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Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
BMC to prune trees inside private properties
Mumbai: The downpour on Monday and Wednesday led to several tree collapsing incidents causing two deaths, one in Sewri and the other in Vikhroli. This prompted the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to issue a circular on Thursday stating that the civic body has the authority to prune trees inside private properties. As per the latest monsoon updates released by the civic body, 30 incidents of tree collapse were reported on Wednesday. Out of the 30, six were in the island city, seven in eastern suburbs and 17 in western suburbs. A huge Gulmohar tree in a housing society compound in Sewri collapsed on two parked vehicles and two bikes passing on the road at 8:30pm. One of the two motorcyclists, Balkrishna Kurai, 33, was injured and admitted to KEM hospital. The other motorcyclist, Rajman Nishad, 27, was declared dead at KEM hospital, confirmed an official. At 11:30pm another tree on Chembur CSMT road collapsed on two 22-year-old pedestrians, Hitesh Shorsaya and Hitesh Bora. The two were admitted to Rajawadi hospital. On Monday, a 26-year-old man in Vikhroli died after a tree collapsed on him while he was taking shelter under it. Taking these incidents into account, the BMC issued a notice stating that they will now prune the trees located inside private premises as well. 'Earlier we only pruned the trees on the roads and in the gardens. We did not have the authority to prune trees in any private premises,' said an official and added that if any overgrown trees are identified, a notice will be sent to the owner of the land where the tree is situated. If not acted upon, the civic body will prune it by themselves. On Wednesday, the city received 29.8mm at Colaba weather station and 35.2mm at the Santacruz weather station from 8 am on Wednesday to 8 am on Thursday as per the India Meteorological department (IMD).
The Hindu
29-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Heavy rain takes a toll on pineapple farmers
Thousands of pineapple farmers, already reeling from a steep price fall, are seeing the situation worsen with heavy rain triggering crop loss, further price drop, and possible outbreak of plant diseases caused by excess moisture. 'The fruit farmers have experienced a steep fall in prices over the last 20 to 25 days. The price has dropped to just over ₹20 for the best-quality raw fruit, while there are no takers for ripe fruits in the local market,' said Jobin K. Joy from Vazhakulam. While green fruit was selling for ₹21–23 a kg, ripe fruit fetched only ₹13–15. Even at these low prices, there was no guarantee of buyers this week, said Mr. Joy, who feared that the shrinking demand would soon dry up, leaving pineapple farmers at the mercy of the market. Most of the pineapple-growing areas in the district received about 39% more rain than usual between March 1 and May 28. The normal rainfall is 366.8 mm, while the actual rain received during the period was 509.3 mm, according to the India Meteorological department data. The situation in other fruit-growing areas like Idukki and Kottayam is no better, with rainfall exceeding normal levels. Pineapple farmer and merchant Joe Joseph said that with rain hitting even some north Indian States, demand for the fruit had plummeted. Only the best-quality raw fruits were now in demand, he added. He also pointed out that within another fortnight, the impact of the heavy rain in the State would likely be visible in plantations in the form of possible plant diseases. Mr. Jobin said that heavy rain could lead to rot in plants as well as fungal diseases in the immediate future. This would affect the coming crop season plunging farmers into further trouble, he added. He also said that a steep drop in the prices of other fruits like mangoes and watermelon in the local market had turned buyers away from pineapple, which was now relatively more expensive despite the surplus production.
