140,000 flee floods as Indian monsoon strikes

Heavy monsoon downpours lashed eastern India today, submerging vast areas in the eastern state of Orissa and forcing around 140,000 people to flee their homes and move to higher ground.

The rain-swollen Baitarani River and its tributaries overflowed their banks after two days of uninterrupted rain earlier this week, said state revenue minister Manmohan Samal.