India and other South Asian countries are expected to get a ‘normal’ rainfall during forthcoming monsoon months (June-September), which is expected boost food production in the region, a global forum has predicted.

The South Asian Climate Outlook Forum, which met late last week in Kathmandu, in its prediction has stated ‘large-scale summer monsoon rainfall will mostly likely to be within the normal range with a slight tendency towards higher side of the normal range.”

40 feared dead in Iran, 20 in Pakistan; shockwaves felt in North India

Pakistan, specifically Balochistan, appears to have borne the brunt of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that rocked the Iranian border province of Sistan-Baluchestan on Tuesday afternoon. While Pakistan confirmed the death of at least 20 people following the earthquake, there were conflicting reports from Tehran which ranged from no deaths to 40 dead. However, given the remoteness of the region from both capitals, the last word has not been said on the casualties.

Unlike in north India, where there is no respite from summer and the mercury just keeps soaring, the atmospheric temperature in the state used to remain constant almost throughout the summer months

With scorching summer pushing Kerala to unprecedented drought, political parties on Wednesday voiced concern in the state assembly over the acute water and power crisis even as the Government said it has already taken all possible measures to tackle the “grim situation.”

After a three-hour debate on an adjournment motion by opposition LDF, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said Rs. 159 crore had already been sanctioned to take urgent measures as the government acted well in advance anticipating the trying times in store.

While Bhubaneswar recorded 42.2 degree Celsius, the highest of the season, it was also about five degree above the normal.| Illustration: Tapas Ranjan

New Delhi: A thunderstorm hit the city late on Wednesday, bringing some relief from the steadily climbing mercury.

New Delhi: With one western disturbance on its way out, another is threatening to derail life in Delhi over the coming weekend.

Pune: The shortcomings in the technology used by rose growers to set up polyhouses have cost them dearly this year. About 400 polyhouse owners in Talegaon Dabhade industrial area, who use naturally ventilated polyhouse technology for rose cultivation, have suffered as warmer climate in December advanced the maturity cycle of the roses. The buds bloomed before attaining maturity, thereby reducing the flower size.

Roses specially grown in polyhouses for Valentine’s Day celebrations were affected and farmers were forced to export the buds almost a week in advance. The small flower size means lower income for the farmers.

Temperatures will rise, farm production will be hit

Ready with its action plan on climate change, the authorities concerned have projected an increase in the annual mean maximum temperature of the state by 1.0 to 1.8 degree Celsius from 2021-2050, adversely affecting agriculture production. Already, discussions have begun on the draft action plan prepared by the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology under the guidance of a steering committee headed by the Chief Secretary. “We are in the process of fine-tuning various aspects of the report,” said Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary, Science and Technology.