Floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains in India's northeast kill at least 16 people

GUWAHATI, India (AP) — Floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains have killed at least 16 people over the last two weeks in India's northeast, where more than 300,000 have been displaced from their submerged homes, authorities said on Tuesday.

The Indian army and air force have been assisting with rescue efforts in Assam, one of the worst-hit states, where a military helicopter flew early Tuesday morning 13 fishermen to safety after being stranded for four days on a small island on the Brahmaputra, one of Asia’s largest rivers, officials said.

The Brahmaputra River, which flows 1,280 kilometers (800 miles) across Assam state before running through Bangladesh, overflows annually. However, this year, increased rainfall has made the river — already known for its powerful, unpredictable flow — even more dangerous to live near or on one of the more than 2,000 island villages in the middle of it.

In neighboring Arunachal Pradesh state, which borders China, landslides have wiped out several roads. Army troopers there rescued 70 students and teachers from a flooded school in Changlang district, police said. Similarly, heavy flooding in the states of Sikkim, Manipur and Meghalaya swept away roads and collapsed bridges.

So far, more than 80 people across six northeastern states have died since the end of May due to floods and mudslides brought on by the rains, according to official figures.

Back in Assam, animals at the famed Kaziranga National Park, home to some 2,500 one-horned Rhinos, are moving to higher ground to escape the floods. Park rangers are monitoring their movements to ensure their safety, the state's chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

Disasters caused by landslides and floods are common in the country's northeast region during the June-September monsoon season. India, and Assam state in particular, is seen as one of the world’s most vulnerable regions to climate change because of more intense rain and floods, according to a 2021 report by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water, a New Delhi-based climate think tank.

A flood affected woman waits to transport her goats in a country boat in Sildubi village in Morigaon district in the northeastern state of Assam, India, Tuesday, July 2, 2024. Floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains have killed more than a dozen people over the last two weeks in India's northeast. (AP photo/Anupam Nath)

Flood affected people travel with sacks of rice in a country boat through flood waters in Mayong village in Morigaon district in the northeastern state of Assam, India, Tuesday, July 2, 2024. Floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains have killed more than a dozen people over the last two weeks in India's northeast. (AP photo/Anupam Nath)

A flood affected person loads sacks of rice on a vehicle to transport to a safer place from his submerged house in Sildubi village in Morigaon district in the northeastern state of Assam, India, Tuesday, July 2, 2024. Floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains have killed more than a dozen people over the last two weeks in India's northeast. (AP photo/Anupam Nath)

A flood victim carries a sack of rice from his submerged house in Sildubi village in Morigaon district in the northeastern state of Assam, India, Tuesday, July 2, 2024. Floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains have killed more than a dozen people over the last two weeks in India's northeast. (AP photo/Anupam Nath)

A flood affected man and his children carry a bed to a higher ground in Sildubi village in Morigaon district in the northeastern state of Assam, India, Tuesday, July 2, 2024. Floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains have killed more than a dozen people over the last two weeks in India's northeast. (AP photo/Anupam Nath)

A flood victim tries to fix a tin roof of his submerged house in Sildubi village in Morigaon district in the northeastern state of Assam, India, Tuesday, July 2, 2024. Floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains have killed more than a dozen people over the last two weeks in India's northeast. (AP photo/Anupam Nath)

Flood affected villagers and their cattle make their way through flood waters in Sildubi village in Morigaon district in the northeastern state of Assam, India, Tuesday, July 2, 2024. Floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains have killed more than a dozen people over the last two weeks in India's northeast. (AP photo/Anupam Nath)

Flood affected people travel with their belongings through flood waters in Sildubi village in Morigaon district in the northeastern state of Assam, India, Tuesday, July 2, 2024. Floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains have killed more than a dozen people over the last two weeks in India's northeast. (AP photo/Anupam Nath)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates placed rookie pitcher Jared Jones on the 15-day injured list on Thursday with a right lat strain.

The Pirates made the move less than 24 hours after Jones left following five innings and 78 pitches in what became a 5-4 victory over the Cardinals.

Manager Derek Shelton downplayed the nature of the injury on Wednesday. He struck a more cautious tone on Thursday after a 3-2 loss to St. Louis, saying the team is still determining the severity of the injury.

“I think everyone knows what he means to us and where we’re at, so, out of precaution he’s still being evaluated,” Shelton said.

Jones reported feeling discomfort in his right side during the game but said afterward, “it's nothing to be concerned about, I don't think.”

The 22-year-old Jones is 5-6 with a 3.56 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 91 innings. The Pirates have been carefully monitoring Jones' workload of late. The team skipped his return in the rotation last week in hopes of giving him a breather.

While Jones allowed just one run in five innings against St. Louis, he didn't hit 100 mph once, a rarity during his 16 starts.

The IL move means Jones won't be back until after the All-Star break.

Pittsburgh promoted outfielder Josh Palacios from Triple-A Indianapolis to take Jones' spot on the roster. Palacios hit .311 with five doubles and a home run in 21 games in the minors this season. Palacios walked as a pinch hitter on Thursday.

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Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jared Jones delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jared Jones delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)