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HYDERABAD: Telangana continues to be among the states with the highest number of forest fire incidents in the country, with most fires attributed to human activities rather than natural causes. Negligence and, in some cases, deliberate acts have led to repeated and widespread fires, even within critical tiger reserves. Between November 2023 and January 2024, Telangana reported 13,479 forest fire incidents, including large and recurring fires. The numbers are consistent with previous years -- 13,737 in 2021-22 and 13,117 in 2022-23. According to the EnviStats India 2025, a survey by the Forest Survey of India, states with more forest fire incidents than Telangana include Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. The data is based on observations from SNPP VIIRS (Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) satellite sensors, which monitor land and water surfaces across the globe twice daily. Retired divisional forest officer Kandala Balreddy, who has participated in multiple inter-state study teams on forest fires, noted that such incidents are common during summer in dry deciduous forests. "Containing fires is expensive but essential. The government should prioritise fire prevention by digging fire lines, as Karnataka has done. These cleared strips of land help prevent fires from spreading," he said. He added that even states like Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, with highly flammable bamboo groves, have managed to check forest fires effectively. Approximately 4,000 square km of forest got burnt in Telangana, placing it behind Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra in terms of burnt area. The collection of forest products such as tendu leaves, honey, gum, mahua flowers and wild fruits contributes significantly to fire risk. Activities like smoking by shepherds, cowherds and forest visitors often lead to accidental ignitions when lit cigarettes or beedis are discarded on dry vegetation. Shifting cultivation and unsustainable resource use further fuel the problem. Experts estimate that nearly 80 per cent of forest fires in Telangana are caused by human actions. In addition, extreme summer heat and dry conditions heighten fire susceptibility, while inadequate road access in forest interiors hampers firefighting operations. Key fire-prone areas include Bhadradri, Kawal and Amrabad tiger reserves, Kaleshwaram, Basar, and the Rajanna-Sircilla forest circle.
Krishna Janmashtami 2025 will be celebrated with devotion and joy on Friday, 15 August 2025 across India. According to the Hindu Panchang, this sacred festival marks the divine birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, born to Devaki and Vasudeva in Mathura. This year will mark the 5,252nd birth anniversary of Lord Krishna. For devotees in different parts of the country, the auspicious Nishita Puja hours vary slightly: The Nishita Puja is believed to be the precise moment of ...Read More >
Jamshedpur: The auspicious four-day festival of Chhath, dedicated to the worship of the Sun God (Surya Dev) and Chhathi Maiya, began on Saturday with the traditional ritual of Nahay Khaay. The day marked the beginning of one of the most spiritually significant and environmentally rooted festivals of the region, celebrated with deep devotion, purity, and discipline across Jharkhand. From early morning, devotees thronged rivers, ponds, and water bodies across Jamshedpur to take the sacred bath and commence the ritual observance. At Domuhani ghat, Swarnarekha ghat, Hudco Lake, and other traditio ...Read More >
Panaji: Scientists have mapped the troubling forest structure dynamics in Goa, revealing a steep decline in forest health in a study. They have called for an urgent need for ecological safeguards. The study used over five decades (1973-2022) of satellite data and spatial modelling to quantify forest cover loss, fragmentation, and its cascading impacts on ecosystem services in the central Western Ghats region -- an ecological treasure trove that includes Goa. "Total forest cover declined by 3.75 per cent during the post-1990s due to market forces associated with globalisation," the report has ...Read More >
Shopian, Apr 06: A sudden hailstorm on Monday battered several apple-growing villages across south Kashmir's Shopian and Kulgam districts, damaging orchards at a crucial flowering stage and triggering fresh concerns over potential crop losses among thousands of farmers. The storm swept through more than half a dozen villages in Shopian, including Manduja, Kanjiullar, Saidpora Payeen, Sedow, Chek and Mirzapora, flattening delicate blossoms and disrupting the ongoing flowering phase. Farmers said ...Read More >
