In a message sent to the victims of the recent monsoon floods that have afflicted the regions of India in Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat, Holy Father Pope Francis has expressed his heartfelt condolences to the relatives of the deceased and injured. He prayed for the relief efforts underway, and upon the nation he willingly invoked the divine blessings of strength and perseverance.
“Deeply saddened to learn of the tragic loss of life in the monsoons of recent days in Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat, and mindful of all those who have lost homes and livelihood,” the Holy Father expressed. The message was shared on behalf of the Holy Father Francis by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.
Meanwhile, water receded in many low-lying areas of flood-hit Kerala, and the state has began to return to normalcy, even as toll in the second spell of the southwest monsoon rose to 104 with 36 missing.
The situation in southern state of Karnataka remains equally grim, where as many as 54 people have died so far, even as around 15 have gone missing. On Tuesday, Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel were rushed to airlift around 365 stranded tourists, including 100 foreigners, from a guest house near the Virupapura Gadde (island) temple at the Hampi heritage site.
In southwestern state of Maharashtra, the death toll due to floods has reached to 36. The worst affected districts of Sangali and Kolhapur are now said to be gradually limping back to normalcy.