Annual loss from floods – Factbox

Data from India’s ministry of water resources shows that on an average,annual loss from floods in India is: Area affected: 7.351 million hectares

No. of people affected: 40.967 million

Human lives lost: 1,793

Cattle lost: 85,599

Houses damaged: 1,452,904

Value of houses damaged: 3.7 billion rupees

Crop area damaged: 3.725 million hectares

Value of crop damaged: 10,95132 billion rupees

Public Utilities damaged: 11,86 billion rupees

Total losses: 27,06 billion rupees ($575 million). Trade and government officials also say:

– Generally,rains benefit water-absorbing crops like rice,but excessive rains and floods reduce output.

– Last year,floods in the southern Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka hit output of oilseeds,corn,cotton and rice.

– Excessive rain can damage regular grades of rice grown in eastern and southern India,but premium grades like basmati gain.

– If rains are excessive in July,it can hurt soybean output. Five years ago,output fell 12 percent due to excessive rain. However,floods are rare in India’s soybean regions.

– Heavy rains recharge ground water levels,replenish dry reservoirs. Floods also improve soil fertility once they recede. ($1=47 rupees)