-Outlook Rains and strong gales hit Nellore in Andhra Pradesh and other neighbouring districts of Tamil Nadu under the influence of cyclonic storm 'Nilam'. The cyclone is expected to make a landfall this evening between Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu and Nellore, bringing in Heavy Rains in the region with tide expected to reach levels of 1.5 meters. The Andhra Pradesh Government has put administration of the coastal districts under alert to face the...

-Outlook  A deep depression over the Bay of Bengal, which would further intensify into a cyclonic storm, today brought Heavy Rains in many parts of Tamil Nadu, especially in coastal areas, prompting the government to declare a holiday for schools. Chennai, Kancheepuram, Cuddalore and Villupuram received Heavy Rains in the morning, inconveniencing office-goers. The cyclonic storm would cross between Nagapattinam and Nellore tomorrow, Met Department said. "The deep depression over southwest Bay of...

-Outlook At least twenty one bodies, including those of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) personnel, have so far been found while eight persons are still missing due to flash flood and landslides in remote areas of North Sikkim, official sources said today. The dead include four from the ITBP, two of their family members, and 12 junior officers from the BRO. Other victims were casual labourers,...

-PTI Heavy Rains and floods have so far claimed 31 lives in Madhya Pradesh prompting the state government to allocate Rs 12.47 crore additional funds for flood-affected 23 districts. Eight persons lost their lives in Hoshangabad district, followed by Bhopal where six people were killed due to rains and floods, an official release said here today. Three deaths each were reported from Ujjain and Dewas districts, two each in Damoh, Betul and Chhindwara,...

-The Times of India COIMBATORE: The rainfall pattern during the current south-west monsoon is similar to 2009 when the country witnessed a drought. The overall rainfall deficiency has been 21.9% below the LPA ( Long Period Average) till July 18, which is similar to the one witnessed in 2009. This has raised the specter of drought in the country this year, observers tracking the agriculture sector have said. A drought year is...