Moussons, entre la vie et la mort

BOSTON.COM

Monsoon season in southern Asia has begun, and in India the rains arrived ahead of schedule, easing drought concerns. Monsoon rains can be disruptive and even deadly, but crucial for the farmers whose crops feed millions of people. Though concerns for flooding are prevalent, the arrival of the rains brings colorful celebrations and relief from the heat every year.

 

The dark rain clouds appear off Dehiwala in the suburbs of Colombo, Sri Lanka, on June 8,  2013. Strong gale force winds from early this morning due to the south-west monsoon resulted in several fisher craft being reported missing.(M.A Pushpa Kumara/EPA)

A woman carries her child through a heavy rain shower in the northern Indian city of Chandigarh on June 11, 2013. India’s monsoon rains recorded higher than average levels in the first week of the four-month rainy season, weather office sources said, reflecting a timely onset and progress so far over southern states. (Ajay Verma/Reuters)

Volunteers learn how to install sand bags and panels at homes in case of a flash flood during the rain season in Seoul, South Korea, on June 13,  2013. Forecasters predict the monsoon season will begin around 17 June, starting from the country’s central region.  (Yonhapnews/EPA)

A man sleeps on a cot in a flooded lane  during monsoon rains in Mumbai, India, on June 10, 2013. Heavy rains disrupted rail and road traffic in India’s commercial capital affecting normal life.(Rafiq Maqbool/Associated Press)

A Nepalese farmer works in a field at Khokana on the outskirts of Katmandu, on June 6, 2013. Farmers are busy ploughing fields for planting rice in preparation for the monsoon season. (Niranjan Shrestha/Associated Press)

A photographer holds an umbrella to shield himself from the rain on a beach in Mumbai June 13, 2013. Annual monsoon rains have covered half of India two days ahead of the usual date,  easing concern over southwestern regions parched by drought. (Danish Siddiqui/Reuters)

A fish vendor carries his basket on his head covered with plastic as he walks through a street during monsoon rains in Mumbai, India, on June 9, 2013. The Southwest monsoon, arrived in the city Saturday, three days ahead of schedule, according to the meteorological department. (Rafiq Maqbool/Associated Press)

An Indian man looks at damage to a road during heavy monsoon rains near Govindghat town in the Indian state of Uttrakhand on June 17, 2013. Heavy rains lashed parts of north India Monday, resulting in the deaths of at least 18 people, as the annual monsoon covered the country nearly two weeks ahead of schedule. (AFP/Getty Images)

Fast moving water flows over a Hindu statue during a heavy monsoon rain in Rishikesh town in the Indian state of Uttrakhand on June 17, 2013.  More than a dozen people lost their lives due to record downpours in Uttarakhand state, situated in the foothills of the Himalayas. (AFP/Getty Images)

 

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