Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla lands in Delhi, meets ISRO chairman, Delhi CM
Shukla, after landing in Delhi, met ISRO chairman Dr V Narayanan, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and Union MoS for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh.
Singh shared a post on X alongside a video of Shukla meeting with dignitaries and leaders upon his arrival. 'India's Space glory touches the Indian soil… as the iconic son of Mother India, #Gaganyatri Shubhanshu Shukla lands at Delhi in the early hours of morning today,' Singh said in the post.
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The Hindu
5 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Call for region-specific antivenoms to save snakebite victims
Herpetologists and health experts have called for region-specific antivenoms to increase the chances of saving lives in areas where the 'Big Four' snakes are not dominant. Snakebite victims in India are administered a polyvalent antivenom derived from the venom of four serpents that cause the majority of deaths. These four are the Indian cobra (Naja naja), common krait (Bungarus caeruleus), Russell's viper (Daboia russelii), and saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus). However, the polyvalent serum developed against these four snakes has limited or no efficacy in most parts of Northeastern India, where snakebite deaths are more commonly caused by the monocled cobra (Naja kaouthia), kraits (Bungarus sp.), green pit vipers (Trimeresurus sp.), and other medically significant snakes. 'There is an urgent need to establish a Regional Venom Centre and a serpentarium (a place where snakes are housed for exhibition or research) at a strategic place in the northeast to address the region's unique snakebite challenges and improve patient outcomes,' herpetologist Jayaditya Purkayastha said. He heads Help Earth, a Guwahati-based biodiversity conservation organisation, which partnered the Assam State Biodiversity Board, Assam Forest Department, and the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust (MCBT) to organise the first-ever Assam Snake Symposium a fortnight ago. The event brought together more than 80 snake rescuers from across Assam, alongside national and international experts, researchers, educators, and policymakers. 'Without region-specific antivenom, many envenomation cases result in delayed recovery, long-term complications, or even fatalities, despite the administration of standard treatment. A regional venom centre would serve as a hub for the systematic collection of venom from the medically important species native to the northeast, enabling the development of geographically appropriate antivenom,' Dr Purkayastha said. 'Such a centre, coupled with a serpentarium, can help maintain, milk, and study live specimens ethically. This facility would also support research on venom variability, toxin composition, and clinical manifestations specific to local snake species,' he said. High-burden States A 2020 study on trends in snakebite deaths in India from 2000 to 2019, published in eLife, said the World Health Organisation's call to halve global snakebite deaths by 2030 would require substantial progress in India. It also cited the WHO's estimation that 81,000-138,000 people die annually from snakebites worldwide, and thrice the number survive with amputations and permanent disabilities. The researchers of the study, including Romulus Whitaker, Wilson Suraweera, Geetha Menon, and Prabhat Jha, analysed 2,833 snakebite deaths from 611,483 verbal autopsies in the nationally representative Indian Million Death Study from 2001 to 2014, and conducted a systematic literature review from 2000 to 2019 covering 87,590 snakebites. The team estimated 1.2 million snakebite deaths (average 58,000 per year) across India from 2000 to 2019, nearly half of them occurring at ages 30-69 years and over a quarter in children under 15 years. Most of these deaths occurred at home in rural areas. The study found that about 70% occurred in eight higher-burden States with 55% of India's population, and half during the rainy season and at low altitude. These States are Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh (before the creation of Telangana), Rajasthan, and Gujarat. 