Page 3 - Floods

Pakistan: World Bank estimates floods caused $40 bn in damages

Pakistan said Wednesday that the World Bank estimates this summer's record-breaking floods have caused $40 billion in damages in this impoverished South Asian nation. The figure is $10 billion more than an earlier estimate by the Pakistani government. Cash-strapped Pakistan was already facing a serious financial crisis before the heavy monsoon rains hit in mid-June. The rains triggered unprecedented floods that at one point left a third of the country's territory submerged, forcing hundreds of thousands of people to move to safer places. The new assessment came during a meeting in the capital, Islamabad, between Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and experts on climate change. There was no immediate word from the World Bank on the new estimate. The flooding, which experts say is made worse by climate change, has killed 1,719 people and affected 33 million since mid-June. The waters have damaged or washed away 2 million homes. Sharif's government last month offered an estimate of $30 ...

Pakistan seeks billions of dollars in new loans after floods

Pakistan will ask international lenders for billions of dollars in loans after devastating floods exacerbated the South Asian nation's economic crisis, the media reported on Wednesday

Floods in southeast Australia could inundate or isolate 34,000 homes

Around 34,000 homes could be inundated or isolated in Victoria state as a flood emergency continues across parts of Australia's southeast, an official said Monday. Victoria is the worst-affected state with some towns experiencing the highest river peaks in decades. The states of New South Wales and Tasmania were also experiencing flooding in an emergency that began last week. Federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said Victoria faced some serious flooding with more rain forecast for late this week. It's quite likely we'll see a flood peak happen and waters recede, followed by another peak, as different river systems come together, Watt told Australian Broadcasting Corp. So this is a very serious situation and the reports I'm getting is we could be looking at up to 9,000 homes inundated in northern Victoria and potentially close to about 34,000 homes in Victoria either inundated or isolated, Watt added. Two people drowned and two were reported missing in Victoria and Ne

Ground realities not visible from air: Varun Gandhi's swipe at UP govt

BJP MP Varun Gandhi on Saturday took a swipe at the Uttar Pradesh government for neither postponing the Preliminary Eligibility Test (PET) nor making "adequate transport arrangements" for students to reach exam centres in flood-affected areas of the state. "Ground realities are perhaps not visible from aerial surveys," he said, in an apparent dig at Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath who had recently surveyed the flood-hit areas. The Pilibhit MP said the state is in the "grip" of floods and over 37 lakh students are out to take the PET exam. For the students, reaching the examination centre is a bigger challenge than solving the question paper, he claimed. Gandhi said the PET was neither postponed nor adequate arrangements were made for the students to reach exam centres despite constant demands from them. He also posted pictures of railway stations and trains crowded with students.

IMF mission expected to visit flood-hit Pakistan next month: Official

An IMF team is expected to visit Pakistan early in November to start the next review of the country's current economic programme, a senior official of the global lending body has said. In its last review in August, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved the 7th and 8th tranches of USD 1.17 billion, of its USD 7 billion Pakistan programme which was signed in 2019. The global lender said that it would send a mission in November to Pakistan after the annual meetings as part of preparations for the next review, IMF's Director of the Middle East and Central Asia, Jihad Azour was quoted by Dawn newspaper on Thursday. At a media briefing in Washington, Azour extended support to the flood-hit country. We accelerated some of our disbursements to help Pakistan deal with recent shocks, such as the increase in prices of foods and commodities, he said. Hopefully, we will be fielding a mission in November, after the annual meetings, to Pakistan to start the process for the next review,"

Carry out relief work on priority in flood-hit areas: Karnataka CM Bommai

The Deputy Commissioners were asked to make field visits and ensure proper recording of damages and distribution of compensation by the tehsildars

CM Yogi Adityanath chairs high-level meet to review flood situation in UP

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath chaired a high-level meeting on Wednesday, in the wake of widespread rainfall in the state, and directed his ministers to oversee relief and rescue operations in the districts under their charge. As per a report from the relief commissioner's office, 1,370 villages in 18 districts of the state are affected by floods due to heavy rainfall in the last couple of days. Adityanath reviewed the flood situation and issued directions to expedite the relief and rehabilitation work in the affected districts. District control rooms should be functional round the clock under the leadership of a joint magistrate-level officer, he said. Due to excessive rainfall in the last few days, adverse effects have been seen on life, livestock and agriculture, the chief minister said. Loss of public and private property has been reported from several districts, he added. The state government is committed to making necessary arrangements for safety and maintenanc

Rains in Arunachal trigger flood-like situation, high alert in East Siang

A high alert was issued for the low-lying areas of East Siang district in Arunachal Pradesh with the Siang river in spate, following incessant rains over the last few days. East Siang Deputy Commissioner (DC) Tayi Taggu, who took stock of the situation on Tuesday, appealed to the people living in these areas to refrain from venturing into the river. He, however, asked people not to panic as the water resources and disaster management departments are keeping a close watch on the situation. "Any impending danger would be informed to the people in advance," he said. Taggu directed officials to not leave the district headquarters and stay alert to deal with the emerging situation. District Disaster Management Officer Tsangpa Tashi said Pasighat recorded 482 mm of rainfall on Monday and 480 mm on Tuesday, the highest in the last 25 years. "The water level in the Siang is rising but it is flowing below the danger mark," he said. SDRF teams are monitoring the situation closely and have