Ratnagiri, July 1 ( UNI) The first Artificial Intelligence-powered agricultural e-library in Maharashtra has been launched at Sharadchandraji Pawar College of Agriculture, Kharvate-Dahivali. The web portal of the library was inaugurated in the presence of Chiplun Sangameshwar MLA Shekhar Nikam and the college's principal Dr Sunitkumar Patil today. With a single click, the platform aims to provide detailed information about crops, ornamental plants, flowers, fruits and vegetables to students through mobile phones. The experiment was carried out through the concept of Prof Prashant Pawar and f ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Signalling the government's intent to move ahead with the impeachment motion of Allahabad High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday said that main opposition parties have given their in-principle approval to support the motion in the upcoming monsoon session scheduled for July21-August 21. Rijiju said that the government is yet to decide whether the motion would be brought in the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha. For the Lok Sabha, signatures of a minimum 100 MPs is required. The requirement is the support of at least 50 MPs in the Rajya Sabha. H ...Read More >
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], August 4 (ANI): Actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan made strong remarks on the necessity of education while addressing a gathering at the Agaram Foundation event in Chennai. Education is the only weapon that can break the chains of dictatorship and Sanatan, the Rajya Sabha MP said on Sunday. Kamal Haasan added, Dont take anything else in your hands, only education. We cannot win without it, because the majority can make you lose. Majority Fools (Moodargal) will make u lose; knowledge alone will seem defeated. That why we must hold on to it (Educat ...Read More >
New Delhi, Oct 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) Govardhan Puja, a festival deeply rooted in Indian tradition and spirituality, was celebrated across the country on Wednesday with immense fervour and unwavering faith. From the vibrant heartlands of Rajasthan to Uttar Pradesh, the spirit of devotion united millions in celebration. In Rajasthan's Bundi, the festival coincided with the second day of the grand Deepotsav. Homes glowed not just with lamps but with faith, as families worshipped Govardhan, symbolising the mountain lifted by Lord Krishna to protect the people of Vrindavan from the wrath of Indra, t ...Read More >
Hyderabad: Telangana continues to be among the states with the highest number of forest fire incidents, with a majority linked to human activities rather than natural causes. Forest officials point to negligence and deliberate acts, even within ecologically sensitive zones such as tiger reserves. From November 2023 to January 2024, the state recorded 13,479 forest fire incidents, including large, continuous and recurring outbreaks. Similar figures were reported in the previous two years -- 13,737 incidents in 2021-22 and 13,117 in 2022-23. Only Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Chhattisgar ...Read More >
Kanpur: The Noon river in Kanpur Nagar underwent a remarkable revival from its previously barren condition under the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's 'One District-One River' programme.The successful restoration of the Noon has become a model across Uttar Pradesh. The river, once essential for agriculture and community activities in Bilhaur, Shivrajpur, and Chaubepur, severely declined due to unauthorised constructions and accumulated silt blocking its flow.District magistrate Jitendra Pratap Singh said, "The 48-km river's original course was identified using multiple sources: revenue document ...Read More >
Mumbai : Tesla's long awaited India debut finally took place with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurating its showroom in Mumbai on Tuesday. The Elon Musk-led car maker unveiled its Model Y compact all-electric SUV at its 'Experience Centre' in Bandra-Kurla Complex with the CM describing it as the "right city and the right state" for the launch."Mumbai stands for innovation and sustainability. In 2015, when I went to the US, I had my first ride in a Tesla, and then I thought we need such a vehicle for mobility in India. But it took 10 years for it to come to India. But we are very happy ...Read More >
Chennai: A new micro composting centre along South Cooum Road has become Greater Chennai Corporation's (GCC) latest step toward solid waste management, a system equally dominated by private players and residents' groups in the city. The two-week-old facility processes around 3 tonnes of green and brown waste, generating 300kg of compost daily.Chennai once had nearly 194 composting centres mostly located in and around burial grounds, many of which were shut down over hygiene and efficiency issues. "Apart from this one, we also run a two-year-old centre in Ward 59. The aim here is to handle larg ...Read More >
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said that the cover could not be construed as promoting smoking or advertising tobacco products, and emphasised that neither the author nor the publisher intended to endorse smoking. The bench refused to interfere with the October 13 decision of the Kerala high court, which had rejected a similar challenge, and observed that the present litigation lacked substance. "There is a disclaimer in the book. The author [Ro ...Read More >
