Indian-origin people, 3 Nepalis killed in New York floods

NEW YORK: Four people of Indian origin and a Nepali family of three have died in New York from the flooding caused by Hurricane Ida that battered the US.

Phamatee Ramskriet, 43, and her son Krishah, 22, drowned when their basement flat flooded in New York City on September 1.

Mingma Sherpa, 48, and Ang Gelu Lama, 52, and their infant son Lobsang Lama, 2, also drowned when the waters from the record-setting downpour in the city inundated their basement flat.

President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit the New York City county where they died and the New Jersey areas affected by the floods on Tuesday.

In neighbouring New Jersey, Malathi Kanche, 46, drowned after she was swept away when her car stalled on a flooded road.

Also in New Jersey, Danush Reddy, 31, was sucked into a 36-inch sewer pipe by the floods.

Even though Hurrican Ida was most devasting in Louisiana state and its neighbours in the south where entire localities were totally destroyed, its deadliest human toll was in the New York region where at least 42 people were killed — 25 in New Jersey, 16 in New York City and one in Connecticut.

Of the total rainfall that day of 20.5 cm, more than 7.5 cm fell within an hour and New York Governor Kathy Hochul likened it to "Niagara Falls-level" of water falling on the city.

The city's infrastructure was overwhelmed by the intensity of the rain.

Leaders blamed the torrential rain on global warming.

"Global warming is upon us and it's going to get worse, and worse, and worse, unless we do something about it," Chuck Schumer, the leader of the Democratic Party in the Senate said.

"When you get all the changes we've seen in weather, that's not a coincidence," he added.

Biden has declared a state of emergency for the two states to enable them to get federal aid rapidly.

New York Post reported that as floodwaters crashed through the basement flat of the Ramskriets, their landlord Ragendra Shivprasad tried to warn them of the impending danger and asked them to get out.

"As I see the water raising I go back, I tell them, 'You guys gotta be careful, you guys gotta move'," Shivprasad told the Post but the waters had already engulfed the flat and Phamatee and Krishah drowned.

Phamatee's husband Dameshwar and another son Dylan survived. (IANS)

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