In the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir, 145 people are dead and another 500 are missing after flash floods hit the state earlier this month. Thousands of stranded villagers had to be rescued from floodwaters.
Further south, incessant rains have pushed the Godavari River over its banks and into homes and churches in Andhra Pradesh, India. The floods left 11 villages underwater, 10 people dead and hundreds of others missing. Among those affected are at least 1,000 Christians, including several Gospel for Asia-supported missionaries and their congregations.
The annual monsoon rains caused the floods, which have been plaguing the state on India's eastern coast since early August. The state has received about 23 percent more rainfall this year than is normal during monsoon season, which runs from June through October.
This is the second round of catastrophic flooding to hit Andhra Pradesh in less than 12 months. In October 2009, floodwaters destroyed thousands of homes there and devastated the neighboring state of Karnataka.
Gospel for Asia Compassion Services teams in Jammu & Kashmir and Andhra Pradesh are now in the affected areas distributing aid. Teams have been working for several weeks in Pakistan, where UNICEF reports that 6 million children are homeless and 70 percent of the country's crops have been destroyed.
One of the immediate needs in all the flooded areas is clean drinking water, which is being provided by the Compassion Services teams. Gospel for Asia have called for continual prayer for the flood victims.
"Pray specifically for safety and health of those in the areas where contaminated water brings the threat of disease. Also pray for the residents and aid workers faced with the task of helping the people rebuild their homes and lives for the long term."
On the web: www.gospelforasia.org.au
With eight international offices, Gospel for Asia is an evangelical mission organization based in Carrollton, Texas, involved in sharing the love of Jesus across South Asia.