At least eight people have died and 13 were injured in floods and landslides triggered by persistent heavy rain in Kerala, India. Eight others remain missing, Kerala Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan said on Sunday. Waterlogging and extensive property damage were reported across different parts of the state as rain and flooding continued.

Satheesan said 27 houses were completely destroyed and 196 were partially damaged. Authorities moved 5,792 people to 209 relief camps established across the state. The India Meteorological Department issued an orange alert for 12 districts amid the severe weather conditions.

According to the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority, some areas received up to 320 millimetres of rainfall on Saturday, flooding roads and low-lying areas. Ayyankunnu in Kannur district recorded the highest total of 320 millimetres. Many other places in northern Kerala received between 90 and 180 millimetres of rain from 3 a.m. until midnight on Saturday.

Hungary’s only nuclear power plant, Paks, is set to shut down fully as persistent drought and intense heat across Europe have driven the Danube River’s water level to a record low. Prime Minister Peter Magyar announced the decision on Sunday, saying the plant south of Budapest would cease operations completely for the first time in 44 years.

Paks normally supplies about one-third of Hungary’s total electricity demand. Its cooling system depends on water pumped from the Danube, but a lack of rainfall since May and successive heatwaves have reduced the river to its lowest recorded level. Magyar wrote on X that one of the final two generating units would be shut at 1:30 a.m.

He said the move would reduce the plant’s output to 240 megawatts before a complete closure the following day. The operator said on Friday that a full shutdown could be necessary by the middle of the following week if water levels continued to fall. National weather agency HungaroMet forecast temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius in coming days, with 42 degrees possible on Thursday.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department forecast rain and thunderstorms with gusty winds in Dhaka and several parts of the country on August 2. River ports in the Rangpur, Mymensingh and Sylhet regions were instructed to display warning signal No. 1. Rain or thunderstorms were also forecast at different times of the day in and around the capital.

In an inland river-port forecast valid from 5 a.m. until noon on Sunday, the department said temporary gusty or squally winds of 45 to 60 kilometres an hour could blow from the south or southeast over the three regions. Rain or thunderstorms could accompany the winds. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is also possible in some places across three divisions.

For Dhaka, the six-hour forecast from 7 a.m. said skies could remain partly cloudy to temporarily cloudy, with rain or thunderstorms possible. Southerly or southeasterly winds may reach 10 to 15 kilometres an hour, while daytime temperatures could remain nearly unchanged. At 6 a.m., Dhaka recorded 28.5 degrees Celsius and 86 percent humidity. No rainfall was recorded in the capital during the previous 24 hours.

Bangladesh received 36 percent more rainfall than normal in July, the Meteorological Department said in a report published on August 1. Although normal rainfall had been forecast at the beginning of the month, several regions recorded substantially more precipitation than expected. Chattogram division received the highest rainfall among the country’s divisions.

Meteorologist AKM Nazmul Haque said July is usually Bangladesh’s wettest month, with average rainfall of about 557 millimetres. After June recorded 29.4 percent less rain than normal, July rainfall increased above the seasonal average. All divisions except Mymensingh received above-normal rainfall. Chattogram recorded 1,047 millimetres against a normal average of 692 millimetres, an excess of 51 percent. Final figures were due after Sunday’s monthly meeting.

The weather office forecast rain or thunderstorms with gusty winds on Sunday in many places in Rangpur, Mymensingh and Sylhet, and in some places elsewhere. Heavy to very heavy rain is possible in parts of those three divisions through Tuesday. Rainfall may increase in Dhaka and Rajshahi divisions from August 5, though prolonged heavy to very heavy rain like last month is not currently expected.

Fisheries and Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid said the government is prioritizing research-based agricultural development to counter the risk of reduced farm output caused by climate change. He made the remarks on Saturday after a meeting with officials of district offices and agencies under the agriculture, fisheries and livestock ministries at the Cumilla Circuit House.

The minister said BRRI dhan-118, a cold-tolerant rice variety for the haor region, will be released in the next season. It is expected to allow earlier planting and harvesting, helping farmers bring crops home before sudden floods and reduce losses. He also said another salt-tolerant rice variety will be released next year, while scientists at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute continue work on climate-suitable crop varieties.

Rashid said fish-export prospects through the Cumilla land port would be considered after discussions with the commerce minister. Authorities will assess the need for a fish landing station in Cumilla and the availability of suitable public land. He also cited a major project to expand vaccine production, ongoing canal re-excavation, and seed, farm-input and free livestock vaccination support in flood-affected areas.

The death toll from severe flooding in India’s northeastern state of Assam has risen to 82, with nearly 200,000 people still affected, officials said on August 1. Flood impacts persist in at least five districts, although the overall situation has improved somewhat compared with Thursday. Authorities reported that two additional deaths occurred recently in Sivasagar and Charaideo districts.

