Page 25 - Indian Monsoon

More than half of UP districts receive deficient rainfall this monsoon

Forty of total 75 districts in Uttar Pradesh have so far received deficient rainfall this monsoon season, according to data shared by the local Indian Meteorological Centre. These 40 districts have received deficient rainfall from the onset of monsoon in the first week of June till July 28, the India Meteorological Centre Lucknow data showed. The majority of these districts fall in the eastern UP region. Kaushambi, Kushinagar and Deoria districts received almost 70 per cent less rainfall as compared to their Long Period Average (LPA). Santkabirnagar, Pilibhit, Mirzapur, Shrawasti, Chandauli, Basti are some other districts that received very sparse rains. Lack of rains has started worrying the farmers preparing for their kharif plantation of paddy and maize. Menthol is another crop which is likely to suffer damage due to less rains, experts say. Besides the 40 districts that recorded deficient rainfall, 18 districts recorded normal rainfall while the remaining 17 received excess rai

Himachal's tourism tumbles in July after record footfall before Monsoon

Himachal Pradesh witnessed a record tourist footfall of one crore six thousand in the first half of 2023 till June but heavy rains, floods and landslides in the state in July have led to a slump in the tourism sector. As many as 99,78,504 domestic and 28,239 foreign tourists visited the hill state till June this year, with the industry showing signs of recovery after the slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic which virtually crippled the tourism industry. The tourist arrival during the first half was 89 lakh in 2018, 99.57 lakh in 2019, 22.04 lakh in 2020, 19.75 lakh in 2021 and 86.42 lakh in 2022 and a record was set in 2023, a statement issued here said. But the jubilation of attaining record numbers in the first half of 2023 may be short lived due to the vagaries of weather in July. According to the state government, around 75,000 stranded tourists were evacuated from Himachal Pradesh after heavy rains triggered landslides, cloudbursts and flash floods blocking roads in the st

Heavy rains wash away part of Badrinath highway, pilgrimage disrupted

A 100-metre stretch of the Gauchar-Badrinath highway at Kamera was washed away on Monday following heavy overnight rainfall, disrupting the pilgrimage to the Himalayan temple. The route will remain closed for Badrinath pilgrims for two-three days, according to an official statement issued here. Efforts are underway on war footing to repair and open the route to traffic at the earliest, it said. A part of a road also caved in at Bhattnagar near Gauchar and five vehicles parked along the roadside got buried in the debris, the state emergency operation centre here said. The rubble is being cleared, it said, adding no one was hurt in the incident.

Heavy rains lash central, north Kerala districts; three deaths reported

After a brief lull, heavy rains lashed various parts of Kerala with the central and northern districts facing the wrath of the monsoon. Districts authorities in Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur declared a holiday for all educational institutions in view of the heavy rains forecast for Monday. The Met department has issued a yellow alert for nine districts of the state- Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram and Kasaragod apart from Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur. According to government sources, a total of three persons lost their lives on Sunday in various incidents related to rain. Two minor boys, Hadhi and Hashir from Wayanad district lost their lives on Sunday after they suspectedly fell into a water body while on their way to tution class. A youngster drowned in Thrissur district on Sunday. Meanwhile, the state disaster management authority said a few relief camps have been opened in Idukki, Wayanad and Kasaragod districts and as of now, 38 persons have been housed ..

LIVE: Delhi on high-alert, flood alert in Noida; over 700 evacuated in Guj

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Flood alert in Noida, around 200 people evacuated from Hindon banks

The Gautam Buddh Nagar administration has issued a flood warning for low-lying regions along the Hindon as water discharge in the river increased, officials said on Sunday. Around 200 people from five villages have been evacuated and shifted to shelter homes after the alert was raised on Saturday, they said. The river is flowing below the danger mark of 205-metre in the district, bordering Delhi in western Uttar Pradesh, according to a senior officer. "Around 200 people from five villages have been evacuated and shifted to shelter homes that have been set up by the administration to provide them accommodation, food and health care, Additional District Magistrate Atul Kumar told PTI. "The Hindon is currently flowing at 200-metre, below the danger mark of 205-metre, said Kumar, who is also the nodal officer for flood relief work in Gautam Buddh Nagar. The district is located between Hindon and Yamuna rivers. The district recently witnessed floods along the Yamuna river banks, which

Top rice exporter India bans most shipments as late monsoon hits crop

India accounts for more than 40% of world rice exports but low inventories mean any cut in shipments will fuel food prices driven up by Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year and erratic weather

As Yamuna gets close to it, ASI says Taj Mahal's design prevents flooding

Earlier, in 1978, the water in the Yamuna had risen up to 508 feet, which marks a high flood level of the river in Agra

'Abnormal' rains in 14 Raj districts, only Jaisalmer gets scanty rainfall

Of the 33 districts in the state, 14 districts witnessed 'abnormal' rainfall while as many received 'excess' rains so far this monsoon season, according to official data released on Sunday. All but one district of Rajasthan has received normal or above normal rainfall this monsoon so far, a report issued here by the Water Resources Department showed. Only Jaisalmer witnessed 'scanty' rainfall with rains 60 per cent less than normal, the report said. A total of 14 districts, including the state capital Jaipur, are in the 'abnormal rainfall' category and as many recorded 'excess rainfall', while four districts received normal rainfall, according to the report. The districts which receive 20 to 59 per cent more than the normal fall under the 'excess' category while districts recording 60 per cent or more rains are under the 'abnormal' category, the report cited. Similarly, the districts where the rainfall ranges between 19 per cent below and 19 per cent above normal are considered to

