In 2020, raging bushfires were ravaging Australia. Exactly a year later, the country is dealing with unprecedented floods. WION's Molly Gambhir brings you all the details.

Gravitas: Australia submerged under record flood

Torrential rains have lashed Australia's South-East region again. Dozens have been rescued from flooded regions. 38 regions in New South Wales have been declared disaster zones.

Mass evacuations underway in Australia as rains cause record flooding

Severe flooding across several areas in the Indonesian capital forced more than a thousand people to flee their homes on Saturday (February 20), with the country's meteorology agency warning the peak of the monsoon season yet to subside.

Over a thousand evacuated after floods hit Indonesian capital and surrounding areas

A glacier broke off in Joshimath in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on Sunday, causing a massive flood in the Dhauli Ganga river and endangering the lives of people living along its banks. Massive destruction is feared.

More than 150 labourers working at the Rishi Ganga power project may have been directly affected, said State Disaster Response Force DIG Ridhim Aggarwal.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | A glacier broke off in Joshimath in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Uttarakhand?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Uttarakhand</a>'s Chamoli district, causing a massive flood in the Dhauli Ganga river and endangering the lives of people living along its banks. Massive destruction is feared. <a href="https://t.co/0hoRFZwyuW">pic.twitter.com/0hoRFZwyuW</a>
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&nbsp;

"Representatives of the power project have told me that they?are?not being able to contact around 150 of their workmen at the project site," she said.

"Though details are awaited, several districts, including Pauri, Tehri, Rudraprayag, Haridwar and Dehradun, are likely to be affected and have been put on high alert."

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat appealed to people to not spread rumours through old flood videos. He said all districts concerned have been alerted and people have been asked not to go near the Ganga. Rawat cancelled all his programmes scheduled for the day. He is likely to visit Chamoli to take stock of the situation.

ITBP and NDRF teams rushed to flood-hit areas in Uttarakhand to undertake relief and rescue work, officials in New Delhi said

A glacier broke off in Joshimath in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on Sunday, causing a massive flood in the Dhauli Ganga river and endangering the lives of people living along its banks.

A glacier broke off in Joshimath in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on Sunday, causing a massive flood in the Dhauli Ganga river and endangering the lives of people living along its banks. Massive destruction is feared. More than 150 labourers working at the Rishi Ganga power project may have been directly affected, said State Disaster Response Force DIG Ridhim Aggarwal. #WATCH | A glacier broke off in Joshimath in #Uttarakhand's Chamoli district, causing a massive flood in the Dhauli Ganga river and endangering the lives of people living along its banks. Massive destruction is feared. pic.twitter.com/0hoRFZwyuW — WION (@WIONews) February 7, 2021 × "Representatives of the power project have told me that they?are?not being able to contact around 150 of their workmen at the project site," she said. "Though details are awaited, several districts, including Pauri, Tehri, Rudraprayag, Haridwar and Dehradun, are likely to be affected and have been put on high alert." Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat appealed to people to not spread rumours through old flood videos. He said all districts concerned have been alerted and people have been asked not to go near the Ganga. Rawat cancelled all his programmes scheduled for the day. He is likely to visit Chamoli to take stock of the situation. ITBP and NDRF teams rushed to flood-hit areas in Uttarakhand to undertake relief and rescue work, officials in New Delhi said

Massive flood as glacier breaks off at Joshimath, 150 labourers missing

Floods continue to swamp many parts of central Malaysia, after deep waters caused by heavy rains displaced nearly 50,000 people and killed at least six people.

Heavy rains cause havoc in Malaysia's East Coast

A first-of-its-kind system for South Asian countries that will provide alerts for flash floods 6-24 hours in advance was launched at the India Meteorological Department (IMD) here on Friday.

The World Meteorological Department (WMO) has entrusted India with the responsibility of the Regional Centre of South Asia Flash Flood Guidance System for coordination, development and its implementation.

India also shares cyclone warning alerts with neighbouring countries.

The system will enable the member countries -- India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan -- issue impact-based forecasting of floods which are very sudden and of short duration at watershed and also city level, IMD director general Mrutunjay Mohapatra said at the online launch.

Representatives of the member countries attended the event.

Flash floods are highly localised events of short duration with a very high peak and usually have less than six hours between the occurrence of the rainfall and peak flood. There is a general lack of flash flood warning capabilities and capacities among countries across the world.

Recognising that flash floods have a particularly disastrous impact on lives and properties of the affected populations, the 15th WMO Congress had approved the implementation of a Flash Flood Guidance System (FFGS) project with global coverage.

The system has been developed by the WMO Commission for Hydrology, jointly with the WMO Commission for Basic Systems and in collaboration with the US National Weather Service, the US Hydrologic Research Centre (HRC).

The IMD has highly advanced capabilities with respect to computing power, numerical weather prediction, vast observational network (ground, air and space based), and an internationally acclaimed weather forecasting system.

It has tested the performance of the system during recent monsoon seasons in the pre-operational mode and the flash flood bulletins were issued to national hydrological and meteorological services in the region for its validation.

The system has in-depth science, dynamics and diagnostics to provide guidance for the possible occurrences of flash floods at local level.

The guidance for flash floods in the form of Threats (6 hours in advance) and Risks (24 hours in advance) will be provided by Regional Centre to National Meteorological &amp; Hydrological Services, National and State Disaster Management Authorities and all other stakeholders for taking necessary mitigation measures to reduce the loss of life and property in the South Asian region countries of India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka,.

(with inputs)

A first-of-its-kind system for South Asian countries that will provide alerts for flash floods 6-24 hours in advance was launched at the India Meteorological Department (IMD) here on Friday.

A first-of-its-kind system for South Asian countries that will provide alerts for flash floods 6-24 hours in advance was launched at the India Meteorological Department (IMD) here on Friday. The World Meteorological Department (WMO) has entrusted India with the responsibility of the Regional Centre of South Asia Flash Flood Guidance System for coordination, development and its implementation. India also shares cyclone warning alerts with neighbouring countries. The system will enable the member countries -- India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan -- issue impact-based forecasting of floods which are very sudden and of short duration at watershed and also city level, IMD director general Mrutunjay Mohapatra said at the online launch. Representatives of the member countries attended the event. Flash floods are highly localised events of short duration with a very high peak and usually have less than six hours between the occurrence of the rainfall and peak flood. There is a general lack of flash flood warning capabilities and capacities among countries across the world. Recognising that flash floods have a particularly disastrous impact on lives and properties of the affected populations, the 15th WMO Congress had approved the implementation of a Flash Flood Guidance System (FFGS) project with global coverage. The system has been developed by the WMO Commission for Hydrology, jointly with the WMO Commission for Basic Systems and in collaboration with the US National Weather Service, the US Hydrologic Research Centre (HRC). The IMD has highly advanced capabilities with respect to computing power, numerical weather prediction, vast observational network (ground, air and space based), and an internationally acclaimed weather forecasting system. It has tested the performance of the system during recent monsoon seasons in the pre-operational mode and the flash flood bulletins were issued to national hydrological and meteorological services in the region for its validation. The system has in-depth science, dynamics and diagnostics to provide guidance for the possible occurrences of flash floods at local level. The guidance for flash floods in the form of Threats (6 hours in advance) and Risks (24 hours in advance) will be provided by Regional Centre to National Meteorological & Hydrological Services, National and State Disaster Management Authorities and all other stakeholders for taking necessary mitigation measures to reduce the loss of life and property in the South Asian region countries of India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka,. (with inputs)

