4.4 A Report about Heavy Rains
Complete textbook exercise solutions — Maharashtra State Board (Balbharati), Grade Six English.
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About the chapter
This lesson is a news report about heavy rain in Mumbai. The rain fell during Krishna Janmashtami and Dahi Handi. The continuous rain made the soil weak and caused a landslide. The lesson teaches us how to write a report and how to stay safe in a disaster.
Key points
- Heavy rain fell during the Janmashtami and Dahi Handi celebrations.
- Continuous rain made the soil weak and caused a landslide.
- At least five people died and three were injured.
- Officials advised people to stay indoors and avoid unsafe areas.
- A report has a headline, the reporter’s name, date, place and the main facts.
Words to remember
- landslide – the sudden sliding of soil and rocks down a slope
- disaster – a sudden event that causes great damage
- submerged – covered with water
- rescue – to save someone from danger
- emergency – a sudden dangerous situation
| Natural disaster | Man-made disaster |
|---|---|
| Earthquake, Cyclone, Tsunami, Landslide, Flood, Volcano | Road accident, Terrorist attack, Riot, Stampede |
What is the difference between an earthquake and a landslide?
| Earthquake | Landslide |
|---|---|
| It is the sudden shaking of the earth’s surface. | It is the sudden sliding of soil and rocks down a slope. |
| It is caused by movements deep inside the earth. | It is often caused by heavy rain, which weakens the soil. |
| It can affect a very large area. | It usually affects a small hilly area. |
(i) Which festival coincided with the heavy rainfall in Mumbai?
The heavy rainfall coincided with Krishna Janmashtami and Dahi Handi.
(ii) How many people died due to the landslide?
At least five people died.
(iii) How many people were injured in the incident?
Three people were injured. They were taken to nearby hospitals.
(iv) What caused the landslide according to the officials?
Continuous heavy rain made the soil weak. This caused the landslide.
Students Plant 200 Saplings on World Environment Day
By : (your name) · Date : 5 June 2026 · Place : (your town)
A tree-plantation drive was held in our school on World Environment Day. About 150 students and all the teachers took part.
The Forest Department gave 200 saplings of neem, mango, banyan and gulmohar. Students worked in groups of five. They dug pits, planted the saplings and watered them. The Sarpanch planted the first sapling.
Each group will look after its own plants and water them regularly. The school will also put a fence around the young plants.
The drive was a great success. It taught us that looking after a tree is as important as planting it.
Geological factors:
- Steep slopes and loose soil are weak.
- Heavy rain soaks the soil and makes it heavy and weak.
Human activities:
- Cutting trees removes the roots that hold the soil.
- Cutting hills for roads and buildings removes the support of slopes.
- Blocked drains send rainwater into the soil.
When weak slopes and human activities come together, landslides happen more easily.
- Mark dangerous slopes on a map.
- Plant trees and grass on bare slopes to hold the soil.
- Build strong walls at the base of weak slopes.
- Keep drains clean so rainwater flows away.
- Stop illegal hill-cutting and building in danger zones.
- Warn people early and shift families to safe places.
- Keep rescue teams and ambulances ready.
I reached the spot in the afternoon. It was still raining heavily. A big heap of mud and rocks had come down the hillside. Rescue teams were working hard in the slushy mud. Three injured people had been taken to hospital. Officials said that at least five people had died. The main road was under water and traffic had stopped. The authorities asked everyone to stay indoors and keep away from unsafe slopes.
- Drinking water and dry food like biscuits and dry fruits
- Torch with extra batteries, candles and a matchbox
- Mobile phone, charger and a power bank
- First-aid box with bandages, antiseptic and ORS
- Copies of important documents and some cash
- Raincoat, rope, whistle, blanket and spare clothes
- A list of emergency phone numbers
Do’s
- Listen to weather warnings on radio or TV.
- Keep the emergency kit ready.
- Move to a higher and safer place if told to.
- Switch off the main electric supply if water enters the house.
- Drink only boiled or purified water.
Don’ts
- Don’t believe or spread rumours.
- Don’t walk or drive through flowing water.
- Don’t touch electric wires or poles.
- Don’t go near hill slopes, old walls or big trees.
- Don’t swim or play in flood water.
More tongue-twisters:
- Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
- Betty bought a bit of butter, but the butter Betty bought was bitter.
- A proper copper coffee pot.
- कच्चा पापड, पक्का पापड. (Marathi / Hindi)
My own tongue-twisters:
- Rapid rain wrecked the rough red road.
- Slippery soil slid swiftly down the steep slope.
- (i) What are you doing? — Falling ↘
- (ii) Why did you do that? — Falling ↘
- (iii) Are you ready? — Rising ↗
- (iv) Do you need any help? — Rising ↗
Remember: ‘Wh’ questions have a falling intonation. Yes/No questions have a rising intonation.
- /z/ as in zoo — zip, zone, lazy, busy, rose, nose, easy, please, prize
- /ʒ/ as in measure — treasure, pleasure, usual, decision, vision, television, garage