67 dead as India's monsoon sweeps westward

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HYDERABAD, India, June 24 (AFP): Rain pummeled western India Sunday after easing in southern states where almost 70 people have died in three days of heavy downfalls and flash floods from a monsoon season in full swing.
The southern state of Andhra Pradesh was the worst hit so far with 32 dead from rainfall which tapered off Sunday, down from a previous official toll of 41 as nine missing people thought to have perished were found.
Incessant downpours since Thursday night dumped almost 200 millimetres (eight inches) on low-lying areas in three districts of the coastal state, causing rivers and streams to flood.
But with the rain easing slightly officials there are hoping more than 100,000 people evacuated from low-lying areas to 95 relief camps can return home from Monday as water levels recede.
"By tomorrow the situation should be absolutely normal," state disaster management commissioner Preeti Sudan told the news agency Sunday.
"We are trying (to ensure) that (evacuees) return by tomorrow evening or by the day after tomorrow."
State officials said the flooding had disrupted road, rail and air traffic, and caused power and telecom failures.
In neighbouring western Maharashtra state, 15 people died in house collapses from powerful storms and lightning strikes, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported, with the heavy rain continuing into Sunday.