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Keonjhar: Heavy rainfall of around 110mm disrupted traffic for five hours on NH-49 near an under-construction overbridge between Telkoi and Bichakhani forests, an established elephant corridor, on Monday.The downpour caused water levels in the Bichakhoni canal to rise to 4ft by 10am, washing away the temporary road at the site. A truck got stranded in the floodwaters, while road damage on the other side completely halted traffic movement, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded on both sides of the highway.IIC of Telkoi police station, Anjan Kumar Patra, led emergency repairs with the help of the bridge contractor after the water receded. "Vehicle movement resumed following the road repairs," Patra told reporters.Rainfall severely affected multiple locations across Telkoi block, disrupting communication for three to four hours. Several bridges were submerged, including Bansajuria bridge on the Telkoi-Jagmohanpur road, Hanumantia and Ghurudia bridges on Telkoi-Kardangi GP road, and Jarada bridge on the Oria-Pitanali road.An Odisha Adarsha Vidyalaya was forced to suspend classes as students couldn't cross the waterlogged Jarada bridge. "Flash floods frequently submerge the bridge during rain. We've had to call fire brigade teams multiple times to help students cross safely using ropes," said Chinmay Sahu, a local activist. He emphasised the need for an elevated bridge to ensure safe passage for students and residents.
LAHORE/SRINAGAR (Reuters) -Pakistan's eastern towns of Chiniot and Hafizabad face a risk of catastrophic floods if an irrigation barrage crumbles on a major river upstream after heavy rains swelled it beyond capacity, officials warned on Thursday. Nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan are battling torrential monsoon rains that have unleashed flash floods, swelled rivers and filled dams, with 60 deaths this month in Indian Kashmir, and Pakistan's toll at 805 since late June. Any flooding blamed on India stands to inflame relations between the archfoes, embroiled in a tense stand-off sin ...Read More >
MYSURU: For four days, there was no signal, no contact, and no clear path out.Somewhere inside the dense forests of Kodagu -- a terrain known for wild elephants, steep descents and sudden weather shifts -- 36-year-old GS Sharanya kept moving, stopping, waiting, and calling out, hoping someone would hear her.She had set out on April 2 for what was meant to be a routine one-day trek to Tadiandamol, the highest peak in the district. Travelling from Kozhikode, the IT professional had checked into a homestay near Kakkabe and joined a group of trekkers. But while descending the peak that evening, sh ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is probing from all angles, including sabotage, in the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad that killed 274 people on board and on the ground last month, Minister of State (MoS) For Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said. Mohol said the black box of the Air India flight AI 171 that has been recovered is in AAIB's custody and will not be outside the country for a thorough assessment. The MoS was speaking at the Pune chapter of the Emerging Business Conclave. "It (plane crash) was an unfortunate incident. The AAIB has begun a full investig ...Read More >
Bengaluru: In an incident of concern, the unnatural death of a tigress and her three cubs, probably due to poisoning, came to light in the Male Mahadeshwara Hills Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka's Chamarajanagar district on Thursday. Addressing media persons in Bengaluru, Forests, Ecology, and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre announced that an investigation has been ordered into the incident and officials have been directed to submit a detailed report within three days. The probe will be conducted by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF). "Karnataka stands second in the count ...Read More >
Gaurela (Chhattisgarh), Apr 3 (PTI) A 55-year-old man was trampled to death by a wild elephant in Chhattisgarh's Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi district on Friday, forest officials said. Trilochan Singh, the victim, was collecting mahua flowers in the forest near his house in Dandiya village under Marwahi division in the wee hours when he ran into the tusker. On being alerted about the incident, forest department personnel reached the spot and the body was shifted to hospital for post-mortem, said an official. The elephant, who had been moving in the forests along the border of Chhattisgarh and Mad ...Read More >
