Wednesday, March 12News That Matters

Tag: Disaster Act

Avalanche Strikes Sonamarg, No Casualties Reported

Avalanche Strikes Sonamarg, No Casualties Reported

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment
An avalanche hit Jammu and Kashmir’s Sonamarg tourist resort on Wednesday, officials confirmed. The incident occurred in Sarbal village, the last inhabited area in the Kashmir Valley. While no casualties or damage have been reported, the avalanche triggered panic among residents. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation, and precautionary measures are being taken to ensure the safety of locals and tourists. From News Desk
Rising from Ruin: How Pakistan Flood Disaster Sparked a Revolution in Resilience

Rising from Ruin: How Pakistan Flood Disaster Sparked a Revolution in Resilience

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters
In the heart of devastation, where floodwaters swallowed entire villages and millions were left stranded, a remarkable transformation began. The 2022 Pakistan floods were among the worst climate disasters of the century, leaving one-third of the country submerged. But within this crisis lay an opportunity—one that would redefine how nations respond to catastrophe. From tragedy to triumph, the Sindh Flood Emergency Rehabilitation Project (SFERP) has emerged as a global model for disaster recovery. In just two years, it rebuilt lives, strengthened infrastructure, and pioneered a new approach to resilience that could change how the world confronts climate disasters. A Disaster of Unprecedented Scale The numbers were staggering. Over 33 million people affected. Nearly $15 billion in d...
Colombia Landmark Disaster Risk Assessment to Strengthen National Resilience

Colombia Landmark Disaster Risk Assessment to Strengthen National Resilience

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters
In a bold step toward fortifying national safety, Colombia has launched a comprehensive disaster risk assessment covering all 1,122 municipalities, marking a milestone in resilience planning. The initiative, spearheaded by the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) in collaboration with the Pacific Disaster Center (PDC), represents a breakthrough in disaster preparedness, leveraging cutting-edge data analysis to mitigate threats ranging from landslides to extreme weather events. Colombia, one of the most disaster-prone nations in Latin America and the Caribbean, has already been implementing major risk reduction measures, including a landslide early warning system in Medellín, transportation infrastructure upgrades, and urban greenway projects designed to combat extreme heat...
Centre Approves ₹3,027 Crore for Disaster Mitigation Projects

Centre Approves ₹3,027 Crore for Disaster Mitigation Projects

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Fact Check
New Delhi: The Union Government has approved ₹3,027.86 crore for disaster mitigation projects across multiple states, focusing on drought resilience and lightning safety. The decision was made by a high-level committee chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and comprising Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and NITI Aayog Vice Chairman. Major Allocations of ₹2,022.16 crore for drought mitigation in 12 most drought-prone states are Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh.  ₹186.78 crore for lightning safety measures in 10 state are Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh,...
Strengthening Disaster Risk Reduction: The Need for Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration in SFDRR Implementation

Strengthening Disaster Risk Reduction: The Need for Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration in SFDRR Implementation

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters
The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 (SFDRR) emphasizes the critical importance of engaging a broad range of stakeholders to reduce disaster risks effectively. While governments have made strides in integrating the framework into national policies, significant gaps in stakeholder involvement, resource allocation, and governance continue to limit its overall impact. Regional intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) and collaborative networks play a pivotal role in advancing the SFDRR agenda. These entities facilitate partnerships among civil society, the private sector, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, youth, and marginalized groups, ensuring that disaster risk reduction (DRR) efforts are inclusive and community-oriented. Co-Production: Bridging Polic...
Powerful Solar Flare Hits Earth Triggering Geomagnetic Storms and Auroras

Powerful Solar Flare Hits Earth Triggering Geomagnetic Storms and Auroras

Breaking News, Space
The Sun kicked off October with a massive solar flare, marking the start of the spooky season with an X7.1 flare and coronal mass ejection (CME) on October 1. This flare is the second most powerful of the current solar cycle and ranks among the top 30 strongest solar flares in the last three decades. While Earth is not in immediate danger, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center has forecast geomagnetic storms between October 3 and 5. These storms, ranging from minor to strong, will result from the solar particles rocketing toward Earth as the CME pushes through the Solar System. Solar flares and CMEs are typical occurrences during the Sun’s peak activity cycle, which scientists believe is currently underway. Solar flares are sudde...
Breaking Discovery Earth’s Inner Core May Have an Even Deeper Hidden Layer

Breaking Discovery Earth’s Inner Core May Have an Even Deeper Hidden Layer

Breaking News, Environment
Scientists have uncovered new evidence that suggests Earth's inner core long believed to be a solid iron sphere may actually consist of two distinct layers. This revelation could potentially reshape our understanding of Earth's formation and the events that shaped its early history. "Traditionally, we've been taught that Earth has four main layers: the crust, the mantle, the outer core, and the inner core," said Joanne Stephenson, a geophysicist from the Australian National University, in 2021. However, new research led by Stephenson and her colleagues indicates that Earth's inner core is more complex, featuring an additional, even deeper "inner-inner" core. For years, scientists have inferred what lies beneath Earth's surface by studying seismic waves from earthquakes. These waves t...
Study Links Microplastics to Urinary Tract Health Risks, Urges Global Action

Study Links Microplastics to Urinary Tract Health Risks, Urges Global Action

Breaking News, Disasters, Environment
A new study has found alarming evidence of microplastic contamination in human organs, challenging previous reports that downplayed the health risks associated with these pollutants. Led by researchers from Bond University, the study reviewed 18 earlier investigations and discovered the presence of microplastics in kidney, urine, and bladder cancer samples, raising concerns about their potential impact on human health. Microplastics tiny plastic particles resulting from the global use and disposal of plastics have already been detected in the air, water, soil, food, and even human tissues. The 2019 World Health Organization (WHO) report claimed that microplastics in drinking water posed no significant risk to human health, but this new research suggests otherwise. Key Findings: Micro...
Haryana Chief Secretary Declares Solid Waste Emergency in Gurugram: Urgent Measures Launched Following Supreme Court Directive

Haryana Chief Secretary Declares Solid Waste Emergency in Gurugram: Urgent Measures Launched Following Supreme Court Directive

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
Haryana Chief Secretary TVSN Prasad announced that there is a huge amount of solid waste in Gurugram due to the large amount of untreated sewage, which is adversely affecting the environment and public health. The move is in response to the Supreme Court's May 13 judgment and the National Green Tribunal's observations on the need for a cleaner environment. In its May 13 decision, the Supreme Court said that a large amount of unprocessed solid waste destroys the environment, which is the main factor affecting the unpolluted life of citizens guaranteed in Article 21 of the Constitution. The NGT, in its order dated September 23, 2022, observed that the situation is an environmental emergency, but the required seriousness has not yet been resolved. The chief secretary, in an order issued...