AlHijjah 22, 1434, Oct 27, 2013, SPA -- Heavy rains and floods have claimed 48 lives in the eastern Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal over the past week, dpa quoted news reports as saying Sunday. Three people died in West Bengal, in the north-east of the country, where areas around state capital Kolkata have seen incessant rain for two days, state-run Doordarshan television reported. At least 16 people were killed in flood-related incidents in the state of Orissa, around half-way down the east coast, and 29 more in Andhra Pradesh, just to the south, the report said. The meteorological department predicted heavy rains for the next two days. Hundreds of villages were submerged and road and rail links disrupted in 30 districts. Over 72,000 people had been evacuated from low-lying areas of Andhra Pradesh and were being housed in relief camps, officials were quoted as saying. In Orissa more than 147,000 people were evacuated. Most of the people who died were victims of drowning or house collapses, officials said.
