Is India Winning the War Against Pollution? The fight for cleaner air and water intensifies as the nation grapples with the escalating impacts of climate change. From the devastating floods in Assam to the alarming rise in air pollution levels in Delhi, environmental challenges demand urgent action. This week saw crucial discussions on sustainable agriculture and renewable energy sources at the India Climate Change Conference, highlighting the government's commitment to tackling deforestation and promoting biodiversity conservation. But are these efforts enough? Experts warn of looming water scarcity and the need for stricter regulations on industrial emissions. The future of India's environment hangs in the balance, demanding collective responsibility and innovative solutions. Explore Abtak.com for in-depth analysis and the latest updates on environmental policies, climate activism, and the ongoing struggle for a sustainable India. Discover how you can contribute to a greener tomorrow.
Bengaluru, February 16: A traditional family ceremony in Dakshina Kannada turned into a legal crisis on Saturday, February 14, after four individuals were apprehended for allegedly poaching protected turtles. The suspects were caught on the banks of the Somavati river while attempting to prepare a ceremonial dish for their grandmother's tithi (death anniversary) ritual. Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of police and forest officials conducted a raid, discovering the group with four killed and partially processed turtles. The accused, identified as Manikantha (42), Rajendra (54), Vignesh (32), and Prashanth (35), had traveled to Beltangady to attend post-funeral observances for their grandmother, Devamma. Mysuru Tiger Deaths: 5 Tigers Found Dead Under Suspicious Circumstances in Male Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre Orders Probe (Watch Videos). Family members reportedly intended to serve the turtle dish as a tribute, claiming it was one of the deceased relative's favorite meals. However, under the Wildlife Protection Act, the species targeted is strictly protected, making their capture and consumption a serious criminal offense. The operation, led by Sub-Inspector Anand M, took place at approximately 3:30 PM on Saturday following specific intelligence regarding illegal hunting along the riverbank. Upon reaching the spot, authorities found the men preparing to cook the meat. The team seized four carcasses of Indian Black Turtles, which showed signs of having been partially burnt during the cleaning process. Exotic Wildlife Smuggling Busted at Chhatrapati Shivaji Airport: Mumbai Customs Foil Animal Smuggling, Arrests Passenger With Albino Red-Eared Slider Turtles, Marmosets, and Kinkajou (See Pics and Video). The Beltangady police coordinated closely with the local forest department to ensure the animals were correctly identified and handled as forensic evidence. Senior officials, including Sub-divisional DySP Rohini C K and Forest Officer Thyagaraj, supervised the handover and the subsequent filing of the formal report (mahajar). Following their detention, the four men were handed over to the Beltangady Range Forest Department for further investigation. They were booked under various provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. While the suspects were released on Sunday night after being issued notices to appear before the court, they remain under investigation for wildlife poaching. Forest authorities reiterated that Indian Black Turtles are a protected species. Despite cultural or ritual motivations, the law does not provide exemptions for hunting or possessing scheduled wildlife. The carcasses have been sent for a post-mortem examination to verify the species and cause of death for the judicial record.
