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.
New Delhi [India], April 7 (ANI): A change in weather was observed across New Delhi on Tuesday morning as light rainfall brought temporary relief from rising temperatures in the national capital. Overcast skies, damp roads and a noticeable dip in temperature were witnessed across parts of the city as commuters navigated through light showers. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the city is expected to experience a minimum temperature of 20 degrees Celsius and a maximum of 31 degrees Celsius throughout the day. The weather department has forecast a day dominated by thunderstorms accompanied by light rainfall, lightning, and gusty winds with speeds ranging between 30 and 40 kmph. These conditions are likely to persist through the forenoon, afternoon, evening and night, indicating an extended spell of unstable weather across the city. The rainfall activity has also had a marginal impact on air quality. As per data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 117, categorised as "Moderate." While this marks an improvement from poorer levels, authorities continue to advise sensitive groups to exercise caution. The IMD has also issued a broader weather outlook for Northwest India. Isolated to scattered light to moderate rainfall, along with thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds (30 and 50 kmph, gusting up to 60 kmph), is likely over Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand on April 6. Similar conditions are expected over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and East Rajasthan. A fresh wet spell is anticipated between April 7 and April 10, with widespread rainfall and snowfall predicted across Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Delhi, along with parts of West Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, is likely to witness scattered to fairly widespread rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds on April 7 and 8. Additionally, thundersqualls with wind speeds reaching up to 70 kmph are likely over parts of Rajasthan. The IMD has also warned of isolated hailstorms across northern states, including Delhi, between April 7 and 8, and heavy rainfall in select regions such as the Kashmir Valley and Himachal Pradesh in the coming days. (ANI)
Khordha (Odisha): A severe cold wave gripped northern Odisha on Sunday, with the Mayurbhanj in the northern part of the State bearing the brunt of the intense chill with Ramatirtha area in the district recording as low as -10 degrees Celsius. According to the Forest Department, temperatures while other areas such as Gurguria and Barehipani recorded 6 degrees Celsius, Chahala 4 degrees Celsius, Nawana -5 degrees Celsius, and Upper Baraha Kamuda (UBK) -3 degrees Celsius. Statement Of IMD Scientist Dr Soma Sen Roy On Saturday, IMD scientist Dr Soma Sen Roy said that the cold wave will last for ...Read More >
Khordha (Odisha) [India], December 15 (ANI): A severe cold wave gripped northern Odisha on Sunday, with the Mayurbhanj in the northern part of the State bearing the brunt of the intense chill with Ramatirtha area in the district recording as low as -10 degrees Celsius. According to the Forest Department, temperatures while other areas such as Gurguria and Barehipani recorded 6 degrees Celsius, Chahala 4 degrees Celsius, Nawana -5 degrees Celsius, and Upper Baraha Kamuda (UBK) -3 degrees Celsius. Also Read | CAT 2024 Results: IIM Calcutta Likely To Release CAT 2024 Results Today at iimcat.ac. ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jan 13 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch 'Mission Mausam' on Tuesday to gaming to make India a 'weather-ready and climate-smart' nation. As per a statement from the Prime Minister's Office, Modi will also participate in the 150th Foundation Day celebrations of India Meteorological Department (IMD) at Bharat Mandapam here. He will also address the gathering on the occasion. "The Mission aims to achieve its aim by developing cutting-edge weather surveillance technologies and systems, implementing high-resolution atmospheric observations, next-generation radars and satel ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], February 7 (ANI): The Delhi High Court on Friday reserved the order on an application moved by Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid seeking custody parole to attend ongoing parliament session amidst jurisdictional row. However, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), while opposing the custody parole, stated that Rashid Engineer does not need to respond to any questions. They emphasized that this request is generic and pointed out that Engineer has no speech to deliver. Senior Advocate Sidharth Luthra appeared for NIA also argued that taking an oath and campaigning are separate m ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 5 (ANI): Aam Aadmi Party MP Ashok Kumar Mittal on Thursday hailed the all-party delegation's visit to several countries worldwide and noted that the members had briefed External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar about their visits. On meeting External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, member of the