Page 32 - Floods

Guterres calls UN's work in Pakistan a 'drop in ocean' of what is needed

UN chief Antonio Guterres on Saturday exhorted the international community to step up efforts to help flood-ravaged Pakistan rebuild resilient communities and infrastructure to resist future disasters, while conceding "what the UN is doing in Pakistan is a drop in the ocean of what is needed." Secretary General Guterres made these remarks in Sukkur in Pakistan's Sindh province, where he was visiting flood-hit areas. Taking an aerial view of the flood-affected regions along with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the UN chief termed the flood devastation 'unimaginable'. Countries vulnerable to climate change, including Pakistan, must be supported to rebuild resilient communities and infrastructure to resist future disasters, Guterres said, as he rounded-off the two-day solidarity trip to the country. He said that there needs to be a serious discussion on loss and damages as "what the UN is doing in Pakistan is a drop in the ocean of what is needed." "We are perfectly aware of our limit

Pakistan's largest lake dangerously overflowing putting thousands at risk

After weeks of torrential monsoon rain, Pakistan's largest freshwater lake started overflowing, putting thousands of people at risk of losing their homes, new satellite images showed.

2 dead, 11 missing due to flood in Nepal's Darchula near Indian border

The incessant rainfall since Friday which resulted in flooding of the Lasku and Mahakali River swept away houses and two bridges early on Saturday

Economic loss due to Pakistan's devastating floods rises to around $18 bn

Bilawal added that the ravaging floods had washed away entire villages affecting over 33 million people; the death toll stood at 1,300

Krishna river flood level slowly rising in AP, first warning signal issued

Flood flow has slowly increased at Prakasam Barrage on river Krishna at Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh even as the first warning signal continued on Friday. The instant inflow and outflow at the barrage rose to 4.23 lakh cusecs at 8 pm today. The discharge at Dr K L Rao Sagar Pulichintala upstream the Prakasam Barrage was 4.20 lakh cusecs. From Srisailam reservoir, 4.41 lakh cusecs (cubic feet of water flow per second) has been discharged, while at Nagarjuna Sagar downstream 3.93 lakh cusecs was released, according to the Water Resources Information Management System data. Krishna District Collector P Ranjit Basha directed the government machinery to be on high alert in view of the rising flood levels. He asked people not to go near the river course. Meanwhile, river Penna also continued to be in spate with increasing inflows due to continuing rains in the upper catchment areas in neighbouring Karnataka. The outflow at Somasila reservoir in SPS Nellore district touched 19,034 cusec

Pakistan floods: Awash in suffering

It may be time for India to demonstrate what good neighbourliness looks like

Economic losses in flood-hit Pakistan touches USD 18 billion: Reports

The cataclysmic floods in Pakistan has caused economic damages to the tune of around USD 18 billion to the country's teetering economy, wiping out more than 8 million acres of crops and displacing more than 33 million, media reports said on Friday. Record monsoon rains and melting glaciers in northern mountains brought floods that have killed at least 36 people in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 1,391 as of Friday, according to the National Disaster Management Authority. The rapid assessment cost on projected economic losses following Pakistan's worst food floods as calculated by the government and endorsed by the provinces has gone up further to the tune of around USD 18 billion, according to The News International newspaper. The devastating floods have inundated a third of the country, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif saying on Wednesday that parts of Pakistan seemed like a sea. The losses further swelled because agricultural crops have been destroyed across 8.25 ..

Flood situation in certain parts of Karnataka still grim, says official

The flood situation remained grim in certain parts of north Karnataka following torrential rains. Many rivers, rivulets and streams were in spate on Friday as water was released from the Tungabhadra Dam, sources said. According to sources, water-level rose in Hirehalla rivulet, trapping five farmers on an island in Koluru village. The farmers had gone to remove the pump-set when suddenly the water-level increased and they got marooned. Soon, the others informed the police, which sent a team from the fire and emergency services. The team rescued the five and brought them to the safety. In Vijayapura district, a bridge was washed away and some villagers went there after learning that it had developed cracks and may not withstand the flow in the Sogli rivulet. The bridge was connecting Sogli with Mookihal in Taalikote Taluk. Reports said onions grown in a large swathe of land in the Bagalkote district were washed away due to floods. In Yadgir, farmers got emotional before the ...

Pakistan govt approves $13 mn for rescue and relief of flood victims

The government will also provide 540 million PKR to utility stores in the flood-hit areas to ensure a smooth supply of essential commodities to the affected people

Pak floods terrible tragedy; sympathies to affected people: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday expressed sympathies to all the people affected by the floods in Pakistan and condoled the loss of lives in the tragedy. The devastating floods in Pakistan have killed 1,391 people since mid-June. The floods in Pakistan, which began in mid-June, have also injured 12,722 people, according to the National Disaster Management Agency. "The floods in Pakistan are a terrible tragedy. My heartfelt sympathies to all the people affected and deepest condolences to those who have lost their loved ones," Gandhi said in a tweet. The former Congress chief is on a "Bharat Jodo Yatra" from Kanyakumari to Kashmir.

