by
Mritunjay | October 2, 2009 at 01:36 pm
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Monsoon the weather system that guides rains in the Indian sub-continent plays a pivotal role for India. It guides the course of economy for a nation that has still significant labor force dedicated to agriculture as well as agro-based industries. Monsoons also decide the fate of millions who live in areas close to rivers as well for people who depend on rivers and water reservoirs for water supply. This year nature has played a “bad mother”. Initially monsoons took time to set in leading to many
states facing drought. Finally when monsoons arrived and people were just starting to feel good about it, havoc was wrecked to parts of nation like in Bihar. While monsoons were wrecking havoc in some parts of the nation some still reeled under drought like condition and latest reports say that monsoons delivered a
22% less than average rain which is worst in last 10 years. Now when the monsoons were receding and the system was moving out of the sub-continent it has again created mayhem for the nation already reeling under economic and human problems. In the latest spate of rains retreating monsoons have flooded 3 more Indian states of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. As a result of the
floods millions have been rendered homeless. Personnel from Indian Army, Navy and Air force are coordinating with local authorities to reach out to the affected people. People have been blocked off in areas that have been cut-off from the rest of the nation due to gushing waters. Roads and railroads have been washed off. Electricity and water supply has been cut off from many flood affected districts. The situation may get worse with most of the dams expected to release water due to building pressure.
Nagarjuna Sagar dam in Andhra Pradesh itself is expected to release 8 cusecs water which has prompted authorities to move out around 3,00,000 people to safer places. Similarly situation is bad in other two sates of
Karnataka and Maharashtra. In Karnataka more than 26,000 homes have been washed off, roads submerged and communication lines snapped off. Death toll has crossed 100 by now. Farmers have also lost the
remainder crops that had survived almost drought like conditions prevailing in the area till last week.
Floods and droughts are not new to India but this year has been pretty rough and begs the answer to a question that why the mega plan to interlink rivers is not being taken up seriously? Issues which affect humans on such large scale creating human crisis need to be handled with a open mind and without political biases.
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Update:
Press Trust of India reported the death toll to top-200.
Bangalore/Hyderabad, Oct 4 (PTI) Retreating monsoon claimed 12 more lives as the death toll due to torrential rains and rampaging floods in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh soared to 205 today even as relief operations were on in full swing in the two states to provide succour to the affected.Karnataka, which reported all the 12 fresh deaths, accounted for 168 fatalities and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, where the flood situation in Krishna district remained grim, 37, officials in the two states said.After wreaking havoc, rains showed signs of let up in Karnataka even as Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa appealed to the Centre to declare the worst flooding in the state as a a national disaster.He sought Rs 10,000 crore assistance for relief measures and rebuilding the 15 rain-ravaged districts.
Truemors
Please Clarify: India facing floods or droughts?
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (3)
at 16:05 on October 2nd, 2009
Update:
The Indian Air Force mounted a major relief and rescue operation in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, evacuating 44 people and dropping 750 kg of relief material, mainly food packets, in flood-hit areas.
Following requests from the State governments, the IAF swung into action and the first helicopter with special equipment began winching survivors from early Friday morning in Karnataka.
An IAF spokesperson said here that by afternoon, six helicopters from the Yelahanka air station flew 12 sorties, dropping food packets and saving lives. The IAF personnel came as a hope to the victims including women and children perched atop trees, temples, poles and the roofs of their houses and hutments.
http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/03/stories/2009100360201100.htm
- reply
Sanjana Gupta (not verified)at 20:53 on October 2nd, 2009
Its really sad that the parties fight for political mileage while national interest is undermined. It's high time in face of human suffering and economic disaster that the govt. takes a firm stance and works above party interest. The idea of interlinking rivers if feasible and profitable should be executed by all means.
at 09:11 on October 3rd, 2009
Update:
PTI Reported 177 dead by now and the Toll may go up. Goa is now also facing floods.
"While 161 people perished in the heavy rains that battered 15 districts of Karnataka, 16 people were killed in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh whose five districts were hit by the flash flood.
However, the death count in both the states is likely to go up as many flood-hit areas were still to be accessed in Andhra Pradesh and between 11 and 21 persons were feared buried under mounds following landslide in a hillock at Kadawada village in Uttara Kannada where two bodies have been recovered, officials said."