Historic Floods In India - What Actions Modi Government Is Taking?

The floods fit the larger picture of climate change predicted by Indian scientists as well as global reports, Laxman Singh Rathore, the chief of the India Meteorological Department, told the Hindustan Times last month.

Chennai received more than a foot of rain during a 24-hour period this week, which is more than the city typically sees in the entire month of December, Home MinisterRajnath Singh told the AP.

"I can't even believe that this much water is possible in Chennai," a resident told NDTV television as she stood in waist-deep water.

At least 269 people have been killed in the state since heavy rains began in early November, Singh told the AP, although no deaths have been reported in the latest deluge.

While November and December are typically wet across Tamil Nadu, this year was exceptional, AccuWeather reported. Rainfall has been relentless across southern India since early November, resulting in multiple floods from Chennai to Kochi.

In November, Chennai reported more 40 inches of rain, more than three times the normal rainfall that is expected for the entire month, according to AccuWeather.

Daily downpours will continue to target southern India into early next week, threatening to worsen the already severe flooding situation around Chennai, according to AccuWeather meteorologist Eric Leister.

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