Hurricane Harvey: 200 Indian students marooned in Houston
As Hurricane Harvey continues to batter Texas, it has come to be known that 200 Indian students from the University of Houston have been marooned in the floods. Two of the students have had to be hospitalized, and are in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a hospital, said Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj.
Rescue operations are currently being organized
The students are reportedly surrounded by neck deep water. Requests had been made to deliver food to the marooned students but the request had been turned down by the US Coast Guard as boats were required for emergency rescue operations. The Indian Consul General in Houston, Anupam Ray, has assured that arrangements are being made to conduct rescue operations now.
Reports from the Houston area
Houston has been severely affected by Hurricane Harvey which has been described as an "unprecedented" weather event. Torrential rain has caused widespread flooding in the area and has left thousands homeless. According to media reports, at least two people have been killed in the area. The scale of the flooding has left rescue workers in the area completely overwhelmed.
"Historic flooding" in Houston to continue
President Donald Trump will be visiting Texas on Tuesday, August 29. The National Weather Service (NWS) said Houston will receive around 40-inches of rainfall while some areas could receive over 50-inches. The NWS said south-east Texas, including Houston, faced the threat of "significant to catastrophic flash flooding." "Historic flooding is expected to continue in the Houston metropolitan area through the foreseeable future," it added.
