Flash flood in Afghanistan kills at least 95, sweeps away thousands of homes

Crisis-hit Afghanistan loses lives in flash floods. Apart from deaths, homes have been swept away leaving the people stranded. The country is reeling from an economic and humanitarian crisis. These are because of Western sanctions imposed after the Taliban returned to power last year. It is now the people who are suffering and are at the receiving end. The extreme weather is aggravated by the flooding in neighboring Pakistan. Its Disaster Management Authority reveals floods have killed 820 people since mid-June. Moreover, thousands of homes are damaged or destroyed as are many bridges. These have disturbed the lives of the people and limited the travel options. Nearly 100 dead in Afghanistan floods, officials say.

Deputy Minister of Disaster Management of Afghanistan informed a section of the media that food assistance had been dispatched to many flood-affected areas. Moreover, there are promises from aid organizations for delivery of emergency assistance. However, these might fall short of actual requirements. With winter around the corner, the affected families with women and children would face difficult times. They have lost their shelters. To add to their miseries, they have lost their agricultural farms and orchards. Either these are destroyed or their harvest has been damaged. In fact, their survival is at stake and the situation will worsen in the coming weeks and months. They need help to return to normalcy as soon as possible. An earthquake in Afghanistan in June killed more than 1,000 people and the country has been through a number of natural disasters and extreme weather events. Hence, aid organizations, the United Nations and the global community have to extend help to the flood-affected Afghans. The immediate need is for basic amenities like food, shelter and medicine apart from homes, livelihood and drinking water sources.

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Winter has arrived in Kolkata - mercury slid to 18.9C

Kolkata is gradually feeling the morning chill. The northwesterly winds have pushed the minimum temperature down and, therefore, this November cooler than last year's. Since there is no system or low-pressure in the region, cool winds can blow in from the north.
The mercury slid to 18.9C on Wednesday and could plunge still further over the next 48 hours but, Regional Meteorological Centre has said that winter is yet to arrive.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 17 November 2016.

Incidentally, while the minimum temperature had dropped below 19 degrees just once last November, this time it has already slid below the mark four times since November 8. Coupled with the cool winds that are blowing in, the fall in mercury is expected to continue. The minimum temperature could drop to 18.0C on Thursday and to 17.9C the next day. However, this would be temporary and the mercury may start rising yet again.
For winter to really set in, the average minimum temperature must drop to 15C. This usually does not happen before December and, in January, it can drop a degree more — to 14 C. For the drop to continue, chillier winds must blow in consistently from the north-west.
The chilliest November day in 2015 had been recorded at 18.9C and, this time it could be two degrees lower.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


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