2,000 Villages Washed Away in Odisha, India

Extreme Rain Events trigger new round of flooding in east India

Five days of extreme monsoon rains have unleashed severe flooding in eastern India’s states of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, washing away more than 2,000 villages in the cyclone-ravaged Odisha alone.

Flood situation in Odisha continues to remain critical with more than 2,000 villages washed away in that state alone. Source: Times of India.

Floodwaters have inundated about two million hectares ( 5 million acres) of crops across the region, affecting more than a million people, with at least 250,000 displaced. The death toll has climbed to  42 in Andhra Pradesh, and 28 in Odisha, with about a dozen people reported missing.

About 85,000 people in the district of Ganjam alone have been rescued so far, with 200,000 others still cut off.

The floods have caused significant damage to public infrastructure across 30 districts, destroying or damaging  thousands of kilometers of roads and  railroad tracks, disrupting public transport and causing massive damage to agriculture fields in several parts of the two states.

Flood situation continues to remain critical across the the region.

Related Links

• Death Toll in East India Floods Continues to Rise October 25, 2013

Air Pollution Levels Climb in China, India

Another off-the-chart day for air pollution in China and India

Beijing’s air quality turned “Hazardous” with the pollution index climbing to 385 on Sunday at 21:00 local time.

[Hazardous Air Pollution – Mandatory Health Alert: Everyone may experience more serious health effects]

Beijing’s air quality index (AQI) climbed to 385 on Sunday at 21:00. In several other populous municipalities the index climbed to between 660 and 700. Source: http://aqicn.org/

India: a “gang-rape” of different kind

In the Indian capital of New Delhi, it was a “gang-rape” of different kind as the pollution index reached 999.

New Delhi again reported the worst level of air pollution anywhere in the world today, with index climbing to 999.  Source: http://aqicn.org/

Related Links

• It won’t get any better, before it gets a lot worse! October 22, 2013
• Major City Shuts Down in China Smog Emergency  October 21, 2013

7,037 Killed in Iraq Violence

60 people killed across Iraq so far today

At least 10 car bombs ripped through Baghdad killing dozens of people and wounding many more, amid the worst violence in Iraq since 2008.

In the deadliest attack today, a suicide bomber targeted soldiers in the northern city of Mosul, killing at least 12 and wounding dozens more, Reuters reported police as saying.

The soldiers were waiting outside a bank to collect their salaries, when the bomber driving a car packed with high explosives blew himself up, said the report.

Iraqi soldiers and security personnel are prime targets for [Saudi-backed] Sunni militants seeking to destabilize the country’s Shi’ite-led government, the report said.

UNAMI 2013 Stats for Armed Violence in Iraq

According to information collected by UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and other sources, a minimum of 7,037 civilians [to be confirmed] have been killed and about 14,000 others wounded so far this year.

• October 2013: At least 964 people have been killed hundreds more wounded so far this month.
• In September 2013, at least 1,220 civilians were killed and about 2,000 others wounded
  • Baghdad, 1 October 2013 – According to casualty figures released today by UNAMI, a total of 979 Iraqis were killed and another 2,133 were wounded in acts of terrorism and violence in September.

• In August 2013, a minimum of 716 civilians were killed (including 106 civilian police) a further 1,936 were injured (including 195 civilian police) in ongoing armed violence in Iraq
• In July 2013, at least 928 were killed (including 204 civilian police) a further 2,109 were injured (including 338 civilian police) in ongoing armed violence in Iraq during July 2013.
• In June 2013, a minimum of 685 civilians were killed and 1,610 were injured.
• In May 2013, at least 963 civilians were killed and 2,191 were injured.
• In April 2013, a minimum of 595 civilians were killed and 1481 were injured.
• In March 2013, at least 229 civilians were killed and 853 were injured.
• In January 2013, at least 319 civilians were killed and 960 were injured.
• In December 2012, 230 civilians were killed and 655 were injured.
• In November 2012, 445 civilians were killed and 1306 were injured.

ALL figures remain estimates until full investigation and analysis have been carried out, said UNAMI.

Related Links

• Bloody Sunday Bombings Kill 78 in Iraq October 21, 2013
• Deadly Violence Intensifies in Iraq October 6, 2013
• Every Day a Major Disaster Day in Iraq  October 1, 2013
• Iraq Carnage Negates All Human Values August 29, 2013
• Destabilization of Middle East Intensifies 26, 2013
• 1,057 Iraqis Killed in July August 1, 2013
• The Financial Legacy of Iraq and Afghanistan April 1, 2013
• US, UK Munitions ‘Cause Birth Defects’ in Iraq October 14, 2012
• Iraq Ecocide Nears Totality August 1, 2009