First-of-its-kind flash flood warning system for South Asian countries launched

Heavy rains have led to worsening of the flood situation in Uttar Pradesh where over 600 villages in 16 districts have been affected.

The deluge-hit districts in the state are Ambedkarnagar, Ayodhya, Azamgarh, Bahraich, Ballia, Barabanki, Basti, Deoria, Farrukhabad, Gonda, Gorakhpur, Lakhimpur Khiri, Kushinagar, Mau, Sant Kabir Nagar and Sitapur.

Relief Commissioner Sanjay Goyal said the flood situation in the state is improving. Of 690 villages hit by the deluge, 299 villages are completely flooded, he said.

The Sharda River was flowing above the danger mark at Palia Kalan in Lakhimpur Kheri, while the Saryu River was flowing above the danger mark at Ayodhya, Elgin Bridge in Barabanki and Turtipar in Ballia.

The IMD in its all-India weather summary and forecast bulletin said that heavy to very heavy rainfall was recorded at many places in Uttar Pradesh.

(With inputs from agencies)

Heavy rains have led to worsening of the flood situation in Uttar Pradesh where over 600 villages in 16 districts have been affected. The deluge-hit districts in the state are Ambedkarnagar, Ayodhya, Azamgarh, Bahraich, Ballia, Barabanki, Basti, Deoria, Farrukhabad, Gonda, Gorakhpur, Lakhimpur Khiri, Kushinagar, Mau, Sant Kabir Nagar and Sitapur.

Heavy rains have led to worsening of the flood situation in Uttar Pradesh where over 600 villages in 16 districts have been affected. The deluge-hit districts in the state are Ambedkarnagar, Ayodhya, Azamgarh, Bahraich, Ballia, Barabanki, Basti, Deoria, Farrukhabad, Gonda, Gorakhpur, Lakhimpur Khiri, Kushinagar, Mau, Sant Kabir Nagar and Sitapur. Relief Commissioner Sanjay Goyal said the flood situation in the state is improving. Of 690 villages hit by the deluge, 299 villages are completely flooded, he said. The Sharda River was flowing above the danger mark at Palia Kalan in Lakhimpur Kheri, while the Saryu River was flowing above the danger mark at Ayodhya, Elgin Bridge in Barabanki and Turtipar in Ballia. The IMD in its all-India weather summary and forecast bulletin said that heavy to very heavy rainfall was recorded at many places in Uttar Pradesh. (With inputs from agencies)

Uttar Pradesh flood situation grim, over 600 villages affected

Floods have devastated several cities in Pakistan. From Karachi to Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa- most provinces are struggling to deal with the heavy downpour. Palki Sharma Upadhyay gets you a ground report.

Gravitas: Floods devastate several cities in Pakistan

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has imposed a rain emergency in the province after heavy rainfall wreaked havoc in Karachi and other parts of the Pakistan.

Karachi Floods: 44 killed in two days, 200 families rescued

China insists that all is well in the mainland. But there are two new and major challenges that China is facing - something that Beijing is trying to hide. Palki Sharma Upadhyay tells you more.

Gravitas: The twin challenges that China is trying to hide

More than 5,900 people from 11 provinces and cities left their homes, and some 4,600 of them remain at temporary shelters following warnings of disasters

Flooding near South Korea's Yongbyong plant | Intense rainfall in Korean peninsula | WION

China's Guang-Xi region's dam has collapsed. It was built in 1965 and could hold more than 195 thousand cubic meters of water which is good enough to fill 78 Olympic size swimming pools.&nbsp;

However, the dam has now collapsed because it could not handle the floodwaters even as voices from the ground confirmed the impending crisis. When the&nbsp;dam collapsed, the local media didn’t report it. More dams and structures in China may collapse.

Dams are China's strategic card&nbsp;but they are failing before China even has a chance to play them.&nbsp;It&nbsp;is no longer about just one dam since the&nbsp;crisis is much bigger. China has as many as 94,000 dying dams with most of them being built during the Mao Zedong's era.

During&nbsp;Mao's regime&nbsp;most dams were small in order to&nbsp;protect different regions from flooding. However, these dams could collapse now. In all these years, their structure has decayed&nbsp;and now they are falling.

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The Three Gorges Dam remains the biggest concern at the moment as&nbsp;500 million people live along the Yangtze river which is China’s largest river. It is the river on which China has built its biggest and most controversial dam.

Two months of rains have swelled the Yangtze and the Three Gorges Dam can handle 84 million litres of water per second.&nbsp;In recent days, the water inflow reached 61 million litres per second. Heavy rainfall is expected to pound the Yangtze again&nbsp; with&nbsp;floods&nbsp;expected.

The crisis is real but&nbsp;China is in denial.&nbsp;It maintains the dam can handle more floodwater but on Tuesday&nbsp;it silently made a revelation.

The Xinhua news agency carried a report which&nbsp;said that the Three Gorges Dam has “deformed slightly”. The statement was made by the operator of the dam. Xinhua reported that some nonstructural, peripheral parts were&nbsp;damaged.

Reports said it happened last Saturday when more floodwaters hit the dam and some external structures were displaced.&nbsp; The report added that some seepage has been reported at the main outlet walls but officials are still making tall claims.

One of them reportedly said that nothing can topple the dam in the next 500 years.&nbsp;China managed to hide the dam collapse at Guang-Xi&nbsp;and it was not half as big the Three Gorges Dam. The Three Gorges Dam is a very big deal and saving it is a matter of national prestige with&nbsp;authorities now neck-deep in trouble.

China's Guang-Xi region's dam has collapsed. It was built in 1965 and could hold more than 195 thousand cubic meters of water which is good enough to fill 78 Olympic size swimming pools.

