Water Crisis Archives - Disasters News

Apr12025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Jammu & Kashmir Water at Risk Untreated Waste Flows Into Jhelum Raising Alarm

The Jammu and Kashmir government has admitted that untreated wastewater from Anantnag, Bijbehara and Mattan is being discharged into local nallahs (streams) which ultimately feed into the Jhelum River the Valley’s primary source of drinking water. The disclosure, made in a written response by the Housing and Urban Development Department on March 11, 2025, has sparked outrage among lawmakers and environmental activists. The revelation came after MLA Bashir Ahmad Shah Veeri questioned the state of drainage infrastructure in the Legislative Assembly. The government acknowledged that while sewage from households is treated at sewage treatment plants (STPs) where available, much of the refuse is released directly into local streams. Veeri slammed the administration’s response, calling it ...

Mar292025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

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...

Mar272025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Are the World Water Towers Running Dry? UN Report Raises Alarming Concerns

Breaking News, Climate Actions

Half of the world population faces severe water scarcity for at least part of the year, and the situation is worsening as glaciers melt at an alarming rate. The United Nations World Water Development Report 2025 titled Mountains and Glaciers Water Towers, highlights the growing threat to freshwater supplies for over two billion people worldwide. The rapid decline of glaciers is not only reducing access to clean water but also exacerbating the global sanitation crisis, affecting 3.5 billion people who lack safely managed sanitation. The 2025 report places a special focus on mountains and glaciers, aligning with the UN initiative to declare 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers Preservation. With climate change accelerating ice loss in critical water sources the report underscores th...

Mar272025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Bengaluru Student Study Shows Rejuvenating Lakes Can Solve Water Crisis

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

Once known as the ‘City of Lakes’, Bengaluru now faces severe water shortages with demand outstripping supply as rapid urbanisation takes its toll. However student-led research project under the Anveshana initiative suggests that restoring the city’s historical lake system could help achieve water self-reliance. Historically Bengaluru’s lakes functioned as interconnected reservoirs storing rainwater and supporting agriculture drinking water needs, and groundwater recharge. They also helped control floods by gradually releasing excess rainfall. However over the decades, urbanisation and groundwater extraction led to widespread lake neglect and encroachment, with many turning into sewage dumps. The city, now reliant on importing water from the Cauvery River, faces a growing demand-supp...

Mar222025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Himalaya Glaciers Vanishing at Alarming Rate Melting 65% Faster as Climate Crisis Worsens

Breaking News, Climate Actions

Glaciers across the globe are shrinking at an unprecedented pace, with the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region witnessing the most dramatic losses, retreating 65% faster in 2011-2020 than in the previous decade, according to a United Nations report released on the World Day for Glaciers. The Asia-Pacific region, home to some of the world’s highest mountains and vast glacier systems, is one of the most vulnerable to climate change. Spanning five million square kilometers of high-altitude terrain, the HKH region contains nearly 100,000 square kilometers of glaciers, often referred to as the “Third Pole” due to its immense ice reserves outside the Arctic and Antarctic. This region serves as a crucial water source, feeding ten major river systems and sustaining nearly two billion...

Mar52025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Urban Expansion Drains 64.6 billion cubic Groundwater Reserves in Five Indian States

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Fact Check

A groundbreaking hydrology model based study has established a direct link between rapid urbanisation and alarming decline in groundwater reserves across five Indian states. Published in the Hydrogeology Journal the research titled Detection and Socio-economic Attribution of Groundwater Depletion in India presents a stark warning about the scale of groundwater loss particularly in northern and northwestern India. According to the study led by Gautam Kunwar from the University of Texas Austin, India has lost approximately 64.6 billion cubic metres of groundwater over the past two decades. While irrigation remains a key driver of depletion, the study highlights that urbanisation and industrialisation are equally responsible for falling groundwater levels a factor that has often been overl...

Feb222025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Global Heatwave Breaks Records Sparks Wildfires and Water Crises Canada

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

A historic heatwave is sweeping across the Northern Hemisphere, breaking temperature records and triggering widespread wildfires, droughts, and power outages. With multiple countries facing extreme weather conditions, scientists warn that the crisis is a direct consequence of accelerating climate change. Records Shattered Across Continents The heatwave has gripped vast regions of North America, Europe, and Asia, pushing temperatures to unprecedented levels. In Phoenix, Arizona, thermometers hit 53°C (127°F), making it the hottest day in the city’s history. Across the Atlantic, Paris, France, recorded 45.9°C (114.6°F), forcing the government to issue emergency health warnings. In India’s capital, New Delhi, the mercury soared past 50°C (122°F) for the first time ever, causing mass hos...

Feb62025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Severe Water Shortages in 2024 Spark Warnings for Future Drought Preparedness

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

The U.S. Northeast, long considered safe from severe water shortages, faced an unprecedented drought in the second half of 2024, forcing major cities to impose water restrictions and raising alarms about the region’s preparedness for future crises. After a summer of record-breaking heat and minimal rainfall, states like New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania saw reservoirs drop to critical levels. Residents in New York City and Boston were urged to conserve water, while Philadelphia struggled with saltwater intrusion into its drinking supply as the Delaware River’s flow weakened. Wildfires, once rare in the region, erupted across parched landscapes, further underscoring the severity of the drought. Experts warn that this crisis is not an isolated event. As global temperatures rise...

Jan212025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Iraq From Cradle of Civilization to Climate Crisis Epicenter

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

Iraq, once revered as the cradle of human civilization, is now a stark warning of the perils of climate change. Known historically as the land of the Tigris and Euphrates, the fertile rivers that nourished the first farming communities are now emblematic of a country grappling with escalating environmental and socio-economic challenges. As global temperatures rise, Iraq faces a confluence of crises water scarcity, desertification, heat stress, and displacement that threaten its future. The Drying Lifelines: Water Scarcity in Iraq The Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which supply 98% of Iraq’s surface water, have seen their flow decrease by up to 40% over the past four decades. The reasons are manifold: reduced rainfall, intensified evaporation due to rising temperatures, and upstream dam...

Jan112025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Saint Kitts Farmers Battle Drought with Climate Tech Amid Mounting Water Crisis

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

On the Caribbean island of Saint Kitts, farmers like Meshach Alford face the daily struggle of nurturing crops in bone-dry soil. "I have planted crops, and there has been no water for weeks, for months," says Alford, who farms 11 hectares in Saint Paul’s. "Even 18 inches deep, the soil is still dry." This harsh reality is becoming increasingly common in Saint Kitts and Nevis, a twin-island nation grappling with the growing impacts of climate change. Drought, once a rare occurrence, is now disrupting livelihoods and threatening food security. Rainfall, the islands' sole source of potable water, has diminished significantly, leaving 80% of Saint Kitts residents facing regular water outages. Unpredictable Seasons, Uncertain Futures "What was considered a wet season is no longer a wet...