460,000 evacuated in China

Beijing, Sept. 15: More than 4,60,000 people have been evacuated from eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang and Fujian due to fears of approaching tropical storm ‘Sinlaku’, as heavy rains lashed these regions on Monday.

Close to 230,000 people had been evacuated till Sunday and the process is still underway, the Fujian provincial headquarters for flood control said on Monday. In another province Zhejiang, 230,000 residents have been evacuated and 30,000 fishing boats have been recalled to harbour.

Typhoon Sinlaku weakened into a tropical storm at 8 am (local time) on Monday, while its eye was reported to be about 203 km to the south-east of Wenzhou in south-eastern Zhejiang, according to the local weather authorities.

Heavy rains were reported in eastern and northern parts of Zhejiang and central and northern parts of Fujian on Monday, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

Sinlaku which has passed over Taiwan injuring 13 people there, is the 13th tropical storm so far this year in China.

According to local authorities at least 130,000 households in Taiwan suffered a power blackout while 800 lost their water supply. Shelters have been built for 782 typhoon victims.

—PTI

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Pak: India has closed water flow of Chenab

By OUR PAKISTAN

CORRESPONDENT

Islamabad

Sept. 15: The Pakistan government on Monday said that India has closed water flow in the Chenab river which it claimed was making a water shortage in the country more severe.

The alleged "water blockade" by India could adversely affect kharif (summer) crops, particularly cotton and sugarcane which are in maturity stage and require final watering, and the sowing of rabi (winter) crops early next month, a government official here said. Indus water commission had taken up the matter with the federal government that has convened a meeting on Tuesday to take stock of the situation and to try to reach a diplomatic solution with India.

"If the issue is prolonged, the sowing of rabi crops, particularly wheat, would be hit severely," said the official. Pakistan had to import over two million tonnes of wheat this year despite a record production of more than 23 million tonnes. The water shortage could force Pakistan to import more wheat next year, adding to foreign exchange pressure and worsening its balance of payments crisis.