Heavy rainfall, floods and drought affect life, agriculture and economy of the country - News Roundup (8-15 December 2010)

Reports over the last week indicate heavy rains and loss of lives and property in the state of Tamil Nadu, which has faced the maximum brunt of the rains followed by Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and some parts of Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh. Reports also indicate that there have been massive losses to agricultural produce due to heavy rains in parts of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and because of droughts in the state of Orissa. At the same time, reports also indicate good news that there has been a rise in the water levels in the country and of attempts being made in different parts of the country to cope with floods and excessive rains in the future.

Rainfall
Tamil Nadu

• Tamil Nadu: The north-east monsoon, 50 per cent in excess in the State, claims over 200 lives and destroys crops and infrastructure
• After the deluge: Chennai has received 71 cm of rain during this year's northeast monsoon, leaving the roads in the Chennai Metropolitan Area in shambles
• The rain-hit north and south Chennai, Tamil Nadu get some respite even as several areas, including Velachery and Taramani, remained under a sheet of water, affecting hundreds of people
• Rain stops, but no end to woes for people from Chennai, Tamil Nadu
• Rain pours non-stop misery in Tamil Nadu
• 2,000 people rescued from low-lying areas along river Tamirabarani, in Kanyakumari district
• Torrential rain kills over 200 in Tamil Nadu
• 70 % excess rainfall in Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu

Sikkim

• Incessant rains hit life in Sikkim

Andhra Pradesh

• Andhra Pradesh rain toll rises to 28
• Rise in water levels worries all in East Godavary district

Kerala

• Heavy rains continue in Thiruvananthapuram
• One killed, low-lying areas flooded in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala

Himachal Pradesh

• Himachal suffers Rs 2,068-crore loss due to rains

Impact of the rains and floods on agriculture

• Incessant rain causes damage to crops in Andhra Pradesh
• Heavy downpour kills hopes of farmers in the suburbs in Chennai, Tamil Nadu
• 21,000 hectares of paddy damaged in Pudukottai, Tamil Nadu following the heavy rains

Drought in Orissa

• Orissa: 10,991 villages lose over 50% crop due to drought in the state

Damage control efforts following the rains, floods and droughts

• Government sanctions Rs 500cr flood relief for Tamil Nadu, seeks Central aid
• Damage control started following the flood havoc in Trivandrum district
• Bihar government to soon announce its water policy, aimed at a permanent solution to recurrent floods and drought in the state
• The Haryana Government has devised Rs.25-crore plan for preventing floods in Kaithal district

Rise in water levels in the country

• India's Water Storage Capacity Reaches 128% of Last Year's Storage
• Chennai city's reservoirs 90% full, as rain hastens inflows