Latest news with #AnishaGhosh
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Climate
- Indian Express
Bengal to get more rain; South Bengal districts on Yellow alert
Written by Anisha Ghosh The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a Yellow alert (Be Aware) for most South Bengal districts on Sunday afternoon. The weather bureau predicted light to moderate rainfall with possible thunderstorms in South Bengal districts like Howrah, Hooghly, North and South 24 Parganas, East and West Midnapore, Jhargram, Bankura, Purulia, East and West Bardhaman, Birbhum, Murshidabad, Nadia, and Kolkata. State capital Kolkata experienced overcast conditions on Sunday, but there was only 0.4 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours. The city recorded a maximum temperature of 30.4 degree Celsius and a minimum of 26.2 degree Celsius on Sunday. Humidity levels were on the higher side, ranging from 83 per cent to 100 per cent. Meanwhile, the IMD has put North Bengal districts like Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar under an Orange alert (Be Prepared), expecting heavy to very heavy rainfall (7-20 cm) on Sunday. Darjeeling, Cooch Behar, and Kalimpong are under a Yellow alert and are likely to witness light to moderate rainfall. Warnings have been issued for possible lightning and local flooding in low-lying areas across the region. In its bulletin, the IMD also stated that a 'trough runs from cyclonic circulation associated with the well-marked low-pressure area over northwest Madhya Pradesh and neighbourhood to northeast Bangladesh across northeast Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and north Gangetic West Bengal between 0.9 to 5.8 km above mean sea level.' Under the influence of this strong monsoon flow, widespread light to moderate rainfall is very likely to continue over West Bengal, with heavy rainfall activity expected at one or two places in some districts over the next few days. (Anisha Ghosh is an intern with The Indian Express)
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
IIT Kharagpur's induction program prioritizes mental health with SETU and parental collaboration
Written by Anisha Ghosh IIT Kharagpur recently inducted over 1800 new students in a vibrant Induction Programme. While the event celebrated academic beginnings, a somber undercurrent of recent student suicides on campus has brought mental health to the forefront of the institute's priorities. During the program, Director Prof. Suman Chakraborty stressed on the crucial need for students to care for one another. He also pledged to enhance parental involvement through regular online meetings, aiming for a collaborative approach to student welfare. 'We will take every input seriously, but parents should also take our inputs seriously,' Prof. Chakraborty stated, advocating for shared responsibility between the institute and families. To address this growing poblem, IIT Kharagpur has launched a new wellness program called SETU. It stands for Support, Empathy, Transformation, and Upliftment and aims to help students deal with emotional stress and mental health challenges. It includes 24/7 online counseling, one-on-one therapy, and mental health support through trained professionals and peer groups. The institute also introduced a programme called 'Campus Mothers', where volunteers will provide a safe space for students to talk and feel supported. However, some parents looking for strong actions highlighted that the recent tragedies are a stark reminder that academic success must not come at the cost of mental well-being. As one of the nation's premier institutions, IIT Kharagpur now faces the critical challenge of fostering an environment where students not only excel academically but also thrive in terms of their health and happiness. 'Biggest problem is our kids are being brought up in competitive environment from 1 to 12 including appearing for JEE where ranks matter than the overall personality. How can we build the culture of collaborative rather than competitive environment. They should learn from each other so that they understand things better.' said a parent. (Anisha Ghosh is an intern at the Kolkata office of The Indian Express.)
