Deadly Flash Flood Warning for India: Family Swept Away by Raging Floodwaters Amid Heavy Rain

Extreme flood alert is underway for many parts of India, including in the capital Delhi where thousands of people have been displaced.

On Tuesday, July 2, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a nationwide flash flood warning amid widespread heavy rain which came after several weeks of intense heat over South Asia. The extreme weather event also impacted Bangladesh in late June 2024, resulting in widespread disruption.

Since last week, the deadly flooding in India has so far killed multiple people as of Monday, July 1, according to local reports. A video also went viral showing that an Indian family, who were on a picnic after a wedding, was swept away by raging floodwaters.

The South Asian nation is currently in its summer or pre-monsoon season, which spans from April to June and extends to July in the northwestern part of India.

Indian Flash Flood Warning

The IMD at 7:55 p.m. IST (local time) on Tuesday issued the nationwide flash flooding warning, indicating that there are moderate to high threats flooding near bodies of water and low-lying areas. Below are some of the regions or states affected by the recent flood warning:

• Assam
• Delhi
• Meghalaya
• Uttar Pradesh
• Karnataka
• Kerala
• Gujarat
• Saurashtra
• Kutch
• Konkan
• Goa

The extreme flood alert was issued after the Indian Government weather agency recorded significant rainfall since Monday. Furthermore, the IMD also warned that surface runoff or inundation may happen in the mentioned high-risk areas since rainfall is still expected in the next 24 hours, based on the latest India weather forecast on Tuesday evening.

Family Swept by Floodwaters

In a video report uploaded on YouTube on Tuesday, a short clip shows that an Indian family was stranded in the middle of raging floodwaters. A few seconds later, two members were initially swept away by the moving current. Out of all the 7 family members, at least five people have been reported dead or missing. Among the fatalities, four young children were included in the catastrophe.

Local sources said the area where the family was having a picnic was overwhelmed by flash flooding. The group eventually attempted to flee but was caught in a swollen waterfall near Mumbai following significant rainfall and flooding.

Extreme Heat in South Asia

In May 2024, the World Weather Attribution reported that extreme heat ravaged South Asia during its pre-monsoon season. Meanwhile, deadly heatwaves also struck multiple countries across Southeast Asia, the Philippines, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, during the region's summer season between March and May.

In India, the 2023 heat wave killed more than 150 people with many cities across the country, including New Delhi, incurred record-breaking temperatures. Recently, evidence shows that climate change is causing the unprecedented heatwaves in Southeast Asia and South Asia, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported.