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<ul><li><keyword id="6366970" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="IMD" source="Orion">IMD</keyword> has issued an <keyword id="2917676" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="orange-alert" source="Orion">orange alert</keyword> in Mumbai, Assam and Meghalaya due to intense rainfall.</li><li>Heavy rainfall with thunderstorms likely to hit north, northeastern and southern states in the next five days.</li><li>Whereas, no warning has been issued for Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Marathwada and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.</li></ul>In the next 2-3 days, there would be heavy rainfall across northern, central and eastern parts of India, according to the <keyword id="55209" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Meteorological-Department" source="Orion">Indian Meteorological Department</keyword> (IMD). It has even issued orange alerts in Mumbai, Assam and Meghalaya in anticipation of intense rainfall – shifting gears from one extreme weather to another. Assam and Meghalaya — which are two worst hit states by flood — are likely to receive more rain today. Around 52 people have died in these two states due to floods and 44 lakh people have been displaced so far. The IMD has indicated a strong chance of heavy to very heavy rainfall in Mumbai, Palghar, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts of Maharashtra. Chennai too is expected to be the epicenter of heavy rainfall – along adjoining districts like Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam localities. The state witnessed a heavy downpour on Sunday, June 19, as well which is an indication of more thunderstorms in the coming days in Chennai and suburbs in addition to a downpour on Monday. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Heavy rainfall with thunderstorms likely in north and the northeast" comment="subhead" text="Heavy rainfall with thunderstorms likely in north and the northeast">Heavy rainfall with thunderstorms likely in north and the northeast</cmsannotation> According to sub-division wise warnings by IMD, northern states like Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh are likely to experience heavy rainfall along with thunderstorms and lightning. The rain will bring a reprieve from the scorching heat especially in the northern states of India. Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, West Madhya Pradesh and East Rajasthan may witness only lightning and thunderstorms. Similar conditions are likely to surface in Bihar, Jharkhand and East Uttar Pradesh. Widespread rainfall with thunderstorms, lightning very likely to occur in Odisha, Vidarbha and Chhattisgarh in the next five days. Heavy rainfall is likely to occur in Gujarat region and Madhya Maharashtra, as per the IMD report. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms" comment="subhead" text="Cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms">Cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms</cmsannotation> IMD has also predicted that the sky condition is likely to be partly cloudy for the next 24 hours in the southern states. Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, South Interior Karnataka may witness heavy rainfall along with thunderstorms and lightning. Similar conditions are likely to prevail in northeastern states as well — West Bengal and Sikkim, Gangetic West Bengal, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura. Saurashtra and Kutch, Coastal Karnataka and Kerala are likely to experience strong surface winds. However, no warning has been issued for Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Marathwada and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/life-in-rural-india-hit-by-a-wilted-rabi-crop/articleshow/92333426.cms">Vanished savings, trading down to cheaper essentials – life in rural India hit by a wilted Rabi crop</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sustainability/news/bengaluru-attempts-to-promote-e-mobility-by-setting-up-nearly-150-new-ev-charging-stations-across-the-city/articleshow/92331903.cms">Bengaluru attempts to promote e-mobility by setting up nearly 150 new EV charging stations across the city</a>

India heads into the thunderstorm zone right after the heatwave, orange alerts issued

<ul><li>According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (<keyword id="2545081" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="asdma" source="Orion">ASDMA</keyword>), at least 5.75 lakh people have been affected and 30 people have lost their lives so far as of May 27, 2022.</li><li>956 villages in Assam are under water today.</li><li>Assam is one of the most flood-prone states in India and it has almost become an annual calamity.</li><li>Here’s why the most-populated northeastern state gets flooded every year.</li></ul>The pre-monsoon season hasn’t started on a pleasant note for Assam. Every year, the rainy season brings destruction to the most-populated northeastern state. It brings chaos, displacing thousands of people and animals, and damaging crops and properties worth billions. However, this time, the monsoons are yet to arrive and according to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), at least <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/assam-floods-death-count-reaches-30-over-5-61-lakh-people-affected-3013384">5.75 lakh people have been affected and 30 people</a> have lost their lives so far due to the floods which have ravaged the state as of May 27, 2022. Out of 5.75 people affected, 1,25,471 are children, who reside in 1,709 villages based in 22 of the state's 34 districts. Close to 82,503 hectares of crop areas in flood-hit areas also remain affected. <div type="image" title="image (26)" msid="91828765" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Floor hazard map of Assam&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Why are floods an annual occurrence in the state of Assam? Assam is one of the most flood-prone states in India and it has almost become an annual calamity. In terms of impact on <a href="https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/07/20/assam-floods/">human lives</a>, the floods of 1988, 1998 and 2004 were the worst – the 2004 floods alone affected 12.4 million people and claimed 251 lives. According to the Assam government, the <a href="https://waterresources.assam.gov.in/portlets/flood-erosion-problems#:~:text=The%20flood%20prone%20area%20of%20the%20country%20as%20a%20whole,prone%20area%20of%20the%20country.">flood-prone area</a> of the state is 31.05 lakh hectares, against a total area of 78.523 lakh hectares – this means nearly 40% of the state’s area is flood-prone. Overall, Assam accounts for nearly 10% of the total flood-prone area of the country. The average <a href="https://waterresources.assam.gov.in/portlets/flood-erosion-problems#:~:text=The%20flood%20prone%20area%20of%20the%20country%20as%20a%20whole,prone%20area%20of%20the%20country.">annual loss</a> due to floods in Assam is to the tune of ₹200 crore and particularly in 1998, the loss suffered was about ₹500 crore and during the year 2004 it was about ₹771.00 crore. Apart from the natural topography and annual excessive rainfall in Assam, there are various reasons – both man-made and natural – behind the destructive floods that hit Assam every year. Assam is home to a vast network of rivers, including the Brahmaputra and Barak River, and more than 50 tributaries feeding them. Assam also receives river water from <a href="https://waterresources.assam.gov.in/portlets/flood-erosion-problems#:~:text=The%20flood%20prone%20area%20of%20the%20country%20as%20a%20whole,prone%20area%20of%20the%20country.">neighboring states</a> like Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya. <a href="https://waterresources.assam.gov.in/portlets/flood-erosion-problems#:~:text=The%20flood%20prone%20area%20of%20the%20country%20as%20a%20whole,prone%20area%20of%20the%20country.">In 2004 and 2014</a>, the south bank tributaries of the Brahmaputra in lower Assam experienced flash floods of high magnitude due to cloud bursts in the catchment areas in Meghalaya. A similar incident occurred in <a href="https://waterresources.assam.gov.in/portlets/flood-erosion-problems#:~:text=The%20flood%20prone%20area%20of%20the%20country%20as%20a%20whole,prone%20area%20of%20the%20country.">Arunachal Pradesh in 2011</a>, further aggravating floods in Assam. Bank erosion caused by the river Brahmaputra is one of the major reasons why Assam gets flooded every year. It means the removal of soil, sediment, or rock fragments along the banks, which results from high water flow. Due to erosion, the width of the river increases and it changes its course. According to the Assam government, more than <a href="https://waterresources.assam.gov.in/portlets/flood-erosion-problems#:~:text=The%20flood%20prone%20area%20of%20the%20country%20as%20a%20whole,prone%20area%20of%20the%20country.">4.27 lakh hectares</a> of land, which is 7.40 % area of the state, has been eroded by the river Brahmaputra and its tributaries since 1950. The width of the river Brahmaputra has increased up to 15 kilometres at some places due to bank erosion, making it the widest river in India. It is estimated that annually nearly 8,000 hectares land is lost to erosion The surveys carried out at different periods reflect an alarming picture regarding the widening of river Brahmaputra which is as follows: <div type="image" title="bramha" msid="91828789" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;River Brahmaputra has been widening at an alarming rate&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Floods are also caused by human intervention – like encroachment of river banks and wetlands, lack of drainage, unplanned urban growth, hill cutting and deforestation. The dams that are being built are further aggravating these disasters. Government measures to control floods in Assam In 1982, the Brahmaputra Board suggested that dams and reservoirs be built to mitigate floods in Assam. While dams are meant to regulate the flow of water, they can also be beyond the capacity of the channels downstream, proving to be a double-edged sword. The Water Resources Department of Assam has constructed embankments and flood walls across the state. River training, bank protection, anti-erosion and town protection are also in the works. Here’s how their plan has progressed thus far: <div type="image" title="assam-gov-2" msid="91828886" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Assam govt&amp;#39;s measures to control floods in the state&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> There are various other reasons why Assam gets flooded every year, which are shared in the video below. <div type="Video" msid="91819416" hostid="261" title="Simply put: Why Assam gets flooded every year" dataSource="BUSINESSINSIDER" thumbUrl="https://denmark.timesinternet.in/cmslite/api/app/images.jpg?msid=91819416"></div>

Explained: Why Assam gets flooded every year

The pre-monsoon season hasn’t started on a pleasant note for <keyword id="6354915" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="assam" source="Orion">Assam</keyword>. Every year, the rainy season brings destruction to the most-populated northeastern state. It brings chaos, displacing thousands of people and animals, and damaging crops and properties worth billions. However, this time, the monsoons are yet to arrive and according to the <keyword id="645470" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="assam-state-disaster-management-authority" source="Orion">Assam State Disaster Management Authority</keyword> (ASDMA), at least <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/over-four-lakh-people-affected-as-pre-monsoon-rains-trigger-floods-in-assam/articleshow/91632004.cms">4 lakh people have been affected and 24 people</a> have lost their lives so far due to the floods which have ravaged the state. On May 24, Assam floods witnessed a surge in the death toll, as it rose to 25 and 6.5 lakh people remained affected. These <a href="https://weather.com/en-IN/india/news/news/2022-05-24-assam-floods-improve-but-rains-prevail-over-northeast-india">6,50,402</a> affected, which include 1,25,471 children, reside in 1,709 villages based in 22 of the state's 34 districts. Close to 82,503 hectares of crop areas in flood-hit areas also remain affected. <div type="image" title="Flood hazard map of Assam, where colours represent different hazard classes" msid="91820351" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Flood hazard map of Assam, where colours represent different hazard classes&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Why are floods an annual occurrence in the state of Assam? Assam is one of the most flood-prone states in India and it has almost become an annual calamity. In terms of impact on <a href="https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/07/20/assam-floods/">human lives</a>, the floods of 1988, 1998 and 2004 were the worst – the 2004 floods alone affected 12.4 million people and claimed 251 lives. According to the Assam government, the <a href="https://waterresources.assam.gov.in/portlets/flood-erosion-problems#:~:text=The%20flood%20prone%20area%20of%20the%20country%20as%20a%20whole,prone%20area%20of%20the%20country.">flood-prone area</a> of the state is 31.05 lakh hectares, against a total area of 78.523 lakh hectares – this means nearly 40% of the state’s area is flood-prone. Overall, Assam accounts for nearly 10% of the total flood-prone area of the country. The average <a href="https://waterresources.assam.gov.in/portlets/flood-erosion-problems#:~:text=The%20flood%20prone%20area%20of%20the%20country%20as%20a%20whole,prone%20area%20of%20the%20country.">annual loss</a> due to floods in Assam is to the tune of ₹200 crore and particularly in 1998, the loss suffered was about ₹500 crore and during the year 2004 it was about ₹771.00 crore. Apart from the natural topography and annual excessive rainfall in Assam, there are various reasons – both man-made and natural – behind the destructive floods that hit Assam every year. Assam is home to a vast network of rivers, including the Brahmaputra and Barak River, and more than 50 tributaries feeding them. Assam also receives river water from <a href="https://waterresources.assam.gov.in/portlets/flood-erosion-problems#:~:text=The%20flood%20prone%20area%20of%20the%20country%20as%20a%20whole,prone%20area%20of%20the%20country.">neighboring states</a> like Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya. <a href="https://waterresources.assam.gov.in/portlets/flood-erosion-problems#:~:text=The%20flood%20prone%20area%20of%20the%20country%20as%20a%20whole,prone%20area%20of%20the%20country.">In 2004 and 2014</a>, the south bank tributaries of the Brahmaputra in lower Assam experienced flash floods of high magnitude due to cloud bursts in the catchment areas in Meghalaya. A similar incident occurred in <a href="https://waterresources.assam.gov.in/portlets/flood-erosion-problems#:~:text=The%20flood%20prone%20area%20of%20the%20country%20as%20a%20whole,prone%20area%20of%20the%20country.">Arunachal Pradesh in 2011</a>, further aggravating floods in Assam. Bank erosion caused by the river Brahmaputra is one of the major reasons why Assam gets flooded every year. It means the removal of soil, sediment, or rock fragments along the banks, which results from high water flow. Due to erosion, the width of the river increases and it changes its course. According to the Assam government, more than <a href="https://waterresources.assam.gov.in/portlets/flood-erosion-problems#:~:text=The%20flood%20prone%20area%20of%20the%20country%20as%20a%20whole,prone%20area%20of%20the%20country.">4.27 lakh hectares</a> of land, which is 7.40 % area of the state, has been eroded by the river Brahmaputra and its tributaries since 1950. The width of the river Brahmaputra has increased up to 15 kilometres at some places due to bank erosion, making it the widest river in India. It is estimated that annually nearly 8,000 hectares land is lost to erosion. The surveys carried out at different periods reflect an alarming picture regarding the widening of river Brahmaputra which is as follows: <div type="image" title="River Brahmaputra has been widening at an alarming rate" msid="91820475" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;River Brahmaputra has been widening at an alarming rate&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Floods are also caused by human intervention – like encroachment of river banks and wetlands, lack of drainage, unplanned urban growth, hill cutting and deforestation. The dams that are being built are further aggravating these disasters. Government measures to control floods in Assam In 1982, the <keyword id="905955" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="brahmaputra-board" source="Orion">Brahmaputra Board</keyword> suggested that dams and reservoirs be built to mitigate floods in Assam. While dams are meant to regulate the flow of water, they can also be beyond the capacity of the channels downstream, proving to be a double-edged sword. The <keyword id="14039836" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="water-resources-department-of-assam" source="Orion">Water Resources Department of Assam</keyword> has constructed embankments and flood walls across the state. River training, bank protection, anti-erosion and town protection are also in the works. Here’s how their plan has progressed thus far: <div type="image" title="Assam govt&amp;#39;s measures to control floods in the state" msid="91820500" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Assam govt&amp;#39;s measures to control floods in the state&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Here's a short video <div type="image" title="Why Assam gets flooded every year" msid="91820530" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Why Assam gets flooded every year&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>

SIMPLY PUT: Why Assam gets flooded every year

As the incessant monsoon rains continued, <keyword id="395412" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="flood-situation">flood situation</keyword> in <keyword id="6354915" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="assam">Assam</keyword> further worsened on Saturday with 1,289 villages in 21 districts being inundated, distressing 4.63 lakh people, while the Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger level at many places in nine districts, officials said. Meanwhile, officials of the state-owned Oil India Ltd (OIL) said that due to the heavy downpour over the past few days, Baghjan - where its leaking oil well caught fire - and adjoining areas in Tinsukia district have been badly hit by flood water and the accident site has been inundated, affecting the efforts to douse the blaze. "All connecting roads to the OIL's oil well site have been submerged with flood water. Bridges were damaged. At many places water is flowing over the road with knee to waist deep water. OIL's operational areas are heavily inundated," an OIL release said. A massive fire broke out on June 9 at OIL's Baghjan oil well near the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park that had been spewing natural gas and oil condensates uncontrollably since May 27. An important bridge en route to Baghjan, around 550 km east of Guwahati, was damaged due to the floods and the Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has asked the official to build a bailey bridge for unimpeded movement of emergency services. An official of <keyword id="9477368" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="the-assam-state-disaster-management-authority">the Assam State Disaster Management Authority</keyword> (ASDMA) said that the flood-hit districts are Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Biswanath, Udalguri, Darrang, Nalbari, Barpeta, Kokrajhar, Nagaon, Golaghat, Jorhat, Majuli, Sivasagar, Dibrugarh, Chirang, Bongaigaon, South Salmara, <keyword id="325889" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Goalpara">Goalpara</keyword>, Kamrup, Morigaon and Tinsukia. The official said : "Over 4.63 lakh people affected by the floods and over 37,313 Ahectares of crop were badly affected due to the floods. Around 19,500 people took shelter in 132 relief camps." The official said that in the current wave of floods, three persons died in Goalpara and Dibrugarh districts while in the first wave of floods from May 22 claimed 15 lives in different districts of Assam. In all, at least 2,49,300 various pets (domestic) animals were affected due to the current wave of floods since early this week. <keyword id="4449695" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="The-National-Disaster-Response-Force">The National Disaster Response Force</keyword>, Assam State Disaster Response Force personnel, along with local administrations, are continuously working to rescue the affected people and rendering the relief services, including distribution of relief to the marooned villagers. TThe Chief Minister has also directed the Deputy Commissioners of all the affected districts to address the needs of the flood-hit people urgently while also adhering to COVID-19 safety protocols. Meanwhile, the heavy monsoon rains affected the normal life in most of the other northeastern states. The rain water has inundated vast low lying areas of Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Mizoram. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/what-ceos-say-india-can-learn-from-china-to-get-more-electric-vehicles-on-the-road/articleshow/76669260.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">What CEOs say India can learn from China to get more electric vehicles on the road</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/swarms-of-locusts-blanket-indias-national-capital-region-pilots-and-airlines-alerted-ahead/articleshow/76660948.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Swarms of locusts blanket India’s national capital region — pilots and airlines alerted ahead</a>

Assam flood situation worsens, 4.63 lakh people affected across 1,289 villages

<ul><li>After a month of searching, the search for the 15 miners in <keyword id="6355772" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="meghalaya">Meghalaya</keyword> finally seems to have yielded results. </li><li>The underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) spotted a body 160 feet into a ‘rat hole’ mine that was flooded by the Lytein River. </li><li>The body is being brought out under the supervision of doctors and the search continues for the 14 remaining miners.</li></ul>The <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indian-supreme-court-expresses-dissatisfaction-instructs-government-to-get-the-miners-out-dead-or-alive/articleshow/67257937.cms">Meghalaya mining crisis</a> in <keyword id="3658" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> finally seems to have made progress after over a month of searching for the 15 miners trapped in an illegal rat-hole mine. The <keyword id="6355100" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Navy">Indian Navy</keyword> spotted a body 160 feet into mine using its underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV). 
	
	
	<div type="twitter" handle="indiannavy" handlename="SpokespersonNavy" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/871053127205625856/pGhIGmLN_normal.jpg" favoritecount="49" retweetcount="28" status="#MeghalayaMineTragedy The depth is 160 feet (and not 60 feet) and the body has been pulled upto the mouth of Rat-ho… https://t.co/F5tH54k3Xa" createdat="1547696283000" id="1085743023957323777"></div>







 The body is being brought up to the mouth of the mine under the supervision of doctors — and the hunt is still on for the remaining 14 miners. The efforts to rescue the miners were halted altogether two weeks into the operation when the pumps available to the state government gave out under stress. It was only then that firefighters from Odisha and the Indian Navy were called in to help. Even <keyword id="45383" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Coal-India">Coal India</keyword> Limited and Kirloskar Brother Limited stepped in to offer high-capacity submersible pumps to help with the process. The flooding from the Lytein river created a situation that even Indian Navy divers couldn’t go deep enough to access the rat holes until the water in the mine was taken out. Dangers of mining practices in this part of the country is exactly why the National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned mining in Meghalaya in 2014. Despite the ban, mining practices have continued. In early January, two miners died in an illegal <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/more-illegal-mining-in-india-the-state-of-meghalaya-has-more-questions-than-answers/articleshow/67419109.cms">‘side cutting’ mine</a> in another part of the state. Here’s a quick look at the Meghalaya mining crisis:

India’s Meghalaya mining crisis finally makes progress in its search for 15 missing miners

<keyword id="988973" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="extreme-weather">Extreme Weather</keyword> wreaks havoc and <keyword id="1209735" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Disaster-preparedness">disaster preparedness</keyword> of the extreme kind can only lessen the losses but cannot entirely leash them. A new research report compiled by the UK-based <keyword id="459969" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Overseas-Development-Institute">Overseas Development Institute</keyword> suggests that by 2030, up to a third of a billion people could be living in the 49 countries most exposed to the full range of <keyword id="1187439" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="natural-hazards">natural hazards</keyword> and <keyword id="1713913" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Climate-Extremes">climate extremes</keyword>. So adequate measures must be taken now to control the impact of Extreme Weather occurrences (<keyword id="43950" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="storm">storm</keyword>, <keyword id="46472" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="drought">drought</keyword>, <keyword id="6369083" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Flood">flood</keyword>, <keyword id="6362774" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="earthquake">earthquake</keyword>, etc.) or it is bound to hurt the economies and will push people back into poverty. Although an emerging market nation, <keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="100" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> has long struggled to cope with <keyword id="55531" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Disaster-management">disaster management</keyword>. As the country encounters the second <keyword id="6386783" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Cyclone">cyclone</keyword> attack in six weeks, here is a quick look at the natural hazards that struck India throughout the year, leading to massive destruction and huge losses. 
Main image: Wikipedia 
 
<keyword id="1945034" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Cyclone-Helen">Cyclone Helen</keyword> The severe cyclonic storm hit the coastal parts of <keyword id="37102" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Andhra-Pradesh">Andhra Pradesh</keyword> only a couple of days ago, killing at least 6 people. Around 21,000 people were evacuated from low-lying areas as <keyword id="45172" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="heavy-rain">heavy rain</keyword> lashed the <keyword id="482064" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="coastal-districts">coastal districts</keyword> and strong gales reached the speed of 100-120 kmph. Storm and <keyword id="13195" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rain">rain</keyword> caused massive damage to <keyword id="18620" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="crops">crops</keyword> and coconut plantations spread over 1.69 lakh hectares. 
Image: ddinews.gov.in 
 
 
 
Super-Cyclone Phailin One of the most powerful tropical <keyword id="42569" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="cyclones">cyclones</keyword>, Phailin hit India’s east coast in October and was expected to cause massive death and destruction. Strong winds went up to a speed of 220 kmph as it struck the shores of <keyword id="6357961" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Odisha">Odisha</keyword> and Andhra Pradesh. However, early warnings and the mass evacuation of nearly 900,000 people limited the <keyword id="6397442" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="death-toll">death toll</keyword> to 30-50. A quarter million houses were razed though, and over 860,000 hectares of cropland was destroyed. The overall damage amounted to about $150 million. 
Image: Indiatimes 
 
 
 
The <keyword id="1713585" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Himalayan-tsunami">Himalayan tsunami</keyword> <keyword id="173656" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kedarnath">Kedarnath</keyword> town in the state of <keyword id="44522" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Uttarakhand">Uttarakhand</keyword> was literally washed out when massive flash floods and landslides hit the valley in June this year. About 33 cm of rain fell during a cloudburst and a lake above the 8th century <keyword id="1674376" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kedarnath-temple">Kedarnath Temple</keyword> burst, sending a deluge of water down the valley. Over 110,000 stranded pilgrims were rescued and the actual death toll could be close to 10,000 while 20,000 hectares of <keyword id="6491949" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="agricultural-land">agricultural land</keyword> was severely damaged in the deluge. According to a <keyword id="29740" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Bloomberg">Bloomberg</keyword> report based on a document from AON Benfield, economic losses due to the floods in India (mostly Uttarakhand) could be $1.1 billion and insured costs around half a million. 
Image: Indiatimes 
 
 
 
<keyword id="1672039" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Cyclone-Mahasen">Cyclone Mahasen</keyword> The first among the three cyclones to have crossed the <keyword id="960263" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indian-coast">Indian coast</keyword> this year. The south-westerly monsoon started with this <keyword id="385066" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="tropical-storm">tropical storm</keyword> in May and affected six countries in South and <keyword id="366595" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="South-East-Asia">South-east Asia</keyword>. Cyclone Mahasen moved up from the southern <keyword id="55869" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Bay-of-Bengal">Bay of Bengal</keyword> and finally hit Bangladesh, but its effects could be felt in southern, eastern and north-eastern parts of India. Heavy rain lashed Meghalaya as it crossed into neighbouring Bangladesh while severe storms in Andhra Pradesh caused eight deaths and also flooded 739 hectares of farmland. In the coastal districts of Odisha, there were scattered but powerful storms, producing winds up to 72 kmph. Malkangiri saw the heaviest rainfall at 48 mm. 
Image: earthobservatory.nasa.gov

How Extreme Weather Is Battering India This Year

<ul><li><keyword id="164166" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Southwest-monsoon" source="Orion">Southwest Monsoon</keyword> is likely to advance over some parts of <keyword id="6555079" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Southwest-Arabian-Sea" source="Orion">Southwest Arabian Sea</keyword>, Maldives and Comorin area, South and East- central Bay of Bengal and some parts of Northeast Bay of Bengal during next 48 hours.</li><li>No big heat waves would occur in the country over the next five days.</li><li>The Met department had already announced a month ago that the monsoon rainfall this year over the country as a whole is most likely to be normal</li></ul>It could be the most awaited monsoon in the recent years as Indian suffered through a severe heatwave this summer — and it’s coming in the next 48 hours according to the <keyword id="55209" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="indian-meteorological-department" source="Orion">Indian Meteorological Department</keyword> (<keyword id="6366970" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="imd" source="Orion">IMD</keyword>). IMD said that the <keyword id="6444246" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="southwest" source="Orion">Southwest</keyword> Monsoon is likely to advance over some parts of Southwest Arabian Sea, Maldives and Comorin area, South and East-central Bay of Bengal and some parts of Northeast Bay of Bengal in the next two days. The IMD also predicted that no big heat waves would occur in the country for the next five days. <div type="twitter" handle="Indiametdept" handlename="India Meteorological Department" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1512846608882618369/vRo-Pq0A_normal.jpg" favoritecount="100" retweetcount="18" status="Isolated heavy rainfall also likely over Kerala &amp; Mahe today and over Tamilnadu on 25th &amp; 26th May.Squally weather… https://t.co/LZavwK54sU" createdat="1653464055000" id="1529365212318425088"></div> The Met department had already announced a month ago that the monsoon rainfall this year over the country as a whole is most likely to be normal - quantitatively 99% of the Long Period Average (LPA). <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Heavy rainfall in southern and northeastern states of India" comment="subhead" text="Heavy rainfall in southern and northeastern states of India">Heavy rainfall in southern and northeastern states of India</cmsannotation> IMD had <a href="https://www.livemint.com/news/india/imd-warns-of-heavy-rainfall-in-these-areas-on-25-may-shares-update-on-south-west-monsoon-forecast-here-11653467944982.html">predicted</a> that Kerala, Mahe, Lakshadweep and Tamil Nadu would witness heavy downpours this week. Earlier, IMD had announced that the Southwest monsoon is likely to knock on Kerala's door on May 27, against the normal onset date of June 1. "This year, the onset of southwest monsoon over Kerala is likely to be earlier than the normal date of onset. The monsoon onset over Kerala is likely to be on May 27 with a model error of plus or minus four days," the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. According to the weather company, the overall rainfall in the South would be less than normal. “In June, low-level easterly winds are likely to cover over southern region, keeping the southwest winds suppressed, leading to below average rainfall over southern India for the first month of the monsoon season,” says The Weather Company. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Flood situation in Assam might escalate" comment="subhead" text="Flood situation in Assam might escalate">Flood situation in Assam might escalate</cmsannotation> Northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura — are likely to experience a heavy shower on May 25 and 29, while Assam and Meghalaya between May 25-29. Assam is currently reeling from severe floods due to heavy rainfall, and 26 people have lost their lives due to it. The flood has affected around 5.8 lakh people across 17 districts. IMD predicts more heavy rainfall likely to occur in the northeastern state of India, which can further escalate the situation. Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh are likely to foresee a hailstorm activity with slight gusty wind, thunderstorm and lightning between May 28 - 29. Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan are likely to receive rainfall between May 28-29. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/retail-inflation-could-soften-by-50-60-basis-points-on-government-interventions-care/articleshow/91814481.cms">Retail inflation could soften by 50-60 basis points on government interventions: CARE</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/tata-steel-jsw-sail-and-jspl-will-lose-half-of-their-export-biz-as-government-wages-war-on-inflation/articleshow/91814365.cms">Tata Steel, JSW, SAIL and JSPL will lose half of their export biz as government wages war on inflation</a>

Heatwave is gone and heavy rainfall, hailstorms in the next 5 days —  IMD issues alert

(Eds: Adds details) New Delhi, Jun 26 () The Southwest Monsoon has covered the entire country nearly two weeks ahead of its schedule, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said Friday. The IMD has predicted heavy rains in Bihar, West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh in the next few days. "The Southwest Monsoon has further advanced into the remaining parts of Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab and thus it has covered the entire country today, June 26," the IMD said. A low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal, which moved west-northwestwards, and another cyclonic circulation over central India helped in advance of the monsoon. The monsoon usually sets in over Kerala on June 1 and takes 45 days to reach Sriganganagar in west Rajasthan, its last outpost in the country. However, the IMD had advanced the onset date over Sriganganagar by a week from this year. It had also set the new normal date for monsoon to cover the entire country on July 8. In 2013, the monsoon had covered the entire country on June 16. This had also coincided with the deadly Uttarakhand flash floods. "After 2013, the monsoon has covered the country so rapidly this year," IMD Director General Mrutunjay Mohapatra said. The IMD said there is a trough close to the foothills of eastern Himalayas. Another trough runs from Bihar to east Vidarbha, the IMD said. There is also high convergence of strong moist southerlies, southwesterly winds from the Bay of Bengal over northeast and adjoining east India and it is likely to continue for the next 2-3 days, the IMD added. Owing to these weather patterns, heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected at a few places with extremely heavy falls at isolated places is very likely over Bihar, sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh on June 26 and 27. Heavy to very heavy falls are expected on June 28-29, the IMD added. PR SMN SMN

Southeast Monsoon covers entire country nearly two weeks early: IMD

<ul><li><keyword id="11283410" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="cyclone-yaas">Cyclone Yaas</keyword> is likely to turn into a ‘very severe cyclonic storm’ once it hits the Indian coast on May 26.</li><li>This is the fourth time that a cyclone is hitting India within the month of May, and the second cyclone that the country has had to brace for in as many weeks.</li><li>Climate change is pegged to be behind the rapid face of intensification of the cyclone and its increasing potential to cause damage.</li><li>According to Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Yaas is likely to hit the Indian coast between Paradeep in Odisha and the southern coast of West Bengal.</li></ul>India is still recovering from the aftermath of Cyclone Tauktae, but another powerful cyclone is already on its way. This new cyclone, which will be called Cyclone Yaas once it fully forms, is likely to become an extremely severe cyclone by the time it hits the coast — somewhere between the states of Odisha and West Bengal. <div type="ExtQuote" text="“It is very likely to move slowly north-northwestwards, intensify further into a ‘severe cyclonic storm’ during the next 24 hours and into a ‘very severe cyclonic storm’ during subsequent 24 hours.”" auname="Indian Meteorological Department (IMD)"></div> This is the fourth time that the month of May will be witnessing two or more cyclones. There were two cyclones in May in 2018 and 2004, and three in 2010. Moreover, the natural disaster is set to hit at a time when India is trying to contain the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. And one can’t help but compare what’s coming to what already happened with Cyclone Amphan, last year. <div type="image" title="nullschool gif" msid="82900985" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Visuals of Cyclone Yaas forming in the Bay of Bengal on May 24 as of 10:30 am&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> When Amphan — a category 5 cyclone — hit the western Indian coast last year, India was in the clutches of the first wave of COVID-19. And the storm caused <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/top-10-most-expensive-natural-disasters-of-2020-in-the-world/slidelist/79986294.cms">$13 billion</a> in damage. It was the costliest cyclone ever to brew in the north Indian Ocean breaking the previously held record by Cyclone Nargis, which hit in 2008. <div type="image" title="cyclone amphan_now_edited" msid="82901043" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Locals clearing up fallen trees in the aftermath of Cyclone Amphan in West Bengal&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> So far, predictions by weather models peg that Yaas will at least be a category 3 storm, with the potential to escalate to a category 4. Even though it’s likely to have a shorter lifespan than Amphan, according to meteorologist <a href="https://twitter.com/akshaydeoras/status/1395387630188105728">Akshay Deoras</a>, its destructive power is likely to be just as intense. <div type="twitter" handle="akshaydeoras" handlename="Akshay Deoras" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1217155223002800135/gC2XZ5vJ_normal.jpg" favoritecount="9" retweetcount="3" status="The intensity of #CycloneYaas during its landfall can become comparable to landfall intensities of #CycloneTaukte a… https://t.co/r0VabZ9akD" createdat="1621622901000" id="1395813730932428807"></div> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Climate change is making cyclones stronger in a shorter time span" comment="subhead" text="Climate change is making cyclones stronger in a shorter time span">Climate change is making cyclones stronger in a shorter time span</cmsannotation> The rapid intensification of Cyclone Amphan from a cyclone to a super cyclone in about 40 hours, last year, was pegged to be a sign of a warming Bay of Bengal — a consequence of global warming, according to <a href="https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2020/05/26/cyclone-amphan-climate-adaptation/">experts</a>. The same was seen with Cyclone Tautkae, last week. Its pace of intensification and the duration of its rage were unexpected. And, again, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/cyclone-tauktae-is-intensifying-with-surprising-speed-bearing-the-tell-tale-signs-of-climate-change/articleshow/82705780.cms">experts pointed to climate change</a>. <div type="image" title="yaas" msid="82901070" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Satellite image of Cyclone Yaas forming in the Bay of Bengal&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> With Cyclone Yaas, history seems all set to repeat itself. The Bay of Bengal is very warm. As the storm moves in, its sea surface temperature (SST) of between 30 to 31 degrees Celsius will be one of the main factors that could quickly intensify the storm. The <a href="https://mausam.imd.gov.in/Forecast/marquee_data/4.%20National_Bulletin_20210524_0000UTC.pdf">IMD</a> predicts that wind speeds with Yaas will reach a maximum of 155-165 kilometres per hour on May 26, with gusts speeding up to 180 kilometres per hour. <div type="image" title="amphan1" msid="82901083" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The path that Cyclone Yaas is likely to take as it become more intense and moves towards the Indian coast&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> According to Deoras, tropical cyclones generally form further to the south over the Bay of Bengal. If the model predictions about Cyclone Yaas hold true, it will become the most intense tropical cyclone that formed so close to the Odisha and West Bengal coasts in the month of May since 1980. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="The damage of Cyclone Yaas is likely to extend beyond Odisha and West Bengal" comment="subhead" text="The damage of Cyclone Yaas is likely to extend beyond Odisha and West Bengal">The damage of Cyclone Yaas is likely to extend beyond Odisha and West Bengal</cmsannotation> Cyclone Yaas is expected to make landfall on the Indian coast between Paradeep in Odisha and the southern coast of West Bengal. Odisha has deployed 60 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams to vulnerable districts to help with evacuation. The Indian Navy is at sea ensuring that no fishermen are out at sea. The Eastern Railway has suspended 25 trains in view of the upcoming cyclone and personnel from the armed forces and National Disaster Relief Force are on standby. The precise location of most rainfall will depend on Cyclone Yaas’ landfall trajectory. Odisha and West Bengal may bear the worst of the impact, but the ensuing heavy rainfall puts other areas like Jharkhand, Sikkim, Bihar, Assam and Meghalaya at risk of flooding. In India’s neighbouring nation of Bangladesh, more than 75,000 volunteers have been put on standby to deal with the possible effects of Cyclone Yaas.

Cyclone Yaas may have a shorter lifespan than Amphan, but that doesn’t mean it will be any less destructive

<ul><li>Monsoon is expected to bring above-average rain showers in the coming two weeks, according to weather officials. </li><li>The weekend — 27-28 July — will receive heavy rainfall in states of Maharashtra, Delhi, West Bengal and Uttarakhand among others. </li><li> Last week, India witnessed low rainfall, 35% below average. </li><li>The monsoon rainfall accounts for 70% of India’s annual rainfall.</li></ul>Monsoons have started late across the country, but looks like they will have an extended run. In the coming two weeks, monsoons are expected to bring in the much needed showers, according to weather officials. “In the next two weeks, we are likely to get above average rainfall, which will be well distributed across the country,” said A K Srivastava, head of the climate research division, <keyword id="6355166" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="India-meteorological-department">India Meteorological Department</keyword> (IMD)<a href="https://in.reuters.com/article/us-india-monsoon/india-to-get-above-average-monsoon-rains-in-next-two-weeks-idINKCN1UK1L7"> told </a>Reuters. Rainy weekend The weekend — 27 to 28 July — will receive heavy rainfall in states of Rajasthan, coastal Maharashtra, Goa, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, interior Maharashtra and Odisha. <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; width: 468pt;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Indian Cities </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Minimum temp (°C) </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Maximum temp (°C) </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Forecast </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Delhi </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">26 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">33 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Cloudy, moderate rains </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Mumbai </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">24 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">30 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Intermittent and heavy rains </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Kolkata </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">26 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">33 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Thundershowers, light rainfall </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Pune </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">22 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">29 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Moderate rains </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Chennai </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">23 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">34 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">Light rainfall </td></tr></tbody></table> Other states with high rainfall and thunderstorms include coastal Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu &amp; Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Assam, Meghalaya, Gujarat and Jharkhand. However, in the national capital Delhi, rains will come with bad air quality, the weather report said. The IMD <keyword id="51704" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="weather-forecast">weather forecast</keyword> aligns with predictions of the<a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/strong-monsoon-over-central-india-may-last-for-a-fortnight/article28690027.ece"> Climate Prediction Centre</a> of the US <keyword id="108482" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Weather-Service">National Weather Service</keyword>, which too had predicted monsoon showers between 1-8 August. Drought &amp; Floods This year India had faced extreme weather conditions — floods and droughts. While Chennai is battling water crisis, Assam is struggling with <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/no-water-no-food-no-shelter-15-devastating-photos-show-how-destructive-assam-and-bihar-floods-are/articleshow/70291696.cms">floods</a>. Overall, the monsoon was deficient by 17% which impacted the crops. The most affected are cotton and groundnut crops in Gujarat. This late monsoons will bring cheer to Indian farmers and yield summer-sown crops, which have been sagging due to low rainfall. “Good rainfall in the next few days can bring down stress level and accelerate sowing,” said Prerana Desai, Head of Research at Edelweiss Rural &amp; Corporate Services. Over half of the arable land banks on monsoon rains for cultivation as they account for 70% of India’s total rainfall. According to the Agriculture Ministry, crop plantation has been low with summer crop plantation spreading over 56.7 million hectares of land this year. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-is-facing-two-extreme-weather-conditions-together-drought-and-floods-/articleshow/70273165.cms">Bone dry or deluge — the freakish monsoon is killing Indians either way</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/chennai-gets-monsoon-showers-but-its-too-little-to-solve-the-water-crisis/articleshow/70342615.cms">Chennai gets monsoon showers, but its too little to solve the water crisis</a>

Top Indian cities brace for a wet weekend after Met Dept forecast two weeks of 'above average' rain

Be it the picturesque Valley of Flowers or North-East, whether it is breathtaking waterfalls in Goa and Chhattisgarh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, or sunsets at beaches of Kerala and Visakhaptanam, India has always been an attraction for the world. The massive forts in Hyderabad and Rajasthan and holy cities like Bodh Gaya, Mathura, Madurai, Mount Abu, etc. have also mesmerised tourists across the globe. 
 
And off lately, since Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the #IncredibleIndia call during his monthly ‘Mann ki Baat’ address, did you notice that both Facebook and Twitter are flooded with photographs from across India. 
 
It has become an instant hit among everyone and to one’s surprise Modi himself is re-tweeting all photos. While getting their tweets retweeted by the PM is one of the reasons why people are enthusiastically posting their travel pics on social media, what else is encouraging them is the pride they have for their country. 
 
Or in Divya Jain’s words, a twitter account holder, “This way we can promote tourism in our country and show the entire world that India is incredible and magnificent.” 
 
We picked up 10 best photos from Twitterati on #IncredibleIndia. Take a look! 
 
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		Clicked by me Kinner Kailash Range (Kalpa Village) ,Himachal Pradesh <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IncredibleIndia?src=hash">#IncredibleIndia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi">@narendramodi</a> <a href="http://t.co/25MotP90jm">pic.twitter.com/25MotP90jm</a>
	— Arvind Negi (@arvindnegii) <a href="https://twitter.com/arvindnegii/status/606043680059719680">June 3, 2015</a></blockquote>
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		<a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi">@narendramodi</a> Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IncredibleIndia?src=hash">#IncredibleIndia</a> <a href="http://t.co/Js2henNXoc">pic.twitter.com/Js2henNXoc</a>
	— Santhi Swaroop (@SwaroopGSS) <a href="https://twitter.com/SwaroopGSS/status/606029179113467904">June 3, 2015</a></blockquote>
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		Golconda Fort, Hyderabad <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IncredibleIndia?src=hash">#IncredibleIndia</a> <a href="http://t.co/Wo9cvLD0Y6">pic.twitter.com/Wo9cvLD0Y6</a>
	— Krishna Reddy G (@DickeyMoe) <a href="https://twitter.com/DickeyMoe/status/605407309049827328">June 1, 2015</a></blockquote>
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		The crucible of Buddhism,Bodhgaya whr Prince Siddhartha attained enlightenment <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bihar?src=hash">#Bihar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi">@narendramodi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IncredibleIndia?src=hash">#IncredibleIndia</a> <a href="http://t.co/dU3strWrbq">pic.twitter.com/dU3strWrbq</a>
	— Amit Raj (@amitraj04uall) <a href="https://twitter.com/amitraj04uall/status/605387374583934979">June 1, 2015</a></blockquote>
 
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		<a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi">@narendramodi</a> sir <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IncredibleIndia?src=hash">#IncredibleIndia</a> An amazing view of Lonavala-Khandal Ghat (Pune) in rainy season <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/amazingindia?src=hash">#amazingindia</a> <a href="http://t.co/LZFJxSsDiZ">pic.twitter.com/LZFJxSsDiZ</a>
	— राजीवअग्रवाल #नमो (@rjaggrawal) <a href="https://twitter.com/rjaggrawal/status/605608997119352832">June 2, 2015</a></blockquote>
 
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Twilight?src=hash">#Twilight</a> view of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Srinagar?src=hash">#Srinagar</a> , <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kashmir?src=hash">#Kashmir</a> from 16th century Pari Mahal terrace gardens on a hill top <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IncredibleIndia?src=hash">#IncredibleIndia</a> <a href="http://t.co/ouX6gtGRpG">pic.twitter.com/ouX6gtGRpG</a>
	— Anand Natarajan (@anand1512) <a href="https://twitter.com/anand1512/status/591617753133416448">April 24, 2015</a></blockquote>
 
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		Cruising the backwaters of Kerala in a house boat <a href="http://t.co/39mKW4EtBM">http://t.co/39mKW4EtBM</a> <a href="http://t.co/qR9y7Kyd5t">http://t.co/qR9y7Kyd5t</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ttot?src=hash">#ttot</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/keralablogexpress?src=hash">#keralablogexpress</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/incredibleindia?src=hash">#incredibleindia</a>
	— Global-Gallivanting (@GlobalGallivant) <a href="https://twitter.com/GlobalGallivant/status/591558575249588226">April 24, 2015</a></blockquote>
 
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IncredibleIndia?src=hash">#IncredibleIndia</a>: Mawlynnong, cleanest village in the world, Meghalaya referred to as God's own garden <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/travel?src=hash">#travel</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/india?src=hash">#india</a> <a href="http://t.co/jEhuuaCEjm">pic.twitter.com/jEhuuaCEjm</a>
	— Pramz (@pahallavi) <a href="https://twitter.com/pahallavi/status/590567808351764480">April 21, 2015</a></blockquote>
 
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		Arial View of The Tajmahal, Agra <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Awesome?src=hash">#Awesome</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AmazingIndia?src=hash">#AmazingIndia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IncredibleIndia?src=hash">#IncredibleIndia</a> <a href="http://t.co/pOt4RSD6gc">pic.twitter.com/pOt4RSD6gc</a>
	— Kunal Vimal (@kvQuote) <a href="https://twitter.com/kvQuote/status/589741096411987968">April 19, 2015</a></blockquote>
 
 
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
	
		First day of Solar calendar @ Konark Sun Temple <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IncredibleIndia?src=hash">#IncredibleIndia</a> <a href="http://t.co/PHpBuBALXq">pic.twitter.com/PHpBuBALXq</a>
	— Jigar Patel (@jagira) <a href="https://twitter.com/jagira/status/589497727949541376">April 18, 2015</a></blockquote>
 
 
 
(Image: Thinkstock)

#IncredibleIndia: The 10 best pics uploaded by vacationers on Modi’s request

<div class="image-container" style="width:800px"><div class="image">REUTERS/Anindito MukherjeeA man rides a motorcycle through a flooded street after a heavy monsoon rain shower in New Delhi July 20, 2013. <keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="India">India</keyword>'s monsoon rains turned average last week and may pick up over areas that grow cane, oilseed and cotton in northern and western regions next week, weather department officials said, helping most summer crops into their last leg of planting.</div></div>Deep in India's northeast, villagers use grass to sound-proof their huts from deafening rain, clouds are a familiar sight inside homes and a suitably rusted sign tells visitors they are in the "wettest place on earth".
Oddly enough, lifelong residents of Mawsynram, a small cluster of hamlets in Meghalaya state have little idea that their scenic home holds a Guinness record for the highest average annual rainfall of 11,873 millimeters (467 inches).
"Really, this is the wettest place in the world? I didn't know that," Bini Kynter, a great-grandmother who estimates she must be "nearly 100 years old" tells AFP.
"The rain used to frighten me when I was a young girl, it used to make our lives hell. Today people have it easy," she says, wrapping a green tartan shawl tightly around her shoulders.
Meteorologists say Mawsynram's location, close to Bangladesh and the Bay of Bengal is the reason the tiny cluster receives so much rain.
"What happens is that whenever any moisture gathers over the Bay of Bengal, it causes precipitation over Mawsynram, leading to a heavy, long monsoon season," Sunit Das of the Indian Meteorological Department told AFP.
While annual monsoon rains lashed the national capital last week, causing traffic chaos and flooding at the international airport, such problems are mild for Mawsynram.
Just thirty years ago, Mawsynram had no paved roads, no running water and no electricity, making its six-month long monsoon an insufferable experience for its mostly impoverished residents.
Landslides still occur regularly, blocking the only paved road connecting the hillside hamlets. Rainwater still seeps into the mud huts occupied by some villagers. And, while most homes now have electricity, outages are commonplace.
Every winter the people of Mawsynram spend months preparing for the wet season ahead, anticipating nonstop rain and no sunshine for several days at a time.
They repair their battered roofs. They cut and hoard firewood -- a source of light and fuel for cooking. They buy and store foodgrains, since few will venture out to shop during the wettest months between May and July.
The women make rain covers known as "knups," using bamboo slivers, plastic sheets and broom grass to create a rain shield that resembles a turtle shell, meant to be worn on one's head while being large enough to keep rain off one's knees.
The labour-intensive process of weaving a knup -- each one takes at least an hour to complete -- occupies the women of the village right through the rainy season, when they are cooped up indoors for months at a time.
Bamboo and broom grass -- a delicate, fragrant, olive-coloured grass used to make Indian brooms -- are among the chief plants grown in this rocky, hilly region.
Broom grass is dipped in water, flattened using wooden blocks and finally dried on rooftops across Mawsynram. According to Prelian Pdah, a grandmother of nine, this makes the grass stronger and more likely to survive a downpour.
Pdah, 70, spends part of the winter and all of the monsoon season making bamboo baskets, brooms and knups which are bought by visiting businessmen who sell them around the state.
"I don't like the heavy rainfall, it's boring to stay indoors all day. It's annoying," she tells AFP.
Although few Mawsynram residents seemed to know or care about their record-holder status, the right to the Guinness title has been hotly disputed by a nearby town, Cherrapunji, which used to lay claim to that honour.
In sleepy Mawsynram, many find the record-setting monsoon downright depressing.
"There's no sun, so if you don't have electricity it's very dark indoors, even during the day," Moonstar Marbaniang, the pyjama-clad headman of Mawsynram says.
Those who have second homes elsewhere flee to escape the season. Others catch up on their sleep, according to Marbaniang, whose first name suggests one of the more striking legacies of colonial rule in India's northeast.
Historians say the past presence of British soldiers and missionaries in this region has seen many people name their children after random English words or famous historical figures, often with no knowledge of what they might mean.
State capital Shillong's former nickname as the "Scotland of the East" also goes some way to explain the popularity of tartan scarves and shawls, even in the most far-flung and underdeveloped villages of Meghalaya.
Somewhat fittingly for a state whose name means "the abode of the clouds" in the ancient Indian language of Sanskrit, it is not unusual for clouds to drift through people's homes in Mawsynram, leaving a wet film on their furniture.
The grass-covered roofs are meant to muffle the relentless drumming of the rain, but a heavy downpour will usually dislodge the grass to deafening effect.
"We have to talk a little louder to be heard during the monsoon!" 67-year-old Marbaniang tells AFP, his mischievous eyes sparkling.
When the monsoon finally ends, there are no parties to mark its exit. The rainy season simply gives way to the repair season, Marbaniang says.
"We don't hold any celebration or festival to mark the end of the rain. We just start drying our clothes outside," he says, flashing a toothless grin.
Despite enduring record amounts of rain, sanguine villagers say there is no other place they would rather live.
Marbaniang, whose children all live in Shillong, says: "I'll never leave, this is my home, I was born here, I will die here."
"Sure, it rains a lot, but we are used to it. We just wait it out."
<div>
Copyright (2013) AFP. All rights reserved.
</div>

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