New Delhi, June 8: A nine-year-old girl was found stuffed in a suitcase at a neighbour's house in northeast Delhi's Dayalpur area, triggering protests by family members and locals who alleged sexual assault and murder of the minor. Police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in the area to maintain law and order. Police sources said the perpetrator seems to have fled after stuffing her in a suitcase. Senior officials of the Delhi Police said all angles are being probed, including sexual assault. "We are awaiting the autopsy report to confirm the cause of death. Teams have been for ...Read More >
Kushnepalli Forest Range Officer P. Dayakar stated that a case has been filed against Athram Bapu and Kudimetha Lachanna from Oddugudem for killing a wild boar. The two were caught sharing the boar's meat at a stream during a raid conducted by forest department officials, who had received a tip-off about the incident. Macherial: Two persons were booked for allegedly poaching a wild boar at Oddugudem village in Vemanapalli mandal on Thursday. Kushnepalli Forest Range Officer P Dayakar said that a case was registered against Athram Bapu and Kudimetha Lachanna from Oddugudem for killing a wild ...Read More >
Patna: The son of senior Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed Khan was found dead in Patna on Monday, police said. The body of Ayaan Ahmad Khan was found hanging from a ceiling fan at the official residence of his father, the Bihar Congress Legislature Party leader, in Sachiwalaya area here, a senior officer said. Speaking to PTI, Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Awkash Kumar said, "Senior officials along with forensic experts have reached the spot and are collecting scientific evidence. The matter is being investigated from all angles." The body has been sent for post-mortem examination, ...Read More >
New Delhi: A 29-year-old woman was found murdered in a hotel room in central Delhi's Paharganj on Sunday.Police have arrested a man who has claimed to be in a relationship with the victim and checked into the hotel with her on Saturday.According to investigators, the accused suspected the woman was in a relationship with another person, which may have led to the crime.The deceased was identified as Sarika, while the accused, 31-year-old Sachin, was a resident of north Delhi. Both worked in a cloc ...Read More >
VISAKHAPATNAM: Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar inaugurated Andhra Pradesh's first Super ECBC (Energy Conservation Building Code) compliant building at Sagar Nagar in Visakhapatnam on Friday. Terming it a landmark in sustainable infrastructure, he emphasised the government's commitment to energy efficiency and green design in public facilities. The facility will serve as a national-level training hub for power sector staff. He urged power utilities to expedite 20 lakh rooftop solar connections, targeting 10,000 in each Assembly segment. He reaffirmed nine-hour uninterrupted power for agri ...Read More >
Bengaluru: Concerns have been raised following the report of another tigress' death in Karnataka on Saturday, coming close on the heels of the shocking incident involving the death of a tigress and her four cubs. According to forest officials, the latest death has been reported from the Gundre Forest Range in Bandipur, located in Chamarajanagar district. Authorities, based on preliminary investigation, have stated that the tigress, estimated to be between 4 and 5 years old, appears to have died of natural causes. However, the post-mortem report is awaited for confirmation. The carcass was d ...Read More >
Haridwar: A woman politician has been arrested for allegedly letting her boyfriend and others repeatedly rape her 13-year-old daughter in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. The horrifying crime, which occurred between January and March, was exposed when the minor bravely confided in her father, prompting a police investigation that led to the arrest of the accused. The accused was arrested with her boyfriend and one more. According to police reports, the minor was gang-raped multiple times, often in the presence of her mother. The minor, who had been living with her father following her parents' separat ...Read More >
Guwahati/Morigaon, Jun 6 (PTI) The flood situation in Assam continued to be critical with over 5.6 lakh people reeling under the deluge in 16 districts, an official bulletin said on Friday. The toll in this year's floods and landslides stands at 21, with two more deaths reported on Thursday. Also Read | Thane Shocker: Wife Booked for Hurling Hot Oil on Autorickshaw Driver During Fight Over Domestic Issues in Kalyan. Wildlife has also been affected with nearly 70 per cent of the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Morigaon district facing inundation, an official said. The Regional Meteorological ...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 >
Mumbai/New Delhi: Shefali Jariwala, whose sizzling gyration and rebellious abandon in the music video of the remixed track 'Kaanta Laga' (original song from 'Samadhi', 1972) became a dance floor favourite, annoyed social conservatives and helped sell over a million cassettes, CDs and albums, passed away following a cardiac arrest on Friday night. She was 42.Jariwala was rushed to a private hospital close to her Andheri West residence by husband-actor Parag Tyagi, but was declared dead on arrival. "Her family told doctors she was unwell with acidity and had not eaten the entire day," a senior p ...Read More >
