Nepal Tells India to Shut Down Its Field-Office

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">KATHMANDU, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Nepal</st1:country-region>   (NNN-Xinhua) -- The government of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Nepal</st1:country-region> has asked the reluctant <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region></st1:place> to immediately close its field-office, which was basically opened to assist the flood victims in Biratnagar, a town in eastern Terai plains in 2008.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"We have asked the Indian government through diplomatic cables to shut down the field-office, as it is no more relevant," <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Nepal</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Narayan Kaji Shrestha was quoted as saying by Republica daily on Friday.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Despite <st1:country-region w:st="on">Nepal</st1:country-region>'s several requests, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>, reportedly, has not shown interest to close the office, which facilitated vehicular movements in the past following the aftermath of Koshi river floods in the eastern Terai.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Earlier in January 2011, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Nepal</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote a letter to the Indian Embassy about the necessity to close the office. With no response in hand, Nepali side had to remind the Indian side for the closure of the office again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"In spite of several directives from the Nepali side, it is surprising that the Indian side has been dilly-dallying to shut down the office," said a Foreign Ministry official.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"Initially, the field-office was based near Koshi Barrage on Nepal-India border, before it was relocated to Biratnagar. While transferring the office, <st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region> did not seek the consent of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Nepal</st1:place></st1:country-region>," the official added.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <st1:country-region w:st="on"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">India</span></span></st1:country-region><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> has been a key development partner of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Nepal</st1:place></st1:country-region>. However, its non-compliance with Nepali legal system often creates rift between the two countries. While <st1:country-region w:st="on">Nepal</st1:country-region> shares the northern border with <st1:country-region w:st="on">China</st1:country-region>, it shares the southern border with <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>. -- NNN-XINHUA<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> </div>

Nepal Tells India to Shut Down Its Field-Office

KATHMANDU, Nepal   (NNN-Xinhua) -- The government of Nepal has asked the reluctant India to immediately close its field-office, whic...

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Death Toll from Landslide, Flood Rises to 33 in Indian State

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">NEW DELHI, India (NNN-Xinhua) -- The death toll from landslides and flash floods in northern Indian state of Uttarakhand has risen to 33 while 35 people remained missing by Saturday morning, reported Press Trust of India.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Ukhimath area in Rudraprayag district of the hilly state was the worst hit as a cloudburst took place in the wee hours on Friday, killing at least 29 people, said the report.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Authorities have launched rescue and relief operations with the help of the army and border security forces and a helicopter for evacuation, while communication and power lines were disrupted and traffic along several roads, including national highways in the area, was shut down completely partially, according to local officials.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna has ordered allocation of about 20 million U.S. dollars for relief works.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Last month, landslide and flooding killed at least 28 in the Himalayan state. -- NNN-XINHUA---NNN</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Death Toll from Landslide, Flood Rises to 33 in Indian State

NEW DELHI, India (NNN-Xinhua) -- The death toll from landslides and flash floods in northern Indian state of Uttarakhand has risen to 33 w...

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INDIA: Assam Flood Toll Rises to 122

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">GUWAHATI, Assam, India (NNN-Bernama) -- The flood situation in Assam remains grim with the death toll rising to 122 and large scale destruction of infrastructure, cropland and wildlife reported from different parts of the state. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Official sources said 106 deaths had been reported so far due to floods and 16 were killed in landslides while another 16 were missing, Press Trust of India reported. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Though the Brahmaputra River and its tributaries were maintaining a receding trend, vast tracts of land were still inundated in 27 of the affected districts, the sources said. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">An estimated 2.2 million population has been affected in the worst ever flood in recent years, causing large scale devastation in 2,809 villages with more than 255,000 hectares of cropland completely inundated. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">About 50 per cent of crops in the agriculture sector were lost in flood affected districts. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The flood has also caused large-scale destruction in the world-famed Kaziranga National Park where more than 560 animals, including 14 rhinos, have perished. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The situation in the world's largest river island Majuli in Jorhat district was grim with almost the entire island under water. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Assam governor J B Patnaik had reviewed the flood situation in Kamrup, Darrang, Sonitpur and Nagaon and Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had visited the severely affected Barpeta district. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Road services have been affected in 2,847 places, while rail tracks damaged by landslides in the Lumding-Badarpur Railway division were yet to be restored. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sources said an estimated 500,000 people have taken shelter in 630 relief camps and 150 medical teams have been deployed to provide medical aid, while 30 camps have been set up for cattle. -- NNN-BERNAMA<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

INDIA: Assam Flood Toll Rises to 122

GUWAHATI, Assam, India (NNN-Bernama) -- The flood situation in Assam remains grim with the death toll rising to 122 and large scale destruc...

