The recent devastating flash floods in Texas have prompted an outpouring of grief and support, including a statement from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The tragedy, which occurred along the Guadalupe River in the Texas Hill Country, has claimed the lives of at least 27 people, including nine children. The destructive fast-moving waters rose approximately 26 feet in just 45 minutes before dawn on Friday, washing away homes and vehicles.
Among the missing were dozens of people, including about two dozen girls listed as unaccounted for at an all-girls Christian summer camp named Camp Mystic, adding a particularly heartbreaking dimension to the disaster. As of Saturday, none of the missing campers had been officially located. The camp was reportedly "completely destroyed" by the floodwaters. The director of another summer camp in the area, Heart O' The Hills, was also confirmed among the dead.
Prime Minister Modi expressed his deep sadness over the loss of life, particularly the children, in a statement released shortly after news of the tragedy broke. While the exact details of his statement are not available in the provided context, it can be inferred that he offered condolences and support to the families of the victims and the people of Texas.
The floods, triggered by torrential rains, have been described as "catastrophic". Months' worth of rain fell in a matter of hours, overwhelming the region and leading to flash flood emergencies in several counties. The National Weather Service declared a flash flood emergency for parts of the county, located in south-central Texas Hill Country, following heavy downpours measuring up to 300mm (12 inches) of rain.
Search and rescue operations have been ongoing since the early hours of Friday, with hundreds of rescuers deployed, including at least 167 working by helicopter. By Saturday, over 850 uninjured people and 8 injured people had been rescued. The U.S. Coast Guard also assisted in saving or assisting 223 lives. The efforts have been hampered by continued heavy rains and flash flood warnings in effect for parts of central Texas.
The disaster has also raised questions about whether sufficient warnings were issued and if adequate preparations were made. AccuWeather, a private forecasting company, stated that they and the National Weather Service sent warnings about potential flash flooding hours before the devastation. Some officials have defended their actions, stating that they did not expect such an intense downpour. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly stated that “no one knew this kind of flood was coming” and noted that the state did not have any warning system in place for major flooding events.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed an emergency disaster declaration, which allows numerous counties affected by the floods to get the state resources needed to help with ongoing search-and-rescue efforts. President Trump called the floods a "terrible thing" and said his administration was working with state and local officials.
The floods have not only caused immense loss of life but have also left many families searching for missing loved ones and grappling with the destruction of their homes and communities. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, and the recovery process is expected to be long and challenging.