Sivasagar, Golaghat, Jorhat, Nagaon and Charaideo have suffered the greatest damage. Of 192,799 people affected statewide, Charaideo has reported 77,456 affected residents, followed by Sivasagar with 63,492 and Jorhat with 34,067. Water in the Dikhow and Dhansiri rivers remains above danger levels in Golaghat, Sivasagar and Numaligarh, and residents have been advised to avoid high-risk areas.

The state government announced a special relief package for the hardest-hit districts. About 13,000 people are staying in 54 relief camps, while 5,384 others are receiving services through 26 relief distribution centres. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the state cabinet will meet insurance companies and non-banking financial companies on August 5 to discuss faster claims and temporary loan-instalment relief for affected residents.

A major leak has developed in a Titas Gas main transmission pipeline beneath the Arial Khan River in Kazirchar village of Masua union, Katiadi upazila, Kishoreganj. The report, published on August 1, said gas bubbles were continuously surfacing on the river while a strong gas smell spread through the air, alarming local residents.

Residents alleged that the pipeline was damaged during an attempt to obtain an illegal gas connection for a lime-making factory beside the river, though the allegation has not been confirmed by an investigation. Local residents, representatives and Titas Gas sources said the pipeline was installed nearly three decades ago to supply gas from Narsingdi to Kishoreganj. Gas began escaping at high pressure after a hole formed at a welding joint.

Repair supervisor Noman Mia said the large hole has made the work difficult, with 20 to 25 workers operating continuously for several weeks. Upazila Executive Officer Shamima Afroz Marliz inspected the site and said the factory’s legal documents would be checked. An investigation will determine whether an attempted illegal connection caused the leak.

A government multipurpose rescue boat is lying in mud beside the Teesta River near Kolkond Union Parishad in Gangachara upazila of Rangpur, as erosion continues to consume homesteads and farmland. The report, published on August 1, 2026, identifies the vessel as “Teesta-Rangpur-2.” Its markings say it was intended for flood-affected districts and name the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.

Local residents said the boat was operated only on its inauguration day after arriving in Gangachara and has not been seen on the river since. Residents Manik Mia and Mokhlesur Rahman said water transport is needed to quickly evacuate people during floods or river erosion, particularly when road links to char areas are cut off.

Gangachara Project Implementation Officer Maidhul Islam said he was newly posted and had learned that the boat was supplied by the ministry, but the project had ended and his office had no information about it. Rangpur District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer Golam Kibria said the boat was provided in fiscal year 2020-21, with no further activity after the project closed. Locals called for clarity on responsibility, storage and emergency use, and for the boat to be made operational.

The United Nations has warned that intensifying El Niño conditions could push global temperatures to more alarming levels in the coming months. A report cited by Al Jazeera on August 1, 2026 said the World Meteorological Organization expects the recurring climate phenomenon to become a major driver of weather worldwide, raising risks of heatwaves, severe drought and destructive flooding.

The warning comes as wildfires have become uncontrollable in parts of Africa and Europe, while the monsoon season has brought extensive damage and disruption across South Asia. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said El Niño is strengthening and fuelling regions already on fire. The report said sea-surface temperatures in the central Pacific could rise by at least 2.9 degrees Celsius above normal, disrupting weather systems globally and contributing to extreme heat.

WMO forecasts that nearly all land areas could experience temperatures far above normal, with the strongest harmful effects possible in Africa, southern Europe, the Indian subcontinent, East Asia and South America. Guterres called for stronger climate action and an immediate halt to new coal, oil and gas projects. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo urged governments and humanitarian agencies to turn early warnings into practical action.

A shifting Padma River channel and severe erosion have heightened fears among riverside communities in Munshiganj. Continuous erosion involving the Padma, Meghna, Dhaleshwari and Ichhamati has swallowed more than 50 square kilometres of the district, according to the report. Local residents say more than 100,000 people from 20,000 families have lost their belongings, with property losses exceeding Tk1,500 crore.

Erosion began at the start of this monsoon season at Tongibari’s 200-year-old Dighirpar Bazar. Near Gaondia Bazar in Louhajang, about 200 metres of blocks on a roughly 500-metre permanent river-defense embankment collapsed into the river within two months of construction. Many families moved their homes, while the Bangladesh Water Development Board used geobags and concrete blocks to bring the situation under control.

Executive Engineer Akhlak Ul Jamil said the Padma’s main channel now flows through an area that was previously a branch channel, causing erosion there. He said defense designs must be regularly reviewed using updated hydraulic and morphological data. The board said it has placed 12,000 geobags in Purbarakhi and 18,000 in Shambhu Haldarkandi to curb erosion.

Food and water shortages in the Garo Hills of Mymensingh are pushing wild elephants into settlements, increasing conflict with residents and farmers. Forest Department figures show that from 2014 to 2026, elephant attacks killed 49 people in the Garo Hills and nearby areas. During the same period, 35 wild elephants died in electric traps, poison bait and retaliatory attacks by people.

