The Stream, June 20: Deadly Monsoon Rains Displace More than a Million People in India and Bangladesh

The Global Rundown

Monsoon floods displace more than one million people in India and Bangladesh. A watchdog report criticizes U.K. water companies for supply failures during this year’s “beast from the east” storm. A new study finds that Pennsylvania’s oil boom has had minimal impact on the state’s groundwater. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) urges countries in North Africa to address drought more proactively. Flooding in the U.S. Upper Midwest wipes out roads and causes dozens of sinkholes.

“The majority of us can’t even get home. Roads are collapsed. Bridges are collapsed. Roads are covered in water. Whatever roads aren’t collapsed it depends on how heavy of a vehicle you drive whether or not you are able to drive on those roads.” –Tom Cowell, a resident of Chassell, Michigan, in reference to devastating flooding that hit parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The deluge washed out roads, swamped buildings, and caused several sinkholes. The Detroit News

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By The Numbers

800,000 Number of people displaced by monsoon flooding in the Indian states of Assam, Tripura, and Manipur. Heavy rains have also displaced more than 250,000 people in Bangladesh. The regional forecast predicts more thunderstorms in the next 48 hours. Reuters

200,000 Number of households that were temporarily cut off from water supplies in England and Wales during the “beast from the east,” a severe winter storm that rattled the U.K. in late February and early March. A recent watchdog report condemned the failings of the region’s major water companies, and suggested that current compensation payouts were inadequate. The Guardian

Science, Studies, And Reports

A new study suggests that groundwater supplies in Pennsylvania has been largely unaffected by an oil drilling boom over the past decade. More than 11,000 wells have been drilled in the state since 2008, raising concerns among residents about water pollution. Two analyses of groundwater chemistry, however, found little impact from the increase in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. The New York Times

On The Radar

North Africa needs to prioritize drought prevention, according to a new report by the FAO. The report claims that countries in the region focus too much on recovering from drought instead of preparing for it. The FAO notes that if North Africa can shift its focus, it will be more resilient as regional droughts become more “widespread, prolonged, and frequent.” FAO

Kayla Ritter

Kayla Ritter is a recent graduate of Michigan State University, where she studied International Relations and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. She is currently based in Manton, Michigan. Kayla enjoys running, writing, and traveling. Contact Kayla Ritter