The downpours have damaged road and rail traffic and telecommunication networks in southern Gujarat. Heavy rain and winds have severely damaged the power supply. “Many districts in central and south Gujarat have had to face a power blackout as the rains accompanied by powerful winds have toppled electricity transmission towers. A lot of electricity supply lines have been snapped,” officials said.
Official indifference
Every year India receives heavy monsoonal rains. But the lack of preventive measures makes disastrous flooding inevitable. The limited character of the government’s aid and relief efforts compounds the annual loss of human life and property. The latest floods have revealed once again that authorities have inadequate evacuation plans and means for providing basic accommodation, food, clean water and medicines for thousands of refugees.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) issued a situation report on Thursday, which detailed a national meeting of relief commissioners held on May 30 to “review the state of preparedness” for the monsoon season and “gear up relief measures at the state and district levels to meet any eventuality”. The National Disaster Management Control Room in New Delhi “has been monitoring the flood situation”. The National Remote Sensing Agency sends regular flood maps derived from satellite data to the appropriate authorities.
Official indifference
Every year India receives heavy monsoonal rains. But the lack of preventive measures makes disastrous flooding inevitable. The limited character of the government’s aid and relief efforts compounds the annual loss of human life and property. The latest floods have revealed once again that authorities have inadequate evacuation plans and means for providing basic accommodation, food, clean water and medicines for thousands of refugees.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) issued a situation report on Thursday, which detailed a national meeting of relief commissioners held on May 30 to “review the state of preparedness” for the monsoon season and “gear up relief measures at the state and district levels to meet any eventuality”. The National Disaster Management Control Room in New Delhi “has been monitoring the flood situation”. The National Remote Sensing Agency sends regular flood maps derived from satellite data to the appropriate authorities.