Monsoon rains batter S India, leaves dozens dead

Heavy rains in the southern part of the country have killed at least 61 people over the weekend.

The rains have caused many rivers to change course, flooding inhabited areas. Bridges have been washed away, cutting communication lines. Soil erosion and landslides triggered by the heavy rains have worsened matters.

Officials on Sunday said the rains have wrecked homes and destroyed farmland, over 150,000 hectares of mostly paddy crops across Andhra Pradesh alone.

"A failure of the rice crop in the state would certainly be a cause for concern, it is a large producer and a large consumer," said R.S. Seshadri, a director of rice lands in the area.

According to sources, more than 150,000 people have been shifted to relief camps and boats were used to rescue people trapped in the flood.

Authorities fear the situation could worsen as more rain had been forecast in the next 48 hours.

In Andhra Pradesh, over forty villagers riding on a truck were swept away by a flooded river.

The state government has opened 85 relief camps for thousands who have been forced to leave their homes, said the state's chief minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy.

Monsoon rains which start from June to September have already left over 250 people dead mostly in the country's east and north east.