Why did Delhi drown under torrential rains, surge in water levels of Yamuna

Mismanaged urban growth haunts NCT as climate extremes wreak havoc

LIVE: Congress backs AAP's Ordinance fight day before big Opposition meet

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Slum dwellers scamper to safety in night as Yamuna swells above danger mark

Scores of people who lived in the Yamuna floodplain area in Delhi had to scamper to safety in the dark of the night as the water rose above the danger mark in the Yamuna River, threatening their lives and lifelong earnings. People were forced to evacuate themselves to higher places nearby in the early hours of Tuesday after the river breached the danger mark here a day earlier. The Yamuna floodplains provide a precarious bedding for hundreds of shanties across its wide swath where some of the poorest people of the city, mostly migrants, find shelter. Mostly composed of small-time farmers or shopkeepers and odd-job workers, the displaced people appealed to the city government to help them tide over the crisis. Kiran, in her mid-30s, whose family had a small farm in the floodplain, said, all of it got destroyed in the flooding, and her family members had to rush out to safety in the early hours of Tuesday. "All our vegetables have been destroyed in the flooding. We have lost our mea

Delhi roads under water because of poor cleaning of drains: LG V K Saxena

A blame game started on Tuesday even as people were plagued by multiple problems due to the heavy rain over the weekend, with Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena saying the city faced the "annual ritual" of waterlogging as drains were not properly cleaned, prompting a sharp reaction from the AAP government. Delhi Water Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj slammed the LG, saying he is blaming the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government even though he had earlier claimed that the drains were desilted and the Yamuna was cleaned. Taking stock of the rising water level of the river at the Yamuna Bazar area, Saxena said preparations should have been made beforehand to deal with the unprecedented rain. "The people of Delhi are hassled due to waterlogging that has become an annual ritual. Proper cleaning of drains and water harevesting are not being done. These have not been done for years, which is why waterlogging happens every time. "Desilting of the Yamuna and the Najafgarh drain should be regularly d

LIVE: Net direct tax collection grows 16% to Rs 4.75 trn, says I-T dept

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All MCD run schools to be closed on Tuesday due to heavy rainfall

All schools run, aided or recognised by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi will be closed on July 11 in view of heavy rainfall in the city and adverse weather conditions forecast, according to an official order issued on Monday. The order issued by the education department of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), however, mentioned that these schools shall be closed only for students. Department heads and teachers shall come to schools, and all offices will also be functional, it said. "In view of the heavy rainfall in Delhi and alert issued by the India Meteorological Department on adverse weather conditions, it has been decided that all MCD schools, MCD-aided and recognised schools will be closed on July 11," the order stated.

Himachal's Kangra suffers losses worth Rs 75 cr amid incessant rains

Incessant rains over the past four days have damaged public facilities worth around Rs 75 crore in Kangra, District Collector Nipun Jindal said on Monday. Earlier in the day, the deputy commissioner apprised Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu of the current situation in the district during a video conference meeting. Addressing reporters here after the meeting, Jindal said owing to torrential rains from July 6 to July 9, the district suffered losses of Rs 75 crore, of which the Public Works Department (PWD) incurred a loss of about Rs 31 crore. A total of 66 roads maintained by the PWD were damaged or blocked due to landslides or tree felling, out of which 63 roads have been restored. In addition, 14 more roads in the district got blocked on Monday, Jindal added. He said if the weather remains favourable, all these blocked roads would be restored in the next 24 to 48 hours. The Jal Shakti department incurred losses of around Rs 40 crore as the heavy monsoon rai

Sawan 2023: Importance of the auspicious Sawan month for Hindu devotees

The auspicious month of Sawan started on July 4 and will last till 31st August. The month holds special significance for Hindu devotees who try to please lord Shiva and seek his blessings

Monsoon woes: Many dead as rains in North wash away roads & records

Delhi sees heaviest downpour in 40 yrs, schools shut, at least 17 trains, 20 flights cancelled; Shah assures help to states

Delhi breaks 41-year rainfall record, more showers likely for next 2 days

Delhi recorded 153 mm of rain in 24 hours ending 8.30 am on Sunday, the highest in a single day in July since 1982, the IMD has said

Amit Shah speaks to L-Gs of Delhi and JK, takes stock of rain situation

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday spoke to the lieutenant governors of Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir and enquired about the situation in the union territories in the wake of the incessant rains, sources said. Shah also took an update from the Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha about the Amarnath pilgrimage which was suspended due to the heavy rains. In view of incessant rains in the capital, the Union home minister spoke to LG Delhi V K Saxena and took updates. The home minister also spoke to LG of the Jammu and Kashmir and took updates about Amarnath pilgrimage which was suspended due to heavy rains, a source said. Delhi recorded 153 mm of rain in 24 hours ending 8:30 am on Sunday, the highest in a single day in July since 1982, the India Meteorological Department said. An interaction between a western disturbance and monsoonal winds is leading to an intense rainfall spell over northwest India, including Delhi which experienced the season's first "very heavy" rainfall. The Ama