Floods claimed at least two more lives in Assam on Thursday, pushing the death toll to 30, as pre-monsoon rains continued to batter the north-eastern Indian state.
More than 560,000 people ― including 113,000 children ― in 12 districts are affected by heavy rainfall and landslides, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said in its latest flood report.
Twenty-five of the 30 died in the floods, while the rest were killed in landslides.
More than 47,100 hectares of crop areas remain submerged, the agency said.
Assam regularly suffers from annual flooding but in recent years deluges have caused widespread havoc.
The government has established an inter-ministerial central team to study the flood-ravaged districts in the state.
While the rescue operations are over, the main challenge is the restoration of infrastructure such as roads and railway links that were swept away, authorities said.
The state agencies were working round the clock to restore roads and clear tunnels that were blocked from the debris suspending vehicular movement.
The continuing rains were hindering the work, authorities said.
In Dima Hasao, a picturesque tourist destination that was completely devastated, roads have been partially restored, Gyanendra Dev Tripathi, chief executive of ASDMA, told The National.
Air Force sorties were bringing essential supplies for those trapped and airlifting the marooned.
“The number of people in relief camps and those affected are declining," Mr Tripathi said. "But we are not totally free from floods and need more time.”
In Dima Hasao, roads have been partially restored and some supplies have been started, he said.
“We are ensuring people can go back to their villages," he said.
Extreme weather conditions have killed hundreds of people in the past month.
More than 39 people were killed and three injured because of dust storms, lightning and thunderstorms in northern Uttar Pradesh state on Monday, according to the government.
At least 33 people were also killed across 16 districts in the eastern state of Bihar in gale-force storms, lightning and heavy rains over the weekend.
Parts of southern Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala states have also recorded widespread pre-monsoon rains for the past few days.
The monsoon is likely to hit Kerala on Sunday.
On Friday, the weather office said that “favourable conditions” were forming over Kerala for the onset of the south-west monsoon “during the next two to three days”.
The monsoon season in India starts in the southern state of Kerala, and moves north-west, covering the entire subcontinent over three months.
The season is key for India’s economy, because the country receives about 75 per cent of its annual rainfall during this period.
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Bitcoin is the most popular virtual currency in the world. It was created in 2009 as a new way of paying for things that would not be subject to central banks that are capable of devaluing currency. A Bitcoin itself is essentially a line of computer code. It's signed digitally when it goes from one owner to another. There are sustainability concerns around the cryptocurrency, which stem from the process of "mining" that is central to its existence.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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Founder: Ahmed Al Qubaisi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: January 2019
Number of employees: 10
Sector: Technology/Social media
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Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Abu Dhabi traffic facts
Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road
The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.
Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.
The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.
The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.
Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019
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Premier League clubs spent £230 million (Dh1.15 billion) on January transfers, the second-highest total for the mid-season window, the Sports Business Group at Deloitte said in a report.
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Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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