Latest news with #DisasterManagementAuthority
Hans India
2 days ago
- Climate
- Hans India
Tirupati district gears up for full monsoon season
Tirupati: In view of the early arrival of the southwest monsoon, widespread rainfall is expected across the district. District Collector Dr S Venkateswar has instructed officials to remain vigilant and ensure full preparedness to tackle any challenges that may arise during the rainy season. Along with DRO G Narasimhulu, the Collector conducted a review meeting on Friday, issuing detailed instructions to officials from various departments. Emphasising the need for a comprehensive and robust action plan, Dr Venkateswar urged authorities to draw on past experiences to implement preventive measures more effectively this year. Officials were asked to follow the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued by the Disaster Management Authority and work in close coordination. The Collector directed the establishment of control rooms at the district, division, and mandal levels, with dedicated phone lines and toll-free numbers to be made available to the public. Panchayat secretaries and engineering assistants were instructed to jointly inspect tanks and canal bunds and submit reports on their condition. The Health Department was told to ensure that all medical officers, ANMs, and ASHA workers remain alert and that adequate stocks of medicines and medical equipment are maintained at all health centres. Special instructions were also issued to the police, fire, planning, revenue, irrigation, and panchayat departments. Departments such as Irrigation, Electricity (APEPDCL), Revenue, Agriculture, and Horticulture were directed to take immediate preventive action. Special attention was urged for flood-prone zones identified during last year's heavy rains. Reiterating the district administration's primary responsibility to protect citizens, the Collector called for full-scale preparedness. He warned of the risks posed by thunderstorms and lightning during the rainy season and instructed officials to raise awareness among the public and take precautions to prevent harm to both people and livestock and set up rehabilitation centres. The meeting was attended by RDOs of Srikalahasti, Sullurpeta, and Tirupati – Bhanu Prakash Reddy, Kiranmayi and Rammohan, DPO Suseela Devi and other officials.
The Print
3 days ago
- General
- The Print
Not just oil, capsized Liberian ship poses another environmental threat. It's all over Kerala & TN coasts
According to the Kerala government, the vessel carried 643 containers, including 13 with hazardous materials and 12 containing calcium carbide—a chemical known to ignite on contact with water. The vessel also held 84.44 metric tonnes (MT) of diesel and 367.1 MT of furnace oil. On 24 May, MSC ELSA 3, en route to Kochi, began tilting soon after it left Vizhinjam port, which reports said was because of a technical issue. By the next day, the ship had completely sunk, around 4.6 nautical miles off the Thottappally spillway in Alappuzha. Thiruvananthapuram/New Delhi: Days after the Liberian-flagged shipping vessel capsized off the Kerala coast, tiny plastic pellets and other non-degradable remnants from the shipwreck have started washing up on Kerala and Tamil Nadu's coasts. Experts have raised an alarm over the impact of the spill as state government officials scramble to contain it. The initial concerns about oil spills and debris drifting along the Indian were soon realised, and the state is still struggling to mitigate the impact. Around four days later, on 28 May, tiny plastic pellets, or nurdles, began washing up on the Thiruvananthapuram coast. The pellets, which look like hailstones, have now started mixing with the sand. Apart from plastic nurdles, Sreekala S, chairperson of the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), wood, cloth, paper, glass, and tea bags, all believed to be stock aboard MSC ELSA-3, are also reaching the shores. Sreekala added that the district administrations, along with the KSPCB and the Disaster Management Authority (DMA), are now working with volunteers to collect debris from Varkala and will be expanding the operations to other coasts as and when more such instances are reported. 'We conducted a drone survey on Thursday to identify the affected areas. Once the collection process is complete, we will decide on the disposal method,' she said. Furthermore, Sreekala said that though no major oil spill from the ship had been reported, trace amounts of oil have been detected along the Alappuzha coast. Authorities in Kerala also said that 55 containers have floated ashore so far, reaching Alappuzha, Kollam, and Thiruvananthapuram. Containers have also been spotted as far as the coast of Tamil Nadu's Nagercoil. The pellets, which have been identified as the most hazardous items due to their non-degradable nature and potential to harm marine life, have been found predominantly along the Thiruvananthapuram coast, stretching from Varkala in the north to Thumba in the south. Robert Panipilla, founder of Friend of Marine Life, a civil society organisation that conducts underwater studies, raised concerns over the impact of the capsizing. 