China's Guang-Xi region's dam has collapsed. It was built in 1965 and could hold more than 195 thousand cubic meters of water which is good enough to fill 78 Olympic size swimming pools. However, the dam has now collapsed because it could not handle the floodwaters even as voices from the ground confirmed the impending crisis. When the dam collapsed, the local media didn’t report it. More dams and structures in China may collapse. Dams are China's strategic card but they are failing before China even has a chance to play them. It is no longer about just one dam since the crisis is much bigger. China has as many as 94,000 dying dams with most of them being built during the Mao Zedong's era. During Mao's regime most dams were small in order to protect different regions from flooding. However, these dams could collapse now. In all these years, their structure has decayed and now they are falling. × The Three Gorges Dam remains the biggest concern at the moment as 500 million people live along the Yangtze river which is China’s largest river. It is the river on which China has built its biggest and most controversial dam. Two months of rains have swelled the Yangtze and the Three Gorges Dam can handle 84 million litres of water per second. In recent days, the water inflow reached 61 million litres per second. Heavy rainfall is expected to pound the Yangtze again with floods expected. The crisis is real but China is in denial. It maintains the dam can handle more floodwater but on Tuesday it silently made a revelation. The Xinhua news agency carried a report which said that the Three Gorges Dam has “deformed slightly”. The statement was made by the operator of the dam. Xinhua reported that some nonstructural, peripheral parts were damaged. Reports said it happened last Saturday when more floodwaters hit the dam and some external structures were displaced. The report added that some seepage has been reported at the main outlet walls but officials are still making tall claims. One of them reportedly said that nothing can topple the dam in the next 500 years. China managed to hide the dam collapse at Guang-Xi and it was not half as big the Three Gorges Dam. The Three Gorges Dam is a very big deal and saving it is a matter of national prestige with authorities now neck-deep in trouble.

China's flood crisis deepens as several dams may collapse

At a time when flood situation remains grim in North Eastern states of India, Indian Air Force has alerted its units and kept them on standby on Tuesday. 
 
Sources in the Indian Air Force reveal that Eastern Air Command is monitoring the flood situation in the North Eastern states carefully and has kept its assets like helicopters including the Mi 17 and Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) on standby. 
 
A senior official from Indian Air Force said, “We are monitoring the situation and the assets for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) are kept on standby at key locations and will be deployed based on requisition by State.”

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/assam-floods-eight-animal-species-killed-by-floods-in-indias-kaziranga-national-park-314578">Eight animal species killed by floods in India's Kaziranga National Park</a> 
 
On the other hand, as many as 111 people have died in floods and landslides in India’s eastern state of Assam. While more than 24 lac people in the state have been affected due to floods, 24 of the total 33 districts of Assam are worse hit with river Brahmaputra and it’s tributaries flowing dangerously above the normal level. 
 
Today, Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma regarding the loss of lives due to floods in the state.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/india-news/pm-discusses-flood-situation-with-assam-cm-assures-support-314489" hreflang="en">PM discusses flood situation with Assam CM, assures support</a> 
 
“Loss of lives due to the floods in West Garo Hills, Meghalaya is very disturbing. I have spoken to the Chief Minister, Sangma Conrad and assured him all possible help from the Central government. Nation stands resolutely with the people of Meghalaya in these trying times,” Shah tweeted.

At a time when flood situation remains grim in North Eastern states of India, Indian Air Force has alerted its units and kept them on standby on Tuesday. Sources in the Indian Air Force reveal that Eastern Air Command is monitoring the flood situation in the North Eastern states carefully and has kept its assets like helicopters including the Mi 17 and Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) on standby.

At a time when flood situation remains grim in North Eastern states of India, Indian Air Force has alerted its units and kept them on standby on Tuesday. Sources in the Indian Air Force reveal that Eastern Air Command is monitoring the flood situation in the North Eastern states carefully and has kept its assets like helicopters including the Mi 17 and Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) on standby. A senior official from Indian Air Force said, “We are monitoring the situation and the assets for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) are kept on standby at key locations and will be deployed based on requisition by State.” Also see: Eight animal species killed by floods in India's Kaziranga National Park On the other hand, as many as 111 people have died in floods and landslides in India’s eastern state of Assam. While more than 24 lac people in the state have been affected due to floods, 24 of the total 33 districts of Assam are worse hit with river Brahmaputra and it’s tributaries flowing dangerously above the normal level. Today, Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma regarding the loss of lives due to floods in the state. Also read: PM discusses flood situation with Assam CM, assures support “Loss of lives due to the floods in West Garo Hills, Meghalaya is very disturbing. I have spoken to the Chief Minister, Sangma Conrad and assured him all possible help from the Central government. Nation stands resolutely with the people of Meghalaya in these trying times,” Shah tweeted.

Flood situation in northeast India grim; IAF on standby

Tensions between India and Nepal are rising day by day. Nepal's Home Minister accuses India of causing floods.

Nepal's Home Minister accuses India of causing floods in Nepal

Heavy rain hit central China's Hubei Province on Sunday, trapping residents and disrupting traffic with floods in some cities.

South & Central China hit by heavy floods, More than 15 million people affected

The COVID-19 pandemic is a complex worldwide emergency without contemporary precedent. In every nation around the globe, the pandemic reaction is taking up the bulk of resources, expertise, time and effort.

But, how might individuals and frameworks adapt if a major natural disaster, similar to floods, quake or a tropical storm, happens while the COVID-19 pandemic proceeds?

The early wake-up calls for nations around the globe for natural hazards still loom large during the COVID-19 pandemic, including floods, fires, tornadoes, storms, and even volcanic eruptions.

Natural disasters have been made worse by the pandemic. Emergency workers are tired of fighting the Wuhan virus. 
 
Now, they must rescue people from floods, forest fires, dust clouds and heatwaves. It's a double crisis that will test the world's resilience.

Natural disasters don't stop for a virus, so in the middle of a pandemic, the world is dealing with nature's vagaries. At the epicentre of the virus outbreak — China.

The last few days in Jiangxi province have been tense, nearly 37,000 residents had to be evacuated due to flash floods. Over 300,000 people are still at risk and this was caused by a heavy rainstorm.

The latest of the 20 rainstorms that have battered the country this year. China has not seen these many storms in a single year since 2013. Economic losses run over 3.4 billion dollars. Over two million acres of farmland submerged, thousands of people displaced in 26 provinces.

The high risk of flooding, landslides and urban waterlogging remains. Heavy downpour is expected to hit vast stretches of china over the weekend.

Meanwhile, in the US, the worst-hit country in the world due to the pandemic. Coronavirus is not the only killer in the air a monster dust cloud has travelled over 8,000 kilometres from Africa.

Sahara desert typically whips up sand at this time of the year and — carries it across the Atlantic ocean to the Americas. This dust cloud is the densest in half a century. First — it turned the blue skies into a milky-brown haze over the Caribbean. Now — it is close to the coasts of Mexico and the US.

