Death toll from torrential rains in India grows to 26

The death toll in southern India since last Saturday evening due to landslides and flooding caused by powerful monsoon rains has reached 26 people, Report informs citing TASS.

According to the NDTV channel, citing data from local authorities, most of the deaths were recorded in the southwestern Indian state of Kerala - 23 people, and three more in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.

In Kerala, rescuers found the bodies of 14 dead in the Kottayam district and nine in the Idukki district over the past day. Landslides were the main cause of death. At the request of the Kerala government, the National Disaster Response Force deployed 11 teams. Military helicopters, units of the ground forces, and the Navy are also involved in the rescue work.