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A powerful cloudburst in the Silai Band area of Uttarkashi district has triggered flash floods and widespread destruction, leaving at least 89 workers missing and forcing the suspension of the Char Dham Yatra. The disaster which struck the Barkot-Yamunotri Marg, caused severe damage to an under-construction hotel and cut off access along the rain-battered route. The incident unfolded amidst relentless rainfall, turning the construction site into a disaster zone. Rescue operations are being led by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), with local administration working around the clock to locate the missing workers and clear the debris-clogged roadways. District Magistrate Prashant Arya confirmed that the Yamunotri Marg has suffered exten...

In a first for the national capital, Delhi is preparing to launch artificial rain operations through cloud seeding between July 4 and 11, aimed at reducing air pollution levels. The initiative, led by the city’s Environment Department under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, represents a significant move in urban pollution control. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced that IIT Kanpur has submitted the flight plan for the seeding operation to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Pune for technical coordination. Weather conditions are currently unsuitable for seeding until July 3, but the proposed flight window may open shortly after. An additional request has been made to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to allow an alternate window if weather remains unf...

In a major step toward addressing its persistent water challenges Chennai has become the first Indian city to adopt a German-style rainwater harvesting method aiming to reduce flooding and improve water availability during dry spells. The Greater Chennai Corporation is leading this initiative, which features the use of specially designed 'catch-pits' underground chambers built into the city’s drainage systems that capture and hold stormwater to prevent blockages and urban flooding. According to a report by Thanthi TV a single catch-pit can hold up to 40 million litres of rainwater over an area as small as eight grounds. The method is now being integrated into the city’s broader urban planning strategy. As part of this, 770 parks across Chennai are being fitted with underground rainwa...

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast active monsoon conditions across large parts of northwest central and eastern India for the coming week with widespread rain expected to continue through the first week of July. According to the IMD’s latest bulletin issued on June 30, very heavy rainfall is likely at isolated locations today in Uttarakhand, West Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Gangetic West Bengal, and Jharkhand. Several central and eastern states including East and West Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, and Odisha are also expected to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall on multiple days this week. Delhi is likely to remain generally cloudy with light to moderate showers and thunderstorms through July 3. Daytime temperatures in the capital ...

The 2025 Bonn Climate Conference concluded with little progress, revealing a growing strain on international climate cooperation. Despite mounting climate impacts and global instability, the negotiations were marked by familiar standoffs between developed and developing countries. The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), which observed the talks, described the outcome as a sign of weakened multilateralism, with developed nations showing little commitment to equitable climate action. One area of modest progress came under the UAE-led Just Transition Work Programme, where negotiators managed to produce a draft text focused on economic-wide approaches to energy transition. It recognized the need for diverse pathways and proposed universal access to sustainable energy. Civil society co...

As the world grapples with overlapping environmental and economic crises, developing countries are facing a growing dilemma how to balance the rising cost of debt with the urgent need for climate resilience. At the heart of this issue is a global financial architecture that leaves low- and middle-income countries struggling to finance development without compromising their climate goals. The scale of the problem is vast. Developing countries now owe $29 trillion in public debt an amount that has nearly doubled over the past decade. Much of this debt is external, borrowed from foreign lenders, and increasingly unsustainable. For countries like Sri Lanka and Kenya, such financial stress has already translated into economic turmoil and civil unrest. In Sri Lanka’s case, heavy foreign borro...

In a powerful sign of climate reality catching up with vulnerable nations, more than 4,000 Tuvaluans over a third of the Pacific island nation's population have applied for Australia's newly launched climate visa, marking a historic shift in climate-induced migration. Faced with the existential threat of rising sea levels, residents of Tuvalu, a country of just 11,000 people spread across nine fragile atolls, are seeking refuge and stability in Australia. The deluge of applications came within weeks of Australia opening the scheme under a landmark climate and security pact signed with Tuvalu last year. The new visa allows Tuvaluan citizens to live, work, and study in Australia, with full access to healthcare, education, and social security benefits, ensuring families aren't left vuln...

What began as a joyful family outing in Pakistan scenic Swat Valley turned into a nightmare as sudden monsoon-triggered flooding in the Swat River swept away 17 members of an extended family, leaving 11 dead and two still missing. The group, hailing from Sialkot, was visiting the river for a picnic when the tragedy struck. Local authorities reported that children entered the river to click photos when a surge of floodwater, brought on by relentless monsoon rains, rapidly overwhelmed them. Family members who rushed to help were also swept away. District administrator Shehzad Mahboob confirmed that nine of the deceased were from one family, highlighting the devastating impact of the incident. Rescue operations are ongoing, with four people pulled from the water alive. However, the mons...

  Torrential pre-monsoon rains have unleashed devastation across Pakistan, claiming 34 lives, including 16 children, and injuring 46 others in a wave of deadly weather-related incidents, authorities confirmed on Saturday. The hardest-hit regions include Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, where collapsing rooftops, landslides, and flash floods have triggered widespread tragedy and displacement. According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone recorded 19 deaths and six injuries over the past 48 hours. Punjab reported 15 deaths and 40 injuries across multiple districts during the three-day downpour. Emergency responders have launched relief and rescue operations, rushing aid and medical assistance to families impacted by the storms. In rura...

A family picnic along the picturesque Swat River turned into a heartbreaking tragedy as sudden flash floods swept away 17 members of an extended family from Sialkot, killing 11, with two still missing, officials confirmed. The incident unfolded when children entered the river for photographs, only to be caught in a sudden monsoon surge. Their relatives rushed in to help, but the powerful current overwhelmed them, said district administrator Shehzad Mahboob. Nine of the victims belonged to a single family unit of 16. Rescue efforts are ongoing, with four individuals successfully pulled to safety, while emergency teams continue the search for the missing. The disaster is part of a larger monsoon crisis wreaking havoc across Pakistan, where 32 lives have been lost this week alone due to...