'The government isn't sharing information about what exactly sank with the ship. We depend on marine life, and we have the right to know.' Also Read: Global warming alarm bells ring as glacier collapse buries entire Swiss village, a first in 125 years Impact on marine life & concern about livelihood On Wednesday morning, D. Christhudas, a 52-year-old fisherman, woke up to a disturbing sight—plastic pellets and cashews had washed ashore in his locality of Adimalathura, Thiruvananthapuram. While he informed the local police station, the tehsildar only visited the village for inspections Thursday. Christhudas has not been able to work since. 'Not just here—eight nearby coastal villages are facing the same issue. And the authorities haven't taken any action since yesterday (Thursday),' Christhudas told ThePrint Friday. Now, a deeper fear looms—the loss of livelihood. Experts are also worried about the long-term implications of the incident. According to Panipilla, if the plastic remains in the sea for long, biomass will start attaching to it. Eventually, marine life will consume it. 'These pellets resemble fish eggs, which can deceive marine organisms,' he said. Balakrishnan Nair, director of the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), also echoed concerns about the plastic pellets. 'We don't have information on how many pellets were on board. But if they are deposited in the sea, it poses a serious danger.' Experts say the shipping company should be held accountable for the damage. 'People have a right to know what risks they are facing from chemical contamination to the safety of their livelihoods and how the government plans to respond,' Avinash Chanchal, deputy programme director (campaigns) at Greenpeace South Asia, said. Government action A senior official from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), on condition of anonymity, said that the Centre is in touch with the Kerala and Tamil Nadu governments for regular updates on the cleaning exercise. 'The challenge is that these pellets are very tiny and it is difficult to contain their movement,' the official said, adding, 'In Tamil Nadu, some untampered sacks of these pellets have been collected. But most pellets have broken their packaging and are floating in the waters.' A team of scientists from the Centre will be visiting Kerala and Tamil Nadu in the coming days to assess the situation and formulate a plan to contain the damage, the official said. Kerala government's initial plan is that, apart from manually cleaning the coasts from visible pellets, they will also be installing booms—barriers to collect debris in waterbodies—near Alappuzha's Vembanad Lake and Neendakara. This will not only catch the pellets but will also prevent further mixing of oil with freshwater sources. 'The only concern is that oil might leak if the hull breaks. So far, no such issue [major oil leak] has been observed,' Sreekala said. On Monday, the Indian Coast Guard also deployed vessels—ICGS Vikram, Saksham, and Samarth—to the accident site. The ships used infrared cameras to detect oil spills and apply oil spill dispersants (OSDs) to contain the spread. A Dornier aircraft stationed in Kochi is also conducting aerial surveillance for the debris from the wreckage, according to Kochi defence PRO Atul Pillai. The shipping company responsible for the vessel is actively engaged in salvaging and removing the containers, according to officials. 'The company has informed us that they aim to salvage the sunken vessel by 3 July,' Sreekala said. (Edited by Sanya Mathur) Also Read: 4 western disturbances this month made it wettest since 1901. Delhi rains in May isn't all good news
Hans India
4 days ago
- Climate
- Hans India
Heavy Rainfall Expected as Southwest Monsoon Spreads Across Andhra Pradesh
The Southwest Monsoon has fully arrived in Andhra Pradesh as of Wednesday, 28th May 2025, according to Ronamki Kurmanath, Managing Director of the Disaster Management Authority. He warned of potential heavy rains and gusty winds in the coastal regions over the next two days. Residents are urged to take necessary precautions, especially those living in low-lying areas near the Godavari, Nagavali, and Vamsadhara river basins, where flash floods are anticipated due to heavy rainfall in upstream states. Kurmanath stated that district administrations have been instructed to remain vigilant and take action to prevent drowning incidents near water bodies. District collectors have been directed to identify hazardous locations and install warning boards featuring safety instructions and emergency contact numbers. Forecasts for Thursday, 29th May 2025, indicate a likelihood of light to heavy rainfall in the Srikakulam, Parvathipuram, Vizianagaram, and Alluri Seetharamaraju districts. Other districts such as Eluru, NTR, Palnadu, Prakasam, Nellore, Nandyal, Kurnool, Anantapur, YSR Kadapa, and Sri Sathyasai can expect lighter showers. The following day, Friday, 30th May, is expected to bring light rains to Alluri Seetharamaraju, Konaseema, East Godavari, West Godavari, Eluru, NTR, and Krishna districts, with lighter precipitation forecasted elsewhere. As of 5 pm on Wednesday, significant rainfall has already been recorded across Srikakulam district, including 31.5 mm in Ichapuram, 27.7 mm in Rajapuram, 24.5 mm in Palasa, and 24.2 mm in Haripuram. On Tuesday, the district experienced substantial rainfall, with Santhabommali receiving 152.4 mm, Tekkali 139.4 mm, Kotaabommali 117 mm, Velerupadu 89 mm, and Buttaygudem 84.4 mm. Residents are advised to remain alert as the monsoon progresses.