Srinagar, June 7: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, on Saturday, congratulated the University of Kashmir for getting an A++ grade in the NAAC inspection. The Lt Governor extended his heartiest congratulations to the Vice Chancellor, faculty, staff, and students of the University of Kashmir for attaining the prestigious A++ Grade by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), and securing an outstanding Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.68 on a seven-point scale. Calling it a proud moment for J&K UT, the Lt Governor said, "The A++ Grade places the Un ...Read More >
Imphal, June 29 (UNI) A series of successful operations carried out by Manipur Police and security forces during the last 24 hours led to the arrest of several individuals involved in vehicle theft, insurgent activity, and the recovery of a significant cache of arms and ammunition. Police arrested a vehicle lifter identified as Syed Riyaj from his residence at Lilong Chaobok in Thoubal District. The arrest was made under Lilong Police Station. Authorities seized a blue two wheeler without registration number, along with a key and an Aadhaar card believed to be linked to the suspect. In a s ...Read More >
Viral video shows AI cameras spotting a herd of elephants. (Photo: X/susantananda3) Elephants in Odisha's forests often face the threat of train collisions on railway tracks, as highlighted by multiple reports over the years. To prevent such accidents, authorities installed four AI cameras in the Rourkela Forest Division. A post on X (formerly Twitter) by Susanta Nanda, a retired Indian Forest Service officer, stated that the use of AI cameras effectively averted another potential accident. In t ...Read More >
There were no external injuries on the body. New Delhi: A student has been found dead in his hostel room at IIT Delhi. The room was locked from the inside and there were no external injuries on his body.. Officials said they received a call at the Kishangarh police station on Wednesday about a student not opening the door of his hostel room despite repeated knocking. When they reached the premier institute, police officials found that the door was locked from the inside, and it was forced open ...Read More >
Guwahati: The flood situation across Assam continues to be critical, with over 5.6 lakh people in 16 districts reeling under the severe flood, an official bulletin confirmed on Friday. The cumulative death toll from this year's floods and landslides has now climbed to 21, following two more fatalities reported on Thursday. Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge! The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) bulletin stated that floodwaters are currently submerging 57 revenue circles and 1,406 villages, impacting a total of 5,61,644 individuals ...Read More >
Gurgaon: Two days after a law student died and his friend suffered critical injuries when a car knocked them down as they stood near railing on the service lane of Delhi-Jaipur highway in the early hours of Tuesday, a civil engineer was arrested on Thursday.Mohit (31), an employee of a private company in the city, told police that he got drowsy while driving. He is staying at a PG facility in Sector 14.The student who died, Harsh Singhal (25), was a resident of Om Nagar colony. His friend Abhishek Kumar (23), who is from Shanti Nagar in Sector 11, is undergoing treatment at a private hospital ...Read More >
The victim, who originally hails from Delhi and is currently residing in the Kharadi, had created a profile on the matrimony site seeking a prospective bridegroom. In 2023, she received a message claiming to be Dr Rohit Oberoi, an Australian citizen of Indian origin. Over time, the duo developed a close relationship. The accused visited her in Pune and other cities in India, further gaining her trust. The victim had previously received ₹5 crore as alimony after a divorce and was planning to st ...Read More >
Mumbai: The Azad Maidan police have registered a case of murder in connection with the mysterious death of a 70-year-old man, Amrutlal Krantilal Patel, in 2021. The FIR has come after directives from the sessions court. The case was filed after Patel's sister, Jyotsnaben Patel, alleged foul play and sought legal intervention. About The Case Patel, a resident of Navsari in Gujarat, had been brought to Bombay Hospital on April 16, 2021, due to deteriorating health but passed away before admission. At the time, the police had classified the case as an accidental death, with an autopsy confirmin ...Read More >
Lucknow: The accused in the Alambagh two and a half year old girl rape case was killed in an encounter with the police on Thursday night. The police first caught the accused during a check near the ACP Cantt office, but he allegedly started running and opened fire on the police. In the retaliatory firing opened by the police, the accused got injured and succumbed after some time. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Ashish Srivastava said that the name of the deceased accused is Deepak Verma, who hails from Aishbagh. He used to take out tableaux during Mata Rani's Jagran and supply water t ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 7 (PTI) Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Saturday dismissed Congress leader Jairam Ramesh's criticism regarding the Delhi Zoo's proposed agreement with the Reliance Group's Gujarat-based wildlife facility, saying such collaborations are routine and aimed at improving animal care and management practices. "Some people have made it a habit to create doubts in the mind of the public at every instance," Yadav said on X in response to Ramesh's remarks. He clarified that the National Zoological Park (NZP), also known as the Delhi Zoo, had signed a memorandum of understa ...Read More >
