In Sri Lanka, 20 people have died in recent days, most from drowning, while five were hurt in landslides, officials said on Wednesday.
In Tamil Nadu, at least 14 people died after heavy rains caused severe flooding over the weekend, the state’s disaster management department said Thursday. Officials previously said five people had died in the floods.
More than 1,300 dwellings have been damaged across the state, the department said. The state’s capital, Chennai, and its surrounding areas have been experiencing power outages, it added. More than 100,000 acres of crops have also been damaged in the region, the department said.
More heavy rain is expected in Tamil Nadu and the southern coast of neighboring Andhra Pradesh state, as a depression over the Bay of Bengal moves toward the region, according to India’s Meteorological Department.
The department issued a red alert to parts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, asking fishermen not to venture to sea.
Tamil Nadu state officials evacuated hundreds of people from low-lying areas and distributed rations and food to those already affected by the rains.
The state’s Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said on Twitter he had requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to release funds from the National Disaster Relief Fund, adding that previously-allocated money was exhausted.