logo
Magnitude 4.3 earthquake strikes Nepal, no damage reported

Magnitude 4.3 earthquake strikes Nepal, no damage reported

India Today22-05-2025

A magnitude 4.3 earthquake struck Nepal in the wee hours of Friday, according to the National Center for Seismology (NCS). The tremor was recorded at 1:33 AM IST, with its epicenter located at latitude 29.36N and longitude 80.44E, at a depth of 10 kilometers.The NCS shared the update on X, formerly Twitter, stating: 'EQ of M: 4.3, On: 23/05/2025 01:33:53 IST, Lat: 29.36 N, Long: 80.44 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Nepal.'EQ of M: 4.3, On: 23/05/2025 01:33:53 IST, Lat: 29.36 N, Long: 80.44 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Nepal.For more information Download the BhooKamp App https://t.co/5gCOtjcVGs @DrJitendraSingh @OfficeOfDrJS @Ravi_MoES @Dr_Mishra1966 @ndmaindia pic.twitter.com/C9LB2P8RDS— National Center for Seismology (@NCS_Earthquake) May 22, 2025advertisementThere have been no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage from the quake. However, officials are monitoring the situation closely as more details are awaited.
On the same day, a magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Indonesia's southern Sumatra, the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ) reported. The quake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.21 miles). As of now, there have been no reports of injuries or casualties.Nepal's Vulnerability To EarthquakesNepal is situated in one of the world's most seismically active regions, due to its position on the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. The Indian plate is continuously pushing northward beneath the Eurasian plate, a process known as subduction, which builds immense pressure and stress in the Earth's crust. This geological activity not only fuels frequent earthquakes but is also responsible for the formation and uplift of the Himalayan mountain range.advertisementNepal has a tragic history of seismic events, most notably the catastrophic 7.8 magnitude earthquake in April 2015, which claimed nearly 9,000 lives. Earlier in April last year, Nepal observed a minute of silence in memory of the 8,969 victims who perished in that disaster.A memorial event was held beneath the replica of the historic Dharahara Tower, which collapsed during the 2015 quake and Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli paid tribute to those lost.With inputs from ANIMust Watch

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

World Environment Day: India needs to mitigate the climate change threat to agriculture
World Environment Day: India needs to mitigate the climate change threat to agriculture

Indian Express

time2 days ago

  • Indian Express

World Environment Day: India needs to mitigate the climate change threat to agriculture

Written by Renuka Chowdhury On World Environment Day, it is crucial to emphasise the relationship between agriculture in India, food security, and the increasing risks posed by climate change. Agriculture in India is becoming more susceptible to climate change, with variable and extreme weather patterns impacting crop yields and affecting the livelihoods of many farmers. The climate-induced stress has compounded existing agrarian distress, particularly for small and marginal farmers, and those with limited resources to adapt in tribal and aspirational districts, like Khammam in Telangana. While the government has initiated reforms and structured policies to build climate resilience in the agriculture sector, these mostly remain scattered and are implemented without a mission-mode approach. With climate change among the biggest threats to the agriculture sector, we need a comprehensive, well-funded national initiative that integrates adaptation and mitigation into agricultural planning. The Climate Transparency Report 2021 warns that with a temperature increase of 1–4°C, rice production could decline by 10–30 per cent and maize production by 25–70 per cent. This would directly affect food security. The government's own projection highlights that in the absence of adaptation measures, paddy and wheat yields may drop by 20 per cent, and maize by 18 per cent by 2050. As many as 310 districts have been identified as vulnerable to climate change. Khammam, a predominantly tribal district, is one such hotspot. While the projections may be for 2050, the telling tales of impending disaster are already before us. Each year, Khammam faces unseasonal heavy hailstorms in March and April, leading to heavy crop losses. Chilli production in the state has declined by over 100,000 tonnes in just one year, with major chilli-growing districts like Khammam witnessing major yield drops. Khammam is not alone. This trend extends across India. In Jammu and Kashmir, saffron production has plummeted by 67.5 per cent between 2010–11 and 2023–24. The Assam and Darjeeling tea industries are grappling with reduced productivity and shifts in quality. Data suggest that 80 per cent of Indian farmers have suffered crop losses due to adverse climatic events between 2019 and 2024. There is enough evidence to say that we need a new strategy to mitigate the impact of climate change on agriculture. I suggest three ways to go about this. First, we need wider adoption of the 2,900 climate-adaptive crop varieties developed by the National Agricultural Research System. The Union government must proactively facilitate the accessibility, availability and affordability of these climate-resilient seeds across all 310 climate-vulnerable districts, tailored to local agro-climatic conditions and cropping patterns. This should include direct support mechanisms such as seed subsidies, targeted extension services, and timely distribution through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and agricultural cooperatives. Local governance institutions like panchayats must be mobilised to lead mass awareness campaigns on climate-smart agricultural practices. Strategic collaborations between agricultural universities, NGOs, and local extension agents can amplify outreach. Second, the much-touted Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) must evolve to explicitly integrate climate change considerations into its risk coverage framework. While the scheme currently covers weather-related crop loss, it does not adequately account for productivity losses stemming from long-term and extreme climate variability. As an MP, I had raised this question in Parliament, calling for a forward-looking insurance model that reflects the complex risks farmers face today. The idea has gained global prominence now. Recently, even the European Commission, while highlighting the huge agricultural loss of €28.3 billion annually due to climate change, has advocated for climate-related risk insurance coverage for farmers. India must take the lead in pioneering climate-responsive agricultural insurance models by incorporating climate risk modelling, developing region-specific climate indices, and piloting parametric insurance instruments that disburse compensation based on clearly defined weather thresholds. Data suggest that only 20 per cent of farmers receive timely financial support under the PMFBY, and there are structural deficiencies like delayed claim settlements, difficulties in assessing crop damage, high cost of premium, and verifying yield data. I have personally witnessed such failures in Khammam, where hundreds of small and marginal farmers narrated stories of repeated delays, unresponsive insurance agents, and rejected claims despite evident crop loss. Third, the need of the hour is to embrace innovative and adaptive approaches to climate action in agriculture. One such approach that merits serious policy deliberation is the introduction of Index-Based Cash Transfers (IBCTs), particularly in climate-vulnerable districts. A successful example is the Agriculture and Climate Risk Enterprise (ACRE) in Africa, which implemented a mobile-enabled, input-linked index insurance programme. In this model, smallholder farmers receive climate-triggered payouts via mobile money, demonstrating the effectiveness of using localised weather data and public–private partnerships to build farmer resilience. Each crop and region presents unique challenges, requiring data-backed, locally contextualised solutions. Evidence-based decision-making must reflect the realities of each agro-climatic zone. The paths we chart today will not only safeguard the interests of our producers and consumers, but will also go miles in delivering climate justice to our farmers. The writer is a Rajya Sabha MP from the Indian National Congress and former Union Cabinet Minister

