People participate in a protest against a pension reform bill in Paris, France, on March 23, 2023.(Photo by Glenn Gervot/Xinhua/IANS)
The demonstrators clashed with a sizable police presence stationed outside the building, where other protestors had dumped bags of trash hours before the march started…reports Asian Lite News
Angry protesters took to the streets in France on Thursday before Friday’s ruling about whether President Emmanuel Macron’s measures to raise the retirement age meet constitutional standards or not.
The citizens of France have been a part of the months-long protest movement against the pension reform that has sent social tensions spiralling in France and Macron and his government refuse to give way. Before a verdict on whether the proposal complies with constitutional requirements, protesters opposed to President Emmanuel Macron’s unpopular plan to raise the retirement age to 64 marched in cities and villages throughout France.
While tens of thousands of people protested in Paris along the planned path on Thursday, some demonstrators carrying flares diverted to the Constitutional Council, which will decide on Friday whether to strike down all or part of the legislation.
The demonstrators clashed with a sizable police presence stationed outside the building, where other protestors had dumped bags of trash hours before the march started.
Cleanup of the trash mounds coincided with the nationwide protest marches, but it also marked the beginning of a new garbage collector strike. During a strike last month, the French capital’s streets were clogged with piles of foul garbage for days.
Meanwhile, France’s highest constitutional authority will rule on Macron’s controversial pension reform on April 14.
The reforms were passed by parliament on March 16 after the government used a mechanism to bypass a vote by MPs, inflaming nationwide protests.
They were considered adopted by parliament when the government survived two no-confidence motions on March 20.
But the reforms can only come into law once they are validated by the Constitutional Council, which has the power to strike out some or even all of the legislation if deemed out of step with the constitution, reported France24. (ANI)
The detail in the new “flood risk map” also reveals locations that will be largely unaffected. This level of detail, the researchers say, is critical for planning decisions…reports Asian Lite News
Researchers have produced a detailed “future flood map” of Britain – simulating the impact of flooding as climate change takes its toll.
It has revealed that annual damage caused by flooding could increase by more than a fifth in today’s terms over the next century.
That could be reduced if pledges to reduce global carbon emissions are met.
Climate change is set to have a particular impact on “hotspots” where homes and businesses are in harm’s way.
Even if climate change pledges are met – keeping temperature increase to around 1.8C – places including south-east England, north-west England and south Wales are set to experience significantly increased flooding.
The detail in the new “flood risk map” also reveals locations that will be largely unaffected. This level of detail, the researchers say, is critical for planning decisions.
To create these flood risk maps, the research team from Bristol University and Fathom – a company that assesses flood and climate risk – simulated all types of flooding in the coming decades.
They used information about terrain, river flow, rainfall patterns and sea level to build a detailed picture of how much flood damage there would be to people’s homes and businesses across England, Scotland and Wales.
They combined this with Met Office climate predictions over the next century.
The team is also currently modelling flooding in Northern Ireland to expand the forecasts to include the whole of the UK as the climate warms.
The annual cost of flood damage across the UK currently, according to the Association of British Insurers, is £700m.
Chief research officer at Fathom, Dr Oliver Wing, explained that it was crucial to understand how that “flood risk landscape” would change in a warming world, because it will be different for every community.
“Our model shows that there are many places where flood risk is growing,” said Dr Wing. “Being able to understand the communities where this is likely to happen allows us to make sensible investment decisions – about flood defence structures, natural flood management or even moving people out of harm’s way.”
During the 2015 Boxing Day floods, more than 3,000 properties were flooded in the Calder Valley, causing an estimated £150m of damage.
After the clean-up, Katie and other volunteers started their own flood-prevention efforts, with the help of the National Trust. The community members also dig diversion channels to divert and slow water down.
Calderdale is a flood hotspot on the new map. But many places are set to see very little change or – when it comes to flood risk – actually improve, Dr Wing explained. Those areas include swathes of north-east and central England as well as eastern and northern Scotland.
As per State Department, US provided nearly USD 56.5 million in flood relief and humanitarian assistance to Pakistan this year as well as an additional USD 10 million in food security assistance….reports Asian Lite News
Amid reports of massive corruption and looting of US relief aid in Pakistan, Washington on Tuesday said this is something it takes very seriously, not only in Pakistan but anywhere around the world where American taxpayer dollars are implicated.
“This is something we take very seriously, not only in Pakistan but anywhere around the world where American taxpayer dollars are implicated and when there is an urgent humanitarian interest at stake, which is clearly the case, in terms of the response to the flooding in Pakistan,” US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said while responding to a question over reports of corruption in Pakistan in US relief aid items.
A flood-affected family is seen at a makeshift tent on the outskirts of Hyderabad, Pakistan, on Oct. 3, 2022. (Str/Xinhua/IANS)
Price noted that USAID partners work with local organizations that have extensive knowledge about the affected areas and their populations. “We also are required to provide regular program updates on the progress of activities and any security concerns, and we require them – our partners – to immediately report any potential diversions, seizures, or losses immediately. So this is something we take very seriously.”
Speaking over steps taken to monitor and to ensure that adequate tracking mechanisms in this context, Price said, “First, USAID staff – they make regular trips to monitor our programs in the field. We have what’s called a DART – a Disaster Assistance Response Team – and their members travel to more than 10 flood-affected districts in Balochistan, in Sindh province.”
“They did so between – around mid last month, so between September 14th and September 27th – to assess not only the humanitarian conditions but also the response activities and to make sure that those response activities were meeting the humanitarian need.”
As per State Department, US provided nearly USD 56.5 million in flood relief and humanitarian assistance to Pakistan this year as well as an additional USD 10 million in food security assistance.
Pakistan has seen massive floods which have wreaked havoc in the country leading to a great loss of lives and infrastructure. As of September 30, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has recorded nearly 1,700 deaths and more than 12,800 injuries since mid-June. The highest death rates were recorded in Sindh (747), Balochistan (325) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (307).
More than 2 million houses have been damaged or destroyed and around 7.9 million people are reportedly displaced, including some 598,000 people living in relief camps, according to reports by the Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMA) of the affected provinces.
Estimates indicate that more than 7,000 schools are currently being used to host displaced populations, while an estimated 25,100 schools have been damaged. (ANI)
Johnson said on Tuesday: “Our sympathies are very much with the people of Pakistan and we’ve seen the devastation there and it’s absolutely heart-rending…reports Asian Lite News
The government’s response to the flooding in Pakistan has been slammed as “risible” by Parliament’s International Development Select Committee, The Independent reported on Wednesday.
Writing to Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, the committee’s Chairwoman Sarah Champion said the support of up to £1.5 million ($1.7 million) announced last week would provide just 5 pence per person affected by the disaster, which has destroyed at least 700,000 homes.
Champion, an MP with the opposition Labour Party, added that she is “embarrassed” by the “pathetically small” support provided by Britain, saying the government’s move to include already existing funding to Pakistan means the UK is effectively providing “nothing.”
She added that Truss, who is running to become leader of the Conservative Party and therefore prime minister, must deliver an urgent statement on the extreme rainfall and flooding that has devastated much of Pakistan, and that it must be given to Parliament when it returns from its summer break on Monday.
Champion said the foreign secretary’s silence and poor financial support following the floods is part of a policy of “sustained indifference” from Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s administration toward Pakistan, which was Britain’s top aid recipient in 2019 but has now slid to seventh.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits Sizewell C Nuclear Power Station. Sizewell Power Station. Picture by Rory Arnold / No 10 Downing Street
Foreign Office Minister Lord Ahmad last week said his “thoughts and prayers” were with the millions of Pakistanis who had been affected by the extreme weather. “The UK stands with the people of Pakistan during this time of need,” he added.
Johnson said on Tuesday: “Our sympathies are very much with the people of Pakistan and we’ve seen the devastation there and it’s absolutely heart-rending.
“Pakistan is traditionally one of the biggest recipients of UK overseas aid. We will of course make sure that we send a fitting package commensurate with the vital relationship that there is between the UK and Pakistan and people’s natural sympathies with those who have been affected by the floods.”
Heavy downpour continued to pummel parts of Pakistan already battered by calamitous floods of epic proportions, unleashing a fresh wave of death and destruction in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Balochistan and Sindh provinces.
Scores of people died in KP, where heavy rains for the second consecutive day triggered devastating floods in rivers and streams that also swept away several homes near their banks, hotels in hilly resorts, while Balochistan remained cut off from the rest of the country due to fresh rains, The Express Tribune reported.
The KP government declared rain emergency in several districts as flash floods triggered by torrential rains wreaked havoc in most parts of the province, raising the province-wide death toll to at least 238 people, officials said.
They added that rain emergency, which came into effect immediately, would remain in place till August 30 as the Pakistan Meteorological Department forecast another spell of monsoon downpour which might continue in the next week, The Express Tribune reported.
Fresh torrential rains pummelled different parts of the province on the second consecutive day.
Heavy downpour in Kaghan Valley triggered flash flood in the Munnawar Nullah that swept away 10 people, according to official data.
More than 10 shops, two hotels and eight vehicles were swept away in Mahandri due to severe flooding in the stream.
A mosque, two schools and a police post were also damaged.
The Kaghan highway was closed for traffic at many places, while people on the Kunhar river banks had moved away to safer places.
Over 60,000 people have been evacuated to safer places. Cooking food is being served to the evacuated people at different shelters, Jena said…reports Asian Lite News
Over 4.67 lakh people in 1,757 villages in 10 districts of Odisha have so far been affected by the flood triggered by rainfall, officials said here on Wednesday.
Despite a stoppage of rain for the past three days and a fall in the water flow at the Mundali barrage near Cuttack, flood situation remained grim in the Mahanadi basin system in Odisha.
Due to heavy rainfall and subsequent floods, over 2.5 lakh people in 425 villages have remained marooned while a total of 4.67 lakh people in 10 districts affected, said special relief commissioner (SRC) P.K. Jena.
Over 60,000 people have been evacuated to safer places. Cooking food is being served to the evacuated people at different shelters, Jena said.
Anti-snake venom doses have been supplied to community health centres and primary healthcare centres while 10 vehicles carrying RO plants have been deployed to the flood affected areas of Cuttack, Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara districts.
The SRC said water level at Mundali barrage has reduced to 10.57 lakh cusecs at 6 p.m., and is likely to reduce further within the next few hours.
Flood water is being discharged from Hirakud reservoir through 40 gates. The inflow of flood water from Hirakud reservoir has reduced to 5.80 lakh cusecs while discharge of water remained at 6.69 lakh cusecs.
Due to heavy flow of flood water, two more breaches in river embankments were reported on Wednesday at Kathakote in Jagatsinghpur district. Evacuation has been started in the area. So far, six breaches have been reported in different river systems, he informed.
For the first time after 2011, he said, Odisha is experiencing such a high-level of water flow in the Mahanadi system at Mundali. He, however, said that within the next 24 hours, water flow at Mundali will reduce to 9 lakh cusecs.
The district administrations and engineers of the water resources department are working round-the-clock to tackle the situation and rescue operations are also underway by Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and fire service personnel, Jena said.
The peak flood is now passing through low lying areas of Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur and Puri districts. Water flow will start reducing from tomorrow morning, he said.
“This night is crucial when the peak flood will pass through and reach the sea. Following which, the water level will further recede,” he added.
Holding a review meeting, Odisha Revenue Minister Pramila Mallick asked the Keonjhar, Bhadrak, and Jajpur district collectors to remain on alert for another fresh low pressure likely to be formed over the north Bay of Bengal on August 19.
Meanwhile, all the government and private schools in Puri have been closed for two days — August 17 and 18 in view of the flood.
Scotland also witnessed travel disruption on rail networks and roads on Tuesday following heavy showers…reports Asian Lite News
Roads in parts of Britain have flooded as heavy rain and thunderstorms lashed the country for a second consecutive day.
The Meteorological Office issued a yellow thunderstorm alert for England and Wales on Tuesday, warning of more flash flooding as well as transport disruption and power cuts.
The weather warning will stay in place on Wednesday for southern England, where communities could be cut off by flooded roads, and the chance of fast-flowing or deep floodwater could cause danger to life.
The Environment Agency has put out 19 flood alerts in areas of the Midlands and south-east England.
It comes amid an abrupt end to last week’s heatwave and follows weeks of little rain, which has caused drought and left land parched.
Authorities moved Yorkshire to official drought status on Tuesday, following parts of the South West, southern and central England and the East of England.
Experts said heavy rainfall runs off very dry land, creating surface water floods, and will not soak into the ground to relieve drought-hit areas.
Footage and photos shared to social media showed torrential rain and floodwater sweeping through towns across southern England and Wales, including Newquay in Cornwall, Bishop’s Tawton in Devon, Haywards Heath in West Sussex, Port Talbot in south-west Wales, and Bridport in Dorset.
Scotland also witnessed travel disruption on rail networks and roads on Tuesday following heavy showers.
ScotRail warned passengers to expect delays on some routes, with some speed restrictions in place, while in Perth, Network Rail said it was dealing with flooding at the station.
Meanwhile, swimmers have been warned of sewage and pollution at several beaches on English coastlines, linked to the heavy rain.
According to data gathered by environmental campaign group Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), there has been storm sewage discharge into the waters at beaches in Cornwall, Devon, Sussex, Essex, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Northumberland and Cumbria.
A spokeswoman for SAS said other pollution warnings in place may not be linked to heavy rain, and those visiting the coast are advised to check its interactive map on their website before they swim.
Monsoon fury kills about a dozen people in Gujarat and Maharashtra, forces the evacuation of thousands more…reports Asian Lite News
Monsoon rain pounded the country’s west coast, killing about a dozen people in Gujarat and Maharashtra and forcing the evacuation of thousands more, even as the weather department predicted heavy and widespread showers to continue for the next five days in the region.
A flood-like situation was reported from many areas of the Konkan region, and heavy rain and strong winds hit Mumbai and its suburbs, inundating many parts of the city within a couple of hours.
“For the past seven days, it has been raining continuously over parts of the west coast and central India. This good rainfall is mainly because of cyclonic circulations and low-pressure areas developing one after the other, leading to widespread rain over Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Odisha, Telangana, etc… Another low-pressure area is likely to develop over Odisha, which will again bring rain as it moves westwards,” said M Mohapatra, director general, IMD.
Some rainfall was also recorded in Delhi, bringing down the temperature but causing traffic snarls and waterlogging in some areas.
Heavy rain has hit large swathes of India over the last two weeks, flooding parts of the country’s west coast and impacting states in the Himalayan region, the east coast, the southern peninsula, and parts of north-west India. The downpour has already triggered landslides and flashfloods in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu.
IMD said thunderstorm, lightning and isolated heavy rainfall is very likely over Chhattisgarh, Vidarbha, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kerala, Mahe, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, Telangana and Karnataka during in the next 4-5 days.
In Gujarat, heavy rain claimed the lives of six people, with the total death toll due to rain-related incidents climbing to 69 since June 1. About 28,000 people were evacuated from flood-affected areas and 18,225 of them remained in shelters, state disaster management minister Rajendra Trivedi said. Heavy rainfall resulted in severe waterlogging and a flood-like situation in Ahmedabad and Rajkot.
Several villages in Gujarat have been cut off, prompting officials to deploy helicopters to rescue people. National Disaster Response Force teams are working to rescue people in many areas.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured all possible help to Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Rajnikant Patel, including the National Disaster Response Force to tackle the situation. According to the Gujarat CM’s officer, Modi had a telephonic conversation with Patel to enquire about the dire situation created by widespread and heavy rain.
In Maharashtra, at least nine people died amid heavy rainfall. The deaths on Tuesday took the toll in the state between June 1 and July 12 to 90, officials said.
Heavy rains accompanied by strong winds lashed Mumbai and suburbs and also flooded many parts of the city within a couple of hours, throwing road traffic out of gear at some places, amid an orange alert issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Of the nine deaths in the last 24 hours in Maharashtra, two people were killed after a structure collapsed in a Mumbai suburb, while one person drowned in the Gadchiroli district in east Maharashtra, an official said. The incessant showers affected 10 villages in Gadchiroli, Nandurbar and Mumbai suburban regions, they said.
The administrations in Thane and Palghar districts have alerted villages near river banks, warning them of a possible overflow of dams, as catchment areas have received heavy rainfall over the last few days, officials said.
The Met department has also predicted intense wet spells over Goa from Tuesday. “A fresh intense wet spell likely over Gujarat, Konkan & Goa, Madhya Maharashtra and coastal Karnataka from 12th July, 2022,” IMD said in a tweet on Sunday.
Rains continued to lash northern Telangana, with Kerameri village in Kumaram Bheem district receiving the highest rainfall of 188.5mm in the last 24 hours on Tuesday. Consequent to the rains, low-lying areas were inundated and waterlogging was reported at some places in Adilabad, Warangal and other districts of the state. Rivulets and other water bodies were in spate. Four members of a family, including two children, died of electrocution at Beedi Colony Workers under Devanpally police station limits in Kamareddy district due to heavy rains.
In Karnataka, at least four people lost their lives, even as traffic was thrown out of gear in many areas.
Over 9,600 villagers from several houses were evacuated to safety in different districts of Andhra Pradesh as a swelling River Godavari inundated several villages along its course, the state government said.
“This is an unprecedented flood in the last 100 years that has come in the month of July itself. The flood discharge may go up to 15-16 lakh cusecs by Wednesday and the heavy inflow in Godavari may continue because of rain in upper catchment region in Maharashtra,” chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy said.
The monsoon covered the entire country on July 2, six days in advance, and the low-pressure area formed over Odisha on July 3.
A low-pressure area originating off Odisha has gradually moved north and west, inwards into the country. This pattern, experts said, effectively activates the monsoon, which typically goes through phases of inactivity even after covering the country.
M Rajeevan, meteorologist and former secretary at ministry of earth sciences, said: “Monsoon is likely to be in active condition at least till 17 July in west coast and central India will get heavy rains.”
Experts say the monsoon trough shifted southward in July and has remained there.
“This month, the trough has remained south, leading to torrential rain over central India and absolutely dry conditions over the Indo-Gangetic Plains region particularly Jharkhand, Bihar, parts of Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. The western end of the trough has sometimes shifted slightly northward leading to only patchy rains over Haryana, Punjab, etc, but no rain over Delhi,” said Mahesh Palawat, vice president, climate change and meteorology, Skymet Weather.
While seven people died in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh’s capital Bhopal received over three inches of rainfall in just four hours, which resulted in several residential colonies, streets and highways being flooded…reports Asian Lite News
It’s raining woes in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Flood-like situation developed in several parts of Madhya Pradesh and the western state of Gujarat on Tuesday. While seven people died in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh’s capital Bhopal received over three inches of rainfall in just four hours, which resulted in several residential colonies, streets and highways being flooded.
The weather department has issued a warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall in Gujarat with isolated extremely heavy rain in several districts for today and during the next five days.
“Seven persons died in rain-related incidents in the last 24 hours, taking the death count due to rain-related incidents like lightning, drowning, wall collapse etc in Gujarat to 63 since June 1,” state Disaster Management Minister Rajendra Trivedi said. 9,000 people were relocated and 468 rescued, he said.
Ahmedabad city received 219 mm of downpour on Sunday night, causing water-logging in many residential areas and flooding in underpasses and roads. Schools and colleges in the city remained closed on Monday.
In south Gujarat, Dang, Navsari, Tapi, and Valsad districts were affected while the rain-hit districts in Central Gujarat are Panchmahal, Chhota Udepur, and Kheda.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have assured Gujarat of all possible help from the Centre.
Eighteen platoons each of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed at strategic locations for rescue and relief operations as and when required, Mr Shah said.
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) airlifted to safety 16 people stranded along the flooded banks of the Ambika river in the Valsad district, it said in a release.
MP-Nagpur highway closed
Meanwhile, a flood-like situation developed in several parts of Madhya Pradesh on Monday. The capital city Bhopal received over three inches of rainfall in just four hours, which resulted in several residential colonies, streets and highways being flooded.
As per reports, due to continued rain and bad weather in Bhopal, at least three Bhopal bound flights were diverted to Indore. As per the Raja Bhoj Airport authorities, flights that were diverted to Indore include the Hyderabad to Bhopal (Indigo flight), Mumbai to Bhopal (Air India) Delhi to Bhopal (Air India flight).
In Bhopal, several residential colonies were water-logged, at many places four-wheelers were seen in flood waters. Due to water-logging, many petrol pumps had to stop services for hours in the city.
Due to the unprecedented heavy downpour in the catchment areas of Kanhan river in Satpura valley and the opening of all the 16 gates of the Navegaon-Khairy reservoir, there is heavy flooding in the Kanhan river. Because of this, vehicular movement on the national highway connecting Chhindwara (Madhya Pradesh) and Nagpur (Maharashtra) was stopped early on Monday.
The Vidisha district administration has announced the closure of schools due to the heavy rain. Data received from the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) regional official in Bhopal, the heaviest rainfall was in Chhindwara district at 9 mm.
Heavy rain lashed many districts including Morena, Chhindwara, Bhopal and Indore. Flood-like situations were witnessed in districts like Saunsar in Chhindwara, Morena and many others.
Chennai to develop sponge parks
Meanwhile, the Greater Chennai Corporation has embarked on an important project to prevent floods in the city by converting city parks into ‘Sponge Parks’.
Corporation officials said that the parks are being developed to store rainwater. A total of 50 parks have been identified to begin with, and gradually other parks too shall be developed.
The idea is to slow down the release of rain water run off into neighbouring storm water drains and limit the run off in a gradual manner, he added.
The GCC will identify two parks in each zone under the corporation and those earmarked will have harvesting structures to store run off during rains. It will also have a percolation system for natural filtering of water before it goes down the ground.
Corporation officials are engaged in detailed discussions with experts in water management regarding the structure of these parks.
Notably, Manchester in England is using Sponge parks as a flood defence mechanism. The Chennai corporation will be building 100 new parks and 50 playfields as part of ‘Singara Chennai 2.0’.
The estimated cost earmarked for the project is Rs 50 crore.
In Bhopal, several residential colonies were water-logged, at many places four-wheelers were seen in flood waters. Due to water-logging, many petrol pumps had to stop services for hours in the city…reports Asian Lite News
Due to heavy rain for the last 24 hours, a flood-like situation developed in several parts of Madhya Pradesh on Monday. The capital city Bhopal received over three inches of rainfall in just four hours, which resulted in several residential colonies, streets and highways being flooded.
As per reports, due to continued rain and bad weather in Bhopal, at least three Bhopal bound flights were diverted to Indore. As per the Raja Bhoj Airport authorities, flights that were diverted to Indore include the Hyderabad to Bhopal (Indigo flight), Mumbai to Bhopal (Air India) Delhi to Bhopal (Air India flight).
In Bhopal, several residential colonies were water-logged, at many places four-wheelers were seen in flood waters. Due to water-logging, many petrol pumps had to stop services for hours in the city.
Due to the unprecedented heavy downpour in the catchment areas of Kanhan river in Satpura valley and the opening of all the 16 gates of the Navegaon-Khairy reservoir, there is heavy flooding in the Kanhan river. Because of this, vehicular movement on the national highway connecting Chhindwara (Madhya Pradesh) and Nagpur (Maharashtra) was stopped early on Monday.
The Vidisha district administration has announced the closure of schools due to the heavy rain. Data received from the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) regional official in Bhopal, the heaviest rainfall was in Chhindwara district at 9 mm.
Heavy rain lashed many districts including Morena, Chhindwara, Bhopal and Indore. Flood-like situations were witnessed in districts like Saunsar in Chhindwara, Morena and many others.
According to the Met officials, moderate to heavy rain is expected in many areas of the state. Madhya Pradesh Agriculture Minister Kamal Patel assured of compensation to the farmers who suffer crop loss due to the incessant rain.
Talking to the media, the minister said, “The weather has been bad for 2-3 days. Rain & hailstorms have damaged standing crops. Officials have been asked to survey the affected villages. 25 per cent of the compensation money will be paid immediately.”