Health warnings have been sent out across the region as air quality fell to unhealthy levels. The dust particles can cause cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses.

A perfect condition for covid-19 to whip up a fresh wave of infections. Across the Atlantic, there is another kind of wave blowing around. The heatwave, this has come from Africa too.

It has swept over Spain, causing temperatures to rise over 40 degrees Celsius. France and the UK have faced a mini-heatwave, but the mercury may rise in the coming days. Now that lockdown restrictions have been eased, people are itching to go out. Especially to bask in the sun at the beaches.

But — the heat is making it impossible to wear a mask — the first shield against the Wuhan virus. Parts of Siberia are facing the worst of the heatwave. Forest fires are engulfing villages in the Sakha Republic in Russia.

Temperatures in the region touched 30 degrees Celsius. For this part of Siberia — the average temperature in June is 15 degrees Celsius. There are currently 50 active bushfires in the territory covering an area of more than 600,000 hectares. At a time when disaster relief teams need relief after the long bout with the pandemic. They are being called upon to douse fires and evacuate people.

Disaster teams are scrambling, it's a grim reminder of an old challenge. The urgent need to lock down climate change.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a complex worldwide emergency without contemporary precedent. In every nation around the globe, the pandemic reaction is taking up the bulk of resources, expertise, time and effort.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a complex worldwide emergency without contemporary precedent. In every nation around the globe, the pandemic reaction is taking up the bulk of resources, expertise, time and effort. But, how might individuals and frameworks adapt if a major natural disaster, similar to floods, quake or a tropical storm, happens while the COVID-19 pandemic proceeds? The early wake-up calls for nations around the globe for natural hazards still loom large during the COVID-19 pandemic, including floods, fires, tornadoes, storms, and even volcanic eruptions. Natural disasters have been made worse by the pandemic. Emergency workers are tired of fighting the Wuhan virus. Now, they must rescue people from floods, forest fires, dust clouds and heatwaves. It's a double crisis that will test the world's resilience. Natural disasters don't stop for a virus, so in the middle of a pandemic, the world is dealing with nature's vagaries. At the epicentre of the virus outbreak — China. The last few days in Jiangxi province have been tense, nearly 37,000 residents had to be evacuated due to flash floods. Over 300,000 people are still at risk and this was caused by a heavy rainstorm. The latest of the 20 rainstorms that have battered the country this year. China has not seen these many storms in a single year since 2013. Economic losses run over 3.4 billion dollars. Over two million acres of farmland submerged, thousands of people displaced in 26 provinces. The high risk of flooding, landslides and urban waterlogging remains. Heavy downpour is expected to hit vast stretches of china over the weekend. Meanwhile, in the US, the worst-hit country in the world due to the pandemic. Coronavirus is not the only killer in the air a monster dust cloud has travelled over 8,000 kilometres from Africa. Sahara desert typically whips up sand at this time of the year and — carries it across the Atlantic ocean to the Americas. This dust cloud is the densest in half a century. First — it turned the blue skies into a milky-brown haze over the Caribbean. Now — it is close to the coasts of Mexico and the US. Health warnings have been sent out across the region as air quality fell to unhealthy levels. The dust particles can cause cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses. A perfect condition for covid-19 to whip up a fresh wave of infections. Across the Atlantic, there is another kind of wave blowing around. The heatwave, this has come from Africa too. It has swept over Spain, causing temperatures to rise over 40 degrees Celsius. France and the UK have faced a mini-heatwave, but the mercury may rise in the coming days. Now that lockdown restrictions have been eased, people are itching to go out. Especially to bask in the sun at the beaches. But — the heat is making it impossible to wear a mask — the first shield against the Wuhan virus. Parts of Siberia are facing the worst of the heatwave. Forest fires are engulfing villages in the Sakha Republic in Russia. Temperatures in the region touched 30 degrees Celsius. For this part of Siberia — the average temperature in June is 15 degrees Celsius. There are currently 50 active bushfires in the territory covering an area of more than 600,000 hectares. At a time when disaster relief teams need relief after the long bout with the pandemic. They are being called upon to douse fires and evacuate people. Disaster teams are scrambling, it's a grim reminder of an old challenge. The urgent need to lock down climate change.

Double crisis: Natural disasters don't stop for coronavirus

The pandemic is just one challenge. Emergency workers have to fight nature's vagaries too. Floods, forest fires, dust clouds... the list goes on. WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay tells you more about this new crisis.

Gravitas: Natural disasters don't stop for a virus

China has urged more than a dozen provinces to take precautions against another round of heavy rain in the next few days after turbulent weather brought floods to large swathes of the country this month.

Heavy downpours trigger flash floods in large swathes of China

Rising floodwaters unleashed by two dam failures submerged parts of the central Michigan town of Midland on Wednesday, displacing thousands of residents and spreading into a Dow Chemical Co plant in the riverfront city.

Michigan dam collapse triggers severe flooding, around 10,000 people evacuated

Floods have crippled much of Indonesia's capital Jakarta. Experts say that Jakarta is now sinking at an alarming rate. This report has more details.

Gravitas: Indonesia's sinking capital, thousands caught in floods in Jakarta

Torrential rain brought floods to Indonesia’s capital Jakarta paralysing large parts of the city as rescue workers used boats to navigate streets.

Indonesia's Capital Jakarta could be under water by 2050

Saturday's floods in parts of Tel Aviv city killed two people, prompting rescue services to help residents trapped in their vehicles. Emergency services reported that a man and woman drowned after being trapped in floodwaters in southern Tel Aviv. #TelAviv #IsraelFloods #Israel #Flood #WION

Israel: Saturday's flood killed two people in Tel Aviv city

Three emergency workers were killed in a helicopter crash near Marseille while on a rescue mission in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/floods-and-rain-kill-two-in-southern-france-265624">flood-hit southern France</a>, the interior ministry said Monday.

Their EC145 helicopter lost radio and radar contact while on a rescue and reconnaissance flight in the Var region Sunday night. The three were found dead at 1:30 am near the town of Rove, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner and his secretary of state Laurent Nunez said in a statement.

An investigation was underway to determine the circumstances of the crash.

"While France is preparing today to pay tribute to 13 of its soldiers who died serving it (in Mali), our country is losing three everyday heroes who gave their lives to protect the French," Castaner and Nunez said.

Two people were killed on Sunday by floods in the French Riviera, which has been hit by fresh torrential rains a week after extreme weather left six dead.

Three emergency workers were killed in a helicopter crash near Marseille while on a rescue mission in flood-hit southern France, the interior ministry said Monday.