all-party delegation led by DMK MP Kanimozhi, AAP MP Ashok Kumar Mittal told ANI, 'After returning today, we met External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar. He wanted to know the response in the five countries we visited. We told him about it. Wherever we went, the countries appr ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 5 (ANI): Aam Aadmi Party MP Ashok Kumar Mittal on Thursday hailed the all-party delegation's visit to several countries worldwide and noted that the members had briefed External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar about their visits. On meeting External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, member of the all-party delegation led by DMK MP Kanimozhi, AAP MP Ashok Kumar Mittal told ANI, 'After returning today, we met External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar. He wanted to know the response in the five countries we visited. We told him about it. Wherever we went, the countries appr ...Read More >
Delhi's air pollution continues to worsen, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) hitting a hazardous 490, despite the government's 21-point plan to tackle the issue. The city’s residents are struggling to breathe, even indoors, and hospitals are overwhelmed with patients facing respiratory problems. The pollution crisis is exacerbated by the lack of cooperation among Delhi and neighboring states, and the central government, with each blaming the other. This pollution not only threatens public health but also jeopardizes Delhi's economic future, as it could drive away professionals and harm business ...Read More >
Noida: The city's air quality improved slightly on Wednesday but remained in the 'poor' category with an air quality index (AQI) of 208, compared to the previous day's 223. The AQI of Greater Noida (231) and Ghaziabad (216) improved marginally but also stayed 'poor'. It was 234 in Greater Noida and 238 in Ghaziabad on Tuesday. In Noida, Sector 62 was the worst hit and recorded an AQI of 271 (poor), followed by Sector 116 (230) -- also 'poor'. The Sector 1 monitoring station recorded a 'moderate' AQI at 121. The Sector 125 station did not record this data. In Greater Noida, the AQI at Knowled ...Read More >
The meteorological centre in Srinagar on Wednesday predicted a brief spell of snowfall during the night followed by a week-long spell of dry weather. The centre said that the weather will remain generally cloudy with light snow over isolated higher reaches during the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday. "From December 12-20, the weather will be generally dry. Overall, nothing significant till December 20, " it said in an update. The centre cautioned that cold and dry weather will gener ...Read More >
Uttarakhand (Dehradun) [India], May 19 (ANI): The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for heavy rain in the hilly districts of Uttarakhand, effective today and tomorrow. In light of this warning, the Uttarakhand Police have issued a safety advisory for pilgrims undertaking the Chardham Yatra. Pilgrims are advised to exercise caution while travelling, consider the weather conditions, and call 112 in case of any emergency." Authorities are working to ensure public safety and minimise disruptions," said the police authorities. In light of the forecast, the Uttarakh ...Read More >
New Delhi, May 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) The pilots of the IndiGo plane, which was damaged in rough weather en route to Srinagar, were denied permission by the Lahore ATC to venture briefly into Pakistan airspace to escape the hailstorm, in complete violation of humanitarian norms. India's civil aviation regulator, the DGCA, said the aircraft was cruising at an altitude of approximately 36,000 feet near Punjab's Pathankot when it ran into a thunderstorm and hailstorm. Experiencing severe turbulence, the crew first requested the Northern ATC of the Indian Air Force to allow the flight to deviate to ...Read More >
Katra/Jammu, Jun 5 (PTI) Union minister Jitendra Singh on Thursday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for ensuring a speedy completion of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project after taking office in 2014 and said it marks the beginning of a historic journey in setting up the world's highest railway bridge in Jammu and Kashmir. On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the world's highest railway bridge over the Chenab river and the Anji Khad bridge, India's first cable-stayed bridge, before flagging off Vande Bharat trains to mark the completio ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 5 (PTI) The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a gradual rise in the maximum temperature by five to seven degrees Celsius over the next five days in Delhi. Despite the warming trend, no heatwave conditions are expected during this period, according to a report prepared by the weather office. According to the IMD, the minimum temperature was appreciably below normal, by three to six degrees Celsius, and the maximum was markedly below normal -- by five to seven notches -- over the last few days. South-westerly winds with speeds up to 19 kmph were witnessed across ...Read More >