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Death Toll from Russian Torrential Rains Tops 70

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) -- The death toll from massive flooding in the Krasnodar Region in Russia’s south caused by heavy rains has risen to 78, police said on Saturday.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The death toll continues to rise with the discovery of new bodies. Governor Aleksandr Tkachyov claims there hasn’t been anything like it for the past 70 years.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Most heavily affected are the cities of Krymsk, Novorossiysk and Gelendzhik. In Gelendzhik five people received electric shock and died after a transformer fell on the ground. Due to security concerns, 17 power substations had been temporarily closed in Gelendzhik, leaving about 20,000 people without electricity.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The heavy torrential rain began on Friday. All in all, 320 homes and about 1,000 households have been flooded.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Several dozens of passenger trains have been diverted in the region as water level remained at half a meter above the tracks.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Russia's emergencies minister and minister of regional development have headed to the flooded region.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div></div>

Death Toll from Russian Torrential Rains Tops 70

MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) -- The death toll from massive flooding in the Krasnodar Region in Russia’s south caused by heavy rains has risen to...

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India: PM Makes Aerial Survey of Flood Affected Areas of Assam

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipSo3NkZvJ-rq7TyOs9Qgwj8994g-iy6nQIIljt9z7oqvprqS3lB2uFqSq36j1TtIW-CHGgiA_Xa69ih2wAtwmbKLJB7mjzXjXMYFE5lgTwZcmQ_OKT4fvZbgj9T2h447-3cGCa-x7zmQ/s1600/l2012070241223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipSo3NkZvJ-rq7TyOs9Qgwj8994g-iy6nQIIljt9z7oqvprqS3lB2uFqSq36j1TtIW-CHGgiA_Xa69ih2wAtwmbKLJB7mjzXjXMYFE5lgTwZcmQ_OKT4fvZbgj9T2h447-3cGCa-x7zmQ/s640/l2012070241223.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh addressing the media at Guwahati airport<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">after aerial survey of flood-affected areas of Assam on July 02, 2012. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Chairperson, National Advisory Council, Smt. Sonia Gandhi and the<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Chief Minister of Assam, Tarun Gogoi are also seen.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><i>  </i></span><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Photo © PIB<o:p></o:p></span></i></div></td></tr> </tbody></table><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Guwahati</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">(PIB) --- Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, made an aerial survey of flood affected areas of Assam today. After the aerial survey, he interacted with media persons. Addressing the media, he said that, Sonia ji and I have made an aerial survey of the flood affected areas of Jorhat, Dhemaji and Lakhimrpur districts and I have witnessed the extensive damage that the floods have caused. The people of Assam are facing one of the worst floods in recent times. These floods have led to loss of lives and have afflicted considerable damage to crops, embankments, roads, and other infrastructure. I have learnt with great sadness that 77 people have died and 5 are missing and more than 2,000 villages and over 19 lakh people have been affected. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Central government and its agencies are working closely with the State Government and doing everything possible to provide relief to the affected people. National Disaster Response Force has deployed 16 teams comprising of 640 men along with 71 boats and flood rescue equipments. The Army has deployed 752 personnel for rescue and relief operation. Over 4,000 people have been rescued, 400 personnel have been transported and 20 tones of relief materials delivered by the Air Force. For the next two days our focus will be on rescuing people still marooned, in flood waters and on extending relief to those who have been forced to leave their home, Dr. Singh added. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Prime Minister said that he is satisfied about the rescue and relief operation has been organized with speed. About 4.84 lakh people are presently sheltered in 768 relief camps and a large number of mobile health centres are being operated in flood affected areas. I have been informed that sufficient quantities of foodgrains and other essential commodities are available in the State. Already the State Government has distributed around 10,000 quintals of food items. If required the Central Government will quickly move additional quantities of essential commodities to the state. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Railway line in Dima Hasao district has been disrupted. The Ministry of Railways is taking immediate steps for restoration of the railway line, which is necessary to keep the supply line open to Barak Valley, Manipur, Tripura and Mizoram. Once we have completed rescue and relief operation, our focus will shift to restoration of the damaged infrastructure. The Central Team has reached Assam today, some members may have come today, others will be following, to make an assessment of the damage caused to crops and infrastructure like roads, including national highways, river embankments, public buildings such as schools and hospitals, water supply system. From the Prime Minister National Relief Fund an ex-gratia of Rs.1 lakh to the next-of-kin of the deceased has been announced. While the Central Government will decide on the exact amount of financial support to be provided to the State Government after the Central Team submits report, I am making a commitment to provide an ad-hoc Central support of Rs.500 cr to the State Government, he said. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Government of India will also extend a system for reconstruction of damaged assets and flood control works through plan scheme. We will ensure that adequate quantities of foodgrains and other essential commodities are available in the State. And that agricultural seeds of the desired varities required for replacement purposes are also available. Once the immediate relief works has taken place we will pay more adequate attention through medium and long term problems of flood relief, of flood control, control of erosion and related problems, the Prime Minister said.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

India: PM Makes Aerial Survey of Flood Affected Areas of Assam

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh addressing the media at Guwahati airport after aerial survey of flood-affected areas of Assam on J...

