40 killed in rain-related incidents in eastern India

At least 40 people have been killed in rain-related incidents in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal since Friday, a senior official said Saturday.

"Some 40 people have been killed so far. Over 30,000 people have been displaced across the state," he said on condition of anonymity.

Heavy rains have been lashing the state since early Friday morning and the weather office has predicted that the situation is likely to remain the same in the next 48 hours.

Disaster management officials have been deployed to tackle the situation and the state government has also distributes drinking water bottles in the affected areas.