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Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Climate
- Free Malaysia Today
Toll of India Himalayan flood likely to be at least 70
Deadly floods and landslides are common during India's monsoon season. (Indian army/AFP pic) NEW DELHI : Indian officials say at least 68 people are unaccounted for a week after a deadly wall of icy water swept away a Himalayan town and buried it in mud. On top of four people reported to have been killed, it takes the likely overall toll of the Aug 5 disaster to more than 70 dead. Videos broadcast by survivors showed a terrifying surge of muddy water sweeping away multi-storey apartment blocks. Disaster officials said today that they were searching for corpses in the wreckage of the tourist town of Dharali in Uttarakhand state. Gambhir Singh Chauhan, from the national disaster response force, said sniffer dogs had identified several sites indicating there was a body but when 'when digging started, water came out from below'. Chauhan said teams were also using ground penetrating radar in the grim search. More than 100 people were initially reported as missing. But with roads swept away and mobile phone communications damaged, it has taken rescuers days to cross-check the list. The local government now lists 68 people as missing, including 44 Indians and 22 Nepalis. Nine soldiers are on the list. Deadly floods and landslides are common during the monsoon season from June to September, but experts say climate change, coupled with poorly planned development, is increasing their frequency and severity. Climate change experts warned that the disaster was a 'wake-up call' to the effects of global warming. No official cause of the flood has been given, but scientists have said it was likely that intense rains triggered a collapse of debris from a rapidly melting glacier. Himalayan glaciers, which provide critical water to nearly two billion people, are melting faster than ever before due to climate change, exposing communities to unpredictable and costly disasters. The softening of permafrost increases the chances of landslides.
NDTV
08-08-2025
- Climate
- NDTV
Rain Havoc In Hyderabad: Waterlogging, Traffic Jams, Power Outages
Hyderabad was subjected to yet another spell of sudden and intense rain on Thursday evening, that led to severe waterlogging, traffic jams, and power outages, particularly affecting commuters during the evening rush hour. The heavy downpour caused widespread chaos and brought the city to a standstill. The IT corridor and surrounding areas bore the brunt of Thursday's rain. Gachibowli recorded a staggering 123.5 mm of rainfall, with Khajaguda Sports Complex receiving a similar amount. Other severely affected localities included Srinagar Colony, Khairatabad, Banjara Hills, Jubilee Hills, Ameerpet, Manikonda and Shaikpet. Traffic was reported to be moving at a snail's pace on major roads, with many motorists, especially those on two-wheelers, struggling to navigate through waist-deep water. The Hyderabad and Cyberabad traffic police were on high alert, issuing warnings and trying to manage the gridlock. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation's (GHMC) Disaster Response Force (DRF) teams were deployed to clear waterlogged areas, fallen trees, and broken wires. In a precautionary measure, one gate of the Himayath Sagar reservoir was opened to release surplus water into the Musi River, a response to the continuous rainfall in the catchment areas. The weather department has issued a forecast for continued rainfall. Today, Friday, Hyderabad is expected to have cloudy skies with a high probability of light to moderate rain or thunderstorms, particularly during the evening and night. Isolated intense spells are also possible, accompanied by gusty winds of 30-40 kmph. The forecast for Saturday indicates that the city will continue to experience rainy conditions, with a high chance of rain both during the day and at night. Temperatures are expected to be around 27 degrees Celsius, with gusty winds and a high chance of precipitation. Residents and commuters are advised to be cautious, as more water pooling on roads and in low-lying areas is expected. Authorities are urging people to avoid unnecessary travel and stay indoors, especially during predicted intense spells of rain.