Three emergency workers were killed in a helicopter crash near Marseille while on a rescue mission in flood-hit southern France, the interior ministry said Monday. Their EC145 helicopter lost radio and radar contact while on a rescue and reconnaissance flight in the Var region Sunday night. The three were found dead at 1:30 am near the town of Rove, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner and his secretary of state Laurent Nunez said in a statement. An investigation was underway to determine the circumstances of the crash. "While France is preparing today to pay tribute to 13 of its soldiers who died serving it (in Mali), our country is losing three everyday heroes who gave their lives to protect the French," Castaner and Nunez said. Two people were killed on Sunday by floods in the French Riviera, which has been hit by fresh torrential rains a week after extreme weather left six dead.

France: Three flood rescuers killed in helicopter crash

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/worst-floods-in-50-years-bring-venice-on-its-knees-262121">Venice</a> was inundated by exceptionally high water levels on Friday just days after the lagoon city suffered the worst flood in more than 50 years.

The central St. Mark's Square was submerged and closed to tourists, while shops and hotels were once more invaded by rising waters bringing fresh misery to the fragile city.

Local authorities said the high tide peaked at 154 cm (5.05 ft), slightly below expectations and significantly lower than the 187 cm level reached on Tuesday,&nbsp; the second-highest tide ever recorded in Venice.

But it was still enough to leave 70% of the city underwater, fraying the nerves of locals who faced yet another large-scale clean-up operation.

"We have been in this emergency for days and we just can't put up with any more," said Venetian resident Nava Naccara.

Watch: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/worst-floods-in-50-years-bring-venice-on-its-knees-262121">Worst floods in 50-years bring 'Venice on its knees'</a>

The Italian government declared a state of emergency for Venice on Thursday, allocating 20 million euros ($22 million) to address the immediate damage. Mayor Luigi Brugnaro predicted on Friday the costs would be vastly higher.

"Venice was destroyed the other day. We are talking about damage totalling a billion euros," Brugnaro said in a video posted on Twitter. "This is a state of emergency, but we are managing it."

Sirens wailed across Venice from the early morning hours, warning of the impending high tide, and the crypt beneath St. Mark's Basilica was swiftly inundated.

After Friday's high waters, forecasters predicted tides of up to 110-120 cm during the weekend. In normal conditions, tides of 80-90cm are generally seen as high but manageable.

The mayor has blamed climate change for the ever-increasing flood waters that the city has had to deal with in recent years, with the mean sea level estimated to be more than 20 cm higher than it was a century ago, and set to rise much further.

Groups of volunteers and students arrived in the city centre to help businesses mop-up, while schools remained closed, as they have been most of the week.

At the city's internationally renowned bookshop Acqua Alta,&nbsp;the Italian for high water, staff were trying to dry out thousands of water-damaged books and prints, usually kept in boats, bathtubs and plastic bins.

"The only thing we were able to do was to raise the books as much as possible but unfortunately even that wasn't enough ... about half of the bookshop was completely flooded," said Oriana, who works in the store.

A flood barrier designed to protect Venice from high tides is not expected to start working until the end of 2021, with the project plagued by the sort of problems that have come to characterise major Italian infrastructure programmes, corruption, cost overruns and prolonged delays.

Venice was inundated by exceptionally high water levels on Friday just days after the lagoon city suffered the worst flood in more than 50 years. The central St.

Venice was inundated by exceptionally high water levels on Friday just days after the lagoon city suffered the worst flood in more than 50 years. The central St. Mark's Square was submerged and closed to tourists, while shops and hotels were once more invaded by rising waters bringing fresh misery to the fragile city. Local authorities said the high tide peaked at 154 cm (5.05 ft), slightly below expectations and significantly lower than the 187 cm level reached on Tuesday, the second-highest tide ever recorded in Venice. But it was still enough to leave 70% of the city underwater, fraying the nerves of locals who faced yet another large-scale clean-up operation. "We have been in this emergency for days and we just can't put up with any more," said Venetian resident Nava Naccara. Watch: Worst floods in 50-years bring 'Venice on its knees' The Italian government declared a state of emergency for Venice on Thursday, allocating 20 million euros ($22 million) to address the immediate damage. Mayor Luigi Brugnaro predicted on Friday the costs would be vastly higher. "Venice was destroyed the other day. We are talking about damage totalling a billion euros," Brugnaro said in a video posted on Twitter. "This is a state of emergency, but we are managing it." Sirens wailed across Venice from the early morning hours, warning of the impending high tide, and the crypt beneath St. Mark's Basilica was swiftly inundated. After Friday's high waters, forecasters predicted tides of up to 110-120 cm during the weekend. In normal conditions, tides of 80-90cm are generally seen as high but manageable. The mayor has blamed climate change for the ever-increasing flood waters that the city has had to deal with in recent years, with the mean sea level estimated to be more than 20 cm higher than it was a century ago, and set to rise much further. Groups of volunteers and students arrived in the city centre to help businesses mop-up, while schools remained closed, as they have been most of the week. At the city's internationally renowned bookshop Acqua Alta, the Italian for high water, staff were trying to dry out thousands of water-damaged books and prints, usually kept in boats, bathtubs and plastic bins. "The only thing we were able to do was to raise the books as much as possible but unfortunately even that wasn't enough ... about half of the bookshop was completely flooded," said Oriana, who works in the store. A flood barrier designed to protect Venice from high tides is not expected to start working until the end of 2021, with the project plagued by the sort of problems that have come to characterise major Italian infrastructure programmes, corruption, cost overruns and prolonged delays.

Already 70% underwater, Venice faces more floods; St. Mark's Square closed to visitors

Venice's mayor called the city a disaster zone on Wednesday after the second-highest tide ever recorded swept through it overnight,&nbsp;flooding its historic basilica and leaving many squares and alleyways deep underwater.

A local man from Pellestrina, one of the many islands in the Venetian lagoon, died when he was struck by lightning while using an electric water pump, the fire brigade said.

City officials said the tide peaked at 187 cm (6ft 2ins) at 10.50 p.m. (2150 GMT) on Tuesday, just short of the record 194 cm set in 1966.

Night-time footage showed a torrent of water whipped up by high winds raging through the city centre while Luca Zaia, governor of the Veneto region, described a scene of "apocalyptic devastation".

Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said the situation was dramatic. "We ask the government to help us. The cost will be high. This is the result of climate change," he said on Twitter.

He said he would declare a disaster zone and ask the government to call a state of emergency, which would allow funds to be freed to address the damage.

Saint Mark's Square was submerged by more than one metre of water, while the adjacent Saint Mark's Basilica was&nbsp;flooded for the sixth time in 1,200 years - but the fourth in the last 20.

