We have our own problems for sure and they are not trivial, but for now, our economy is in not too bad a shape, our politics is as personality-driven and authoritarian as that of most countries in the world. We must make the best of what we have and not be excessively unhappy looking at the grass on the other side of the septic tank which may not be greener after all!, observes Shreekant Sambrani.
'Instead of doing ground work they are sitting and monitoring the drought through Mantralaya and trying to solve the problem with Aamir Khan.'
Simultaneous activation of both Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal low-pressure systems has led to the state receiving an excess 65 per cent rainfall.
From triple talaq to simultaneous polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday touched upon the various issues n his monthly 'Mann ki Baat' radio address.
Ten people were killed in various rain-related incidents in Andhra Pradesh as incessant rains lashed the state for the third consecutive day on Thursday.
A large number of people, including senior citizens, women and children were airlifted from isolated buildings
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday visited Mumbai's Municipal Corporation to monitor the situation in the city, which has been badly hit by heavy rains since Thursday night.
Crop loss would the highest in Karnataka (where a little more than 75 per cent of the national output comes from), followed by Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Around six lakh people have been housed in over 2000 relief camps in the two states.
The Met department forecast heavy to very heavy showers in north coastal Tamil Nadu till Saturday.
At a time when thousands of our farmers are sitting on the roads in bitterly cold December nights, protesting another policy measure that 'tightens the noose around their neck', ironically sold as 'beneficial' for them, it becomes all the more necessary for us to watch Gabhricha Paus to understand their problems better, says Utkarsh Mishra.
At least 33 people have been killed in flash floods in Bihar till Tuesday evening and 25.71 lakh people are affected in 16 districts of the state.
Isolated heavy rainfall is also very likely over north Konkan region during the same period, it said.
Officials however warned of a 4.81 metre high tide in afternoon coupled with heavy showers, which may cause flash floods in low-lying areas in the city.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat, who is in Delhi, expressed grief at the loss of lives and announced a compensation of Rs two lakh each to the families of the victims.
Kerala, Andhra, Tamil Nadu and Kerala are facing a severe drought this year, affecting livelihoods as well as lives.
Surging oil prices, deficient monsoon and the Tsunami disaster last year notwithstanding, business confidence has inched its way up to its highest level since December 1995, economic think tank NCAER said on Monday.
Twenty teams of the NDRF, comprising about 900 rescue persons, have been deployed in the state.
Drought hit Bihar plans to increase the number of days of work from 100 to 150 under the rural job scheme to check migration of the poorest of poor in search of livelihood by providing employment opportunity locally.
'Water is not an economic resource, but we treat water as an economic resource meant for the benefit of human beings.' 'Water is more of a life source than an economic resource.'
Residents in Kerala, Karnataka and Maharashtra continue to struggle as floods leave them in a watery hell.
The United Nations and its partners are supporting the governments of India and Nepal in search-and-rescue operations and providing assistance to thousands of people displaced due to landslides triggered by monsoonal rains in the two countries.
The government, which has expedited rehabilitation efforts, said over 1.28 crore food packets have been distributed and an immediate relief amount of Rs 67.47 crore was disbursed among over 1.11 lakh families.
Since 2000, India has had three serious droughts.
Scientists at the India Meteorological Department warn that not only has India turned hotter in the last two decades, but that heat waves are projected to become more intense, have longer durations and greater frequency, thereby resulting in more deaths.
The aid will directly benefit 25,000 people from some of the worst hit areas of the state, adding a humanitarian expert from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Operations has also been deployed to assess the situation in the state.
While incessant rain in the past 24 hours has wreaked havoc in parts of the northeast, triggering flash floods, the national capital experienced one of its hottest days.
'The question often being asked is whether the demand for petrol and diesel is price inelastic?' asks Arun Balakrishnan, former chairman and managing director, Hindustan Petroleum.
Though people from relief camps have started returning to their homes, more than 10.40 lakh people were still in 2,770 camps across the state.
Orissa learnt its lessons from previous cyclones, particularly the 1999 super cyclone, whereas Uttarakhand has failed to do so from any of the previous natural calamities that hit the state, says Dinesh C Sharma.
At least 30 people were killed in a landslide triggered by the continuous rainfall that has buried six villages in Nepal's mountainous northeast.
The incident is said to have occurred in the wee hours when a huge mound of earth fell on the 'row houses' and two children and five women were among the deceased, most of whom were plantation workers from neighbouring Tamil Nadu.
Nearly four lakh people have been affected across seven districts of Assam.
The Indian contingent of more than 300 navy personnel was assisting in the relief, with divers searching the brackish waters and medical teams seeing patients in makeshift tents set up at shelters.
Here's a recap of the events from the past 48 hours.
The staff and security personnel are performing their duties using mechanised and country boats to deal with any kind of eventualities, they said.
In Chennai, rains are expected to start early Thursday morning and intensify gradually. Government schools in the city have been shut down for the next two days
The situation in the state was 'extremely grave', said Vijayan, who spoke to Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and Home minister, Rajnath Singh, this morning seeking more central assistance for relief operations.