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Floods from Rivers Originating from Nepal

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">NEW DELHI (PIB) --- Construction of big dams/reservoirs on rivers at suitable locations are considered as one of the solutions to floods, especially if dedicated flood cushion is provided in the storage reservoirs. Big dams moderate the floods in downstream by way of releasing controlled discharge through spillway. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project on river Sharda (Mahakali in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Nepal</st1:country-region>), Saptakosi High Dam Project on river Kosi and West Rapti (Naumure) Multipurpose Project on river <st1:place w:st="on">West Rapti</st1:place> are under discussion with the Government of Nepal. These high dam projects, on implementation, would provide benefits to people of <st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Nepal</st1:place></st1:country-region>, both, in the form of hydro-power, irrigation and flood moderation. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Rehabilitation of villagers affected by the floods falls under the domain of the State Government concerned. This information was given by the Minister of State for Water Resources & Minority Affairs Vincent H. Pala in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.  <o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Floods from Rivers Originating from Nepal

NEW DELHI (PIB) --- Construction of big dams/reservoirs on rivers at suitable locations are considered as one of the solutions to floods,...

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Thai Flood Death Toll Rises Past 500

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /> <h2 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal;">Thai officials say the death toll from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Thailand</st1:country-region></st1:place>'s most severe flooding in 50 years has climbed to more than 500.</span></h2><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Authorities say the flood waters are threatening <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangkok</st1:place></st1:city>'s largest outdoor shopping zone, the famed Chatuchak market.<span>  </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The Associated Press reports water has inundated a two-lane road underneath <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangkok</st1:place></st1:city>'s Mo Chit Skytrain station, one of the city's elevated train platforms. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Thailand</span></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">'s prime minister assured the residents of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangkok</st1:place></st1:city> Saturday that flooding in the capital's center would be minor and brief.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">In her weekly radio address, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said a barrier of huge sandbags had been completed and drainage systems would keep the city's economic and political center mostly dry.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The flood waters have affected more than three million households across three quarters of the country's provinces.<span>  </span>The estimated financial damage is already in the billions of dollars.<span>  </span>The waters have so far inundated almost 10,000 factories, resulting in the loss of 660,000 jobs. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Despite the damage, Thai central bank governor Prasarn Trulratvorakul says economic recovery is possible if the waters recede by early December and domestic spending is revived. ---VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Thai Flood Death Toll Rises Past 500

Thai officials say the death toll from Thailand 's most severe flooding in 50 years has climbed to more than 500. Authorities say the ...

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Thai Anger Grows as Floods Hit Some, Spare Others

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span>  </span><span> </span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Anger and frustration are rising in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Bangkok</st1:city></st1:place>'s northern and western suburbs, where successful efforts to save the city center from swirling floodwaters have led to even more misery.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">In some cases, vigilante groups have broken holes in the makeshift barriers protecting central <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangkok</st1:place></st1:city> to let the waist-deep floodwaters escape more quickly from their own communities.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra ordered one floodgate opened an extra meter to allow more water to drain to the sea. But city government officials warned the action could put some downtown areas at risk.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Officials said the waters should begin to recede after an unusually high tide passed Monday without forcing the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Chao Phraya</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">River</st1:placetype></st1:place> to overflow the barriers along its banks.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">But in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangkok</st1:place></st1:city>'s northern Laksi area, residents like Parait Pin-ngern said Tuesday the water level is still rising.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">"The water was stable and seemed to decrease around the 20th, so we came back. But today it rises dramatically," said Pin-ngern. "This time, we're almost too late to leave, as the water is one meter high in our house. This is unexpected level because this place is on a high ground.''<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">He said he was lucky to escape from his house before it was too late.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The argument over which neighborhoods to protect and which to let flood is aggravated by <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Thailand</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s recent history of political strife.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The prime minister and the governor of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Bangkok</st1:city></st1:place> are from opposing political parties with very different constituencies. ---VOA News<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div></div>

Thai Anger Grows as Floods Hit Some, Spare Others

     Anger and frustration are rising in Bangkok 's northern and western suburbs, where successful efforts to save the city center from...

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Thai Floodwaters Enter Bangkok’s Grand Palace