A&nbsp;flood&nbsp;barrier was designed in 1984 to protect Venice from the kind of high tides that hit the city on Tuesday, but the multi-billion euro project, known as Mose, has been plagued by corruption scandals and is still not operative.

Brugnaro said the basilica had suffered "grave damage", but no details were available on the state of its mainly Byzantine interior, famous for its rich mosaics.

Its administrator said the basilica had aged 20 years in a single day when it was&nbsp;flooded last year.

'On its knees'

Some tourists appeared to enjoy the drama, with one man filmed swimming across Saint Mark's Square wearing only shorts on Tuesday evening.

"Venice is on its knees.. the art, the basilica, the shops and the homes, a disaster.. The city is bracing itself for the next high tide," Zaia said on TV.

The luxury Hotel Gritti, a landmark of Venice which looks onto the Lagoon, was also&nbsp;flooded.

On Wednesday morning the tide level fell to 145 cm but was expected to rise back to 160 cm during the day.

Local authorities and the government's civil protection unit will hold a news conference at 1100 GMT.

The overnight surge triggered several fires, including one at the International Gallery of Modern Art Ca' Pesaro, with hundreds of calls to the fire brigade.

Video on social media showed deep water flowing like a river along one of Venice's main thoroughfares. Other footage showed large waves hammering boats moored alongside the Doge's Palace and surging over the stone sidewalks.

"A high tide of 187 cm is going to leave an indelible wound," Brugnaro said.

Much of Italy has been pummelled by torrential rains in recent days, with widespread&nbsp;flooding, especially in the southern heel and toe of the country.

In Matera, this year's European Capital of Culture, rainwater cascaded through the streets and inundated the city's famous cave-dwelling district.

Further bad weather is forecast for the coming days.

Venice's mayor called the city a disaster zone on Wednesday after the second-highest tide ever recorded swept through it overnight, flooding its historic basilica and leaving many squares and alleyways deep underwater.

Venice's mayor called the city a disaster zone on Wednesday after the second-highest tide ever recorded swept through it overnight, flooding its historic basilica and leaving many squares and alleyways deep underwater. A local man from Pellestrina, one of the many islands in the Venetian lagoon, died when he was struck by lightning while using an electric water pump, the fire brigade said. City officials said the tide peaked at 187 cm (6ft 2ins) at 10.50 p.m. (2150 GMT) on Tuesday, just short of the record 194 cm set in 1966. Night-time footage showed a torrent of water whipped up by high winds raging through the city centre while Luca Zaia, governor of the Veneto region, described a scene of "apocalyptic devastation". Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said the situation was dramatic. "We ask the government to help us. The cost will be high. This is the result of climate change," he said on Twitter. He said he would declare a disaster zone and ask the government to call a state of emergency, which would allow funds to be freed to address the damage. Saint Mark's Square was submerged by more than one metre of water, while the adjacent Saint Mark's Basilica was flooded for the sixth time in 1,200 years - but the fourth in the last 20. A flood barrier was designed in 1984 to protect Venice from the kind of high tides that hit the city on Tuesday, but the multi-billion euro project, known as Mose, has been plagued by corruption scandals and is still not operative. Brugnaro said the basilica had suffered "grave damage", but no details were available on the state of its mainly Byzantine interior, famous for its rich mosaics. Its administrator said the basilica had aged 20 years in a single day when it was flooded last year. 'On its knees' Some tourists appeared to enjoy the drama, with one man filmed swimming across Saint Mark's Square wearing only shorts on Tuesday evening. "Venice is on its knees.. the art, the basilica, the shops and the homes, a disaster.. The city is bracing itself for the next high tide," Zaia said on TV. The luxury Hotel Gritti, a landmark of Venice which looks onto the Lagoon, was also flooded. On Wednesday morning the tide level fell to 145 cm but was expected to rise back to 160 cm during the day. Local authorities and the government's civil protection unit will hold a news conference at 1100 GMT. The overnight surge triggered several fires, including one at the International Gallery of Modern Art Ca' Pesaro, with hundreds of calls to the fire brigade. Video on social media showed deep water flowing like a river along one of Venice's main thoroughfares. Other footage showed large waves hammering boats moored alongside the Doge's Palace and surging over the stone sidewalks. "A high tide of 187 cm is going to leave an indelible wound," Brugnaro said. Much of Italy has been pummelled by torrential rains in recent days, with widespread flooding, especially in the southern heel and toe of the country. In Matera, this year's European Capital of Culture, rainwater cascaded through the streets and inundated the city's famous cave-dwelling district. Further bad weather is forecast for the coming days.

Venice devastated by second highest tide in history

Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Saturday slammed Karnataka cabinet minister C C Patil for claiming that the state does not have enough funds to help the flood victims.

Speaking to ANI, the former chief minister of Karnataka said, "It shows their (Karnataka government) negligence. Every month the state government gets tax. The state gets its share of taxes. They get several kinds of taxes. If he is saying that the treasury is empty it reflects his knowledge about the financial issues."

"They do not have any will to help people amidst hardships. This government has completely failed to provide relief to the victims," he added.

Notably, after being criticised by residents for not visiting flood-affected areas in Gadag district, Cabinet Minister CC Patil on Wednesday visited Sevala Nagar village and talked to people about the problems they face.

Patil, also the minister in-charge of Gadag district, told the locals that the state government is spending a huge amount in the flood-affected areas despite lack of funds.

"You are aware of how much money the government is spending in flood-affected areas. You even know that the government doesn`t have money. We are also not getting our MLA funds. We will see later if you want to leave this village and want to shift to a different village. I will make the arrangements," Patil said.

The death toll has gone up to 13 following the devastation caused by incessant rain and floods in Karnataka between October 18 to 24.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Saturday slammed Karnataka cabinet minister C C Patil for claiming that the state does not have enough funds to help the flood victims.

Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Saturday slammed Karnataka cabinet minister C C Patil for claiming that the state does not have enough funds to help the flood victims. Speaking to ANI, the former chief minister of Karnataka said, "It shows their (Karnataka government) negligence. Every month the state government gets tax. The state gets its share of taxes. They get several kinds of taxes. If he is saying that the treasury is empty it reflects his knowledge about the financial issues." "They do not have any will to help people amidst hardships. This government has completely failed to provide relief to the victims," he added. Notably, after being criticised by residents for not visiting flood-affected areas in Gadag district, Cabinet Minister CC Patil on Wednesday visited Sevala Nagar village and talked to people about the problems they face. Patil, also the minister in-charge of Gadag district, told the locals that the state government is spending a huge amount in the flood-affected areas despite lack of funds. "You are aware of how much money the government is spending in flood-affected areas. You even know that the government doesn`t have money. We are also not getting our MLA funds. We will see later if you want to leave this village and want to shift to a different village. I will make the arrangements," Patil said. The death toll has gone up to 13 following the devastation caused by incessant rain and floods in Karnataka between October 18 to 24.

