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Heatwave intensifies as monsoon is delayed

          New Delhi, June 3: A severe heat wave continues across India even as weather officials on Tuesday confirmed speculations that the south-west monsoon will be delayed by more than a week. The scorching heat has killed more than 1,000 people in Andhra Pradesh where the high temperatures claimed 136 lives in the past 24 hours alone. State authorities said the toll rose as temperatures hovered around 46 and 47 degrees Celsius (115-117 Fahrenheit) at several places in coastal Andhra Pradesh.

          In New Delhi, people and animals alike did all they could to beat the sun. While people scampered for shade, birds and particularly monkeys frequented water fountains and drains in search of water. "Most of areas are experiencing dry westerly currents from north-west which has resulted in very high temperatures particulalry over parts of Andhra Pradesh, giving a lot of heat to that area. This is because the monsoon has not picked up," GS Kalsi, Additional Director-General of Indian Meterological Department, said. Kalsi added that rainfall is not expected to hit the southern coast before June 8 as the currents are still weak. The monsoon normally hits Kerala on June 1. "So far as the onset (of monsoon) over Kerala is concerned I think it is not likely before 8th (of June), it may take place between 8 and 10 June," he said.

          In Hyderabad where temperatures have soared to a deadly 47 degrees Celsius, streets were deserted and people crowded at community taps for water. Residents complained of extreme water shortage. "There is extreme scarcity of water, even when the water comes we can barely get it. Public is really facing a lot of trouble," said Rajguru Rao, a resident of Hyderabad. Jaipur fared no better. Streets were almost deserted and people could be seen storing water in pots and pans to tide through the crisis. Lucknow as well is facing severe problems as temperatures touched the highest in five years. "The temperatures are the highest in the last five years. They have never crossed 45 degrees (Celsius) in the last five years. This year it is very hot," said RK Verma, Director of the state's meteorological department.

          Extreme weather conditions, particularly heat waves, triggered by delayed monsoons regularly kill hundreds of people in India each year. Weather officials, however, maintain the delay would not have a bearing on the amount of rainfall forecast for this year's June-September monsoon, the lifeline of India's farm- dependent economy. The farm sector, which accounts for about a quarter of gross domestic product and drives demand in Asia's third-largest economy, heavily depends on the timely arrival and distribution of monsoon rain. Farmers are particularly anxious this year as a poor monsoon last year caused the country's worst drought in 15 years.

Ahmedabad court stays Shetty's arrest (Go To Top)

          Ahmedabad, June 3: A court in Ahmedabad on Tuesday stayed the arrest of Surendra Shetty, the main accused in an extortion case. Surendra Shetty, father of a popular Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, has been accused of utilising the services of the underworld to recover money which, according to him, is due to the actress from an industrialist for a modelling assignment. Last month, police had registered a case against Surendra Shetty on the complaint of Pankaj Agarwal, owner of Prafful Sarees, a garment manufacturer. Shetty has been absconding since then evading Surat city police who wanted to question him. While passing the order "not to arrest" Shetty, the High Court asked him to appear before the police within 24 hours and also surrender his passport. "The court, after considering the merits, has granted protection till June 17. We don't have the copy of the order so we cannot tell you much," Shetty's counsel Prabhakar Upadhyaya told reporters.

          The Shettys allege Prafful company reportedly owes over Rs 80 lakhs to Shilpa for an advertisment campaign she did for them a few years ago. Police say Shilpa had received Rs 10 lakh for the much- publicised campaign but her parents felt it was too little. Shettys asked Agarwal to cough up more as they were still using the ads featuring Shilpa, but Agarwal pleaded his inability, saying his business was no longer profitable.

Fabulous mango carnival on in Hyderabad (Go To Top)

          Hyderabad, June 3: Hundreds of people are thronging a three-day mango festival now on in Hyderabad. More than 110 varieties of mangoes, including some of the costliest, are on display. Jointly organised by the Andhra Pradesh horticulture and tourism departments, the festival aims to promote mangoes and value added mango products. Some of the visitors were overawed by the sheer variety of mangoes on display. Over the years, the mango festival has become an annual affair where hundreds of mango lovers flock to purchase and taste the choicest varieties of the juicy and aromatic fruit. The organisers also held mango eating competition for the children, along with painting and quiz programmes.

          India accounts for almost 65 per cent of the world's mango production. India exported mangoes worth nearly 18 million dollars in the year ending 2002. However, the recent outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome disease and the Iraq war have affected India's mango exports. India exports most of its mango products to the Gulf countries and also in fewer quantity to Britain and Russia.

Three new faces join Jaya ministry (Go To Top)

          Chennai, June 3: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister on Tuesday reshuffled her council of ministers for the eleventh time in two years. Jayaram Jayalalitha inducted five ministers, including three new faces, taking the total strength of her council of ministers to 27. Governor PS Rammohan Rao administered the oath of office and secrecy to the new ministers at a function held in Chennai. The ministers include Thalavai Sundaram, K Pandurangan, both staging a comeback. The new faces are P Annavi, KP Anbalagan and RT Inbathtamilan. Sundaram was earlier sacked as revenue minister in December last year.