Coastal and south interior K'taka on orange alert as IMD predicts heavy rains in the upcoming week
Bengaluru: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for coastal and south interior Karnataka, as heavy rainfall is predicted in the state during the upcoming week.
According to the IMD, coastal Karnataka and some districts in the Maland region will experience heavy rainfall, including isolated pockets of very heavy rainfall, starting from Monday.
Meanwhile, Bengaluru and other districts in south interior Karnataka are expected to receive heavy rainfall from Tuesday onwards. The orange alert will remain in effect until June 6.
This forecast is likely to benefit agricultural activities in the state, as the initial month of the monsoon season in June witnessed a significant rainfall deficit, causing setbacks in sowing.
The Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) stated that Karnataka received less than half of the normal rainfall for the month of June. In terms of figures, the state received only 92 mm of rainfall, whereas the average for June is 208 mm, resulting in a shortfall of 56 percent.
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The deficiency was particularly prominent in the Maland districts located in the Western Ghats, which serve as crucial starting point areas for rivers in the state. These districts received a mere 102 mm of rainfall, which is less than a third of the normal 384 mm for June. At the same time, coastal districts experienced a deficit of 55 percent, recording 389 mm of rainfall in contrast to the average of 873 mm.
The improved monsoon conditions are expected to boost inflows into the state's reservoirs, which are currently holding water just slightly above the dead storage limit. Due to insufficient rainfall in June, the inflows into reservoirs across the state have been less.
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India & Israel elevate ties to special strategic partnership, vow to soon conclude free trade deal
Jerusalem (PTI): India and Israel on Thursday elevated their "time-tested" relationship to a special strategic partnership and agreed to soon firm up a "mutually beneficial" free trade deal even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly backed the Gaza peace initiative, asserting that humanity must never become a victim of conflict.
Following talks between Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, the two sides inked a plethora of agreements to expand cooperation in areas of trade, agriculture, energy, cyberspace and digital payment.
India and Israel also vowed to expand their already close defence partnership by working towards joint development and joint production of military hardware under the framework of the transfer of technologies.
In his media statement, Modi said India's security interest is linked to peace and stability in the Middle East, adding that New Delhi fully supports the Gaza Peace Initiative.
"India's stance is clear: humanity must never become a victim of conflict. A path to peace has been created through the Gaza Peace Plan. India has fully supported these efforts," he said.
"In the future as well, we will continue dialogue and cooperation with all countries," he said.
PM Modi landed in Israel on Wednesday on a two-day visit. It is his second visit to Israel in nine years.
In his remarks, the prime minister said India and Israel have a united view that there is no place for terrorism in the world and both sides stand shoulder-to-shoulder in countering terrorism and its supporters.
"Our relationship is founded on the strong bedrock of deep trust, shared democratic values, and human sensitivities. Our bond has stood the test of every trial of time," he said.
"Today, we have taken the historic decision to elevate our time-tested partnership to the status of a 'Special Strategic Partnership'," he said.
The prime minister also announced the establishment of an India-Israel critical and emerging technologies partnership to impart a new momentum for cooperation in areas of artificial intelligence, quantum, and critical minerals. "I am pleased that an agreement has been reached for the use of UPI in Israel," he said.
The prime minister, referring to the threat of terrorism, said India and Israel will continue to confront the menace unitedly.
"India and Israel are completely clear that there is no place for terrorism in the world. In any form, in any expression, terrorism cannot be accepted," he said.
"We have stood shoulder-to-shoulder in opposing terrorism and its supporters, and we will continue to do so," he added.
India and Israel also discussed the implementation of the India-Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and cooperation under the framework of I2U2 (India-Israel-UAE-USA).