Siddaramaiah tears into Karnataka minister for claiming state has no funds for flood victims

The capital city of Bihar is still in the grip of waterlogging and water-borne diseases like dengue.

"For the past month, there has been water logging in Phulwari Sharif area. I met the Mayor and the Commissioner of the district but they are not doing anything," Arvind Kumar Pankaj, a local, told ANI.

"People are facing many problems. In every house, one person is suffering from disease," added Pankaj.

A total of 615 dengue cases have been reported in the city this year till October 17. School students are also facing the problem because of waterlogging.&nbsp;

Varsha, a student, said that she was not going to school for weeks because of the floodwater.

"This area is always waterlogged but from the past one month, the level of water has increased due to rainwater. The gutter holes are open. We are facing problems," said Dinanath Gupta, a resident said.

Several areas of the city were flooded by rainwater with Rajendra Nagar being one of the worst affected areas.Low-lying areas like Kankarbagh, Gardani Bagh, Dak Bungalow and SK Puri have also been affected severely.

As per the state`s Health Department, as many as 900 dengue cases have been reported from across the city since September.Heavy rains had claimed the lives of over 73 people in Bihar.

The capital city of Bihar is still in the grip of waterlogging and water-borne diseases like dengue. "For the past month, there has been water logging in Phulwari Sharif area.

The capital city of Bihar is still in the grip of waterlogging and water-borne diseases like dengue. "For the past month, there has been water logging in Phulwari Sharif area. I met the Mayor and the Commissioner of the district but they are not doing anything," Arvind Kumar Pankaj, a local, told ANI. "People are facing many problems. In every house, one person is suffering from disease," added Pankaj. A total of 615 dengue cases have been reported in the city this year till October 17. School students are also facing the problem because of waterlogging. Varsha, a student, said that she was not going to school for weeks because of the floodwater. "This area is always waterlogged but from the past one month, the level of water has increased due to rainwater. The gutter holes are open. We are facing problems," said Dinanath Gupta, a resident said. Several areas of the city were flooded by rainwater with Rajendra Nagar being one of the worst affected areas.Low-lying areas like Kankarbagh, Gardani Bagh, Dak Bungalow and SK Puri have also been affected severely. As per the state`s Health Department, as many as 900 dengue cases have been reported from across the city since September.Heavy rains had claimed the lives of over 73 people in Bihar.

Bihar: Waterlogging, water-borne diseases continue to haunt residents of Patna

Union Minister and Member of Parliament from Patna Sahib constituency, Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday visited the flood-hit Rajendra Nagar area in Bihar.

The BJP leader interacted with the officials and enquired about the status of relief work being carried out.

"The level of water has receded a little. People told me that fogging should be done. I told the Collector Sahib, Patna who was there with me on the boat to complete the fogging. Rest, people are getting water and milk. There is no complaint in this regard," he said while speaking to reporters.

The Union Minister said the administration is active and added that Coal India Pump has been installed which will help in speedily receding the water level.

"I have visited all the areas of Kankarbag. The water has receded there to a great level. The biggest challenge is regarding health. Bleaching, fogging should be done...The administration is preparing a plan regarding that. As soon as the water level recedes, work will begin on it," he said.

When asked about the electricity problem being faced by the residents, he said, "Electricity department says --when there is water, there are chances of electrocution...so we have to save lives of people as well. As soon as the water level recedes, the electricity supply will resume."

The Minister also appreciated the authorities including the NDRF and SDRF for their work.

The MP from Patna Sahib constituency said he was pained, noting that it was his responsibility to be with the people.

"I am pained. I am with my people. That is why I am here for the last four days. It is my responsibility. The central government is with Bihar and people of Patna so that they get relief as soon as possible," he said.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has rescued over 10,000 people from state capital Patna which has been reeling under floods since the last few days, NDRF Commandant Vijay Sinha said on Wednesday.

Speaking to ANI, Sinha said, "NDRF has rescued 10,000 people, so far. Relief material distribution and their need for food are also being addressed."&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Union Minister and Member of Parliament from Patna Sahib constituency, Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday visited the flood-hit Rajendra Nagar area in Bihar. The BJP leader interacted with the officials and enquired about the status of relief work being carried out.

Union Minister and Member of Parliament from Patna Sahib constituency, Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday visited the flood-hit Rajendra Nagar area in Bihar. The BJP leader interacted with the officials and enquired about the status of relief work being carried out. "The level of water has receded a little. People told me that fogging should be done. I told the Collector Sahib, Patna who was there with me on the boat to complete the fogging. Rest, people are getting water and milk. There is no complaint in this regard," he said while speaking to reporters. The Union Minister said the administration is active and added that Coal India Pump has been installed which will help in speedily receding the water level. "I have visited all the areas of Kankarbag. The water has receded there to a great level. The biggest challenge is regarding health. Bleaching, fogging should be done...The administration is preparing a plan regarding that. As soon as the water level recedes, work will begin on it," he said. When asked about the electricity problem being faced by the residents, he said, "Electricity department says --when there is water, there are chances of electrocution...so we have to save lives of people as well. As soon as the water level recedes, the electricity supply will resume." The Minister also appreciated the authorities including the NDRF and SDRF for their work. The MP from Patna Sahib constituency said he was pained, noting that it was his responsibility to be with the people. "I am pained. I am with my people. That is why I am here for the last four days. It is my responsibility. The central government is with Bihar and people of Patna so that they get relief as soon as possible," he said. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has rescued over 10,000 people from state capital Patna which has been reeling under floods since the last few days, NDRF Commandant Vijay Sinha said on Wednesday. Speaking to ANI, Sinha said, "NDRF has rescued 10,000 people, so far. Relief material distribution and their need for food are also being addressed."

Ravi Shankar Prasad visits flood-hit areas in Patna

Flooding at a key Coal India Ltd&nbsp;mine in Chhattisgarh will stop production there for at least 30 days, a senior Coal India Ltd official told Reuters on Wednesday.

Large parts of the Dipka mine, which has an annual production capacity of over 30 million tonnes and supplies utilities including NTPC Ltd's plant in Korba, are submerged after embankments of a nearby river broke due to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/imd-predicts-heavy-rainfall-for-bihar-himachal-pradesh-252582">heavy rainfall</a>, the official said.

"This is a huge loss for us, and is a big setback to our production goals," the Coal India official said.

He declined to be named as he is not authorized to speak to the media.&nbsp;

The flooding comes as Coal India said on Tuesday its output for the six months to end-September was down 6 per cent, with September production falling 23.5 per cent.