The Hindu
18-05-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Experts visit Kayakkody after residents experience ‘mild tremors'
Experts from the Geology department on Sunday carried out a preliminary inspection at Kayakkody, a village located nearly 51 km away from the district headquarters, where local residents complained of experiencing mild tremors last Friday and Saturday. The report of the field-level inspection, which was carried out following the instructions of the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority, would be submitted to the District Collector on Monday. Officials who inspected the spot said there were no reasons to panic as the tremor was very mild and not recorded on the Richter scale. They also said there were no immediate requirements for any evacuation. The geologists also pointed out that a detailed study would be conducted in the area by the Disaster Management Authority to identify the source of the tremor. They said the residents who complained of experiencing mild tremors were mostly from Ellikkampara, Punnathottam, Karimpalakkandy and Paloi regions in the village. Local administrators from the area said the recurring incidents of tremors were found triggering huge safety concerns among residents. They said the majority of residents in wards 4 and 5 in Kayakkody panchayat experienced mild tremors with some strange sound at 7.30 p.m. on Saturday. Nadapuram MLA E.K. Vijayan said more field-level studies should be undertaken at the spot to address safety concerns. 'Though there were many similar incidents in the past, the recurring episodes should be a matter of scientific study at the earliest, which would only address public concerns,' he said. Revenue department officials also visited the spot on Sunday. They said the tremor reported by local residents had not lasted long or created any damage. More scientific studies would be required to find out the actual reasons though preliminary reports did not find anything dangerous, they added.
India Today
09-05-2025
- Health
- India Today
Nipah virus case confirmed in Kerala's Malappuram district
A Nipah virus case has been confirmed in Kerala's Malappuram district, with a 42-year-old woman, a native of the Valanchery municipality area of the district, being tested positive. Health authorities said she is currently under treatment at a hospital in Perinthalmanna. The patient initially visited a private clinic on 25 April after developing a fever and was subsequently hospitalised on May 1 following her doctor's recommendation. Preliminary tests conducted in Kerala suggested Nipah infection, which was later confirmed by the National Institute of Virology in response to the outbreak, Kerala's Disaster Management Authority has declared a three-kilometre area around the patient's residence as a containment zone. The affected regions include specific wards within Valanchery Municipality, Marakkara, Edayur, and Athavanad panchayats. Following a high-level review meeting chaired by State Health Minister Veena George on May 8, District Collector VR Vinod IAS issued an order imposing strict restrictions in the containment zones. Residents have been directed to avoid public gatherings, and wearing masks has been made mandatory in public spaces. Educational institutions including madrasas and anganwadis in the designated zones will remain closed until further Health Minister, who visited Malappuram to assess the situation, revealed that 21 samples from seven of the woman's close contacts, including family members, have tested negative for the virus. Medical authorities have suggested treating the patient with monoclonal antibodies, pending approval from the hospital's ethics special health teams are working to trace individuals who may have had contact with the patient. While the risk of wider transmission is believed to be low, all high-risk and low-risk contacts will be monitored for 21 days. Fever surveys will be conducted in Valanchery and surrounding establishments in the containment zones are permitted to operate only between 8 am and 6 pm, with medical stores exempted from this restriction. Officials have urged the public to maintain social distancing during essential gatherings such as weddings or funerals, and to consult registered medical practitioners if experiencing symptoms rather than Health Department is investigating the source of the infection, with the Animal Husbandry Department testing a dead cat found in the area for potential links to the case. Public advisories have warned against consuming fruits found fallen on the ground or partially eaten by outbreak marks another instance of Nipah virus in Kerala, following the first major outbreak in 2018 when 16 people died. Since then, health authorities have remained vigilant, particularly during May when outbreaks have historically District Police Chief has been instructed to ensure strict implementation of the containment measures, which will remain in force until further by Disha Maloo IN THIS STORY#Kerala
