Western India, Pakistan face more flooding rain after death toll rises to 95

By Eric Leister, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

Flooding and mudslides from torrential monsoon rain has killed at least 95 people in western India, and more heavy rain is expected through the weekend.

As a deep depression, the system moved westward from the northern Bay of Bengal into eastern India and made landfall just north of Balasore around 2:00 p.m. IST Wednesday. The system has since weakened to a tropical rainstorm, or a monsoonal low.

The heaviest rain associated with this storm will continue to track from Gujarat in western India through southern Pakistan this weekend. Total rainfall in any given location will average 100-200 mm (4-8 inches) with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 300 mm (12 inches) through Sunday.

Downpours can lead to flash flooding and travel disruptions, including Karachi. Thunderstorms can also produce frequent lightning.

The risk to lives and property from flooding will not be confined to areas near this storm. Flooding problems can be exacerbated along India's west coast as monsoon downpours persist this weekend.

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The death toll from recent flooding and mudslides rose to 95 in Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra on Saturday, according to Reuters.

Around 42 of those deaths occurred in Kerala, where more than 100,000 people have been evacuated after 80 landslides were reported in just two days.

Flooding forced officials to close the Cochin International Airport in Kerala on Friday morning. As water levels recede, flight operations are expected to resume at midday Sunday.

Indian men push a small van through a flooded road after heavy rainfall in Ahmadabad, India, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019. India's monsoon rain runs from June through September. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

The airport recorded 300 mm (12 inches) of rain in four days, ending on Saturday morning.

Two dozen people were killed in Karnataka. Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa told Reuters that the flooding was the worst the state had endured in 45 years.

The Indian Navy needed to use helicopters and boats to reach those trapped in their homes in Karnataka late this week.

Largely dry weather will prevail for another week across India's southeast, worsening drought and water supply issues.

Little relief is expected in Chennai where trains and a convoy of nearly 10,000 tanker trucks are used to provide roughly 500 million liters (132 million gallons) of drinking water to the city each day, according to the Associated Press.

Saturday brought the welcome sight of rainfall, but much more rain is needed to reduce the drought.

There can continue to be spotty showers and thunderstorms each afternoon through Tuesday around Chennai, fueled by temperatures soaring between 35-38 C (95-100 F) daily.

Widespread beneficial rainfall is unlikely for Chennai and surrounding areas until at least October.