Catastrophic floods devastate Pakistan with death toll nearly 1300, hundreds of thousands of people are living in relief camps

The flood situation in Pakistan is grim. Death toll is nearly 1,300 even as relief operations continue. Humanitarian aid in the form of basic necessities like food, shelter, medicines are the need of the hour. Aid has started to flow in from a number of countries. The first such assistance flight from France has landed in Islamabad. Innumerable number of people are forced to live in relief camps across Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and Punjab. Agencies of the government as well as private NGOs are continuing with their relief operations. These are described as a "humanitarian disaster of epic proportions." Large portions of the country continue to be submerged under water. This is especially in the provinces of Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh in the south. On a rough estimate, nearly 1.5 million houses have suffered damages. Moreover, a large number of livestock has perished in the floods. 1,300 Dead In Pakistan's Devastating Floods, Over 5 Lakh Displaced.

Initial estimate of the damages have been put at USD 10 billion. However, international organizations are carrying out surveys. More than 700,000 families have received a lump some cash relief (per family). An amount of ₹ 18.25 billion has been already been disbursed on this account. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif went to a social media platform and wrote - "Despite challenges, Benazir Income Support Programme rolled out its operations within no time.” The authorities have called on the international community to support Pakistan. They have also assured the nation that the government would try to bring back normalcy at the earliest. The floods have drowned nearly a third of the country and affected more than 33 million people. The natural calamity came after four heatwaves and multiple raging forest fires. These highlight the effects of climate change in this part of Asia.

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Odisha in the grip of a heat wave with temperatures around the 40 degrees Celsius mark

Odisha is experiencing scorching heat and high humidity with mercury levels rising to above 40 degrees Celsius at most places and, as a result, people are facing extreme difficulties in stepping outside. The weatherman has predicted a further rise in temperature till at least April 5 which has added to the problem.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 3 April 2016.

Everyone is trying to beat the heat and lassi and cold drink kiosks have mushroomed across Bhubaneswar doing a brisk business. Cool water is also being served along the streets by local groups as part of social service programs. Morning schools have advanced the class timings which are being held between 6am and 10.30am. The school and mass education department has instructed both private and state-run schools to close down before 11am. Therefore, mid-day meals in government schools will have to be served by 10am.
The met department has predicted that the uncomfortable conditions will continue till April 5 with almost the entire state experiencing temperatures over 40°C in the next couple of days and, from April 6 to 8, the weather will be better and more windy.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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More than 700 die in worst heatwave to hit Pakistan in a decade

A heatwave in Pakistan has left at least 700 dead – it is believed to be the worst heatwave to hit the country in a decade, with temperatures reaching 45C (113F). Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has declared a state of emergency.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 24 June 2015.

The scorching weather first struck the southern Sindh province during the weekend and, since it is now the fasting month of Ramadan, when Muslims do not consume food or water during daylight hours, the situation has been aggravated. Morgues do not have space to store the dead and hospitals are trying to save the sick. So far, nearly 750 people are known to have died while thousands more are under treatment for heat-related ailments like fever, dehydration and stomach-related illnesses.
The worst-hit area is reported to be Karachi, the country's largest city, where at least 600 people have died. (Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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India in the grip of a heat wave – 335 dead

A severe heatwave is sweeping across India and it has resulted in 335 deaths as reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 24 May 2015. Even hill stations like Mussoorie, situated 6,580 feet above sea level, has not been spared – it is sweltering at 36 degrees Celsius.

The situation is more severe in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana where the brutal heat has taken the lives of 135 people. The heat-related deaths have now gone up to 335 in the last three days with breakup of 75 in Andhra and 60 in Telangana as temperatures were five to seven degrees above normal.
These two states have rescheduled ongoing government schemes like NREGS since the majority of the deaths were from sunstroke and the victims were laborers. Khammam in Telangana was at 48 degrees – this has broken its previous record of 47.2 of 1947.
The Met department has warned that it is going to get hotter and temperatures are rising in central, north-west, parts of east and peninsular India for the last few days as revealed by the AMD, New Delhi.
As to heat wave conditions in other part of India – it will continue in Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar and Jharkhand for the next couple of days. In UP, Allahabad, it was at a sweltering 47 degrees.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)


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