francene--blog. Year 2013
  • Home
  • Blog

June 23rd

6/23/2013

 
Indian floods add more proof about global weather changes. Early monsoon rains in India this year are believed to be the heaviest in 60 years. Officials warn that the death toll in flash floods and landslides in the north could climb to 1,000.

More than 600 people are confirmed dead. More than 40,000 are stranded in the mountains of Uttarakhand state. Although rescue workers are said to be uncoordinated in the poor weather, survivors are being airlifted from the worst-hit areas and special trains are carrying people to safety. Search and rescue efforts have been stepped up as more downpours are expected in the difficult mountainous terrain.

Tourists and pilgrims were among those caught up in the floods, which washed away homes, roads and bridges. Relatives of those still missing are awaiting news. Medicines and food are being flown to the affected areas.

Source: About.com. Every summer, southern Asia and especially India, is drenched by rain that comes from moist air masses that move in from the Indian Ocean to the south. These rains, and the air masses that bring them, are known as monsoons.

However, the term monsoon refers not only to the summer rains but to the entire cycle that consists of both summer moist onshore winds and rain from the south as well as the offshore dry winter winds that blow from the continent to the Indian Ocean.

 Smaller monsoons take place in equatorial Africa, northern Australia, and, to a lesser extent, in the southwestern United States.

Almost half of the world's population lives in areas affected by the monsoons of Asia and most of these people are subsistence farmers, so the coming and goings of the monsoon are vital to their livelihood to grow food to feed themselves. Too much or two little rain from the monsoon can mean disaster in the form of famine or flood.

The wet monsoons, which begins almost suddenly in June, are especially important to India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar (Burma). They are responsible for almost 90 percent of India's water supply. The rains usually last until September.

Picture
The rainy season generally lasts from June to September, bringing rain which is critical to farming. Agriculture means food for the masses. Must the Indian race accept the loss of life in some of the population in order for the whole to survive? This way of thinking is repugnant to the western approach. Each person is precious and must be given every opportunity to live a full life.

Please, spare a moment to send your prayers and good wishes to those who are trapped in hazardous terrain while floodwater climbs higher. I can't imagine how they must feel, cold, hungry and without shelter.


Cher link
6/22/2013 10:53:01 pm

Hi Francis, well I have to say I am fed up with the dismal weather, but hey could be so much worse! :(

Francene Stanley link
6/23/2013 02:55:31 am

Oh, yes. At least we're safe.

Kathy Hadley link
6/23/2013 03:04:18 am

Sending prayers to them. :-)

Kathy

Francene Stanley link
6/23/2013 03:14:11 am

You're the best.

Steve eMailSmith link
6/23/2013 03:46:34 am

I'm very happy to read that US President Obama finally decided to engage the US in the effort to fight global warming.
Whoever says such a thing doesn't exist lives in the past, to say it smoothly...

I pray for all those poor people - I know some of them won't make it in the end; I can only hope they'll just be a lot less than before.

Great topic to write about, Francene - we all need to be reminded that we live on Earth and not only in our backyard...

Steve ✉ Master eMailSmith ✉ Lorenzo
Chief Editor, eMail Tips Daily Newsletter

Francene Stanley link
6/23/2013 06:01:37 am

The people of the Earth must unite in caring for eachother. It's the way ahead. Thanks for your comments, Steve.

Alana link
6/23/2013 03:58:00 am

Climate change is real. It's so sad that it's gotten tangled up with politics here in the United States. So many of us are or have suffered from floods or other weather disasters and it's a good reminder that this is world wide, not just in our little part of the world. We as humans must learn to adapt and adjust before many more of us perish.

Francene Stanley link
6/23/2013 06:02:51 am

You're so right, Alana. We must think as people with a common goal.


Comments are closed.

    Author

    Francene Stanley, author of many published novels. If you like my writing, why not consider purchasing one of my books? You'll see them on the sidebar below.
    Born in Australia, I moved to Britain half way through my long life.

    Picture

    Archives

    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Catastrophe
    Creativity
    Family
    Life Experiences
    Mother
    News
    Novel Writing
    Novel-writing
    Retirement
    World

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.