Death toll from landslides, flooding climbs to 24 in Brazil
Franco da Rocha (Brazil), Feb 1: The death toll from landslides and flooding set off by heavy rains in Brazil's Sao Paulo state reached 24 on Monday as firefighters continued pulling bodies from the mud.
Brazil's most populous state was blasted with rain over the weekend, and hundreds of thousands of people were forced from their homes. The death toll had stood at 19 late Sunday, according to a statement from the civil defense authority.
(I'm looking for) my nephew, his wife and a 2-year-old child, Cicero Pereira, 54, told The Associated Press beside a disaster site in the city of Franco da Rocha. They said the bodies are still there under the mud, but until now they couldn't recover them.
Nelito Santos Bonfim, a 69-year-old resident, told AP he barely escaped with his life.
When I started running, the debris fell all over me, Bonfim said. I got hurt, but found a hole and, thanks to God, I managed to escape. But my father is still there.
A total 27 cities were affected, of which Franco da Rocha suffered the greatest loss of life. Gov. Jo o Doria used a helicopter to survey damaged areas Sunday and announced the equivalent of 2.8 million in financial aid to affected cities.
Alessandro Lima de Freitas, a coordinator for firefighters working to retrieve bodies, updated his list of missing people in Franco da Rocha. He told reporters that the concentration of rain was much heavier than locals are used to.
Southeastern Brazil has been punished with heavy rains since the start of the year, with 19 deaths recorded in Minas Gerais state earlier this month.
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Belagavi SP denies rumours of RSS attack on Colonel Sofia Qureshi's husband’s house
Belagavi: A social media post claiming that members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) attacked the residence of Colonel Sofia Qureshi’s husband in Konnur village, Gokak taluk, has been termed false by Belagavi Superintendent of Police Bhimashankar Guled.
The post, shared from an X (formerly Twitter) account named Anees Uddin, quickly went viral online. However, SP Guled clarified that the claim about an RSS-led attack on the residence of Colonel Qureshi's father-in-law is entirely baseless.
SP Guled urged the public not to fall for such misinformation being spread on social media. He added that adequate police protection has been provided to the house in Konnur following the viral rumours.
Gokak Circle Police Inspector Suresh R.B. visited the spot and conducted an inspection to ensure peace in the area.
