The All Assam Students' Union today queered the pitch for the speedy execution of the anti-erosion works by the Brahmaputa Board to protect the geographical area of Majuli. Office-bearers of All Jorhat District Students' Union (AJDSU) have also expressed serious displeasure over the nature of work done by the central agency, entrusted with the task of controlling floods and erosion in the river island, so far.

VELLORE and and its surroundings experienced mild tremors at 11.40 pm on Saturday. According to sources, the tremor, which lasted for about a minute, was felt in places like Sathuvacheri, Otteri, Shenbakkam, Kinamattom, Bagayam, Saidapet, Infantry Road and Officers Line in the Fort City. Reports about tremors in Vaniyambadi and Arni, also poured in late in the night. Deputy Inspector General of Police (Vellore Range) T P Sundaramurthy, who confirmed the mild tremors, said that police had alerted all units in the district and adjacent areas for any eventualities.

Incessant rains inundated low-lying areas of Mungul, even as the River Sal was flowing in full spate on Sunday. Large tracts of low-lying areas on the banks of the River Sal, especially at Mungul was flooded with rain water. However, the authorities said there was no need to evacuate the migrants inhabiting the banks of River Sal at Khareband as the rains subsided this evening. Plastic and other saste from the wholesale fish market flowed along the course of River Sal right up to Mungul, indicating that the PDA authority has failed to dispose of the waste before the onset of monsoons.

DHUBRI

The health department of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has drawn up an ambitious plan to combat emergencies during the monsoon. Setting up a control room in Kasturba Hospital at Chinchpokli for uniform diagnosis, investigation and treatment of ailments. The civic body has also called for extra provision of drugs, said Shubhada Gudekar, chairperson of the Public Health Committee.

It's time to rejoice, as the pre-monsoon showers lashed the city since the wee hours, bringing welcome relief to residents. According to the predictions of the weathermen, the showers will continue in spells for another 48 hours. Mr GC Debnath, director of Regional Meteorological Centre Alipore said, "Till 8.30 a.m. the rainfall recorded is 72.4 mm and it is expected the maximum temperature will remain around 32 degree Celsius.'

At least 18 people have been killed in different parts of Maharashtra in rain-related incidents as heavy rains lashed the state on Thursday, police said. Four people were struck by lightning in Kolara and Bhorsabhorsi villages in Buldana district of eastern Maharashtra. In Aurangabad, three people were crushed to death and another three injured when a wall collapsed due to heavy rains in the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) complex. Earlier, in Mumbai, a minor boy was killed when a wall fell on him in Chembur, a northeastern suburb, police said.

The IMD, on Thursday, issued a cyclone warning to the ports and fishermen on the Maharashtra-Goa coast for a period 24 hours, ending Friday 1 pm. The IMD office website advised fishermen "not to go out in the sea during the next 24 hours'. Explaining that the sea would be very rough with south-easterly waves, the website warned, "Winds will be of speed 45-55 kmph, temporarily reaching 65 kmph in gusts.'

In a significant upgradation of its agromet services for farmers, the Government will now provide district specific weather information with a longer-range forecast that will enable them to manage agricultural practices in a more efficient way. Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal on Wednesday launched the upgraded agromet services provided by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMWRF), in all districts of the country.