BHOPAL: She never mated, yet raised generations of calves. She survived brutal attacks, lived through blindness, and stood as a matriarch in the forests of Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh for over three decades. But when Vatsala died this week, the gentle elephant did so just short of global recognition - because of one missing document.On Tuesday, Vatsala collapsed into a pit near Hinauta Elephant Camp and could not rise. Her body finally gave way. Forest officials said she was more than 100 years old - a contender for Guinness Book of World Records - but could not secure the title. "Wi ...Read More >
Bengaluru: Exploring scientific solutions to reduce human-elephant conflict across Karnataka, the forest department Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) for landscape-level conservation of Asian elephants. Renowned ecologist and elephant expert from IISc, Prof Raman Sukumar, and Karnataka chief wildlife warden Prabhash Chandra Ray signed the commencement of the Rs 4.7-crore project, fully funded by the forest department.Admitting an increa ...Read More >
Srinagar- The Meteorological Department has predicted a spell of unsettled weather across Jammu and Kashmir over the coming days, with intermittent rain and thundershowers expected until July 26. A weather advisory has been issued for July 21-23, cautioning about gusty winds and brief intense showers in some areas. According to MeT officials, the region will experience scattered to fairly widespread light to moderate rainfall till July 20. "From July 21 to 23, J&K is expected to witness generally cloudy weather with intermittent spells of light to moderate rainfall," an official said, adding ...Read More >
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], August 3 (ANI): In a major crackdown on narcotics smuggling, officers of the Airport Commissionerate, Mumbai Customs Zone-III, have seized 14.738 kgs of suspected NDPS hydroponic weed (marijuana) valued at approximately Rs 14.73 crore during operations on Sunday. The seizures were made across Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMI), resulting in the arrest of one passenger, as stated in the press release. The passenger was arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Based on specific intel, ...Read More >
Kozhikode: "I waited for three days beside a stream, hoping someone would come searching for me. I thought at least a drone might spot me. I stayed in an open space so I could be easily located. But no one came. Slowly, my hope began to fade," recalled Sharanya, the 36-year-old IT professional from Nadapuram, who was found safe on Sunday after going missing during a trek to Tadiandamol peaks in Coorg. Sharanya, a 36-year-old IT professional from Nadapuram, has lived through an ordeal that tested her endurance, patience, and presence of mind. Lost deep inside the dense forests, she spent three ...Read More >
Puri: Despite travel uncertainties due to recent conflicts in some parts of the world, people from Europe and elsewhere have reached Puri to witness the annual Ratha Yatra of the sibling deities.As non-Hindus are not allowed inside the 12th-century Jagannath Temple, the Ratha Yatra provides a rare opportunity for devotees across the world to see the deities in their full glory atop their majestic wooden chariots."Back home, we are surrounded by uncertainty and fear. But here, I found peace. I came because this is my only chance to see Lord Jagannath. He comes out for the whole world. This is v ...Read More >
Hyderabad: Thousands of people who gathered at ashoorkhana in Dabeerpura on the 10th day of Muharram (Youm-e-Ashura) took part in the Bibi-ka-Alam procession. The procession commenced from Dabeerpura on an elephant and concluded at Chaderghat. The Shia mourners took out the procession to mark the martyrdom anniversary of Prophet Mohammad's grandson, Imam Hussain, on the 10th day of Muharram. Members of the Shia sect performed matam and participated in processions. The 10th Muharram is the day on which Imam Hussain was martyred in the battle of Karbala by Yazid and his army. The relic made of ...Read More >
A sub-adult tiger spotted moving between Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh has prompted wildlife authorities to explore the possibility of developing Ratanmahal in Dahod as a tiger sanctuary as part of the Union govt's Tigers Outside Tiger Reserves (TOTR) Project. The three-year-old male tiger, first sighted near Gujarat border in Feb, has been frequently captured on camera traps in Ratanmahal's core area since late May. This marks the second tiger sighting in the region within six years. A National Tig ...Read More >
G.S. Sharanya was located around 5 pm deep within the Pattighat Reserve Forest, near Tadiyandamol, the highest peak in the district. Rescuers spotted her near a rock by a stream, where she had taken shelter to stay visible and maintain access to water. The search had been concentrated around the reserve forest, a dense, trackless stretch of woodland on the far side of the Tadiyandamol peak, which borders Kerala. The terrain is a sharp contrast to the more frequented trekking routes on the other ...Read More >
