Month: January 2026

    Delhi woke up to a relatively cleaner morning on Saturday as the city Air Quality Index (AQI) improved to the ‘poor’ category, bringing some relief after days of ‘very poor’ pollution levels. According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board, the overall AQI stood at 235 at 8 am, aided by stronger winds and a drop in fog intensity. The improvement marked a steady decline in pollution levels over the past 24 hours. On Friday morning, the AQI was recorded at 311, which reduced further to 236 by late afternoon, compared to 380 at the same time a day earlier. Weather officials said average wind speeds of around 12 kmph overnight helped disperse pollutants and lift dense fog across the region. Data from key monitoring stations showed mixed but improving trends...

    Gaushalas, or cattle shelters, across Rajasthan have taken significant steps that are helping revive the state’s declining vulture population by discontinuing the use of veterinary medicines known to be toxic to the birds and by adopting safer methods of carcass disposal. According to the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), these traditional institutions are now playing an unexpected but crucial role in vulture conservation. In a statement released on December 30, BNHS said that many gaushalas in Rajasthan have stopped administering non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac, aceclofenac, ketoprofen and nimesulide, which are highly toxic to vultures. Instead, they have shifted to vulture-safe alternatives like meloxicam and tolfenamic acid. ...

    At least ten people, including a five-month-old baby, have died and more than 270 others have been hospitalised after sewage-contaminated drinking water triggered a severe diarrhoea outbreak in Indore, a city that has been officially ranked India’s cleanest for the past eight consecutive years. The incident has raised serious questions about urban water safety and governance, despite the city’s reputation for cleanliness and waste management. The outbreak occurred in Bhagirathpura, a densely populated, lower-income neighbourhood of Indore in Madhya Pradesh. Residents said they had complained for months about foul-smelling tap water, but their warnings were allegedly ignored by authorities. The situation escalated this week when large numbers of people began arriving ...

    Scientists are sounding the alarm over a little-known but potentially deadly group of microorganisms that may be quietly spreading through water systems around the world. Environmental and public health researchers have warned that free-living amoebae, resilient microbes found naturally in soil and water, are emerging as a growing global health concern due to climate change, weakening water infrastructure and limited monitoring systems. In a recent perspective published in the journal Biocontaminant, researchers highlighted how these microscopic organisms are capable of surviving in environments that typically eliminate other harmful microbes. While most amoebae are harmless, a small number can cause severe and often fatal infections in humans. Among the most dangero...

    A video shared by Indian Forest Service officer Parveen Kaswan has sparked widespread concern over the growing problem of waste and irresponsible tourism in the Himalayan region. Shot during the Manimahesh Yatra in Himachal Pradesh, the footage shows snow-covered hills and a frozen water body strewn with plastic bottles and other garbage, highlighting how even remote and sacred landscapes are not spared from pollution. Posting the video on Instagram, Kaswan questioned the popular idea that “the hills are calling”, pointing instead to the visible human footprint left behind by visitors. “Do you really think hills are calling us? This is the view from Manimahesh Yatra, HP. Even at 13,000 feet, we are leaving our marks,” he wrote, tagging environmental organisation Heal...

    India’s two largest metropolitan cities experienced sharply contrasting weather conditions as the country stepped into 2026, with Delhi battling severe air pollution and an intense cold spell, while Mumbai woke up to unexpected early morning rainfall on New Year’s Day. In the national capital, thick smog reduced visibility across several areas, including India Gate and Kartavya Path, during the early hours of Thursday. According to official data recorded at 8 am, Delhi’s Air Quality Index stood at 371, placing it firmly in the “very poor” category. The deteriorating air quality once again highlighted the capital’s persistent pollution crisis during the winter months. Delhi also emerged as the most polluted city in the country on Thursday morning. Neighbouring Noid...

    The Supreme Court of India has put on hold its recent order that approved a uniform definition of the Aravalli hills and ranges, citing serious concerns over the way the definition was being interpreted and its possible impact on the fragile ecosystem. The court has now directed the formation of a high-powered, independent expert committee to reassess the definition and provide a fresh scientific opinion, while ordering that all mining activity in the Aravalli region remain suspended until the review is completed. The decision follows widespread protests in Rajasthan and Haryana, where environmental groups and local communities warned that the new definition could weaken protections for one of the world’s oldest mountain systems and open large areas to mining. Taking...

    Delhi experienced its coldest December day since 2020 as biting winter conditions settled over the national capital, accompanied by dense fog and deteriorating air quality. The India Meteorological Department said the cold spell is likely to continue, with the possibility of light rain on New Year’s Day, which could bring the city its first rainfall of the season. On Wednesday, the maximum temperature in Delhi dropped sharply to 14.2 degrees Celsius, around 6.2 degrees below the seasonal average. This marked the lowest daytime temperature recorded in December in the last five years. The minimum temperature stood at 6.4 degrees Celsius, marginally below normal, intensifying the chill felt across the city. Weather data from various IMD stations showed consistently l...

    Saudi Arabia has launched one of the world’s most ambitious environmental experiments: an effort to green its largely desert landscape by planting 10 billion trees. In a country where nearly 95 per cent of the land is arid, the initiative marks a significant shift in how the Kingdom views its environment, economic future and long-term resilience. The idea is rooted in history as much as climate science. Long before oil transformed the region, parts of the Arabian Peninsula were far greener, receiving higher rainfall and supporting vegetation and wildlife. Scientists refer to this period as “Green Arabia.” Saudi Arabia’s current push does not aim to recreate that past, but it draws inspiration from it, seeking to make today’s harsh landscape more stable and livable. ...

    Gurgaon continued to grapple with deteriorating air quality as the city’s Air Quality Index remained in the “very poor” category for the second consecutive day, prompting the Haryana State Pollution Control Board to issue an advisory to hundreds of residential and commercial establishments. On Friday, the city recorded an AQI of 315, showing a marginal improvement from 353 a day earlier but still posing serious health concerns. In response, the pollution control board advised housing societies, high-rise apartments, commercial complexes and plotted developments to install smog guns or water-sprinkling systems to curb dust pollution, particularly during the winter months when air dispersion is low. The advisory was sent to more than 180 group housing societies, condom...