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Thai Floodwaters Enter Bangkok’s <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Grand</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Palace</st1:placetype></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">By Gabby Paluch from <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangkok</st1:place></st1:city><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizUaV2OaGU7P4hGQwiYZuAsiFd84Ft1-5e3g0EeAV1LC-Ijt6d8Ry9fAoJo3YcIIN-juZmpRHoHIBvwepDi7NJZ-BAlnFWROdmBmFLd__mhaSvYTMskWKgzFcBFo3JdhuT0IN86no29q0/s1600/Thai_Floods_Gabrielle_Paluch_VOA_2-resizedpx480q100shp8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizUaV2OaGU7P4hGQwiYZuAsiFd84Ft1-5e3g0EeAV1LC-Ijt6d8Ry9fAoJo3YcIIN-juZmpRHoHIBvwepDi7NJZ-BAlnFWROdmBmFLd__mhaSvYTMskWKgzFcBFo3JdhuT0IN86no29q0/s1600/Thai_Floods_Gabrielle_Paluch_VOA_2-resizedpx480q100shp8.jpg" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10pt; text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 7pt; line-height: 10px;">A girl swims in the floodwater in front of <st1:city w:st="on">Bangkok</st1:city>'s <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Grand</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Palace</st1:placetype></st1:place> in<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10pt; text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 7pt; line-height: 10px;">a riverside neighborhood, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Thailand</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Photo: Gabrielle Paluch - VOA</span></i></div></span></td></tr> </tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Thailand</span></st1:country-region><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">’s flood waters have reached <st1:city w:st="on">Bangkok</st1:city>’s <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Grand</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Palace</st1:placetype></st1:place>, a historical site that once housed Thai kings, and is now a major tourist attraction.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Thousands are leaving <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangkok</st1:place></st1:city> as the country's worst floods in decades inundate parts of the capital. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><st1:city w:st="on"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Bangkok</span></st1:city><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">’s <st1:placename w:st="on">Chao Phraya</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">River</st1:placetype> spilled over into historical riverside buildings Friday, including the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Grand</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Palace</st1:placetype></st1:place>. At the former home of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Thailand</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s monarchies, soldiers scrambled to pump out ankle-deep water.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">When the tides receded, the landmarks were dry and open. But after days of tourists and locals fleeing the Thai capital, the normally crowded historic district was calm.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">Two tourists from <st1:city w:st="on">Venice</st1:city> traveling together who gave only their first names, David and Eduardo, said they frequently come to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangkok</st1:place></st1:city> for vacation.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">But they lamented that some places were closed due to the flooding.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">DAVID: "I want to go with the boat today but it’s not possible because the service is closed."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">EDUARDO: "It’s not possible because the market is closed!"<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">DAVID: "I go to the hotel. I sleep.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The flooding has interrupted supermarket supply chains. Residents stocking up on supplies have emptied <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangkok</st1:place></st1:city>’s shelves of essentials.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">Some grocery stores are now rationing food and water as anxiety grows over more severe flooding expected this weekend.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">Nineteen-year-old James from <st1:country-region w:st="on">Britain</st1:country-region> plans to travel to northern <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Thailand</st1:place></st1:country-region> with a friend. He says he is not very worried about the floods, but has noticed the empty store shelves.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">“It’s very hard to get bottled water though. There’s not a lot of bottled water around, so that’s a problem. But not much else,” James says.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">With riverside neighborhoods now routinely flooding during high tide, there is concern that even higher tides in the coming days and more floodwaters from the north could worsen the situation.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Thailand</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">’s central plains have been inundated for months, closing several industrial parks, crippling manufacturing, and killing hundreds.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Foreign governments, including the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region></st1:place>, have warned citizens against unessential travel due to the transportation difficulties and shortages of food. ---VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Thai Floodwaters Enter Bangkok’s Grand Palace

Thai Floodwaters Enter Bangkok’s Grand Palace By Gabby Paluch from Bangkok A girl swims in the floodwater in front of  Bangkok 's  ...

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THAILAND: Disaster "is imminent and inevitable"

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEillyTW3AJd4OJzLcAvpNSd7d6ekI09z5eoBAZjsufUzhoxTjaLmyf-b-GEjVw0TKFQkyq6cxh6VXbridvOVvRTtGUvNCb86p9Ey3tRfxwgIyp-fQEMstjj_SpNBzEP8qVxOel_8_hfvjw/s1600/thailanddisaster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEillyTW3AJd4OJzLcAvpNSd7d6ekI09z5eoBAZjsufUzhoxTjaLmyf-b-GEjVw0TKFQkyq6cxh6VXbridvOVvRTtGUvNCb86p9Ey3tRfxwgIyp-fQEMstjj_SpNBzEP8qVxOel_8_hfvjw/s1600/thailanddisaster.jpg" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 7pt;">Residents brace for unknown</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> </span></i></span><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 7pt;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/philiproeland/6264016524/in/set-72157627890116762"><span style="background-color: white; text-decoration: none;">Photo: Philip Roeland/Flickr</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div></td></tr> </tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">BANGKOK (IRIN) - The equivalent of 160,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools (400 million cubic metres of water) is set to run through Thailand's capital, which can only drain a small fraction daily, according to the government's flood relief operation centre on 26 October. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"Floods will hit every area of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangkok</st1:place></st1:city>, but each area will see different levels of water," said the director of the centre, Pracha Promnok, as quoted in local media. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Run-off from flooding in the north and a seasonal high tide are expected to push water levels in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangkok</st1:place></st1:city>'s largest river above the city's 2.5m-high embankment. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The size of the population - more than eight million residents - coupled with the run-off, has made for an unprecedented and atypical emergency, said Kirsten Mildren, information officer for <st1:place w:st="on">Southeast Asia</st1:place> at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), who has worked in disasters for almost a decade. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"I cannot think of another emergency where I have seen it like this, where you have got the authorities and emergency services really battling to get the water to move around a city of this size. It is really incredible." <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The government's irrigation department has been trying to spare the city by pumping the deluge around the city's perimeter through canals and selectively opening flood gates. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">While the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority (BMA) in a 23 October flood update requested residents not to panic, it did little to assuage fears: "Upon assessing the situation with all indicators, BMA would like to inform that a rather serious upcoming [disaster] is very imminent and inevitable." <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">These types of warnings have only amplified public uncertainty, said Bhichit Rattakul, a former governor of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangkok</st1:place></st1:city> and now executive director of the Bangkok-based NGO Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC). <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Nationwide, 28 of 76 provinces have been flooded in this year's monsoon that started in late July; six of the country's major dams are at 99 percent capacity or higher, according to the national relief centre. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The airport where the centre operates has been closed, with two terminals under 80cm of water and all flights grounded. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">As of 26 October, there have been 821 flood-related deaths in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Thailand</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Cambodia</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Vietnam</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Laos</st1:country-region> and the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Philippines</st1:place></st1:country-region>, where more than eight million people continue to be affected by severe flooding, according to the governments.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

