ARGENTINA RAINS DEATH TOLL UP TO 51

ARGENTINA FLOODS 'CATASTROPHE'
FOR LA PLATA CITY, BUENOS AIRES

www.bbc.co.uk - Emergency workers in Argentina continue to try to rescue residents stranded by flooding in Buenos Aires and La Plata. More than 50 people are known to have died after one of the heaviest storms recorded caused flash floods. Thousands were evacuated from their homes and dozens are still stranded on rooftops, treetops and the roofs of city buses, local media report. High water encircled part of the town, cutting off roads and preventing authorities from rescuing stranded motorists and passengers. "We've never seen anything like it," provincial governor Daniel Scioli said. The government has declared three days of national mourning after what it called "an unprecedented catastrophe." Provincial officials said 40cm (16in) of rain fell on the city of La Plata in the space of two hours late on Tuesday night.

Earlier, the storm had dumped 15cm of rainfall on the capital, Buenos Aires. Local officials said at least 48 people were killed in La Plata, six in Buenos Aires and two in its suburbs. The Red Cross said most of the victims had been elderly people who drowned in their homes. So far, only half of the bodies have been identified and rescue workers fear the number of dead may rise as more bodies are found as the flood waters recede. More than 3,000 people had to leave their homes and 80,000 still do not have electricity, with two of La Plata's hospitals also affected by the power cuts. 
President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner on Wednesday visited Tolosa, the worst affected neighbourhood of La Plata, where she grew up and where her mother still lives. Pope Francis, an Argentine, has called on the authorities to step up their assistance to those left homeless by the storm.

Heavy flooding in Argentina, provoked by torrents of rain, has led to the deaths of at least 51 people in the city of La Plata, where flooding submerged cars and sent people scrambling to rooftops for safety. Flood waters reached two metres in some places, turning roadways in La Plata into a raging river. Authorities said around 2500 people were still unable to return home as they wait for flood waters to subside, and have taken refuge in emergency shelters. "People were taken by surprise, and some didn't have time to escape this deadly trap," Mr Scioli, the provincial governor, said, referring to the speed with which the waters rose. "They were taken by surprise" ... we should ask ourselves why we are always tormented by the changes in the weather such as untimely rains. 

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

Despite all this advancement, at every moment everyone is suffering due to at least one of the following threefold miseries: (1) Miseries caused by one's own mind and body (adhyatmika klesha). (2) Miseries caused by other living entities (adhibhautika klesha). (3) Miseries caused by nature (adhidaivika klesha): Floods, droughts, famines, earthquakes, hurricanes etc. ... Each person spends every moment preserving their life, belongings, kith and kin, job or post, reputation etc. But the world we live in, takes all these away eventually despite our efforts to hold on to them. Thus a wise person should ponder, "Why should our lives be ridden with the anxiety of facing and tackling one problem after another? Is this all that life is meant for? Or is there a life of eternal joy that is never inhibited by sufferings?" 

Śrīpad Radheshyam Das Prabhu :
“Discover Your Self”
‘Vedic Wisdom’ - ‘Cause of Suffering’
Director, ISKCON Youth Forum, Pune President, ISKCON, Pune.
http://nitaaiveda.com/Soul_Science_God_Philosophy/Discover_Your_Self.htm

Published by dasavatara das - "Vedic Views on World News"
http://www.vedicviews-worldnews.blogspot.com.ar/