'The risk of an Indian dying from snakebite before age 70 is about 1 in 250, but notably higher in some areas. More crudely, we estimate 1.11-1.77 million bites in 2015, of which 70% showed symptoms of envenomation,' the study said, noting that prevention and treatment strategies might substantially reduce snakebite mortality in India. Overlooked health issue According to the National Crime Records Bureau's report on accidental deaths in 2022, deaths due to 'snakebite' dropped by 3.6% from 10,450 in 2021 to 10,085 the following year. Deaths due to 'killed by animals' and 'animal/reptiles/insects bite' increased by 16.5% and 16.7% during this period, respectively. Despite the 'encouraging' trend in snakebite deaths, reptile specialists pointed out that snakebite envenoming remains a major but often overlooked public health issue in India, which accounts for nearly half of the global snakebite deaths each year. 'India is the world's most affected nation in terms of mortality. The burden is particularly high in rural and agrarian communities, where people frequently work barefoot in fields and lack access to timely medical care,' MCBT's Gnaneswar Ch. said. He said that the snakebite crisis is worsened by several challenges, with many cases going unreported due to reliance on traditional healers, lack of transportation, and limited awareness. 'Delays in reaching health facilities, along with improper first-aid practices, often lead to severe complications or death. Furthermore, there is a shortage of trained personnel and adequate supplies of antivenom in remote areas. The quality and regional suitability of antivenom is another concern, as it may not be effective against locally prevalent snake species outside the Big Four,' he said. In response to this public health emergency, India launched the National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming in 2024, aligning with the WHO's 2030 target to halve snakebite deaths. The experts agreed that despite such efforts, major gaps remain in public awareness, community preparedness, and healthcare infrastructure. They sought greater emphasis on region-specific research, education campaigns at the village level, and strengthening rural healthcare systems to ensure early and appropriate treatment. Snakebite mitigation Acknowledging the challenges in saving lives in a region where the polyvalent serum is less effective, Assam's forest minister, Chandra Mohan Patowary said a State-Level Steering Committee on Snakebite Mitigation would be formed. He proposed the establishment of a serpentarium in Assam to facilitate advanced research on snake venom and address the region-specific challenges of envenomation and treatment. Subsequently, the Assam State Biodiversity Board signed a memorandum of understanding with Help Earth to work jointly on snakebite awareness and mitigation programmes at the Biodiversity Management Committee level. The experts favoured a State Snakebite Mitigation Action Plan toward setting up a Regional Venom Centre and facilitating collaborations with institutions across India for venomics research and antivenom standardisation. They also suggested an app or digital platform for the timely and ethical handling of snake-human encounters, increasing due to habitat encroachment, urbanisation, and seasonal flooding. Such an app is envisaged to serve as a life-saving tool for both humans and snakes by reducing panic and delays during snake sightings or bite incidents. 'Beyond rescue logistics, the app can act as a centralised repository of real-time data on snake rescue, release locations, species involved, and conflict zones. This valuable information can be used to identify hotspots, monitor trends, and guide policy-level decisions for snake conservation, land-use planning, and public health interventions,' Dr Purkayastha said. 'Moreover, this digital platform can be integrated with hospitals, forest departments, and wildlife boards to streamline responses, improve awareness, and encourage coexistence,' he said. 'Snakebite deaths in India are largely preventable, and with coordinated action across health, forest, and community sectors, the country can move closer to eliminating avoidable snakebite fatalities,' Assam's chief wildlife warden, Vinay Gupta, said.
