Heavy monsoon rains hit southern India by Rob McElwee
More than 40 people have died in southern India as a result of 48 hours of intense heavy rain. The worst hit province is Andra Pradesh, where the rain is continuing to intensify. The rains have been made heavier by the south west monsoon which began in June and runs until the end of September.
A monsoon is a seasonal prevailing wind, lasting for several months. In this case it is a moisture rich wind which travels over the Indian Ocean to the subcontinent. The winds are then drawn to the Himalayas which act as a barrier, forcing the air to rise. This causes the temperature of the air to drop and precipitation to occur.
There has been some relief for east and west Godavari, the worst affected areas, where it has now stopped raining. Forecasters at the Indian Meteorological Office forecast further heavy rain and thundery showers for the south over the next two days. It has been a dry start to the monsoon for parts of Vidarbha in central India, but heavy rain is also expected here in the coming days.
