HEAVY MONSOON DOWNPOURS ACROSS INDIA KILLED AT LEAST 38 PEOPLE AND FORCED THOUSANDS INTO MAKESHIFT RELIEF CAMPS THIS WEEK AS THE SEASONAL RAINS STRUCK DAYS EARLIER THAN EXPECTED, OFFICIALS SAID FRIDAY. RAINS DAMAGED HOMES AND DESTROYED FARMLAND IN THE SOUTHERN STATE OF KERALA WHERE 21 PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN FLOODING AND COLLAPSED BUILDINGS SINCE THE DELUGE BEGAN MAY 25, 10 OF THEM SINCE WEDNESDAY, SAID P.K. RAJENDRAN, THE STATE REVENUE MINISTER. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WERE LIVING IN RELIEF CAMPS AFTER FLOODING WRECKED THEIR HOMES. THE ANNUAL RAINS, WHICH HAVE BEEN MOVING UP THE COAST SINCE HITTING KERALA, ARRIVED TUESDAY IN THE WESTERN STATE OF MAHARASHTRA, 10 DAYS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE, KILLING AT LEAST 16 PEOPLE THERE OVER THE PAST FOUR DAYS. INTERMITTENT SHOWERS ON FRIDAY CONTINUED TO LASH BOMBAY AND OTHER PARTS OF MAHARASHTRA STATE, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTED.