Accelerate relief work in flood-affected areas: UP CM to officials

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Monday directed officials to speed up the relief work in the districts affected by unseasonal heavy rains in the state. Adityanath has also directed officials to remain in the field to oversee the relief work in the districts affected by the unseasonal and excessive rains and conduct inspections in the waterlogged areas, an officials spokesperson said here. The chief minister also directed officials to provide immediate assistance to people in the flood-affected areas, take them to safe places and make proper arrangements for their stay and food. Unseasonal rains have been lashing various districts of Uttar Pradesh for the past several days, causing floods and waterlogging in many places. He has also directed the officers of all concerned departments including Revenue, Police, Panchayati Raj, Rural Development, Urban Development, Medical and Health, and Animal Husbandry to be active in conducting relief operations. In waterlogged areas,

76 people killed after boat overturns due to rising floods in Nigeria

At least 76 people were killed in a boat accident in Nigeria's Anambra state on Sunday after a boat carrying 85 persons capsized following rising floods

Pakistan may see 2.7 million malaria cases in 32 districts by Jan 2023: WHO

The WHO warned of 2.7 million malaria cases in flood-hit Pakistan in 32 districts by January 2023

At least 4 killed as flash floods hit parts of Cambodia, says PM

Flash floods have been hitting parts of Cambodia, leaving at least four people dead, Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said

Flood mitigation work progressing satisfactorily, says TN CM Stalin

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday said the stormwater drainage work, initiated as part of the flood mitigation in Chennai, and desilting work are progressing satisfactorily and would be completed soon. The Chief Minister who has been showing interest in completing the works before the North-East Monsoon invigorates, said he had inspected several areas in south Chennai last week and visited many localities where the stormwater drainage works were taken up in north Chennai. "Nearly 70 to 80 percent work has been completed in south Chennai. Today I inspected north Chennai where the works were affected due to rains. The work will be completed in about 15 days or one month," the Chief Minister told reporters after the inspection. He inspected the execution of stormwater drainage works and desilting activities that were taken up at estimated cost of Rs 167.08 crore in the Greater Chennai Corporation areas by the Water Resources and Highways departments. The IMD has ...

Bengal flash flood: 450 rescued from Jalpaiguri's Mal river; BJP scans area

Around 450 people were rescued from the Mal River in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district after eight people were swept away and several others went missing due to flash floods in the waterbody during idol immersion of Goddess Durga. An eight-member BJP delegation visited the area, spoke to many of those who had been rescued, and met the kin of those killed in the flash floods. Meanwhile, the district administration said the rescue operation was stopped since last night "No one is missing as of now. Six people are still admitted to the hospital. The death toll so far is eight. We stopped the rescue operation late last night. But we have kept three rescue teams on standby," Jalpaiguri District Magistrate Moumita Godara told PTI. It is the responsibility of the state government to ensure the safety and security of the devotees, party MP Jayanta Ray, who led the delegation, said. "The administration should have been more careful," Ray said. North Bengal Development Minister Udayan Guha

Death toll from floods in Pakistan reaches 1,700, over 12,000 injured

Death toll from this season's devastating monsoon rain and floods in Pakistan since mid-June has increased to 1,700 along with 12,867 injured, the NDMA said

PM Modi condoles loss of lives in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri flash floods

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed deep grief over the loss of lives due to a mishap during Durga Puja festivities in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal

8 dead, several missing after flash floods during idol immersion in Bengal

At least eight persons drowned and several others were feared missing, after they were swept away due to flash floods in the Mal river in Jalpaiguri district during idol immersion on the occasion of 'Vijayadashami', a senior official said. The incident took place in the evening when hundreds of people gathered on the banks of the Mal river to participate in the immersion ceremony. "All of a sudden, flash floods struck and people were swept away. So far, eight bodies have been recovered, and we have rescued around 50 people," Jalpaiguri District Magistrate Moumita Godara told PTI. "The search and rescue operations are underway and being carried out by teams of the NDRF, SDRF, police and local administration, she said.

Asian Development Bank to provide $2.3-$2.5 bn for flood-hit Pakistan

The Asian Development Bank on Wednesday announced that it will provide USD 2.3 to 2.5 billion for relief operations in the wake of devastating floods in Pakistan that have affected more than 33 million people. The announcement was made during a meeting between Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and ADB Country Director for Pakistan Yong Ye, according to a press release issued by the Finance Division. During the meeting, Yong expressed sympathy for the loss of lives and properties due to the floods. The ADB said it will provide aid of USD 2.3 to 2.5 billion for relief operations in the wake of devastating floods that have caused catastrophic damage in Pakistan. The devastating floods have left more than 1,600 persons dead and hundreds of thousands injured since mid-June. He said that USD 1.5 billion out of the committed assistance will be allotted to the Balochistan Rural Development and Community Empowerment Programme and the proposal would be put before the bank's board this month. He a

Pakistan PM Shehbaz refuses to launch dashboard for monitoring flood relief

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has refused to inaugurate a dashboard built to monitor flood relief assistance in the country, leaving his federal ministers red-faced, local media reported

Pakistan farmers stuck in cycle of debt as crops destroyed in floods

As floodwaters in Pakistan recede, the story of those in the worst affected regions comes to the surface with many farmers sharing their woes of being stuck in a vicious cycle of sinking into debt