200 killed as monsoon hits India

Guardian Unlimited: "Monsoon-related incidents have killed 633 people during the past two months, India's home minister, Shivraj Patil, told parliament. Mr Patil said around 5.6 million people in 16,000 villages had been hit by the heavy seasonal rains, which washed away tens of thousands of homes as well as roads, railway tracks and bridges. More than 76,000 farm animals died and over 700,000 acres of crops were destroyed by the swirling flood waters, he added."