The death toll in Cyclone Fengal rose to 28 on Tuesday after seven bodies were recovered from the debris of a mudslide in India’s Tamil Nadu state. More than a dozen people have died in Sri Lanka.
Cyclone Fengal formed over the Bay of Bengal in the past week and made landfall on Saturday. It brought torrential rains and widespread destruction across southern India. Several villages have been cut off, and huts have been destroyed in floods.
Rajkumar, 30, his wife 24, their two young children, and three children of their relatives were buried under rocks after heavy rains triggered a mudslide in the foothills of Chidambaram Nagar, in the Tiruvannamalai district of Tamil Nadu on Sunday. Emergency workers searched the site for more than 12 hours and pulled out four bodies on Monday.
MK Stalin, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, said 12 people died in the state and more than 15 million people were affected. More than 2,400 huts were destroyed and over 200,000 hectares of agricultural and horticultural land has been inundated. About a thousand cattle were killed. Several roads and bridges were washed away. He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to extend financial support of 20 billion rupees ($236 million).
Several parts of the state recorded heavy rains on Tuesday that caused flooding. All schools and educational institutions were closed as the National Disaster Response Force relief work continued. An additional 100,000 trained first responders were carrying out aid and restoration work.
In the territory of Puducherry, a former French colony, the army was called as it was deluged with 460 millimetres of rain, the heaviest rainfall in three decades, local government officials said. The India Meteorological Department, the federal weather agency, also issued alerts for substantial rain in neighbouring Kerala and Karnataka states.
The cyclone also affected Sri Lanka where 16 people were killed, with heavy rain displacing more than 130,000 families. About 470,000 people sought shelter in temporary relief camps, the Disaster Management Centre in Colombo said.
Cyclones are a regular feature in the Bay of Bengal and the northern Indian Ocean. Scientists warn that such storms are becoming more frequent and powerful as the world heats up due to climate change driven by burning fossil fuels. Cyclone Fengal formed in the wake of Dana, which hit India’s east coast in October. It is the fourth cyclonic storm to hit India this year.
India’s coastline on the Bay of Bengal – the largest bay in the world – is a hotbed of tropical cyclones and is prone to extreme climatic events. Eight of the 10 deadliest cyclones on record have originated over the bay in the past two decades, according to Weather Underground. However, recent advancements in weather forecasting and cyclone warning systems have helped authorities carry out mass evacuations before storms.
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
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The biog
Favourite book: Men are from Mars Women are from Venus
Favourite travel destination: Ooty, a hill station in South India
Hobbies: Cooking. Biryani, pepper crab are her signature dishes
Favourite place in UAE: Marjan Island
Gran Gala del Calcio 2019 winners
Best Player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Best Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta)
Best Referee: Gianluca Rocchi
Best Goal: Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria vs Napoli)
Best Team: Atalanta
Best XI: Samir Handanovic (Inter); Aleksandar Kolarov (Roma), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Joao Cancelo (Juventus*); Miralem Pjanic (Juventus), Josip Ilicic (Atalanta), Nicolo Barella (Cagliari*); Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Duvan Zapata (Atalanta)
Serie B Best Young Player: Sandro Tonali (Brescia)
Best Women’s Goal: Thaisa (Milan vs Juventus)
Best Women’s Player: Manuela Giugliano (Milan)
Best Women’s XI: Laura Giuliani (Milan); Alia Guagni (Fiorentina), Sara Gama (Juventus), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus), Elisa Bartoli (Roma); Aurora Galli (Juventus), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus); Valentina Giacinti (Milan), Ilaria Mauro (Fiorentina), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus)
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Abaya trends
The utilitarian robe held dear by Arab women is undergoing a change that reveals it as an elegant and graceful garment available in a range of colours and fabrics, while retaining its traditional appeal.
Elvis
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
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Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
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Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