For the second consecutive day on Monday (December 2, 2024), Delhi's air quality showed a slight improvement although it remained in the 'poor' category with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 273 in the morning. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi's 24-hour average AQI on Sunday stood at 285, an improvement to the 'poor' category and a welcome relief following 32 consecutive days of 'very poor' and 'severe' air quality (AQI over 400). The city's air quality was last recorded in the 'poor' category on October 29 with an AQI of 268, according to the CPCB. Farm fires ris ...Read More >
Delhi residents breathed easier Thursday as air quality improved to 'moderate' after a month of severe pollution. The AQI dropped to 161, though some areas still experienced 'poor' air quality. Cooler temperatures and mist accompanied the improved air, with the minimum temperature reaching 9 degrees Celsius. The Supreme Court maintained GRAP-IV restrictions, demanding compensation for construction workers from NCR states.Residents in Delhi took a sigh of relief on Thursday as the air quality inde ...Read More >
New Delhi: The BS3 petrol and BS4 diesel vehicle ban has been lifted in Delhi after the Air Quality Index (AQI) improved to the moderate category. The Supreme Court allowed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to ease restrictions due to the improvement in the national capital's air pollution situation. Delhi had been facing high pollution levels, which led CAQM to enforce Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The court has now asked the commission to apply GRAP Stage 2. ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Delhi recorded its lowest minimum temperature of the winter season on Wednesday, with the mercury plunging to 4.9 degrees Celsius, a sharp drop from 8 degrees Celsius the previous day. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated, "The minimum temperature of 4.9 degrees Celsius reported over Safdarjung is the lowest minimum of this winter season. The same minimum temperature of 4.9 degrees Celsius was reported last year also on 15th December." The coldest minimum temperature ever recorded at the Safdarjung station was 0.0 degrees Celsius on December 27, 1930, according to the ...Read More >
New Delhi: The air quality in the national capital remained in the 'very poor' category on Thursday, with a thin layer of fog blanketing parts of the city and affecting visibility. An AQI reading of 340 was recorded at 9 am, according to the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) data. Of the 38 monitoring stations that recorded air quality data in the national capital, 32 reported the AQI in the "very poor" category, according to the CPCB. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a thunderstorm accompanied by rain on Friday and Saturday, and issued a "yellow alert", predictin ...Read More >
Rajouri: State Health Department teams are continuing door-to-door surveillance in Badhal village as the mystery illness in Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir continues to claim lives. This after an 'unidentified' disease has claimed 16 reported fatalities and 38 affected individuals According to reports, NCDC (National Centre for Disease Control), ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) teams have been deployed for investigation as 16 deaths have been reported in Budhal village since December 2024 due to a 'mysterious illness.' Dilmir Choudhary, ADC Kotranka said, "Since December, we h ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jan 31 (PTI) The national capital wrapped up a rather warm January with Friday's maximum temperature reaching 27 degrees Celsius, making it the city's warmest day in the month since 2019. The month's average maximum temperature was 21.1 degrees Celsius, a notch above the long-period average of 20.1 degrees Celsius, marking it as Delhi's warmest January since 2019. According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, nighttime temperatures were also higher than usual. The average minimum temperature for the month settled at 8.5 degrees Celsius, a notch above the LPA of 7.5 deg ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], May 23 (ANI): Criticising the BJP-led NDA government, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha (LoP) Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that India's foreign policy has collapsed. In a post on X, Gandhi raised three questions to the central government. "Will JJ explain, Why India has been hyphenated with Pakistan? Why didn't a single country back us in condemning Pakistan? Who asked Trump to "mediate" between India & Pakistan?" the LoP said. Reposting a video of S Jaishankar's interview with a media outlet, he said, "India's foreign policy has collapsed," he added. Earlier, Gandhi q ...Read More >
Delhi is facing worsening pollution and erratic weather patterns, with the air quality regularly reaching dangerous levels. This is partly due to climate change, with temperature rises and unpredictable rainfall patterns caused by global warming. The industrial revolution has played a significant role, contributing to the rise in global temperatures. The effects are already being felt, with 2024 witnessing record-breaking heat in India. Despite this, there is little action from society or leadership, with courts repeatedly stepping in to address issues like pollution and farm fires. The need f ...Read More >
