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Is Delhi Prepared for a Massive Earthquake? Experts Raise Alarm Over Seismic Risks

Is Delhi Prepared for a Massive Earthquake? Experts Raise Alarm Over Seismic Risks

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters
March 30, 2025 – The recent 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar has once again raised concerns about Delhi’s ability to withstand a major seismic event. The tremors were felt as far as Bangkok, where a viral video showed a multi-story building collapsing in seconds, sending shockwaves across the region. With Delhi NCR falling in Seismic Zone 4, experts are questioning whether the national capital is prepared for a similar disaster. How Vulnerable is Delhi NCR? Delhi's geographical location places it in a high-risk earthquake zone, making it extremely vulnerable to seismic activity. According to experts, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake could cause severe destruction, with buildings collapsing, roads cracking, and thousands of lives at risk. A 2020 Ministry of Earth Sciences and Municipa...
India Sends 80 NDRF Personnel to Myanmar for Earthquake Relief

India Sends 80 NDRF Personnel to Myanmar for Earthquake Relief

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters
New Delhi, March 29, 2025 – India is deploying an 80-member National Disaster Response Force( NDRF) team to assist in rescue and search operations in earthquake hit Myanmar where nearly 700 people have died. A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck northwest of Sagaing city on Friday afternoon followed by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock, flattening buildings and causing severe damage in Mandalay and surrounding areas. The disaster has left over 1,700 people injured, with casualties also reported in Thailand. A senior NDRF officer confirmed that the team from the 8th battalion in Ghaziabad, which previously assisted in Turkey’s 2023 earthquake rescue efforts, is carrying specialized equipment for immediate deployment. Depending on the ground situation, more personnel may be sent. This marks In...
India Braces for Intense Summer as IMD Predicts Doubling of Heatwave Days

India Braces for Intense Summer as IMD Predicts Doubling of Heatwave Days

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that northwestern parts of the country will likely endure an unusually hot summer, with nearly twice the usual number of heatwave days. Typically, the region experiences five to six heatwave days per season, but this year, the IMD forecasts 10 to 12. Extreme Heat Expected Across West and Central India IMD scientist Soma Sen Roy stated that heatwave conditions will be "slightly above normal," particularly in West and Central India. However, she clarified that this seasonal outlook does not mean every day will be excessively hot. A heatwave is officially declared when temperatures reach at least 40°C in the plains, 30°C in the hills or rise five degrees above the seasonal average. Will 2025 Break Last Year’s Record Heat? Whi...
India Rising Heat Worsens Water Crisis, Government Efforts and Sustainable Solutions

India Rising Heat Worsens Water Crisis, Government Efforts and Sustainable Solutions

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
India is grappling with an escalating water crisis worse by rising temperatures with 2024 recorded as the hottest year since 1901. As heatwaves intensified the country saw 733 deaths due to extreme heat according to a report by Heat Watch. The gap between water availability and consumption termed the water gap is increasing at an alarming rate. A study in Nature Communications found that India leads globally in water scarcity, with a baseline shortfall of 24.3 cubic km per year. Under a 1.5°C warming scenario, this gap is projected to increase by 11.1 cubic km annually, further straining resources. The worst-affected basins include the Ganga-Brahmaputra (56.1 cubic km per year) and Sabarmati (52.6 cubic km per year), where water demand far exceeds supply. Government Efforts and Su...
Haryana Steps Up Pollution Fight Plans Long-Term Clean Air Project

Haryana Steps Up Pollution Fight Plans Long-Term Clean Air Project

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
Chandigarh, March 29, 2025 – Haryana is tightening its grip on air pollution with a series of strict regulatory actions including industrial closures, heavy fines, and pollution-control initiatives. Environment Minister Rao Narbir Singh, addressing the State Assembly emphasized the government's focus on air quality improvement through inspections, penalties, and awareness campaigns. 480 Industries Shut, ₹35 Crore in Fines The Haryana State Pollution Control Board has been actively inspecting industries, leading to the closure of 480 non-compliant units and the imposition of environmental fines worth ₹35 crore. While these efforts have led to some improvement in AQI, pollution hotspots like Faridabad and Gurugram continue to experience poor air quality. To combat seasonal pollution...
J&K Govt Admits Untreated Wastewater Discharged into Streams, Raising Jhelum Contamination Fears

