India

AHMEDABAD, INDIA (AFP) - High winds and heavy rains pounded western India on Thursday (June 13) as a major cyclone expected to hit the coast veered away instead into the Arabian Sea.  Vayu, classified as a very severe cyclonic storm, moved north-northwestwards in the night over the Arabian Sea, and was around 110 kilometres from the coast of Gujarat state.  It was “very likely” to keep moving in the same direction, but still skirt the coast, packing winds of 135-145 kilometres per hour and gusts of 160 kilometres per hour, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.  “The threat of surge in wind, dust storm and rainfall remains very much. The centre of the storm – known as the eye – has slightly moved away from the Gujarat coast, but its diameter is well over 900 kilometres,” an IMD official told local media.  Heavy rains are likely to continue until Saturday, Gujarat IMD chief Jayanta Sarkar told AFP.  On … [Read more...] about Winds, rain batter western India as cyclone veers away

A freelance journalist arrested for allegedly defaming the powerful chief minister of Uttar Pradesh is awaiting release after India's Supreme Court ordered that he be freed, amid concern about tightening curbs on free speech. The lawyer of Mr Prashant Kanojia said that while all procedures had been completed, there was an "inexplicable delay'' over his release. Mr Kanojia had shared a tweet that contained a video in which a woman claimed to have video chatted with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for a year. Ms Hema Saxena also said that she had sent a marriage proposal to Mr Adityanath, a Hindu monk. Mr Kanojia was arrested at his home in New Delhi last Saturday by police from Uttar Pradesh after he uploaded and commented on the video on Twitter and Facebook. He was charged with criminal defamation, which carries a maximum sentence of two years' jail. However, the Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered Uttar Pradesh police to release Mr Kanojia, noting that the arrest was wrong. "We may … [Read more...] about India’s top court orders release of journalist

PATNA, INDIA (AFP) - At least 31 children have died in northern India in the last 10 days from a deadly brain disease believed linked to a toxic substance found in lychee fruit, health officials said on Wednesday (June 12). The deaths were reported from two hospitals in Bihar state's Muzaffarpur district, famed for its lush lychee orchards, officials said. The children all showed symptoms of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES), senior health official Ashok Kumar Singh told AFP, adding most had suffered a sudden loss of glucose in their blood. "The health department has already issued an advisory for people to take care of their children during the hot summer when day temperature is above 40 degrees Celsius," Mr Singh said. At least 40 other children complaining of similar symptoms were being treated at intensive care units. "We are trying our best to save them," said Dr S.P. Singh, the chief medical officer of Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital. The outbreaks of the disease have … [Read more...] about 31 children die from deadly lychee-linked brain disease in India

MUMBAI/CHENNAI (REUTERS) - A heatwave gripping India has killed 36 people with the poorest workers bearing the brunt, national disaster management officials said on Wednesday (June 12), warning that the record temperatures were impacting more states than in previous years. India's capital Delhi recorded its highest-ever temperature of 48 deg C on Tuesday, while Churu in the northwestern state of Rajasthan, temperatures reached as high as 51 deg C. "This is the worst heatwave ever. In 2015, the heatwave was recorded in nine states, this year the forecast is 23," said Mr Anup Kumar Srivastava, drought and heatwave expert at the National Disaster Management Authority. "We have verified 36 deaths due to the heatwave against 25 last year. They are mostly poor labourers who come from rural areas to cities to look for work and live on the road side,"Mr Srivastava told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. India typically witnesses water scarcity during summer months, but the situation this year is … [Read more...] about India heatwave deaths rise to 36, poorest workers worst hit

PATNA, INDIA (AFP) - At least 31 children have died in northern India in the last 10 days from a deadly brain disease believed linked to a toxic substance found in lychee fruit, health officials said on Wednesday (June 12). The deaths were reported from two hospitals in Bihar state's Muzaffarpur district, famed for it lush lychee orchards, officials said. The children all showed symptoms of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES), senior health official Ashok Kumar Singh told AFP, adding most had suffered a sudden loss of glucose in their blood. "The health department has already issued an advisory for people to take care of their children during the hot summer when day temperature is above 40 degrees Celsius," Mr Singh said. At least 40 other children complaining of similar symptoms were being treated at intensive care units. "We are trying our best to save them," said Dr S.P. Singh, the chief medical officer of Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital. The outbreaks of the disease have … [Read more...] about Encephalitis from lychees kills 31 children in India