PATNA: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday claimed that the ruling NDA in Bihar was "on its way out", and the new government in the state led by the Mahagathbandhan will "consign to dustbin" the Waqf Act brought by the Narendra Modi dispensation at the Centre. The young leader addressed a 'Save Waqf, Save Constitution' rally, held at the historical Gandhi Maidan here, where leaders from various political parties had turned up, wearing black bands as a mark of protest. The former deputy chief minister, who is now the leader of the opposition in the state assembly, underscored, "Our national p ...Read More >
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], July 6 (ANI): The heavy downpour in Himachal Pradesh has wreaked havoc, with the state reporting 23 flash floods, followed by 19 cloud burst incidents and 16 landslides till today. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a warning for "Extremely Heavy Rain, Thunderstorm & Lightning, Squall" for July 6. For tomorrow, the IMD forecasts "Very Heavy Rain, Thunderstorm & Lightning, Squall". The weather department has predicted heavy rains for July 8 and 9. According to a report issued by the Himachal Pradesh government, at least 78 people have lost ...Read More >
Bengaluru, Oct 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) Expressing concern over incidents of tiger and elephant killings in the state, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday issued a stern warning that strict action will be taken against those who kill wildlife, as he emphasised that forests have no value without animals. In his remarks after presenting the Chief Minister's Medal to environmental and forest conservation officers at the valedictory function of the 71st Wildlife Week held at the Banquet Hall of Vidhana Soudha here, he said that harming wildlife will not be tolerated. The Chief Minister ...Read More >
MUMBAI : Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Friday posted a video on X purportedly showing the state's social justice minister Sanjay Shirsat of the Shiv Sena sitting in a room along with a partially opened bag containing what look like bundles of currency notes. Shirsat, however, rubbished the claim, saying the bag only contained clothes.The allegation came a day after it emerged that Shirsat had received a notice from the income tax department seeking an explanation for increase in his financial worth between the 2019 and 2024 assembly elections from Rs 3.3 crore to Rs 35 crore. Last month, S ...Read More >
Majuli (Assam) [India], August 12 (ANI): World Elephant Day is observed annually on August 12 to promote the conservation and protection of elephants while addressing the growing issue of human-elephant conflict. The day aims to ensure that elephants can thrive without clashes with human populations. With an increasing human population, elephant habitats are shrinking, forcing these majestic animals to venture into human settlements in search of food. In Majuli, a herd of about 150 elephants has been roaming across different chars and chaporis for several years. However, unlike many other pla ...Read More >
Kolkata, Oct 6 (PTI) Devastating floods triggered by torrential rains in north Bengal have swept away several wild animals from the forests of the Dooars region, with at least seven animal deaths reported so far, a senior forest department official said on Monday. Large volumes of water from swollen rivers -- including Torsha, Jaldhaka, Kaljani and Diana -- inundated vast stretches of forest in the region, leaving little time for forest personnel to respond or rescue animals, Chief Wildlife Warden (CWW) Sandeep Sundriyal told PTI. He said that initial reports suggested that one rhinos, two l ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram: As serious concerns grows over the rising human-animal conflicts near the forest fringes across central Kerala districts mainly the hinterlands of Ernakulam and across Idukki and Kottayam, the state forest department is all set to launch a mobile application today enabling public to report incidents and sightings to the forest department office. Even though there are locally prepared applications in certain areas of Wayanad which helps monitoring the wild animals, it is confined to few regions of the state. Named as 'Wildwatch', the App will enable near real-time reporting ...Read More >
New Delhi, Aug 3 (PTI) The government has notified a new framework for the edible oil industry, imposing stricter registration and reporting requirements on producers to enhance transparency and oversight, according to an official release. The 2025 Vegetable Oil Products, Production and Availability (VOPPA) Regulation Order, notified on August 1 by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, amends the Vegetable Oil Products Production and Availability (Regulation) Order, 2011, under Section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. Under the new framework, producers will ...Read More >