THAILAND: Disaster "is imminent and inevitable"

Residents brace for unknown Photo: Philip Roeland/Flickr BANGKOK (IRIN) - The equivalent of 160,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools (400 mi...

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Thailand: Nearly 10,000 Factories Damaged By Flood

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQ-YdXcHx8_X4MYHT99cx_I21tkcpB_4zg1jKua6OyV1K4Wj4030jNM-Pu4l7Sn9KBsW48OuRv7L5EMqdysmVsJB_s3aZLEtCrdtKrxE3h3vrFC8D8gnjgO9GbPtBv_vslDf39o-pjgQ/s1600/thaifloodsflickr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQ-YdXcHx8_X4MYHT99cx_I21tkcpB_4zg1jKua6OyV1K4Wj4030jNM-Pu4l7Sn9KBsW48OuRv7L5EMqdysmVsJB_s3aZLEtCrdtKrxE3h3vrFC8D8gnjgO9GbPtBv_vslDf39o-pjgQ/s320/thaifloodsflickr.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 7.0pt;">© <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dvids/6279842281/sizes/z/in/photostream/"><span style="text-decoration: none;">flickr.com/dvidshub</span></a></span></i><span style="font-size: 7.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td></tr> </tbody></table><i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">BANGKOK – Thailand’s worst flooding in memory has caused damage to almost 10,000 factories, forcing some 660,000 employees temporarily into unemployment, according to Deputy Industry Minister Suphap Kleekachai.</span></i><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Mr Suphap said that a total of 9,859 factories have closed – both inside and outside the industrial estates affected by the worst flooding -- while the disaster has affected at least short-term and perhaps longer-term unemployment for 660,000 workers who were employed by the factories. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Seven industrial estates in <st1:city w:st="on">Ayutthaya</st1:city> and Pathum Thani -- Saha Rattana Nakhon, Bang Pa-in, Rojana, Hi-Tech, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Factory</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Land</st1:placetype></st1:place>, Nava Nakorn and Bangkadi -- were earlier forced to close due to the deep floodwater. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Lat Krabang Industrial Estate in Lat Krabang district and Bangchan Industrial Estate in Min Buri district are on 'high guard' to fight the deep floodwater expected to flow into the areas in the next few days. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">He said 838 factories in the seven industrial parks and estates in Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani were hit by the flood and that 382,693 workers were unemployed which caused direct damage of nearly Bt500 billion, while indirect damage could add another Bt300 billion to the losses. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Mr Suphap said the ministry would set up a working group to inspect all factories to evaluate the damage incurred. Details and exact costs of the collective damages wil be submitted to the government for its consideration of extending assistance. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">The ministry will also form a panel to rehabilitate the factories, and contact persons will be appointed to coordinate between the public and private sectors to revive the businesses as quickly as possible. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">The deputy minister said the government would try its best to protect the remaining industrial estates. The managers of all the industrial estates are prepared to give maximum protection to their properties. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Meanwhile, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said Wednesday that there is no immediate impact on its ratings on Japanese automakers and suppliers after <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Thailand</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s floods disrupted their supply chains. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">The floods have forced companies including Toyota Motor Corp.(AA-/Negative/A-1 ), Honda Motor Co. Ltd. (A /Negative/A-1), Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. (BBB /Stable/A-2), and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. (B /Stable/--) to temporarily suspend operations at their plants in Thailand. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">The country is the largest manufacturing base in <st1:place w:st="on">Southeast Asia</st1:place> for the Japanese automobile industry. In some cases, the supply chain disruptions are also affecting vehicle production outside <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Thailand</st1:place></st1:country-region>. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Thailand's severe floods could slow recovery in the profitability of Japanese automakers and suppliers, after the Great East Japan Earthquake in March caused production cuts in the first half of the current fiscal year (ending March 31, 2012),the rating agency said in a statement. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">"However, we currently do not expect the impact of the floods to be as severe and prolonged as the production cuts that we saw after the earthquake. This is because Thai-made parts and vehicles are generally less difficult to replace than those made in other regions. Therefore, we do not expect the floods to cause protracted pressure on Japanese automakers' profitability and to have a long-term impact on their market positions," the statement said. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Nevertheless, if the floods eventually result in severe and extended production cuts that lead us to believe that they will likely impair the automakers' profitability and market positions in a serious manner over the long run, we may consider negative rating actions," the statement said. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">The Associated Press news agency reports that Toyota Motor Corp. is trimming production this week at its group assembly plants in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Japan</st1:country-region> due to a shortage of parts from suppliers in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Thailand</st1:place></st1:country-region>, where severe flooding has disrupted its supply chain. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">AP quoted <st1:city w:st="on">Toyota</st1:city> official Shiori Hashimoto as saying on Wednesday that <st1:country-region w:st="on">Japan</st1:country-region>'s biggest automaker has suspended overtime work from Monday to Friday at four <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Toyota</st1:place></st1:city> factories and seven group companies that assemble cars and trucks. The company estimates it will lose 6,300 units due to the cutback. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">That's on top of the estimated 37,500 units in lost output through Oct. 21 from its three Thai assembly plants, which have been shut down since Oct. 10. They will remain suspended until Friday, Hashimoto was quoted as saying. -- NNN-TNA<o:p></o:p></span></i></div></div>