Severe air pollution in northern India has led to a surge in demand for respiratory medications, with Foracort becoming India’s top-selling drug in October. The inhaler, used to treat asthma and COPD, recorded Rs 75 crore in sales, surpassing popular medicines like Augmentin and Glycomet-GP. Manufactured by Cipla, Foracort combines budesonide and formoterol for effective dual-action therapy. Other respiratory drugs, Duolin and Budecort, also saw increased sales. With Delhi’s Air Quality Index reaching hazardous levels, the rise in respiratory issues underscores the urgent need for better healt ...Read More >
Katra (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], June 5 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Union Minister Jitendra Singh inspected the Katra railway station and the Vande Bharat train on Thursday ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit on June 6. PM Modi will flag off the first Vande Bharat train to Kashmir on Friday. CM Omar Abdullah said, 'If I tell you that I have been waiting for this moment for a long time, it will still not be enough. This rail project began when I was in the 7th or 8th class. Now, even my children have started working after completing school and college ...Read More >
Srinagar: The minimum temperature has plummeted and settled below freezing point across Kashmir with many of the stations including Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir recording the season's coldest night. According to the news agency -- Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the night temperature in Srinagar settled at minus 2.1 degree Celsius. Shopian was the coldest in Kashmir as the mercury plummeted and settled at minus 5.5 degree Celsius. Pahalgam, a famous tourist destination, recorded minus 5.0 degree Celsius while Gulmarg, a famous ski-resort recorded a low of minus 2.5 degree ...Read More >
Heavy rains lashed Thoothukudi and surrounding areas in Tamil Nadu on Sunday, causing severe waterlogging in several localities. The IMD predicts the formation of a low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal, which is expected to intensify and move towards the Tamil Nadu coast, bringing further rainfall across the state in the coming days.Several parts of Thoothukudi and adjoining areas witnessed severe waterlogging on Sunday as heavy rains continued to lash parts of Tamil Nadu. Visuals showed water ...Read More >
Delhi Weather Update: Delhi experienced dense fog on Thursday morning, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reporting a minimum temperature of 7°C. The fog led to the implementation of low-visibility procedures at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI), although flights continued to operate as scheduled. The weather forecast for the coming days indicates that dense fog will persist in the early morning and late-night hours on December 26 and 28. The IMD also predicts partly cloudy skies, with the possibility of very light rain or drizzle during the evening or night. As of Thursd ...Read More >
Dharamshala (Himachal Pradesh) [India], June 5 (ANI): Fresh snowfall on Thursday caused a sharp drop in temperature in the Dhauladhar mountain ranges in Himachal Pradesh. Snowfall on the higher reaches is very rare in June. The minimum temperature in Dharamshala was recorded at 16 degrees Celsius, whereas the maximum temperature was 21 degrees Celsius. Also Read | OpenAI Academy India: ChatGPT Developer Launches First International Initiative To Expand Education Platform Partnering With IndiaAI Mission in Country. It has been raining every day for a week in Dharamshala. Tourism industry peo ...Read More >
American entrepreneur Bryan Johnson, known for his quest to reverse aging, experienced the effects of Mumbai's air pollution during his India tour. Promoting his book Don't Die, Johnson detailed his discomfort despite using air purifiers and masks. He adhered to his rigorous health routine, carrying all his meals and supplements for the six-day trip. The visit included an exclusive meetup with prominent figures like Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal, showcasing his dedication to health and longevity advocacy.Bryan Johnson, the American entrepreneur renowned for his anti-aging mission, has drawn atten ...Read More >
Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], December 2 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) President Farooq Abdullah claimed that Muslims are feeling unsafe and stated that there is no discrimination based on religion, as guaranteed by the Constitution. The former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir also said that the government should treat Muslims without any discrimination. "...There is no doubt that Muslims are feeling unsafe. I will ask the govt of India to stop that. 24 crore Muslims cannot be thrown into the ocean. They (the govt) should treat Muslims equally, there is no di ...Read More >