Church groups accelerate aid distribution in flood-hit Indian state

Catholic agencies have intensified relief efforts in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, where continuous rains, cloudbursts, and flash floods have resulted in more than 100 deaths in the past four weeks. “Our teams have continued to aid the relief efforts fearlessly despite ongoing rains, road blockades, and bad weather,” said Father Lenin Henry, who heads Manav Vikas Samiti (human development forum), the social work agency of Simla Chandigarh diocese. At least 109 people have died, and thousands have been left homeless in the state due to rains and floods between June 20 and July 16, 2025, according to the State Disaster Management Authority.