of Chennai and neighboring districts were still under 2 1/2 to 3 meters (8 to 10 feet) of water, with tens of thousands of people in state-run relief camps. (AP Photo/Arun Sankar K)

: Coastguard sailors load a truck with relief material to be distributed to the flood-affected in Chennai, India, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015. Although floodwaters have begun to recede, vast swaths of Chennai and neighboring districts were still under 2 1/2 to 3 meters (8 to 10 feet) of water, with tens of thousands of people in state-run relief camps. (AP Photo/Arun Sankar K)

: A residential area is seen surrounded by floodwaters in Chennai, India, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015. Although floodwaters have begun to recede, vast swaths of Chennai and neighboring districts were still under 2 1/2 to 3 meters (8 to 10 feet) of water, with tens of thousands of people in state-run relief camps. (AP Photo/Arun Sankar K)

: A coastguard sailor surveys an area inundated by floodwaters in Chennai, India, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015. Although floodwaters have begun to recede, vast swaths of Chennai and neighboring districts were still under 2 1/2 to 3 meters (8 to 10 feet) of water, with tens of thousands of people in state-run relief camps. (AP Photo/Arun Sankar K)

: An Indian army soldier distributes relief material to flood affected people in Chennai, India, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015. Although floodwaters have begun to recede, vast swaths of Chennai and neighboring districts were still under 2 1/2 to 3 meters (8 to 10 feet) of water, with tens of thousands of people in state-run relief camps. (R. Senthil Kumar/Press Trust of India via AP)

: Volunteers sort relief material to be distributed to flood victims at the Jawarhalal Nehru Indoor stadium in Chennai, India, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015. Indian authorities were investigating possible negligence after 18 hospital patients died when rainwaters from massive floods in southern Tamil Nadu state knocked out generators and switched off ventilators.The worst flooding in a century in Tamil Nadu has left scores of people dead since November. (AP Photo/Arun Sankar K)

: A family of flood victims huddle together at a temporary shelter at a railway station in Chennai, India, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015. Indian authorities were investigating possible negligence after 18 hospital patients died when rainwaters from massive floods in southern Tamil Nadu state knocked out generators and switched off ventilators.The worst flooding in a century in Tamil Nadu has left scores of people dead since November. (AP Photo/Arun Sankar K)

: Residents try to salvage reusable material from their flood damaged houses on the banks of the Adyar River in Chennai, India, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015. Indian authorities were investigating possible negligence after 18 hospital patients died when rainwaters from massive floods in southern Tamil Nadu state knocked out generators and switched off ventilators.The worst flooding in a century in Tamil Nadu has left scores of people dead since November. (AP Photo/Arun Sankar K)

: A resident sits near washed clothes left to dry after they were recovered from their flood damaged houses on the banks of the Adyar River in Chennai, India, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015. Indian authorities were investigating possible negligence after 18 hospital patients died when rainwaters from massive floods in southern Tamil Nadu state knocked out generators and switched off ventilators.The worst flooding in a century in Tamil Nadu has left scores of people dead since November. (AP Photo/Arun Sankar K)

: Residents try to salvage reusable material from their flood damaged houses on the banks of the Adyar River in Chennai, India, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015. Indian authorities were investigating possible negligence after 18 hospital patients died when rainwaters from massive floods in southern Tamil Nadu state knocked out generators and switched off ventilators.The worst flooding in a century in Tamil Nadu has left scores of people dead since November. (AP Photo/Arun Sankar K)

: An Indian woman kisses a child as passengers who were stranded in Chennai due to the floods were rescued in an Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft and brought to the Begumpet Air Force Station, in Hyderabad, India, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015. The heaviest rainfall in more than 100 years has devastated swathes of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, with thousands forced to leave their submerged homes and schools, offices and a regional airport shut for a second day Thursday. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

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Chennai, India’s monsoon floods

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