disaster Archives - Page 2 of 10

Apr252025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

162 Killed in Just 6 Weeks Bihar, UP Worst Hit as Deaths Soar 184%

At least 162 people lost their lives in lightning strikes across 12 Indian states between March and April 17, 2025 a shocking 184% jump from the same period last year. Bihar and Uttar Pradesh bore the brunt with April marking the deadliest lightning month in years. 184% Rise in Deaths Compared to 2024 According to data compiled by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Down to Earth (DTE), and state disaster management authorities this March–April period is the most fatal for lightning since 2022. Last year only 57 lightning-related deaths were reported in the same time frame. This year, April alone accounted for 142 deaths five times higher than April 2024. Bihar Epicentre of Lightning Catastrophe Bihar reported an unprecedented 99 lightning deaths 61% of the total...

Apr212025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Earth Day 2025 Climate Crisis Demands Urgent Action and Bold Investment

Breaking News, Climate Actions

As Earth Day approaches on April 22 environmental advocates are urging people around the globe to take a stand for the planet amid escalating climate and plastic pollution crises. The message is clear tackling climate change must be the top priority for the health of both the environment and the economy. The past year delivered a stark reminder of what's at stake. According to NASA, 2024 was the hottest year on record since global temperature monitoring began in 1880. In the United States alone, twenty-seven climate and weather disasters each caused at least $1 billion in damages nearly matching the all-time record set in 2023. Wildfires, floods, hurricanes and tornadoes have increasingly become the norm placing lives and livelihoods at constant risk. Southern California saw tens of ...

Apr162025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Telangana Declares Heatwave State-Specific Disaster Offers ₹4 Lakh Aid to Victims Families

Breaking News, Climate Actions

In a landmark move the Telangana government has officially declared heatwave and sunstroke as 'State-Specific Disasters' becoming possibly the first Indian state to do so. The decision announced via a Government Order will ensure ₹4 lakh ex gratia is granted to the families of those who lose their lives due to extreme heat. The announcement comes amid growing concern over under-reported heatwave deaths and their disproportionate impact on vulnerable groups, including the elderly, children and women. Previously the Apathbandhu scheme offered ₹50,000 for such cases but the updated measure significantly boosts support. With 28 out of 33 districts already recording more than 15 days of heatwave conditions this season the state is implementing district-specific action plans. These include...

Apr152025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Storm Tide Threat Grows Tenfold in Bangladesh as Climate Risks Mount

Breaking News, Climate Actions

Bangladesh may face a dramatically different future due to climate change as destructive storm tides a combination of high tides and storm surges are projected to become 10 times more frequent warns a new study published in One Earth. What was once considered a once-in-a-century event could soon strike every decade posing grave risks to Bangladesh’s low-lying, densely populated coast home to nearly eight million people. The study led by researchers including Sai Ravela of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) found that under high-emissions scenarios the intensification of storms and rising sea levels could significantly increase the frequency and impact of coastal flooding even if the number of cyclones does not rise dramatically. Historically the Bay of Bengal has witn...

Apr152025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

IAF C-130J Faces GPS Spoofing Over Myanmar During Operation Brahma Earthquake Relief Mission

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

In a concerning cyber incident an Indian Air Force C-130J aircraft flying over Myanmar during Operation Brahma India’s humanitarian relief mission was targeted by a GPS spoofing attack. The spoofing attack manipulated the aircraft real-time coordinates misleading its navigation systems mid-air. However, IAF pilots acted swiftly switching to the Internal Navigation System (INS) to ensure a safe and secure flight path. No casualties or aircraft damage were reported. What is GPS Spoofing? GPS spoofing is a cyberattack where false signals mimic genuine satellite data, tricking navigation systems into displaying incorrect positions. It poses a serious threat to both civilian and military aviation. India has already seen 465 such spoofing incidents reported near Amritsar and Jammu since...

Apr82025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Cutting Air Pollution May Raise Heat Risks India Needs Smarter Policy, says expert

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

India is walking a fine line. while efforts to reduce air pollution are crucial for public health, cutting certain types of pollution especially aerosols might actually increase the risk of extreme heat, warns bhargav krishna an environmental governance expert from the sustainable futures collaborative. In a conversation with down to earth Krishna explained that aerosols, which come from burning fossil fuels, industrial emissions and biomass, can cool the atmosphere by reflecting sunlight. but when we reduce these pollutants it can speed up surface warming, making already hot summers worse. Data from nasa shows that india has warmed less than other parts of the northern hemisphere since 1951. this could be due to heavy aerosol pollution and widespread irrigation, both of which suppre...

Apr82025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Warmer Earth Bringing Wetter Storms Fueling Deadly Floods Across U.S

Breaking News, Climate Actions

A powerful storm has swept across the central and southern United States, triggering deadly tornadoes and record-breaking floods from Arkansas to Michigan. So far, eight people have been confirmed dead, and more than 33 million are under flood watches across 11 states. The national weather service has warned of a “life-threatening, catastrophic, and potentially historic flash flood event” in the coming days. Rescue efforts are already underway, including in Nashville, Tennessee, where emergency teams have been saving people stranded by fast-rising waters. As the storm continues to move slowly through the region, experts say the worst may still be ahead, with soils already soaked and more rain on the way. While detailed scientific studies are still needed to confirm how much climate c...

Apr82025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

How Cities Can Turn Flood Threats Into Beautiful, Life-Saving Solutions

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

As extreme weather becomes more frequent, deadly, and expensive, cities across the world are reimagining how to protect their communities not just with concrete walls, but with green spaces, tunnels, and public parks that double as lifesaving infrastructure. From shiny blue skateboarding rinks that turn into stormwater pools to flood-absorbing tunnels that still keep traffic flowing, the future of disaster resilience is not just about survival it’s about smarter, more beautiful, and more livable urban design. A 2021 report by the First Street Foundation found that one in four critical infrastructure systems in the U.S from hospitals and airports to fire stations and streets are at risk of being knocked out by flooding in today’s climate. And as sea levels rise and storms intensify, t...

Apr42025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

L.A Wildfires Leave 700,000 Children Displaced from Schools Experts Urge Urgent Focus on Mental Health

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

The devastating wildfires that swept through Los Angeles in January 2025 destroyed more than 15,000 buildings in just a few days. Among them were 11 schools and 30 child care centers. As a result, over 700,000 children had their education and daily routines suddenly disrupted. The fires started on January 7 in Pacific Palisades and Eaton Canyon, near Altadena. Strong winds pushed the flames through neighborhoods, making it one of California’s five worst wildfires ever. While much of the news focused on property damage and loss of life, the challenges faced by children after the disaster received very little attention. Two experts from the University of Southern California one a disaster epidemiologist, the other a disaster planner say that when a disaster hits your own community, it ...

Apr42025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Women Bear the Brunt of Climate Disasters: Experts Call for Gender-Disaggregated Data to Shape Better Disaster Response

Breaking News, Climate Actions

Experts have said that women are more affected by climate disasters like floods, droughts, and heatwaves but there is not enough data to show exactly how. Without proper gender-wise data, it’s hard to make good plans and policies to help women during such disasters. At a recent workshop in Delhi, experts from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and UN Women said that collecting data on how disasters affect women differently is very important. For example, during a flood or cyclone, we often don’t know how many women got hurt, lost their income, or were displaced. Susan Ferguson from UN Women said that most rural women work in farming or informal jobs and suffer more when disasters hit. “We need clear data about women so that governments can make better plans and provide...