Guwahati (Assam) [India], June 6 (ANI): As part of an initiative by the Department of Forest and Environment, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday attended the World Environment Day event held at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra in Guwahati. He flagged off 129 vehicles allocated to the Forest and Environment Department to support ongoing environmental protection efforts. He also launched a dedicated web portal and distributed arms to the commandos of three battalions of the Assam Forest Protection Force. CM Sarma said that, Assam in line with global observance, is marking Worl ...Read More >
Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], July 2 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha participated in a special aarti at the Jammu Tawi riverfront. Sinha also visited the Amarnath Yatri Niwas base camp on Tuesday evening. After inspecting the Yatri Niwas base camp, Sinha stated that the security arrangements for the Yatra are more robust than ever before. 'I have witnessed the last four Yatras. The arrangements are better than ever, as far as the security and convenience of pilgrims are concerned... The manner in which pilgrims have come here from across the country - till now, ...Read More >
KOZHIKODE: Kerala-based IT professional G S Sharanya, who survived four days alone in the dense forests near Tadiandamol in Karnataka's Kodagu district after losing her way, says the experience has not shaken her passion for trekking -- if anything, it has strengthened it.Speaking from her home in Nadapuram, the 36-year-old recalled the ordeal as one marked not by fear, but by moments of stillness and natural beauty. Despite being stranded with no food, limited water and no phone connectivity, she says she never felt panic and is already planning her next trek to Tawang, subject to leave.Shara ...Read More >
Bengaluru: The death of five tigers at Male Mahadeshwara (MM) Hills Wildlife Sanctuary in Chamarajanagar on Thursday -- said to be the largest single-day tiger mortality in the state since the launch of Project Tiger in India -- has raised several questions over the preparedness of the forest department in the management of the protected areas across Karnataka.Amid the mounting criticism over the deaths, former Indian Forest Service (IFS) officials have pointed out the failure of the forest intelligence in anticipating the incident, especially in a sensitive area like MM Hills that borders the ...Read More >
MADIKERI: Surviving on just a 500 ml bottle of water, with no mobile network and fading chances of contact, 36-year-old Kerala trekker G S Sharanya spent four days alone in the dense forests of Karnataka's Kodagu district, an ordeal she says she endured without fear. Sharanya, an IT professional from Kozhikode, had gone missing on April 2 after getting separated from her trekking group while descending Tadiandamol, the highest peak in Kodagu. What followed was a four-day struggle through thick forest, unpredictable weather and unfamiliar terrain, even as a multi-agency search operation intensi ...Read More >
A recent study revealed that surveillance technologies, initially deployed in Corbett National Park for wildlife conservation, are being misused to intimidate local women. Researchers found that forest rangers used drones to hover over women, scaring them while they gathered firewood and other resources. These women, who often sought refuge in the forest from domestic issues like violence, expressed that the surveillance made them feel watched, altering their behavior and increasing safety risks. The study highlights the unintended consequences of digital technologies in conservation, urging t ...Read More >
Digha/Kolkata: Why were those speaking Bengali "being tortured across the country every day", CM Mamata Banerjee said on Thursday. Speaking in Digha, where she has gone to attend the first Rath Yatra of the newly inaugurated Jagannath temple, the CM spoke of Bengali-speaking migrant workers being detained at two places in Odisha.Asking Odisha "not to be jealous", Banerjee said while she respected the Puri Jagannath temple, she expected the same respect for the Digha Jagannath temple."I learnt that in Cuttack, 100 Bengali migrant workers were kept in detention camps. In Balasore, 17 are stuck. ...Read More >
HYDERABAD: State BJP president N Ramchander Rao on Thursday slammed the Congress government and Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy for failing to address farmers' issues despite completing 19 months in office. Speaking at the Kisan Morcha state office-bearers' meeting at the BJP headquarters in Hyderabad, he accused the state government of neglecting farmers due to its skewed policies. He urged party workers to collaborate with the Kisan Morcha to highlight farmers' grievances and counter the Congress' "anti-farmer" stance. He directed the Morcha members to launch agitations, gather grassroots- ...Read More >