Skip to main content

The context you need, when you need it

When news breaks, you need to understand what actually matters — and what to do about it. At Vox, our mission to help you make sense of the world has never been more vital. But we can’t do it on our own.

We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. Will you support our work and become a Vox Member today?

Join now

Photos: Devastating monsoon rains affect 41 million people in South Asia

Two weeks of flooding have devastated communities across India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.

Mumbai floods August 29, 2017
Mumbai floods August 29, 2017
Mumbai floods August 29, 2017
Imtiyaz Shaikh /Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

While all eyes have been on the devastation from Hurricane Harvey in Texas, catastrophic floods have also been wreaking havoc more than 8,000 miles away in South Asia. Unusually heavy monsoon rains over the last several weeks have killed over 1,000 people across India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. In all, over 41 million people have suffered the direct impact of the rain.

Already deeply impoverished rural communities have been devastated as landslides and rising waters have taken away homes — as well as people. In Nepal, villagers traveled on makeshift rafts to escape rising waters, and elephants were used to help rescue trapped tourists and residents.

The most recent city hit is Mumbai, India’s financial center, parts of which are under several feet of water. On Tuesday, traffic in parts of the city came to a near total halt, schools were closed, and the city’s largest hospital was partially flooded.

These images from the scenes of the flooding give you a sense of the scale of the catastrophe across the region.

Indians wade along a flooded street during heavy rain in Mumbai, India on August 29, 2017.
Indians wade along a flooded street during heavy rain in Mumbai, India on August 29, 2017.
Imtiyaz Shaikh /Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Indians wade through a flooded street during heavy rain showers in Mumbai on August 29, 2017.
Indians wade through a flooded street during heavy rain showers in Mumbai on August 29, 2017.
PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP/Getty Images
Nepali residents swim with a rubber ring in a flooded area in the Birgunj Parsa district, some 200km south of Kathmandu, on August 13, 2017.
Nepali residents swim with a rubber ring in a flooded area in the Birgunj Parsa district, some 200km south of Kathmandu, on August 13, 2017.
MANISH PAUDEL/AFP/Getty Images
Nepali residents move their buffalos across a flooded area at Birgunj Parsa district, some 200km south of Kathmandu, on August 13, 2017.
Nepali residents move their buffalos across a flooded area at Birgunj Parsa district, some 200km south of Kathmandu, on August 13, 2017.
AFP/Getty Images
Bystanders look on as floodwaters rage near a house in Kurigram, northern Bangladesh on August 14, 2017.
Bystanders look on as floodwaters rage near a house in Kurigram, northern Bangladesh on August 14, 2017.
STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images
Flood-affected villagers on makeshift banana rafts come to collect flood relief near the river Brahmaputra in Pokoria village, east of Gauhati, northeastern Assam state, India.
Flood-affected villagers on makeshift banana rafts come to collect flood relief near the river Brahmaputra in Pokoria village, east of Gauhati, northeastern Assam state, India.
AP Photo/Anupam Nath
Nepali men cross floodwaters in Tilathi Village in Saptari District, some 450km southeast of the capital Kathmandu, on August 15, 2017.
Nepali men cross floodwaters in Tilathi Village in Saptari District, some 450km southeast of the capital Kathmandu, on August 15, 2017.
PRAKASH MATHEMA/AFP/Getty Images
Children in Mumbai’s flooded streets August 29, 2017
Children in Mumbai’s flooded streets August 29, 2017
AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade
Flood-affected villagers on makeshift banana rafts come to collect flood relief near the river Brahmaputra in Pokoria village, east of Gauhati, northeastern Assam state, India.
Flood-affected villagers on makeshift banana rafts come to collect flood relief near the river Brahmaputra in Pokoria village, east of Gauhati, northeastern Assam state, India.
AP Photo/Anupam Nath
Politics
Trump’s China policy is nearly the exact opposite of what everyone expectedTrump’s China policy is nearly the exact opposite of what everyone expected
Politics

As Trump heads to China, attention and resources are being shifted from Asia to yet another war in the Middle East.

By Joshua Keating
Politics
Are far-right politics just the new normal?Are far-right politics just the new normal?
Politics

Liberals are preparing for a longer war with right-wing populists than they once expected.

By Zack Beauchamp
Podcasts
Did Trump actually help Venezuela?Did Trump actually help Venezuela?
Podcast
Podcasts

Post-Maduro, some Venezuelans are feeling cautiously optimistic.

By Ariana Aspuru and Sean Rameswaram
Politics
5 ways the Iran standoff could end5 ways the Iran standoff could end
Politics

Is the US on the verge of a deal with Iran or a return to war?

By Joshua Keating
Politics
Ukraine’s fight against Russia is going better than you might thinkUkraine’s fight against Russia is going better than you might think
Politics

The war in Iran looked like a gift for Russia. It hasn’t worked out that way.

By Joshua Keating
The Logoff
Why Trump says the US-Iran war is overWhy Trump says the US-Iran war is over
The Logoff

Trump’s plan to evade an Iran deadline, briefly explained.

By Cameron Peters