Hindustan Times
25-05-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Mercury goes up; thunderstorms, winds ahead in Delhi: IMD
The Capital's temperature saw a further rise on Saturday, amidst a yellow alert issued by the India Meteorological department (IMD), warning people of a possible thunderstorm and gusty winds. Similar weather conditions have been forecast for Sunday, even though no alert has been issued yet. Delhi's minimum temperature on Saturday was recorded at 28.4 °C as compared to 26.4°C recorded on Friday. The minimum on Saturday was 1.7°C above the normal. Friday's minimum had been a sharp rise from 20.8°C recorded on Thursday. The maximum, too, saw a slight rise and was recorded at 38.2°C, 2°C below the normal. The maximum was 37.1°C a day before. 'Gusty winds of speed 40-60 kmph, temporarily even reaching 70 kmph is expected to influence the region towards the night on Saturday. This might be accompanied by very light to light rain, thunderstorm, lightning and dust raising winds,' said an IMD official. IMD has also forecast light rain along with thunderstorm and gusty winds of speed 30-40 kmph, occasionally rising to 50 kmph on Sunday. The IMD official added, 'Partly cloudy skies are expected to continue on Monday and Tuesday as well. The Capital might thunderstorms and gusty winds for the rest of the following week as well.' Meanwhile, the air quality continued to stay in the moderate category. The 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 141 (moderate) at 4pm, according to the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) daily national bulletin. The AQI was 129 (moderate) at the same time on Friday and 119 (moderate) on Thursday. The CPCB classifies AQI between 0 and 50 as 'good', between 51 and 100 as 'satisfactory', between 101 and 200 as 'moderate', between 201 and 300 as 'poor', between 301 and 400 as 'very poor', and over 400 as 'severe'. Forecasts by the Centre's Early Warning System for Delhi (EWS) show that air quality is likely to be in 'moderate' category for the next few days. 'The air quality is likely to be in moderate category from Sunday to Tuesday. The outlook for subsequent six days is that the air quality is likely to be in the moderate category,' said the EWS bulletin on Saturday evening.
The Hindu
20-05-2025
- Climate
- The Hindu
Pazhassi dam shutters to be opened on Wednesday
With the monsoon expected by the end of May and water level in the Pazhassi dam rising steadily, the Irrigation department has announced that the shutters of the dam will be opened at 10 a.m. on Wednesday (May 21) to regulate water levels. People living on the banks of the Valappatanam river have been advised to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions as the water release may lead to a rise in water level in the river. On Tuesday, in light of the red alert issued by the India Meteorological department (IMD) for Kannur, the district administration activated the 'Kavacham' early warning system by sounding sirens at locations including Government City HSS, Kannur; Government HSS, Thiruvangad; Government HSS, Aralam farm; Government HSS, Peringome; Cyclone shelter, Kathiroor; Pre-Matric Boys' Hostel, Naduvil; Government HSS, Myzhappilangad; Government Vocational HSS, Kannur; Government HSS, Matool, and PWD Rest House, Thalassery. Officials have advised residents to stay updated through official communication channels as weather conditions remain volatile.
Hindustan Times
19-05-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Heatwave sweeps through Kashmir, Srinagar sees hottest day of season
A heatwave swept through Kashmir Valley with Srinagar recording its hottest day this season at 32.2 degrees Celsius, according to data from the India Meteorological department's (IMD) Srinagar centre. IMD said Srinagar's temperature was 6.8 degrees Celsius above normal. 'Kashmir is experiencing a heatwave. Hot and dry weather conditions are persisting in Jammu division. The Valley recorded the season's hottest day,' said IMD's Srinagar centre director Mukhtar Ahmad. The heatwave like conditions started on Saturday, when Srinagar recorded 31.5 degrees Celsius. Qazigund, the gateway into the Valley, was the hottest in Kashmir, with the mercury touching a high of 33 degrees Celsius, some 8.6 degrees above normal. The tourist resort of Pahalgam saw a maximum of 27.2 degrees Celsius. In north Kashmir, Kupwara district recorded a high of 29.9 degrees Celsius and Gulmarg ski resort saw 23.6 degrees Celsius. In Jammu, a maximum temperature was recorded at 40 degrees Celsius. Banihal and Batote saw a high of 30 degrees Celsius. Rain on cards today IMD said there will be some relief from the prevailing heatwave-like conditions from tonight. 'There will be light rains from the evening and on Monday as well, which will bring the mercury down till May 20,' Ahmad said. 'The temperatures may increase again from May 21, and will continue to be high till May 24,' he added.
