AT LEAST 31 DIE IN ISTANBUL FLASH FLOODS

FLASH FLOODS KILL 31 IN TURKEY
DUE TO THE HEAVIEST RAINS IN 80 YEARS

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Flash floods killed 31 people in northwest Turkey, sweeping through the city of Istanbul, swamping houses, turning highways into fast-flowing rivers and drowning seven women in a minibus that was taking them to work. Thirty-one died in Istanbul, Turkey's largest city with 14 million inhabitants, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said, after two days of the heaviest rain in 80 years produced sudden flood waters which engulfed low-lying areas. Another 5 died in Saray, west of Istanbul, reportedly all from the same family. Nine more were missing, Prime Minister Erdogan said.

In Istanbul rescue workers, some on boats, put out planks and ladders to help drivers, stranded in fast-flowing waters, reach the safety of bridges and high land. The worst flooding occurred in areas in the west of the city, on the European side, where drainage is often poor. The waters began to recede late Wednesday revealing wrecked buildings and debris scattered across the streets, as distressed residents and workers started the clean-up. The bodies of seven women were discovered in a working-class suburb of Istanbul. They had drowned in a minibus that was taking them to jobs at a textile factory. Witnesses said waves of muddy waters pulling cars, trees and debris crashed into homes and buildings early Wednesday as people were getting up to break their fasting during the holy month of Ramadan.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US?

There are multifarious miseries in material existence — those pertaining to the body and the mind, those imposed by other living entities and those imposed by natural disturbances. But a sādhu is not disturbed by such miserable conditions because his mind is always filled with Krishna consciousness, and thus he does not like to talk about anything but the activities of the Lord.

Mahārāja Ambarīsha did not speak of anything but the pastimes of the Lord. Vacāmsi vaikuntha-gunānuvarnane (Bhāg. 9.4.18). He engaged his words only in glorification of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Sādhus are always interested in hearing about the activities of the Lord or His devotees. Since they are filled with Krishna consciousness, they are forgetful of the material miseries.

Srila A.C. BV Swami Prabhupada:
"The Srimad Bhagavatam - Purport in Canto 3 - Chapter 25 - Verse 23"