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As monsoon rains continue to lash Uttar Pradesh, the Ganga River in Varanasi has surged to alarming levels, submerging key ghats and prompting a flood alert across the city. Among the affected areas is the iconic Namo Ghat, now partially underwater, as authorities race to manage the growing crisis. In response to the worsening conditions, all schools in Varanasi have been ordered shut on August 5 and 6 across all educational boards and classes up to 12th grade. The order, issued by the District School Superintendent following the District Magistrate’s directive, aims to ensure student safety as floodwaters rise. Uttar Pradesh Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna visited flood-hit sites to monitor relief efforts and ensure timely distribution of aid. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also conven...

With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a five-day monsoon alert for Uttarakhand, the state has ramped up preparations to tackle potential rain-related disasters. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has directed all district administrations to stay on high alert and ensure essential services remain uninterrupted amid forecasts of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms. Key districts including Dehradun, Nainital, and surrounding hilly regions have been identified as particularly vulnerable. CM Dhami urged officers to work in coordination with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to ensure public safety, especially for communities living near riverbanks and landslide-prone areas. He also stressed the need for prompt communication...

A recent study by researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee has uncovered a surprising truth about the Ganga River more than 50% of its water quietly vanishes as it flows from the Himalayas into the plains, largely unnoticed by the public or policymakers. Led by Professor Abhayanand S. Maurya, the research team examined the Ganga’s summer hydrology and found that contrary to popular belief, it is not glacial melt but groundwater discharge that plays the dominant role in sustaining the river’s flow during the dry season. The findings challenge longstanding assumptions and carry critical implications for water resource planning, especially in the context of climate change and increasing water stress across the Gangetic plains. Surprisingly, despite growing conc...

The Amazon rainforest often called the lungs of the Earth, is facing a hidden crisis that lingers long after the flames are gone. A new study by researchers from Columbia University’s Climate School published in Environmental Research Letters, reveals that parts of the Amazon scorched by fire can remain significantly hotter for decades threatening their recovery and weakening their ability to store carbon and withstand climate stress. According to the study, burned areas of the forest remain, on average, 2.6°C warmer than untouched or selectively logged forests. Even 30 years after a fire the temperature decrease in these areas is just 1.2°C, leaving them persistently hotter than normal. The elevated heat levels stretch across the entire canopy, from 5 to 40 metres, disrupting critical ...

As global negotiators reconvene in Geneva to shape the world first legally binding plastics treaty a new Lancet report has sounded the alarm on the growing health risks from plastic pollution especially microplastics warning that urgent, evidence-based action is the only way to avert a public health and planetary disaster. The report, published just before the latest round of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) discussions, lays out how plastics once hailed for their versatility have now become a global health hazard. “Plastics cause disease and death from infancy to old age,” the authors noted, citing health-related economic losses of over $1.5 trillion annually. And these losses hit the poorest and most vulnerable communities the hardest. Dr. Philip Landrigan, a leadi...

A few steps away from the chaos of Mount Poonamallee Road traffic, Porur in Chennai now hosts the city’s first sponge park Dr MS Swaminathan Wetland Eco Park. Once a marshland turned dumping ground and parking lot, the 16.63-acre site has been transformed into a thriving eco-space that not only reduces urban flooding but reconnects residents with nature. Developed by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) in collaboration with Sponge Collaborative, the sponge park slows down, filters, and stores stormwater instead of draining it away quickly like conventional flood-control systems. This nature-based solution is designed to recharge groundwater, create a safe flood buffer, and act as a community green space. “When we came here initially, the land was degraded, with garb...

In Gaza war doesn’t end with bombs. It continues in poisoned wells, toxic rubble, and dying fields. The Strip’s destruction has gone beyond buildings it's unraveling the very ecosystems that sustain life. Today Gaza faces not just a humanitarian crisis, but an environmental collapse that could affect the region for generations. Water scarcity, sewage overflow, unbreathable air, and poisoned soil are now daily realities for millions. The death of water By early 2025, more than 85% of Gaza’s wells, desalination plants, and pumping stations were either destroyed or not functioning. All five sewage treatment plants stopped working by late 2024. Raw sewage now flows through city streets and into the Mediterranean, contaminating coastal waters and raising cholera risks. Gaza’s only natura...

In a move toward greener governance the Delhi government has introduced stricter guidelines to manage the city growing electronic waste mandating eco-friendly disposal protocols in all procurement and service contracts. This step is part of a wider strategy to curb the environmental impact of e-waste, which has surged to nearly two lakh tonnes annually. The decision was reaffirmed during a high-level meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary, where officials stressed the urgency of scientifically sound waste handling. Delhi currently lacks the infrastructure needed to manage this volume of discarded electronic goods, many of which contain hazardous materials that threaten both human health and the environment. To fill this gap, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa proposed the cre...

Himachal Pradesh is reeling under the impact of relentless monsoon rains, which have shut down 404 roads and brought normal life to a halt across several districts. Mandi, Chamba, and Kullu are among the hardest hit, as landslides, floods, and waterlogging disrupt transportation, utilities, and public services. According to the State Emergency Operation Centre, Una received the highest rainfall on Friday 260.8 mm triggering urban flooding and stranding vehicles and residents in low-lying areas. The Khab-Gramphu National Highway, a crucial route in the region, remains blocked. Educational institutions across the state have been closed as a safety precaution. Power transformers and water schemes have suffered heavy damage, cutting off electricity and clean water supply in multiple area...

Eastern Australia has been battered by a historic snowstorm, delivering the region deepest snowfall in decades and bringing daily life to a grinding halt. Over the weekend, thick snow, torrential rain, and fierce winds triggered flooding, blackouts, and widespread damage across New South Wales and neighboring areas. According to the NSW State Emergency Service, some towns saw up to 50 cm of snow while others were drenched with more than 10 cm of rain. The New England North West region witnessed its heaviest snowfall in 20 years, blanketing roads, farms, and residential zones under a thick white sheet. Authorities responded to over 1,455 emergency incidents, with more than 100 vehicles stranded in snow-covered or flooded roads. Thousands of homes were left without electricity as power...