Thailand: Nearly 10,000 Factories Damaged By Flood

© flickr.com/dvidshub BANGKOK – Thailand’s worst flooding in memory has caused damage to almost 10,000 factories, forcing some 660,000 em...

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Burma: Hundreds Dead or Missing in Flash Floods

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Authorities in Burma say hundreds of people are dead or missing following flash flooding in a tropical storm near the border with Bangladesh.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /> </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>The Myanmar Times newspaper quotes officials in the Magwe Division town of Pakoku as saying the storm, which struck Sunday, claimed more than 200 lives. Residents were still searching for bodies Wednesday, and the newspaper said the death toll would likely exceed 300.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /> </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>United Nations' officials said the storm dumped up to 150 millimeters of rain on the Magwe region and also triggered flooding in the Mandalay and Sagaing areas.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /> </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>The U.N.. office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said some 26,000 people in Magwe were affected by the floods, which washed away more than 2,100 homes. ---VOA NEWS</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div></div>

Burma: Hundreds Dead or Missing in Flash Floods

Authorities in Burma say hundreds of people are dead or missing following flash flooding in a tropical storm near the border with Banglades...

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Thai PM Warns Swollen River Could Flood Inner Bangkok

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Bangkok residents are bracing for rising flood waters that the prime minister says could inundate low-lying areas in the coming days.  Although most of the capital is still dry, the prime minister is urging people near the city’s Chao Phraya river to move to higher ground.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A surge of flood water from the north and east is expected to arrive in Bangkok Thursday, straining the city’s flood barriers and drainage canals.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In a televised address Tuesday evening, Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra announced parts of central Bangkok could soon be under water.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">She says, despite efforts to divert and drain flood waters away from the capital, the volume of water is more than they can handle.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">She says if flood barriers collapse or the coastal tide is higher than expected, inner Bangkok will be flooded. She says, because  different areas of Bangkok have different heights, flooding in the capital would range in depth from a low of 10 centimeters up to one and a half meters.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">One test will be whether flood barriers around the perimeter of the city’s more heavily populated areas can successfully divert flood waters away from the downtown. If the barriers hold, communities outside the dikes are expected to be under as much as 1.5 meters of water.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The other worry is the Chao Phraya river that runs through the heart of the city to the Gulf of Thailand.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Run-off from northern flood waters already has raised the river to its highest level in years.  At high tide during the expected flood surge, Thursday, authorities say the river could rise above flood walls that line its banks, spilling into the city.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The prime minister warned residents living along the river to move to higher ground.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">She says the areas of highest risk in Bangkok are those along the Chao Phraya’s banks, including those along and outside of flood prevention walls.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The prime minister’s comments came just hours after flood waters entered Bangkok’s main domestic airport, Don Muang, forcing authorities to cancel all flights.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The airport was also being used as the government’s flood relief and command center and to house thousands of flood evacuees.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">They were being evacuated further south, but the prime minister Wednesday said authorities will  continue to use the airport to coordinate flood prevention and relief efforts. ---VOA NEWS</span></div><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </div>

Thai PM Warns Swollen River Could Flood Inner Bangkok

Bangkok residents are bracing for rising flood waters that the prime minister says could inundate low-lying areas in the coming days.  Alth...

