Sunday, February 23News That Matters

Tag: Disaster management

Heatwave and Heavy Rainfall Alerts Across India major states IMD Issues Severe Warnings

Heatwave and Heavy Rainfall Alerts Across India major states IMD Issues Severe Warnings

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters
Amid rising temperatures in North India, the national capital Delhi recorded a scorching maximum temperature of 47.4 degrees Celsius, the highest in the country on Monday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued severe heatwave alerts for Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Chandigarh, forecasting that these conditions will persist for the next five days. North India Swelters Under Intense Heat Delhi's peak power demand surged to a record high for May due to the extreme heat. In response, the Delhi government has mandated immediate commencement of summer vacations for all private and government-aided schools. The Directorate of Education has declared summer break from May 11 to June 30 for this academic year. In Himachal Pradesh, the State Education Department has adjusted sc...
Solar Storm Impacts Ocean Depths: Unveiling the Power of Solar Activity

Solar Storm Impacts Ocean Depths: Unveiling the Power of Solar Activity

Breaking News, Disasters, Space
In May 2024, a powerful solar storm not only illuminated Earth's skies with breathtaking auroras but also extended its influence deep into the ocean. The effects were detected by Ocean Networks Canada (ONC), whose magnetic compasses, used to monitor the ocean off Canada's coast, recorded significant distortions in Earth's magnetic field due to an influx of solar particles. These measurements demonstrate the extraordinary power of the solar storm. The data collected provides valuable insights for future solar storm events and enhances our understanding of how these solar activities impact Earth. "The next two years will be the peak of the 11-year solar cycle. After a decade of relative inactivity, aurora events like this past weekend are likely to become more frequent over the next co...
Heatwave Vs Human Body:  How Heatwaves Affect the Human Body and Mind

Heatwave Vs Human Body: How Heatwaves Affect the Human Body and Mind

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Thoughts & Talks
Heatwaves, characterized by prolonged periods of excessively high temperatures, are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change. These extreme weather events can have profound impacts on human health, affecting both the body and mind. Understanding these effects is crucial for mitigating risks and protecting public health. Physical Health Impacts Heat Exhaustion and Heatstroke Heat exhaustion occurs when the body loses excessive water and salt through sweating. Symptoms include heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, nausea, and headache. If untreated, heat exhaustion can progress to heatstroke, a life-threatening condition where the body's temperature regulation fails, leading to a core body temperature above 104°F (40°C). Heatstroke can cause confusion, seizures, an...
Assam Launches DRIMS: A Digital Solution for Disaster Management in collaboration with Unicef

Assam Launches DRIMS: A Digital Solution for Disaster Management in collaboration with Unicef

Breaking News, Disasters, Idea & Innovations
In anticipation of potential floods, Assam has introduced the Disaster Reporting and Information Management System (DRIMS), a digital platform aimed at facilitating online reporting of damages incurred during various disasters. Developed by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) in collaboration with Unicef, DRIMS enables accurate reporting and assessment of damages caused by disasters, expediting aid disbursal to affected individuals. The platform efficiently captures critical impact indicators, facilitating the rapid delivery of relief and rehabilitation grants to beneficiaries. It also tracks damages to crops, loss of livestock, and other essential factors, accelerating post-disaster restoration efforts. Chief Secretary Ravi Kota, after launching DRIMS, also unveile...
First Cow-to-Human Transmission of Bird Flu A(H5N1) Confirmed in US

First Cow-to-Human Transmission of Bird Flu A(H5N1) Confirmed in US

Breaking News, Disasters, Environment
The transmission of the highly pathogenic bird flu A(H5N1) from a cow to a dairy farmer in the US marks a significant development in our understanding of the virus's behavior and potential risks to public health. This event, the first confirmed cow-to-human transmission of the virus, sheds light on its ability to jump from birds to mammals and underscores the importance of monitoring livestock for signs of infection. The case, which manifested as inflammation in the eye rather than respiratory symptoms, was swiftly identified and reported. This prompt response, coupled with the unique presentation of the virus in humans, provides valuable insights into its transmission dynamics and potential impact on human health. The identification of a specific genetic change in the virus associat...
Afghanistan Floods: Taliban Dispatch Helicopters as Devastating Floods Claim Over 300 Lives in Afghanistan