United News of India
2 hours ago
- United News of India
After historic ISS mission, Shukla reaches India to rousing reception
Chennai, Aug 17 (UNI) Decorated Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, who piloted the Axiom-4 Mission and become the first Indian to travel to the International Space Station (ISS) where he conducted microgravity experiments during his 18-day stay, landed in New Delhi this morning from Texas, US. He was accorded a rousing reception on his arrival at the Indira Gandhi International airport in New Delhi early this morning. Shukla, who along with three other crew members on board AX-4 (others being from the US, Poland and Hungary) splashed down off the coast of California on July 15 after an 18-day stay aboard the ISS, was received by his Union Minister Jitendra Singh, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and his family members, including his wife Kamna, and ISRO scientists. Terming his visit to ISS as a moment f pride, later, he met ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan and shared his experience he had at ISS. Shux was expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi either today or tomorrow. Dr Jitendra in a post on X said "a moment of pride for India! ." "A moment of glory for #ISRO! A moment of gratitude to the dispensation that facilitated this under the leadership of PM @narendramodi", he wrote. . Sharing the photos upon receiving at the airport, Dr Jitendra said "India's Space glory touches the Indian soil… as the iconic son of Mother India, #Gaganyatri Shubhanshu Shukla lands at Delhi in the early hours of morning today." "Accompanying him, another equally accomplished Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, one of the astronauts selected for India's first Human mission Gaganyaan who was India's designated backup for the mission to the International Space Station #ISS", he added. "Privileged to receive both of them at the New Delhi Airport along with Delhi CM Smt. Rekha Gupta @gupta_rekha, #ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan and later welcomed by a group of students", he said. Shux was the first Indian in 41 years afer Rakesh Sharma to travel to space and the first ever to visit ISS when the AX-4 mission, which he piloted took off from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on June 25. Upon docking at ISS after a 28-hour journey, SHux conducted seven micro gravity experiments on behalf of ISRO, held outreaching programmes and also interacted with Mr Modi, ISRO Chairman and school and college students. After his ISS visit, the Dragon spacecraft splashed down successfully off California coast marking the culmination of a historic visit and milestone in India's space Odyssey. Shux boarded a flight to India at Texas yesterday and landed this morning. Afrer boarding the flight back to India, Shux penned an emotional note reflecting on his one year experience as part of the mission and said he was eager to return to India and share his experiences with all. "As I sit on the plane to come back to India I have a mix of emotions running through my heart", he wrote. "I feel sad leaving a fantastic group of people behind who were my friends and family for the past one year during this mission. I am also excited about meeting all my friends, family and everyone in the country for the first time post mission", he added. "I guess this is what life is - everything all at once", Shux posted in Instagram. "Having received incredible love and support from everyone during and after the mission I can't wait to come back to India to share my experiences with all of you", he said. "Goodbyes are hard but we need to keep moving in life. As my commander @astro_peggy fondly says 'the only constant in spaceflight is change'. I believe that applies to life as well.", Shux said. "I guess at the end of the day -'Yun hi chala chal rahi - jeevan gaadi hai samay pahiya' #axiom4 #shux #shubhanshushukla #space #farewell", he wrote quoting a Hindi song. UNI GV 0615
Mint
4 hours ago
- Mint
Workplace bullying hinders employees creative thinking, engagement in side projects: IIM study
New Delhi, Aug 17 (PTI) Workplace bullying and negative behaviour such as being excluded, humiliated or treated unfairly hinders creative thinking and reduces the likelihood of employees engaging in innovative side projects, a study by Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Lucknow has found. In many organisations, employees work on secret, self-initiated ideas developed without management's knowledge and present them to the management once they are ready to deliver significant results leading to business success, it said. According to officials, the researchers employed a mixed-method approach to gather the necessary data. In the experimental scenario-based part of the research, the team gathered input from 112 participants. In the survey-based part of the research, input from 313 employees working in IT-enabled companies was gathered. "Our study sheds light on how subtle forms of workplace mistreatment can silently erode employees' creative potential. Organisations must create an environment where support, respect, and open dialogue are the norm to unlock true innovation," Rishab Chauhan, PhD scholar, IIM Lucknow, told PTI. The study found that workplace bullying reduces the likelihood of employees engaging in innovative side projects while negative workplace behaviour drains employees' "relational energy" which they gain from feeling supported or recognised Open communication between managers and employees can help preserve and revive creative thinking, it noted. The study has bagged the "Best Paper in Proceedings Award" in the conflict management division at the prestigious 85th Academy of Management (AOM) Conference, held at Copenhagen, Denmark. "It is an honour to have our work recognised at a global platform like AOM. We hope these findings encourage companies to not only curb workplace bullying but also actively nurture the creative spark in their employees," Payal Mehra, Professor, Communications, IIM Lucknow. The study highlights the critical need for organisations to actively identify and address negative workplace behaviour. It also highlights the need for strong communication and anti- bullying policies to encourage employee-driven innovation. "Organisations should establish a proper punitive system for detrimental workplace bullying at workplace. Firms can include employee behaviour as a significant metric for their performance assessment to mitigate workplace abuse. They should also offer secure avenues for employees to lodge appeals and enact proactive measures against workplace bullying," the study said.