In Pics: India hit by heavy rains as early monsoon triggers flooding and chaos
In Pics: India hit by heavy rains as early monsoon triggers flooding and chaos

Mint

time2 days ago

  • Mint

In Pics: India hit by heavy rains as early monsoon triggers flooding and chaos

In Pics: India hit by heavy rains as early monsoon triggers flooding and chaos 8 Photos . Updated: 05 Jun 2025, 02:00 PM IST Share Via The early monsoon's harsh arrival leaves many Indian states in chaos, with schools shut, landslides, and waterlogging. 1/8School children ride a boat to return home through a flooded area in Kampur, located in Assam's Nagaon district, following heavy rainfall on June 2, 2025. (AFP) 2/8Houses damaged by strong sea waves during the monsoon season at Kannamaly in Kochi. (PTI) 3/8Men carry a dog on an inflatable tube as they navigate floodwaters in Kongba, Imphal East, on June 3, 2025 (AFP) 4/8A man wades through floodwaters carrying a mattress in Kongba, Imphal East, on June 3, 2025. (AFP) 5/8A pedestrian walks past a car stranded on a flooded road amid monsoon rains in Mumbai. (PTI) 6/8People walk through a waterlogged road amid monsoon rains in Kochi. (PTI) 7/8Firefighters work to drain water from a flooded road following heavy monsoon rainfall in Navi Mumbai. (PTI)

Missouri tornado tracker: When will twister hit St Louis, Chesterfield, St Peters?
Missouri tornado tracker: When will twister hit St Louis, Chesterfield, St Peters?

Hindustan Times

time2 days ago

  • Hindustan Times

Missouri tornado tracker: When will twister hit St Louis, Chesterfield, St Peters?

Several cities in Missouri were under a tornado warning on Wednesday. Areas affected by the National Weather Service (NWS) notice included portions of St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and St. Charles County. The tornado warning was issued through 4 PM local time. The warning follows a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado, located over Bridgeton and moving northeast at 20 mph, posing significant risks to residents and infrastructure, per NWS St. Louis. This alert comes amid heightened regional concerns after the devastating May 16, 2025, EF3 tornado that killed five in St. Louis. Meanwhile, several videos on social media showed a tornado approaching Chesterfield. 'Another confirmed tornado ongoing in St Louis, MO metro, just NE of Chesterfield, moving NE. strong rotation (upper right panel) in Doppler velocity data. Debris lofted into radar signal (lower left panel) shown in dual pol correlation coefficient data,' one local wrote on X, platform formerly known as Twitter. The NWS confirmed radar-indicated rotation, signaling a potential tornado that could produce flying debris, damage or destroy mobile homes, harm roofs, windows, and vehicles, and cause tree damage, per Maximum hail size is less than 1 inch, reducing hail-related risks, but the tornado threat remains critical. Location and Path: At 3:21 PM CDT, the storm was centered over Bridgeton, moving northeast at 20 mph. Affected areas include St. Charles, Florissant, Alton, Maryland Heights, Hazelwood, Godfrey, Bridgeton, West Alton, Portage Des Sioux, and Orchard Farms, as well as the First Missouri State Capitol Historic Site and Interstate 70 between exits 227 and 231. The warning covers densely populated suburbs and key infrastructure, raising concerns after recent storms damaged 5,000 buildings in St. Louis. The NWS advised residents to: Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building, away from windows. If outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, seek the nearest substantial shelter to avoid flying debris.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store