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Malaysia Hands Over US$1 Million to Thailand

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 8.0pt;">By Jamaluddin Muhammad <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><st1:city w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">BANGKOK</span></st1:city><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> (NNN-Bernama) -- <st1:country-region w:st="on">Malaysia</st1:country-region> today handed over US$1 million <span> </span><span> </span>to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Thailand</st1:place></st1:country-region> as the latter battles the worst flood in decades. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman gave the money to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at the Flood Relief Operations Command Centre at the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Don</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Muaeng</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Airport</st1:placetype></st1:place> here. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"<st1:country-region w:st="on">Malaysia</st1:country-region> hopes the assistance will contribute to easing the hardship faced by the people of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Thailand</st1:place></st1:country-region>," he said. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The minister said the Thai premier appreciated <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Malaysia</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s assistance and gave an indication that floods in the northern and central regions would recede in two weeks. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Also present at the ceremony was Malaysian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Thailand Nazirah Hussain. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Speaking to Bernama later, Anifah said the Malaysian Government would monitor the critical flood development and was willing to extend further assistance if the need arose. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">He said the Malaysian Government was also willing to assist Malaysian manufacturers based in this country, whose businesses were affected by the floods. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"The assistance may include tax exemption, among others," said Anifah, adding that Malaysian companies should also help the Thai Government and its people in addressing the current flood woes. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">During the brief visit, Anifah also met one of the badly-affected Malaysian companies, Aapico, which manufactures automobile components and estimated its damages at more than RM200 million, as a result of the floods. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">On Asean assistance to member countries facing this kind of crisis, the foreign minister hoped the setting up of the Asean Coordination Centre for Humanitarian Assistance could be materialised at the Asean Summit in <st1:place w:st="on">Bali</st1:place> next November. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">About one-third of the country remains inundated, with 2.4 million people from more than 10,000 villages in 28 provinces in the northern and central regions, reeling from the after-effects of the disaster. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The flood struck the country in stages from July 25, resulting in the loss of 356 lives. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Over 14,000 factories with employed more than 660,000 workers are badly hit by the floods. According to the National Economic and Social Development Board, damage to the industrial sector is estimated at more than 100 billion Baht (about RM10 billion), and agricultural sector at more than 40 billion Baht (about RM4 billion), as a result of the crisis. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The Centre for Economic and Business Forecast at the <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Thai Chamber of Commerce</st1:placename> estimated losses could hit 500 billion Baht (about RM50 billion), if the flood hits <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangkok</st1:place></st1:city>'s suburbs. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">About 10 Malaysian manufacturing plants involved in automobiles component and electrical and electronic sectors were affected by the flood.--NNN-BERNAMA<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Malaysia Hands Over US$1 Million to Thailand

By Jamaluddin Muhammad BANGKOK (NNN-Bernama) -- Malaysia today handed over US$1 million     to Thailand as the latter battles the worst...

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Thailand: PM Assures Public That Government Will Devote Full Effort To Tackling Flood Problem

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">BANGKOK</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> (NNN-TNA) -- Prime Minsiter Yingluck Shinawatra on Saturday reassured the public that the government would do its utmost to tackle the flood problem and it was prepared to take care of flood victims.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Ms Yingluck addressed the nation on her weekly programme "Yingluck Government Meets the Public" via National Broadcasting Television (NBT), Channel 11 and Radio Thailand stating that 56 provinces were affected by the flood and among them, 10 provinces were badly hit: Nakhon Sawan, Ayutthaya, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Lop Buri, Ang Thong, Sing Buri, Chai Nat, Uthai Thani, and Chachoengsao.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The most critical situations were Nakhon Sawan, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ayutthaya</st1:place></st1:city> and Pathum Thani.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">She said the government was trying to drain floodwater into the sea as quickly as possible while important areas and strategic locations would be protected, including business areas, industrial estates, airports, flood victim shelters, major cities in provinces and inner Bangkok.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The government's Flood Relief Operations Centre has assigned the armed forces, police and relevant agencies to cooperate in addressing the flood problem.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"The government has drained floodwater into the sea with three channels, in the Chao Phraya River, fleet of ships will push water to the sea; on the eastern side of Bangkok, flood water would be diverted from Nakhon Nayok and Bang Pakong Rivers, also dredged seven main canals in which three canals have been completed and could facilitate the water flow. On the western side of <st1:city w:st="on">Bangkok</st1:city>, the water would be drained into <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Tha</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Chin</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">River</st1:placetype></st1:place> but because of the winding of river, shortcut would be dug to speed up the drainage," she said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">As for <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangkok</st1:place></st1:city> protection, she said, the government has built three rows of flood prevention dykes with reinforcements and more height having been added. One additional row between Klong Rapeepat and Pratunam Pra-in for 24 kilometers was expected to be completed soon.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">At Ban Phrao water sluice gate, which had ruptured, Ms Yingluck said repair work was expected to be finished today but she asked for cooperation from residents not to dismantle the dyke, and asserted that the government would give its full effort to help the flood victims.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The government had received more than Bt400 million in donations which would later distributed to help all the victims, she said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The premier said that many foreign countries - <st1:country-region w:st="on">China</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Japan</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">South Korea</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Laos</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Denmark</st1:country-region> and the <st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region> - have offered assistance particularly the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region> which proposed to send 28 helicopters to help search for victims, perform evacuations and transport heavy equipment.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">She urged the public to have confidence in the government and asked them to join in fighting the problem and overcoming the difficulty together. -- NNN-TNA</span></div></div>

Thailand: PM Assures Public That Government Will Devote Full Effort To Tackling Flood Problem

BANGKOK (NNN-TNA) -- Prime Minsiter Yingluck Shinawatra on Saturday reassured the public that the government would do its utmost to tackl...