New Delhi, Oct 27 (SocialNews.XYZ) Leaders across the political spectrum extended warm greetings to the people on the occasion of the third day of Chhath Puja on Monday and prayed that this festival brings new energy and joy into everyone's lives. This year, Chhath Puja is being celebrated from October 25 to October 28. The four-day festival includes 'Nahay Khay', 'Kharna', 'Sandhya Arghya (evening offering to the setting Sun)', and 'Usha Arghya (morning offering to the rising Sun)'. On Monday, people will celebrate the third day of Chhath Puja, known as Sandhya Arghya. This day is dedicated ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 5 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a plea seeking ban of acclaimed author Arundhati Roy's book, 'Mother Mary Comes to Me', alleging that the cover picture depicts the author smoking cigarette/beedi in violation of a central legislation. A bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi reasoned that the use of the said picture in the book cover is in no way intended to promote smoking and that the Disclaimer in the back of the book clarifies that. "The book, the photograph, the publisher or the author, none of these persons have anything to do with ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Non-fossil fuel sources now make up half of India's power generation capacity of 484.8 GW (gigawatt), a milestone the country has achieved five years ahead of the target set under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) committed in the Paris climate agreement."In a world seeking climate solutions India is showing the way," renewable energy minister Pralhad Joshi said in a post on X on Monday, crediting the progress to PM Modi's stewardship of "Bharat's green transformation towards a sustainable future".Modi has been pushing clean energy since taking over country's reins in 2 ...Read More >
Purnea (Bihar) [India], September 15 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday slammed the Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) parties for allegedly insulting Bihar, citing a now-deleted social media post by the Congress Kerala unit, referring to the GST cut on the tobacco product, beedi. Addressing a rally in Purnea, PM Modi alleged opposition leaders for hating Bihar and causing damage to Bihar reputation. Historic construction works have taken place, and Bihar-made railway engines are being exported abroad. Whenever Bihar moves forward, these people get busy insulting Bihar, he sa ...Read More >
HYDERABAD The State Government has decided to fast-track the preparation of a revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Pranahita-Chevella project with priority to construct a barrage at Tummidihetti. At a review meeting held here on Saturday (October 11, 2025), Minister for Irrigation N. Uttam Kumar Reddy examined the field observations submitted by officials who recently visited Tummidihetti and Sundilla, where detailed technical surveys are underway. Officials explained that the original can ...Read More >
HYDERABAD: Veteran character actor, comedian, and former MLA Kota Srinivasa Rao passed away due to ill health in Hyderabad on Sunday morning. He was 83. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2015. He joined the BJP and was elected as the Vijayawada East MLA in the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh in 1999. Srinivasa Rao, popularly known as Kota, began his acting career as a theatre artist. He was born on July 10, 1942, in Kankipadu village, a suburb of Vijayawada city in Andhra Pradesh. He started acting in films in 1978 with Pranam Khareedu. However, he got his major break with the character Kasa ...Read More >
Puri (Odisha) [India], July 14 (ANI): Renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik created a sand art at Puri beach on Sunday. He crafted a sand idol of Lord Shiva to mark the first Monday of the auspicious Sawan month. Sudarsan Pattnaik said, "The entire nation is devotional for the first Shravan Somvaar. We have made Lord Shiv's 6-feet high sculpture... In Puri Jagannath Dham, there is a temple of Lord Loknath, and here also, many devotees have arrived. As an artist, I am praying to God to bless us with strength, peace and devotion." Also Read | Bihar Assembly Elections 2025: Prashant Kishor Sla ...Read More >
Bengaluru, Jul 15 (PTI) Karnataka Minister Eshwar Khandre on Tuesday said the state government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) to use modern technology for conserving elephant corridors and habitats, aiming to reduce rising human-elephant conflict and protect crops of farmers living near forest fringes. The Forest Department, in collaboration with the IISC, is set to implement a five-year collaborative project titled "Landscape-Level Management of the Asian Elephant in the Mysore Elephant Reserve." The Rs 4.74 crore project will be funded ...Read More >