J&K Govt Admits Untreated Wastewater Discharged into Streams, Raising Jhelum Contamination Fears

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
The Jammu and Kashmir government has acknowledged in the Legislative Assembly that untreated wastewater from Anantnag, Bijbehara, and Mattan is being discharged into nearby streams, raising concerns about pollution in the Jhelum River, Kashmir’s primary source of drinking water. The disclosure came in a written response from the Housing and Urban Development Department, led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, on March 11, 2025. The response was given to Bashir Ahmad Shah Veeri, an MLA from Srigufwara-Bijbehara, who sought details on drainage networks and sewage treatment facilities in these towns. The government stated that municipal bodies and the Urban Environmental Engineering Department (UEED) constructed drainage networks, which are interconnected where possible. It claimed that wh...
Lakes Across the Globe Losing Oxygen at Unprecedented Rate as Heat Waves and Climate Change Drive Deoxygenation Crisis

Lakes Across the Globe Losing Oxygen at Unprecedented Rate as Heat Waves and Climate Change Drive Deoxygenation Crisis

Breaking News, Climate Actions
Lakes around the world are rapidly losing oxygen, a trend that scientists warn could have devastating consequences for aquatic life, global food security, and climate stability. A new study published in Science Advances on March 21, 2025, has revealed that deoxygenation in global lakes is occurring at a rate faster than that observed in oceans and rivers. The research led by Yibo Zhan of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, found that 83 percent of the 15,535 lakes studied are experiencing continuous oxygen loss, with the decline driven primarily by rising global temperatures and an increasing frequency of heat waves. The study identified long-term climate warming as the primary driver of oxygen loss, accounting for 55 percent of the depletion in surface waters. As temperatures rise, the...
IMD Issues Rain Thunderstorm Alerts Across India Odisha Braces for Heatwave

IMD Issues Rain Thunderstorm Alerts Across India Odisha Braces for Heatwave

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted widespread rainfall and thunderstorms across multiple states, with a heatwave warning issued for parts of Odisha. According to the latest advisory, the Western Himalayan region including Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh will experience scattered to fairly widespread rainfall and snowfall over the next few days due to an active Western Disturbance. Weather Across India Cold winds are likely to sweep through Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh, while isolated heavy rain is expected in Arunachal Pradesh. Rainfall activity will also extend to central Maharashtra, North Interior Karnataka, Goa, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh until March 31. The IMD has forecast above-normal rainfall for South Peninsula...
Northwestern India Braces for Intense Summer as IMD Predicts Twice the Usual Heatwave Days

Northwestern India Braces for Intense Summer as IMD Predicts Twice the Usual Heatwave Days

Breaking News, Climate Actions
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a stark warning that northwestern states are set to endure a significantly hotter summer in 2025 with heatwave conditions expected to last nearly twice as long as usual. Typically, the region experiences five to six heatwave days per season but this year the IMD forecasts 10 to 12, raising concerns over extreme temperatures and their impact on public health agriculture, and water resources. IMD scientist Soma Sen Roy explained that while this projection does not mean every day will be exceptionally hot, overall heatwave conditions are expected to be above normal, particularly over West and Central India. The seasonal heat outlook for March to May 2025, released on February 28, indicates that most of India will experience above-normal ...
Massive 7.7 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Myanmar, Aftershocks Rattle Region

Massive 7.7 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Myanmar, Aftershocks Rattle Region

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters
A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday March 28, causing widespread damage in Mandalay, the country's second-largest city. The quake, recorded at a depth of 10 km by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), was followed by a strong 6.4 magnitude aftershock. Tremors were felt as far as Bangkok, Thailand, where several buildings shook, and in parts of India and Bangladesh. In Mandalay, parts of the historic former royal palace suffered damage, and multiple buildings collapsed. The Sagaing region, southwest of Mandalay, reported the collapse of a 90-year-old bridge and damage to sections of the highway linking Mandalay to Yangon. In the capital Naypyitaw, religious shrines and homes sustained damage, but there were no immediate reports of casualties. Tha...