Indian Express
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
This Durga Puja season in Kolkata, American diamonds to add sparkle to goddess' eyes
Written by Anisha Ghosh This year's Durga Puja will have a sparkle of innovation from Indrajit Paul, an artisan from Kumortuli, North Kolkata. He has adorned Maa Durga's idol's eyes with special American diamonds. 'When the lights hit the goddess's eyes, the diamonds will reflect the rays, making it look illuminated as if it has come to life. It will give a 3-D effect, leaving the audience spellbound. No other stone can create the same effect,' Paul says. The idol stands tall at 11 feet and is priced between Rs 1.5 to 2 lakh. Out of all the idols the artist has made for this year, only one is left to be booked. Paul expects that the idol will be booked by Sunday. Many customers have already shown great interest in the idol with diamond-studded eyes after seeing the pictures. This is not the first time the artist has created something unique. In 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, he came up with the idea of a 'Coronasur' a demon symbolising the coronavirus. He received wide media coverage, and even the Kolkata Knight Riders sent a team to shoot a documentary on it. 'This year, idol-making has been a bit difficult as the continuous rain has been making it hard, stretching the drying time of the idols. We are using the help of ceiling fans to dry it,' says Paul, who is also into short films. Paul also has a knack for writing scripts and directing films. During my free time, I write scripts and direct short films. As West Bengal is set to celebrate Durga Puja by the end of September, the diamond-eyed idol is expected to become a major attraction. (Anisha Ghosh is an intern with The Indian Express)
Indian Express
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Former Bengali actress found wandering on Purba Bardhaman roadside, rescued
Written by Anisha Ghosh Wearing a pair of shorts and a black full-sleeved shirt, a middle-aged woman with paper and pen sat on the roadside near Amila Bazar in West Bengal's Purba Bardhaman district on Monday afternoon, speaking incoherently in Bengali and English. A few hours later, after the local people identified her as Sumi Har Choudhury, a former film and TV actress, the police confirmed her identity 'Choudhury, who was spotted wandering along the Bardhaman-Arambagh state highway, has been sent to a shelter home and efforts are on to trace her family,' said Abhishek Mandal, Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Bardhaman Sadar South. He mentioned that a message has been passed on to the Behala police station in Kolkata. According to her social media profile, Choudhury worked as a side character in popular Bengali films such as Dwitiyo Purush and Khashi Katha: A Goat Saga starring Naseeruddin Shah and in TV serials such as Rupsagore Moner Manush and Tumi Ashe Pashe Thakle. To the local people who approached her as she took shelter from the rain at a roadside rest spot at Khandaghosh, she said, 'I'm Sumi Har Choudhury, an actress'. The residents soon searched her name online and found her social media profile, confirming she was indeed who she claimed to be. 'She seemed mentally disturbed, but kept repeating she acted in serials. At first, we didn't believe her. Then we found her photos online,' said one of the local people who helped her. Choudhury said she came from Kolkata, while at other times she claimed to be from Bolpur. According to the police, once a resident of Behala in Kolkata, the former actress might have lived in Bolpur in Birbhum district for some time. However, how she arrived in Khandaghosh on Purba Bardhaman is yet not known. Attempts to find out how the former actress ended up in this condition were unsuccessful. (Anisha Ghosh is an intern with The Indian Express)
Indian Express
12-07-2025
- Science
- Indian Express
ZSI scientists discover 4 new tiny wasp species in West Bengal
Written by Anisha Ghosh In a major discovery, researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have found four new species of tiny parasitic wasps in West Bengal. These extremely small microscopic wasps belong to the genus Idris Förster and are known for laying their eggs inside spider egg sacs. Despite their size, they play an important role in nature by controlling spider populations. The wasps are named Idris bianor, Idris furvus, Idris hyllus, and Idris longiscapus. All four species were found between 2021 and 2023 in the farming areas of West Bengal by a team of scientists led by K Rajmohana at ZSI Kolkata. 'Each new species discovery adds a critical piece to the puzzle of life's diversity. Understanding these hidden members of ecosystems can reveal essential insights into ecological processes, evolution, and biodiversity patterns,' Rajmohana said. In an interesting behaviour pattern, the scientists noted that instead of just one wasp growing inside each spider egg sac, many baby wasps grow together and are called 'gregarious parasitism'. Other team members included Sushama V., Inspire Fellow of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Rupam Debnath from the University of Calcutta, and K P Dinesh from ZSI Pune. Their identification was achieved through a meticulous combination of detailed morphological examination and cutting-edge DNA barcoding. The finding was recently published in the European Journal of Taxonomy. 'An integrated taxonomic approach, which combines traditional morphological studies with modern molecular analysis, is crucial for species delimitation,' explained Dinesh, who provided the molecular expertise for the study. 'Despite their minute size, parasitoids are powerful natural regulators,' said Sushama V, lead author. Parasitoid wasps like Idris are important because they help control spider numbers and keep ecosystems in balance. This work also adds important DNA data to international science databases, helping scientists all over the world by expanding their knowledge of insect diversity, but also highlighting the remarkable variety of parasitoid wasps. (Anisha Ghosh is an intern with The Indian Express)
