Rain 'imbalance' matter of grave concern: Javadekar

Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Saturday said it was a matter of "grave concern" that half of the country was still awaiting rains while the rest is "under water".

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event, the minister drew attention to the "fact of a climate change".

He also said necessary help was being provided to the flood-hit regions of Maharashtra by the state government.

"We need to consider the fact that there is a climate change happening..I would not say that every incident has a direct relation with the climate change as it would not be scientific, but it is a matter of grave concern that when half of the country is still waiting for rains, the remaining is under water," he said.

Rains have wreaked havoc in parts of Kerala, Karnataka Maharashtra and Gujarat.

While 66 people died in Karnataka and Kerala in floods and landslides triggered by torrential rains, over four lakh people were evacuated in Maharashtra and 19 lost their lives in