Page 5 - Drought

Rain deficit in 64 UP districts, several staring at drought-like condition

Sixty-four districts in Uttar Pradesh have received less than normal rainfall this monsoon, with several of these staring at drought-like conditions. According to Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) data, only 11 of the 75 UP districts have received normal rainfall till August 19. While government officials say rain in coming days will bridge the deficit, farmers fear it is already too late. "Our crop is getting damaged. What will rain do later," asks Bhagat Pal, a small paddy farmer of Jaunpur district of eastern UP. Paddy farmers have been particularly affected, first by the delay of rain and then by its deficit. Jaunpur is among the districts that have received least rainfall this monsoon. According to the IMD data, the district has received 74 per cent less rainfall. The district recorded only 123.2 mm of rainfall this monsoon compared with the long-period average (LPA) of 471.5 mm till August 19 and falls under the category of large deficit regions. "We had to delay the

Rains, pests force world's top cotton producer India to import supplies

This confluence of extreme weather events brought on by climate change has sent cotton prices soaring by as much as 30%

France loses up to 35% of vegetable crops due to drought: Producers' union

France's fruit and vegetable crops have fallen by nearly 35% due to the extreme drought this summer, president of the French national association of vegetable producers said

PM Modi speaks to Macron; discusses France wildfires, bilateral issues

The Prime Minister's Office in a statement said the two leaders also reviewed the ongoing bilateral initiatives including defence cooperation projects and cooperation in civil nuclear energy.

Severe drought since July affects over 1.38 million in China's Jiangxi

A severe drought since July 15 has affected more than 1.38 million people in China's Jiangxi province, local authorities said

Europe's rivers run dry as drought could be worst in over 500 years

Across Europe, drought is reducing once-mighty rivers to trickles, with potentially dramatic consequences for industry, freight, energy and food production

Global food inflation eases, but uncertain crops slow wider relief

Crop futures have retreated to pre-war levels, and the UN's monthly measure of food prices sank the most since 2008

Humanitarians aim to feed 16 mn people in drought-stricken Ethiopia: UN

Humanitarians in Ethiopia are targeting more than 16 million people for drought aid while more than 1.7 million people face flooding, a UN spokesman said

Fourth set of human remains found at drought-stricken US' Lake Mead

The fourth set of human remains were found in Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in US where the water level has dropped to unprecedented lows amid a 22-year drought, authorities said

France going through its most severe drought ever, says PM Elisabeth Borne

The exceptional drought we are currently experiencing is depriving many municipalities of water and is a tragedy for our farmers, our ecosystems and biodiversity, the statement said.

Italy unveils 17-bn-euro aid package to combat inflation, drought

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi announced an aid package worth an estimated 17 billion euros to combat surging inflation and drought

Heatwave continues in most parts of France, triggering drought alert

Heatwave continues to hit most parts of France this week, triggering a drought alert in the wake of the driest July in more than 60 years

Delhi, London could run out of water amid rising heatwave: Report

As heatwave strikes the UK, and Indian cities battle with record temperatures, a recent report states the climate crisis is increasing the severity of drought in 10 of the world's major cities

Global charity provides $28.5 million to 19 countries hit by drought

A global charity has announced $28.5 million to help families in 19 countries, mostly in Africa, facing the worst global hunger crisis in decades

Italy declares state of emergency till year end to confront drought

The Italian government has declared a state of emergency related to the prolonged heatwave and drought conditions that have badly hit the country, particularly its north.

Jharkhand records 44% monsoon rain deficit; 7 districts face 60% shortfall

The state has received 74.6 mm rainfall from June 1-24 against the normal rainfall of 132.2 mm during the period

Drought leaves more than 7.2 mn people needing food aid in Ethiopia: UNOCHA

UNOCHA said the climate-induced drought in the East African country is the most severe in 40 years following four consecutive failed rainy seasons since late 2020

Heatwave scorches Pakistan, mercury shoots to 51 degrees in Jacobabad

Unconfirmed reports suggest at least three people died of acute water diarrhoea in a remote area of Sindh, Kaccha, in Dadu as the temperature rose to 49°Celsius

From India to France and the US, wheat harvest faces the weather test

Droughts, flooding and heatwaves threaten output from the US to France and India, compounding shrinking production in Ukraine

The promise and pain of insuring natural disasters at the state level

While claims and compensation for victims are settled expeditiously, the pressures on revenues prevent many states from making top-up contribution to the SDRF and NDRF