Jaisalmer, Jun 7 (PTI) To honour the armed forces following Operation Sindoor, a special tribute is taking shape in the border state of Rajasthan - rare Great Indian Bustard (GIB) chicks born under a conservation project in Jaisalmer have been named after key officers and significant milestones linked to the operation. Names like 'Sindoor', 'Atom', 'Mishri', 'Vyom', and 'Sophia' now resonate through the conservation centres at Sudasari and Sam, where science, strategy and national pride are working together to revive one of India's most endangered bird species. "By giving these chicks these ...Read More >
Mumbai, June 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday debunked all allegations made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi about rigging and match-fixing in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections. In his articles titled 'Those Rejected by the People Deny the Mandate', published in the same three newspapers where Gandhi's write-ups appeared, CM Fadnavis advised the Congress MP to "accept defeat, introspect on where you went wrong, why your connect with the people is lacking, and what needs to be done." He taunted Gandhi, saying that the latter was preparing excuses for "defeats ...Read More >
Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], June 8 (ANI): Several districts of Rajasthan witnessed an intense heatwave on Sunday, with the highest temperature of 47.4 degrees Celsius recorded in Sri Ganganagar. According to the India Meteorological Centre in Jaipur, the temperatures recorded across different districts were 47.4°C in Sri Ganganagar, 46°C in Bikaner, 45.9°C in Barmer, 45.6°C in Churu, 45.4°C in Phalodi, 45.2°C in Jaisalmer, and 45°C in Kota. Also Read | Anjali Varmora Suicide Case: Young Model Ends Life in Gujarat's Surat, Mental Stress Suspected. A June 8 yellow alert, for heatwave and dust ...Read More >
Kolkata, Jan 10 (PTI) Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) scientists identified a new pangolin species which diverged from the Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) around 3.4 million years ago, the organisation said in a statement on Friday. The ZSI said the discovery of the Indo-Burmese pangolin (Manis indo-burmanica) sheds light on the evolutionary diversity of pangolins, likely influenced by dramatic geo-climatic changes in the region, one of the world's biodiversity hotspots. The study, led by Mukesh Thakur of the ZSI, used cutting-edge genomic tools to analyse mitochondrial genomes. "Thi ...Read More >
Mumbai: Drugs, gold and other expensive or illegal items are often seized from passengers during inspection at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, the country's financial capital. However, this time, customs officials seized as many as 48 poisonous snakes and 5 turtles from a passenger. Even the security guards were alarmed when it came to light that the passenger had been found with poisonous snakes. The passenger concerned had been to Thailand and had taken a flight from Bangkok on his way to India. At Mumbai's airport, customs found 48 poisonous snakes and five tur ...Read More >
Kodaikanal: A young doctor pursuing a postgraduate medical degree was tragically found dead in his car near Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, after reportedly administering intravenous fluids to himself. Joshua Samraj, who was pursuing his MD in Salem and working at a hospital in Madurai, was discovered inside his car in a secluded forested area in Poomparai, near the popular hill town of Kodaikanal. According to local reports, the vehicle had remained stationary for three days, which led concerned villagers to alert police. Upon inspection, officers recovered a suicide note in which the doctor apolog ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram: A major fire erupted at a two-wheeler showroom on Pattom-Plamoodu Road on Saturday morning. Spare parts, several vehicles, office equipment and more were completely gutted.According to the owner of the showroom Harikumar S K, 57, of Vembayam, damage worth Rs 2 crore was reported in the fire.Logtech Motors was one of the five franchises of TVS Motors in the district, with as many as 52 vehicles inside and outside the showroom. As many as 12 vehicles were completely gutted and several others were damaged. Spare parts were also completely destroyed in the fire.The electrical i ...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 >
BENGALURU: BBMP marshals deployed at lake security and supervision wing, ward monitoring and Indira Canteens are working without salaries since March. The situation has arisen after Bangalore Solid Waste Management Limited was carved out of BBMP for garbage management. Their salaries are usually given through the Ex-Servicemen Welfare Society and each marshal is paid Rs 17,500 monthly. "Supervisors say the delay is due to a set of procedures. Earlier, the amount was given to the Ex-Servicemen Welfare Society towards payments from BBMP. Now the files have to be cleared from BWSML to ward mars ...Read More >
Shillong, Jun 5 (PTI) Rescuers on Thursday made no headway in the search for Sonam Raghuvanshi, a tourist from Indore whose husband was found dead in a gorge a few days ago, in Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills district, police said. Heavy rainfall and low visibility affected the search operation in Sohra area. Raja Raghuvanshi (29) and his wife Sonam had gone missing on May 23, hours after they checked out of a homestay at Nongriat village in Sohra area. His body was found on Monday in a gorge 20 km from the village, while a search is underway for his wife. "Extreme weather conditions at Sohra ...Read More >