The report attributes the crisis to forest clearing, hill cutting for settlements and cultivation, illegal occupation and commercial tree felling, which have reduced elephant habitat and food sources. Irregular rainfall and prolonged drought linked to climate change have also prevented new vegetation from growing and dried up streams. Farmers said elephants destroy crops, while compensation is not adequately received.

Sherpur has been the worst affected district, where 30 people and 30 elephants have died in the conflict. The Balijuri Range has about 120 elephants in 8,330 acres of forest, an area experts consider unsuitable for that number. The Forest Department is planting elephant-friendly trees on 115 hectares and has initiated plans for artificial water reservoirs in several forest areas.

Fisheries and Livestock State Minister Sultan Salahuddin Tuku has announced plans to clean Tangail city’s DC Lake and develop it into a mini tourism centre. He made the remarks on Friday after inaugurating an operation to remove water hyacinth and accumulated waste to restore the lake’s environment. Tuku said the lake is not only a recreational site but also an important part of Tangail city’s beauty and environment.

He said the entire lake would be cleaned gradually, while the adjoining char area is planned as a larger tourism centre. Necessary initiatives are being taken toward those goals, he added. Tuku said he had previously visited the area with the chairman of Bangladesh Tourism Corporation, who inspected both the char area and the DC Lake area.

The state minister said work was under way to fulfil his pre-election pledge to establish a modern tourism centre in Tangail. He said a cleaner, more usable lake could provide residents with a modern recreation space, while fish farming in the lake would also benefit local people. Tuku inspected sections of the lake, joined the water-hyacinth removal effort and directed those involved to continue regular cleaning. BNP activists, volunteers and local residents joined the campaign.

Chalan Beel, spanning 1,600 villages in 62 unions across 10 upazilas of Natore, Pabna and Sirajganj, is steadily shrinking because of unplanned development, according to the report published on July 31, 2026. Embankments, national highways, bridges, pond excavation and other infrastructure have reduced the wetland’s flow and depth. Its area, once more than 1,000 square kilometres, is reported at about 368 square kilometres during monsoon and 85 square kilometres in the dry season.

Many of Chalan Beel’s 47 small and large rivers have lost their natural flow because of siltation and navigability problems. Some 177,000 fishers were directly or indirectly linked to fishing in its rivers, canals and waters. Reduced water inflow and illegal China duari and badai nets have pushed native fish toward disappearance, prompting many fishers to change occupations and reducing dried-fish production.

The report says the Baghabari-Tarash flood-control embankment built in 1980 and the Hatikumrul-Banpara highway completed in 2001 obstructed water flow. Natore BADC Executive Engineer Sajjad Hossain cited climate change, untimely rainfall, siltation, reduced navigability, blocked canal mouths and unplanned infrastructure as contributing factors.

Bangladesh’s national fish, hilsa, has recorded declining production for two consecutive fiscal years, according to government survey data cited in a report published on July 31, 2026. The Department of Fisheries said output fell from 529,487 tonnes in fiscal year 2023-24 to 500,288 tonnes in 2024-25, a decrease of about 5.5 percent. Officials fear production may decline further in the current fiscal year, with preliminary field information putting output so far near 400,000 tonnes.

Fishers in coastal areas and along routes including the Meghna, Jamuna and Tetulia rivers said catches remain below expectations even during the peak Ashar-Shraban season. Experts cited reduced river navigability, sediment-created shoals, climate change, adverse weather, plastic pollution, excessive harvesting, jatka killing, illegal nets and uncontrolled trawling as combined threats to hilsa stocks and reproduction.

Researchers said fewer large hilsa and a growing presence of small fish in markets signal an imbalance in the species’ population. Sector representatives called for tighter control of industrial trawlers, enforcement of prescribed fishing depths, dredging of rivers and estuaries, plastic-pollution control and coordinated conservation with neighbouring countries.

Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation, or PKSF, has launched the Growth for Climate Resilient and Environmental Entrepreneurship and Nutrition project, known as Green, to address climate-change impacts, build safe and nutritious food systems, and develop environmentally friendly entrepreneurs. The project was formally inaugurated on Thursday at PKSF Building-1 in the capital.

More than 258,000 families across haor, coastal, Barind and char areas will directly benefit from the initiative. It will prioritize communities affected by climate change, women, youth, small ethnic groups, socially marginalized people and small entrepreneurs. The project will work on climate-resilient food systems, green technology, sustainable entrepreneurship, inclusive financial services and strengthening the institutional capacity of partner organizations.

The project is scheduled for implementation from 2026 to 2031 with total investment of $211.7 million. The International Fund for Agricultural Development will provide $70 million, while PKSF and partner organizations will supply the remainder. PKSF said it will emphasize digital financing, agro-ecological farming, agricultural microenterprises, local agro-processing, value addition, solar energy and the circular economy.