Heavy rainfall across north and northwest India caused widespread devastation, resulting in at least 28 deaths and numerous landslides, house collapses, and dam breaches. The Amarnath Yatra has been suspended due to heavy rains in Jammu and Kashmir. Rajasthan was the hardest hit, with 16 deaths reported, while Punjab witnessed a tragic incident where eight family members were swept away by a flooded rivulet.
Heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh have triggered landslides and flash floods, resulting in the closure of over 280 roads and affecting power and water supply. Rescue efforts continue for missing persons after recent flash floods, and the state faces a significant rainfall deficit.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Wayanad on Saturday to assess the damage caused by landslides that killed over 300 people and review the relief and rehabilitation efforts. He will conduct an aerial survey of the affected areas, visit disaster-stricken sites, and hold a review meeting with officials.
Kerala’s Education Minister V. Sivankutty announced that schools in landslide-affected Wayanad, currently serving as relief camps, will soon resume classes. The government will also provide financial aid to workers impacted by the disaster, including Rs 1 lakh to families of labourers who died in the landslides.
This week brought a mix of emotions for India, with sporting triumphs at the Paris Olympics contrasted by devastating natural disasters and economic anxieties. While Lakshya Sen made history with his Olympic semi-final berth, landslides in Kerala claimed hundreds of lives and Wall Street’s woes cast a shadow on the Indian financial landscape.
The Indian government has released a draft notification proposing to declare over 56,800 square kilometers of the Western Ghats, spanning six states, as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA). This includes 13 villages in Kerala’s Wayanad district, which was recently devastated by landslides. The notification seeks public feedback and aims to restrict activities like mining and industrial expansion in these sensitive regions.
This article delves into the increasing frequency and severity of landslides, exploring the factors driving this trend and the implications for communities worldwide.
The Nilgiris district administration has issued a warning to tourists visiting the area, advising them to exercise caution due to heavy rains expected to continue until August 3rd. The heavy rains have already caused widespread damage to infrastructure and resulted in loss of life in neighboring districts.
Devastating landslides in Wayanad, Kerala, have claimed over 150 lives and left hundreds missing. Survivors recount their harrowing experiences, highlighting the immense loss and trauma they have endured.
Torrential monsoon rains in Kerala, India, have triggered deadly landslides, killing at least 160 people, mostly laborers and their families, in tea plantations. Relief efforts have been hampered by blocked roads and severe weather, with rescuers facing treacherous conditions. The disaster highlights the devastating impact of climate change and the need for better preparedness in the face of increasingly frequent extreme weather events.