The state producer has targeted 660 million tonnes of coal output for the year to end-March 2020, up 8.7 per cent from 606.9 million tonnes it produced in 2018/19.

Coal accounts for about 75 pct of India's power generation, and India wants to arrest rising imports.

However, the government has failed to open the industry to competition, despite passing a liberalization policy 19 months ago.

Flooding at a key Coal India Ltd mine in Chhattisgarh will stop production there for at least 30 days, a senior Coal India Ltd official told Reuters on Wednesday.

Flooding at a key Coal India Ltd mine in Chhattisgarh will stop production there for at least 30 days, a senior Coal India Ltd official told Reuters on Wednesday. Large parts of the Dipka mine, which has an annual production capacity of over 30 million tonnes and supplies utilities including NTPC Ltd's plant in Korba, are submerged after embankments of a nearby river broke due to heavy rainfall, the official said. "This is a huge loss for us, and is a big setback to our production goals," the Coal India official said. He declined to be named as he is not authorized to speak to the media. The flooding comes as Coal India said on Tuesday its output for the six months to end-September was down 6 per cent, with September production falling 23.5 per cent. The state producer has targeted 660 million tonnes of coal output for the year to end-March 2020, up 8.7 per cent from 606.9 million tonnes it produced in 2018/19. Coal accounts for about 75 pct of India's power generation, and India wants to arrest rising imports. However, the government has failed to open the industry to competition, despite passing a liberalization policy 19 months ago.

Coal India's 30 million tonnes Dipka mine to stop output for a month on flooding

Floods&nbsp;triggered by torrential <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/imd-predicts-heavy-rainfall-over-bihar-sikkim-252670">rains</a> have inundated houses, swamped&nbsp;roads, and paralysed&nbsp;normal&nbsp;life&nbsp;in&nbsp;India's northern Uttar Pradesh and eastern Bihar states on Sunday (September 29).

Scores of people in Bihar's capital city, Patna were rendered homeless by the&nbsp;floods&nbsp;as water inundated their houses and forced them to wade through waist-deep water with their belongings clenched in their hands.

Watch Video:&nbsp;Floods in India: Parts of Bihar and Eastern Uttar Pradesh face deluge

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At least 17 people have been killed in the region due to flash&nbsp;floods, local media reports said on Saturday (September 28).

Water-logged&nbsp;roads&nbsp;have made emergency services like ambulances inaccessible in the region, owing to which, a man was seen carrying a body on a cart.

An administrative official said rescue forces have been posted to evacuate stranded locals and around 8000-9000 people have been evacuated.

"SDRF (State Disaster Response Force) and NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) teams have been posted here.

Almost 8000-9000 people have been evacuated today since morning," said District Magistrate, Patna, Kumar Ravi.

In the temple city of Varanasi, water-logging affected commuters.

Uttar Pradesh has <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-after-heavy-rains-fish-swim-into-bihar-hospital-icu-155484">witnessed constant rainfall</a> in the recent few days and water from the rain-swollen rivers have reached the low-lying residential areas inundating houses and property.

India's monsoon usually starts retreating at the start of September but has been delayed by a month this year. Intense rainfall in many parts of the country has triggered&nbsp;floods&nbsp;that have swamped cane and rice fields and caused deaths in some cases.

Floods triggered by torrential rains have inundated houses, swamped roads, and paralysed normal life in India's northern Uttar Pradesh and eastern Bihar states on Sunday (September 29).

Floods triggered by torrential rains have inundated houses, swamped roads, and paralysed normal life in India's northern Uttar Pradesh and eastern Bihar states on Sunday (September 29). Scores of people in Bihar's capital city, Patna were rendered homeless by the floods as water inundated their houses and forced them to wade through waist-deep water with their belongings clenched in their hands. Watch Video: Floods in India: Parts of Bihar and Eastern Uttar Pradesh face deluge × At least 17 people have been killed in the region due to flash floods, local media reports said on Saturday (September 28). Water-logged roads have made emergency services like ambulances inaccessible in the region, owing to which, a man was seen carrying a body on a cart. An administrative official said rescue forces have been posted to evacuate stranded locals and around 8000-9000 people have been evacuated. "SDRF (State Disaster Response Force) and NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) teams have been posted here. Almost 8000-9000 people have been evacuated today since morning," said District Magistrate, Patna, Kumar Ravi. In the temple city of Varanasi, water-logging affected commuters. Uttar Pradesh has witnessed constant rainfall in the recent few days and water from the rain-swollen rivers have reached the low-lying residential areas inundating houses and property. India's monsoon usually starts retreating at the start of September but has been delayed by a month this year. Intense rainfall in many parts of the country has triggered floods that have swamped cane and rice fields and caused deaths in some cases.

Floods hamper normal life as floodwater swamps roads in India

The India Meteorological Department (<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/all-schools-to-remain-shut-as-indian-meteorological-department-predicts-heavy-rainfall-in-mumbai-250483">IMD</a>) on Friday said that isolated places over Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Gujarat are likely to receive heavy rainfall today.

The weather forecast agency also predicted that heavy rains are also likely to fall over Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab.<iframe data-google-container-id="5" data-load-complete="true" frameborder="0" height="1" id="google_ads_iframe_/6516239/outofpage_1x1_desktop_0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="google_ads_iframe_/6516239/outofpage_1x1_desktop_0" scrolling="no" srcdoc="" title="3rd party ad content" width="1"></iframe>

"Heavy to very <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-monsoon-rains-above-average-for-third-straight-week-imd-250421">heavy rainfall</a> very likely at isolated places over Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Saurashtra, Kutch, Konkan and Goa," stated IMD in its All India Weather Warning Bulletin.

Thunderstorm accompanied by lightning is also very likely to occur at isolated places over Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Sikkim and Odisha, as per weather forecasting agency.

Squally weather is likely to prevail over Gujarat coast.

The organisation had advised fishermen not to venture into these areas for the next few days.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday said that isolated places over Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Gujarat are likely to receive heavy rainfall today. The weather forecast agency also predicted that heavy rains are also likely to fall over Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday said that isolated places over Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Gujarat are likely to receive heavy rainfall today. The weather forecast agency also predicted that heavy rains are also likely to fall over Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab. "Heavy to very heavy rainfall very likely at isolated places over Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Saurashtra, Kutch, Konkan and Goa," stated IMD in its All India Weather Warning Bulletin. Thunderstorm accompanied by lightning is also very likely to occur at isolated places over Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Sikkim and Odisha, as per weather forecasting agency. Squally weather is likely to prevail over Gujarat coast. The organisation had advised fishermen not to venture into these areas for the next few days.

Parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Gujarat likely to receive heavy rainfall: IMD

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