Lucknow: Senior Samajwadi Party leader and former minister Gayatri Prajapati was attacked by a fellow inmate inside Lucknow Jail on Tuesday. The scuffle took place within the jail premises, after which prison authorities launched an internal inquiry. According to a statement issued by Dr Ramdhani, DIG Prisons, Lucknow Range, the incident occurred after Prajapati allegedly used abusive language towards another inmate, Vishwas Rajput. In response, Vishwas attacked Prajapati using a sharp object inside the cell. DIG Prisons clarified that the incident was not premeditated and dismissed any spec ...Read More >
Satna: The Madhya Pradesh High Court has given a unique punishment to the Kotwali police station in-charge of Satna. For failing to serve a notice, the officer has been ordered to plant 1,000 fruit-bearing trees. The High Court directed that the trees be planted within two months and maintained for one year. The station in-charge has accepted the court's order. High Court order to plant 1,000 trees The Jabalpur High Court of Madhya Pradesh has issued a unique order to Kotwali Satna Station In-Charge, Rawendra Dwivedi. For failing to serve a notice, the court has directed him to plant 1,000 f ...Read More >
Hyderabad: By redeveloping the botanical garden on the campus, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU) aims to create a gene bank of local varieties of wild fruits and flowers. Officials said they are planting many local varieties, including 'jitregi' (Bombay blackwood), 'bandaru' (hop bush tree), 'somi' ('Prosopis cineraria'), 'kanuka' (Indian beech or pongamia), which are close to extinction or not easily available even in the forests of Telangana. They said the project has been taken up to ensure that all these seeds will be available at one place even after h ...Read More >
BENGALURU: The Maharashtra government fears that increase in height of Alamatti reservoir in Bagalkot district of Karnataka from 519.60 meters to 524.256 meters would result in flooding of Sangli, Satara and Kolhapur districts owing to backwaters and there is no need for the Maharashtra government to fear flooding since its own expert committee led by retired Principal Secretary to Irrigation department Nandkumar Wadnekar ruled out flooding from the Almatti and Hipparagi reservoirs, stated Minister of Large Scale Industries M.B. Patil on Sunday. M.B. Patil was the irrigation minister in Sidda ...Read More >
JAMMU, July 02: With the annual ShriAmarnathJiYatra 2025 set to commence tomorrow, a vibrant spiritual atmosphere prevails at the YatriNiwas Base Camp in Bhagwati Nagar, Jammu, where around 3,500 pilgrims are ready to begin their sacred journey. "All arrangements have been made, and nearly 3,500 pilgrims are currently stationed at the Jammu Base Camp," said Rajesh Raina, a senior officer of the Tourism Department, speaking to Rising Kashmir. Registration counters have been set up inside YatriNiwas, and vehicles from the J&K Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) are on standby to transport the pi ...Read More >
Seasonal crop fires across northern India are increasingly ignited later daily, satellite scientists warn, complicating monitoring and air quality assessments during the October to December stubble-burning season, NASA said on 2025-12-16. For decades, smoke corridors have stretched across the Indo-Gangetic Plain each autumn. Farmers traditionally burned rice residue soon after harvest completion. In 2025, the season's overall spread appeared broadly familiar. Yet scientists observed a clear shif ...Read More >
India - Agri Minister assures hailstorm-hit Shopian farmers of multi-channel compensation In the wake of the recent devastating hailstorm that caused significant damage to crops in Chitragam area of south Kashmir's Shopian district, Minister for Agriculture, Javed Dar on Tuesday visited the affected fields to assess the situation firsthand and to express solidarity with the distressed farming community. Speaking to reporters, the minister said the government is making all possible efforts to implement a weather-based crop insurance scheme at the earliest to shield farmers from recurring natu ...Read More >
ITANAGAR, 6 Jun: More than 200 people without valid inner line permits (ILP) were externed from the Itanagar Capital Region on Friday, a senior police officer said. The violators were detected during an enforcement drive conducted by the Naharlagun police across Papu Hills, Naharlagun, Nirjuli, and Banderdewa, as part of the ongoing initiative to uphold the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation. Naharlagun Superintendent of Police (SP) Mihin Gambo said that all 219 individuals were found without valid ILPs during the operation. "Each case was verified and processed under non-FIR provisions, an ...Read More >
Kanpur: The four-day Chhath puja concluded on Tuesday with the 'Arghya' to the Sun God. Devotees stood in water along the banks of rivers, canals and ponds to offer 'Arghya' using a soop (bamboo winnow) filled with fruits and offerings. After prayers, devotees broke their fast and distributed 'prasad' among relatives and neighbours.Women in traditional attire arrived at the ghats before sunrise carrying baskets of offerings. They performed preparatory rituals, worshipped 'Chhathi Maiya' and offered 'Arghya' to the Sun God. All the ghats across the city were decorated and illuminated, creating ...Read More >