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Thailand's Flood Death Toll Reaches 261, 2.3 Million Affected

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">BANGKOK (NNN-Xinhua) -- Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported on Sunday that flooding situation still continued in 30 provinces, making flood death toll 261 with four missing. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Wibul Sanguanpong, director-general of the department, said those 30 provinces still facing floods included Sukhothai, Phichit, Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Lop Buri, Saraburi, Suphan Buri, Nakhon Pathom, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Nayok, Kamphaeng Phet, Tak in central region, Ubon Ratchathani, Khon Kaen, Si Sa Ket, Surin, Roi-et, Nakhon Ratchasima, Buri Ram in northeastern region, Prachin Buri in eastern region and northern Chiang Mai provinces. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Approximately 2.34 million people in 10,130 villages have been hit by flood waters. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">In one of the most affected Ayudhaya, an ancient city in central plain, authorities have begun to evacuate patients from Ayutthaya Hospital, where flood waters rose over two meters high. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Most of the 600 patients were being evacuated to the city hall while those requiring intensive medical care would be flown to hospitals in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangkok</st1:place></st1:city> by helicopters, according to the department. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The country is among the South East Asian countries -- <st1:country-region w:st="on">Cambodia</st1:country-region>, the <st1:country-region w:st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Vietnam</st1:place></st1:country-region>, which have been lashed by tropical storms and heavy monsoon-triggered rains. Since July 25, the country continues to suffer from widespread floods, which was said the worst since 1995. – NNN-Xinhua<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br /> </span></div></div>

Thailand's Flood Death Toll Reaches 261, 2.3 Million Affected

BANGKOK (NNN-Xinhua) -- Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported on Sunday that flooding situation still continued in 30 p...

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Discussion with Nepal to Reduce Flood in Bihar

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ladies-Madhubani-Painting-Paper-Village/dp/B004UVSLGK?ie=UTF8&tag=glob036-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Ladies - Madhubani Painting on Hand Made Paper - Folk Painting from the Village of Madhubani (Bihar)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B004UVSLGK&tag=glob036-20" /></a><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glob036-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B004UVSLGK" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />As per information provided by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Chief Minister of Bihar met the President of Nepal in New Delhi during the latter’s visit to India from January 27-February 5 2011. However, the details of discussion are not available.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Measures taken by the Government to protect Bihar from flood fury are as under: <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bengal-Orissa-Sikkim-Provinical-Geographies/dp/1107600642?ie=UTF8&tag=glob036-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa Sikkim (Provinical Geographies of India)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=1107600642&tag=glob036-20" /></a><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The schemes for flood and erosion control are planned, funded and executed by<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glob036-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1107600642" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />the State Governments, as per their own priorities, out of their State plan funds which are made available to them through Planning Commission. In order to provide financial support to the State Governments, the Government of India also assisted the flood prone States in flood Management and anti-erosion works for critical reaches. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Railway-Crash-Jasidih-Bihar-Elizabeth/dp/B002HD6QYC?ie=UTF8&tag=glob036-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="1950 Railway Crash Jasidih Bihar Queen Elizabeth Ship" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B002HD6QYC&tag=glob036-20" /></a><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glob036-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002HD6QYC" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />In, addition, the Government of India set Ganga Flood Control Commission (GFCC) in 1972 for preparation of comprehensive master plans for flood control measures in the Ganga basin states. Detailed Comprehensive Master Plans for all the 23 rive system constituting the Ganga basin had been prepared by GFCC and circulated to the concerned State Government for implementation. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">During XI Plan period, central assistance is being provided to all the flood affected states for river management, flood control and anti-erosion works under a state sector scheme, namely, “Flood Management Programme (FMP)”. During the 11th Five Year Plan, 41 schemes of Bihar, estimsted to cost Rs. 1233.62 crore have been included under FMP of Government of India. The total central assistance released to the Government of Bihar under the FMP during the 11th Plan (upto 31.7.2011) is Rs. 544.39 crore including Rs. 42.39 crore for spill over works of 10th Five Year Plan. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Government of India is also having continued dialogue with Nepal, on matters related to flood forecasting and construction of shortage dams to check floods in Bihar due to rivers flowing from Nepal. Government of India is also proving funds for construction of embankments to tie them up in high ground in Nepal along rivers Lalbakeya, Bagmati and Kamla, to prevent spill from these rivers in protected areas of Bihar. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Minister in the Ministry Of Water Resources and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal gave this information in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today. (PIB)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div></div>

Discussion with Nepal to Reduce Flood in Bihar

As per information provided by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Chief Minister of Bihar met the President of Nepal in New Delhi duri...

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