Karnataka BJP leader holds IT companies responsible for devastating floods

The government did not charge for road digging and spent Rs 3,000 crore to provide free services at that time. Mohan Das Pai seems to have forgotten about this fact, Ramesh explained

Rain forecast worries flood-hit Bengalurians hoping return to normal life

Forecast of more rains and overcast skies since early Thursday morning with slight drizzle has caused worry among citizens of rain-battered Bengaluru, who were preparing to get back to routine, after some respite the previous day and water level in flooded areas receding slowly. Residents of localities and apartments that were inundated are making attempts to drain out water and remove sludge from their houses and basements. Some badly affected areas continued to remain in darkness without power supply and non-availability of drinking water, even as officials maintained that efforts were on to restore supply by repairing the damages. While waterlogging on roads in most parts of the city are by and large clear, making way for easy movement of vehicles, some stretches along the Outer Ring Road and Marathahalli and nearby areas are said to be still facing some issues with vehicular movement with water still on roads. Also, potholes continue to haunt city's motorists, especially ...

Amid political unrest, faltering economy, Pak floods turn into a nightmare

Pakistan's climate minister, Sherry Rehman, called the floods a catastrophe of "very epic proportion"

Bengaluru deluge: Tech companies pour out woes before Karnataka IT Minister

Technology companies, which bore the brunt of recent flood due to heavy rains in the city, on Wednesday aired their grievances before Karnataka IT/BT Minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayan, urging him to find a solution to the rain-related woes. At a meeting convened by Narayan to discuss the problems caused by the unprecedented rainfall, the representatives of several IT companies said their primary concern was to bring to the notice of the government the miseries they faced and the losses incurred. In reply, the Minister assured them that the state government will help find a permanent solution to the infrastructural issues in the Mahadevpura zone, which witnessed water-logging, by next year. Narayan also sought the cooperation of tech companies to retain the status of 'Bangalore Brand'. A virtual meeting will be conducted every month from now on to resolve the grievances of entrepreneurs, a statement issued by the office of the Minister. He also said that the government will examine ..

Deluge in Bengaluru prompts demand for hotel rooms; tariffs surge

The deluge in Bengaluru has led to a spike in demand for hotel rooms and a surge in room tariffs in some hotels as people escape waterlogged homes. Most hotels in the city already had a very high occupancy before parts of Bengaluru got marooned and current high rates were not a direct consequence of the floods, said industry players. When contacted, an OYO spokesperson said: "The average tariff for OYOs in Bangalore currently stands a little over Rs 1,000, making OYO an affordable and easily accessible stay option for flood affected people in the city. Our 'Nearby stays' option and 'Pay at hotel' facility makes booking an OYO easy for the rain drenched Bangaloreans looking for hotels. We hope to support as many Bangaloreans with quality stays during this challenging time for the city." At Leela Palace Bengaluru, a staff said the pricing has always been dynamic based on occupancy and demand. At present the existing rate for a standard double room for a night is Rs 15,750 plus taxes p

In rain-affected Bengaluru, tractors turn unlikely heroes on roads

Tractor is the new buzz word trending in the high-tech circles of the city

High corruption, bad governance, says ex-Infosys CFO on Bengaluru floods

Information technology industry veteran T V Mohandas Pai has said the havoc caused in Bengaluru due to heavy rains was a result of multiple factors, including bad governance, high corruption and lack of urban reforms. Both political leaders and bureaucrats have failed the citizens, the former Chief Financial Officer of IT major Infosys Ltd said on the floods in parts of Bengaluru following two days of torrential rains. "...result of ineffective government, bad governance and high corruption. Money is allocated and largely shoddy work due to high corruption, lack of capability in the corporation, illegal construction, the list goes on," Pai told PTI. It also shows lack of urban reforms across all our cities over the last 30 years, he added.

Pakistan floods show climate adaptation requires international support

Flooding in Pakistan shows that climate adaptation requires international support and regional co-operation

CM Bommai blames 'maladministration' of Congress govts for Bengaluru floods

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday blamed the previous Congress governments' 'maladministration' and unprecedented rains in the capital city for the deluge. He said, despite all odds, his government has taken it up as a challenge to restore the rain battered city, and make sure that such things don't recur in the future. Owing to the torrential downpour that lashed the state capital for the last couple of days, several areas are still under water with houses and vehicles partially inundated, there by affecting normal life. "Karnataka, especially Bengaluru has not received unprecedented heavy rain.. for the last 90 years such rain has not been recorded. All the tanks are full and are overflowing, some of them have breached, and there have been continuous rains, every day it is raining," Bommai said. Speaking to reporters here, he said a picture is being portrayed that the entire city is facing difficulties, which is not the case. "Basically the issue lies in two .

Bengaluru rains: Woman dies due to electrocution on a flooded road

A 23-year-old woman has allegedly died due to electrocution after she came into contact with an electric pole while navigating a road flooded with rain water at Siddapura here, police said on Tuesday. According to police sources, the incident is said to have taken place on Monday night, when the victim was returning home on her scooter. According to eyewitnesses, on reaching the stretch of a road that was waterlogged, the lady's vehicle broke down and she lost balance. As she was trying to regain balance to move ahead, she is said to have touched an electric pole nearby for support and got electrocuted. Locals rushed the woman to a hospital, where she succumbed, sources said. The deceased was working in the admin department of a private school. Investigation is on, they added.