Afghanistan Floods: Taliban Dispatch Helicopters as Devastating Floods Claim Over 300 Lives in Afghanistan

Breaking News, Disasters
Amidst a deluge of torrential rain battering northern and northwestern Afghanistan, devastating floods have claimed the lives of over 300 people, according to the UN Food Program. The catastrophic floods have wreaked havoc, with more than 1,000 houses destroyed in the wake of the relentless downpour. "Flash floods ravage #Afghanistan, killing more than 300 people in Baghlan and destroying more than 1000 houses," announced the UN Food Program, highlighting the severity of the situation exacerbated by unusually heavy rainfall. The World Health Organization (WHO) underscored the dire humanitarian crisis, noting that countless individuals have been rendered homeless, while essential services such as transportation, water, and waste systems have been severely disrupted. "The impact has...
Karnataka Govt Seeks Time from Supreme Court for Additional Information in Plea for Drought Relief Funds

Karnataka Govt Seeks Time from Supreme Court for Additional Information in Plea for Drought Relief Funds

Breaking News, Disasters
The Karnataka government has requested more time from the Supreme Court of India to submit additional information in its plea seeking the release of financial assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for drought relief. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal informed the bench of Justices BR Gavai and Sandeep Mehta about discrepancies in the filed reply, prompting the court to list the matter for post-vacation hearing. A month earlier, the Supreme Court had instructed the Attorney General and Solicitor General to provide instructions on the plea within two weeks. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta pointed out that the Karnataka government could have directly engaged with the Union government to address its concerns, instead of filing a petition. The Karnataka government's plea see...
Solar Flare Triggers Radio Blackouts Across Pacific Region

Solar Flare Triggers Radio Blackouts Across Pacific Region

Breaking News, Disasters, Space
A recent powerful solar flare originating from sunspot region AR3654 caused widespread radio blackouts across the Pacific region. The eruption, which lasted for 12 minutes on April 30, released near X-class solar flares, the most potent type. Solar flares are associated with sunspots, where magnetic fields are strongest. According to NASA, solar flares occur when powerful magnetic fields in and around the Sun reconnect, releasing magnetic energy that builds up in the solar atmosphere. These flares are classified based on their strength, with X-class flares being the most powerful, followed by M-class, C-class, and B-class flares. The April 30 flare, measuring M9.53, was just below an X-class solar flare, ionizing the upper atmosphere upon hitting Earth. Mariners and ham radio operato...
Forest Fires Rage On in Uttarakhand, New Blazes Ignite as Firefighting Efforts Continue

Forest Fires Rage On in Uttarakhand, New Blazes Ignite as Firefighting Efforts Continue

Breaking News, Disasters
Despite concerted efforts to bring the raging forest fires under control in Uttarakhand, the situation remains dire as eight new blazes erupted in the last 24 hours, further exacerbating the firefighting operation in the hill state. The Kumaon region, particularly Nainital district, has emerged as a hotspot for forest fires, with multiple areas engulfed in flames. Latest Updates: The fresh fires, which erupted on Saturday evening, have consumed 11.75 hectares of forest land, adding to the devastation that has ravaged 735.815 hectares since November 2023. According to the state forest department, many of the fires in Nainital and Pauri Garhwal were man-made, highlighting human negligence as a significant factor in exacerbating the crisis. Law enforcement agencies have taken ac...
Indian Ocean Basin Faces Accelerated Warming, Alarming Research Predicts Dire Consequences

Indian Ocean Basin Faces Accelerated Warming, Alarming Research Predicts Dire Consequences

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
A groundbreaking research paper has shed light on the alarming pace of warming in the Indian Ocean basin, projecting a rapid increase in temperatures with profound implications for global climate dynamics. Led by climate scientist Roxy Mathew Koll from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, the study warns of accelerated warming at a rate of 1.7°C-3.8°C per century from 2020 to 2100. This unprecedented rate of warming is expected to trigger a cascade of severe weather events, prolonged marine heatwaves, and extreme Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) events, significantly influencing monsoon patterns and cyclone development. The research, utilizing observed data and simulations from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), paints a grim picture of the future trajectory of the ...