India Today
07-08-2025
- Business
- India Today
148 buildings hit, bridge destroyed: Satellite reveals scale of Uttarkashi tragedy
Rescue operations in Uttarakhand's flash flood-ravaged Uttarkashi district gained momentum on Thursday, with 65 stranded people airlifted as efforts were also stepped up to airlift advanced equipment to the Himalayan village of satellite analysis has revealed the extensive impact of the Uttarkashi tragedy, with approximately 148 buildings damaged and around 16 hectares of land assessment was conducted by Suhora Technologies using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and high-resolution optical imagery to identify the severely impacted The SAR imagery were acquired at 11:01 PM on August 5, providing near real-time data that enabled precise and timely disaster mapping. This advanced imaging technology highlighted the widespread destruction, which includes damage to housing, schools, and various public infrastructure. Flash flood damage assessment map. (Photo: Suhora Technologies) In addition to the buildings and land, critical infrastructure suffered as well: one bridge was damaged, and nearly 0.95 km of roadway has been affected. These damages have resulted in significant disruptions, including road closures and interruptions in connectivity, exacerbating the challenges faced by the affected Acharya, CEO of Suhora Technologies, emphasized the wider implications of the incident, stating, 'This incident is a stark reminder of the increasing vulnerability of Himalayan regions to climate-induced natural hazards, emphasizing the need for proactive policy, planning, and community resilience strategies.'Acharya also highlighted the vital role space data analytics can play in disaster management, providing actionable insights to government agencies, policymakers, and companies. Such capabilities enhance the ability to respond effectively to emergencies and build stronger resilience against future disasters. With the help of cutting-edge satellite technologies like SAR, authorities can better understand the extent of damage swiftly and implement targeted relief and recovery Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), police and other related agencies are involved in the relief and rescue have blocked arterial roads leading up to Dharali, where dozens of people were trapped and many homes and cars swept away by the raging waters on Tuesday.- EndsMust Watch
Hans India
04-07-2025
- Hans India
Huge blaze breaks out at Katedan rubber factory
Hyderabad: A massive fire broke out at a rubber manufacturing unit in the Katedan industrial area on Thursday. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported. Due to the intensity of the fire, thick plumes of smoke were seen billowing from the building, causing panic among nearby industrial workers. According to fire officials, the fire erupted at a unit involved in producing car mats and other rubber-based products. On receiving the alert, five fire tenders from nearby fire stations rushed to the spot and began firefighting operations. After an hour of firefighting the fire was doused. The official said that a short circuit is suspected to be the cause of the fire. 'When we spoke to the owner, he said there was no one at the factory at the time of the fire accident. So we suspect it could be a short circuit,' he added. The Mailardevpally police, along with Disaster Response Force (DRF) teams, also reached the location to assist in the emergency response. The officials cordoned off the area to prevent any mishaps and ensure the safety of workers and emergency personnel. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined and is currently under investigation by fire safety officials. The fire accident has caused an estimated loss of Rs 4-5 lakh. In another incident, following a gas explosion in a refrigerator inside a home, a fire erupted at Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Sanathnagar. The explosion occurred in house belonging to Satyanarayana. The sudden blast triggered intense flames, which quickly spread and gutted all household items inside the house. Upon information, fire tenders rushed to the scene and successfully doused the flames. Fortunately, no one was present inside the house at the time of the incident. Following the incident, local MLA Talasani Srinivas Yadav visited the residence to offer support and consolation to the affected family. The officials are assessing the damage and investigating the exact cause of the refrigerator explosion.
Time of India
16-06-2025
- Time of India
Neglected footbridge collapse near Pune sparks structural safety audit across Maharashtra, ET Infra
Advt Advt A structurally weak iron-and-concrete footbridge over the Indrayani river that had been declared unfit for use but not officially shut to pedestrians and bikes collapsed Sunday about 40km from Pune, killing four people and injuring 51, eight of them person was reported missing after falling into the rain-fed river at Bhegdewadi, just over a kilometre from the picturesque Kunda Mala vista that attracts hordes of tourists. More than a 100 people were on the footbridge when a portion of the structure gave way close to the stone bank of the river around 3.30pm, state minister for water resources and disaster management Girish Mahajan said. The footbridge connecting Shelarwadi, close to the old Pune-Mumbai highway, with Kanhewadi near Indori is a vantage point for people visiting the area at this time of year to enjoy the surroundings."The crowd on the bridge was beyond its capacity. There is a signboard warning people against standing on the bridge, but it seems everyone ignored it," Mahajan Dalvi, a survivor, said the bridge was so crowded that there was no space for anyone to move. "There were also some bikes on it, which made it worse. Everyone started running towards the main road as the structure heaved and collapsed," he said. Pimpri Chinchwad DCP Vishal Gaikwad identified three of the victims as Chandrakant Sathle, Rohit Mane and Vihan Mane. The identity of the fourth victim wasn't immediately of the 51 injured were discharged from hospital after treatment. The Maharashtra govt announced compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the Disaster Response Force (NDRF), police, fire brigade and other agencies used cranes to lift the collapsed iron structure to extricate two bodies by evening."We will resume the search for the other bodies and the missing person early on Monday," Pimpri Chinchwad police commissioner Vinoy Kumar Choubey officials said the footbridge was built over three decades ago and handed over to the Pune Zilla Parishad, which remains responsible for its upkeep. The state govt recently sanctioned Rs 8 crore for the construction of a new bridge parallel to the existing one, with work scheduled to begin after the authorities, including the village sarpanch, had flagged the bridge as Mala is a popular weekend getaway, especially during monsoon, to witness the Indrayani waters cascading from a rocky area that gives it the effect of a waterfall. Barely a week ago, Pune district collector Jitendra Dudi passed an order listing several restrictions for people visiting rivers, lakes, waterfalls and other popular weekend spots during monsoon in Lonavla and other places in the Devendra Fadnavis and deputy CM Ajit Pawar, who is also Pune's guardian minister, condoled the deaths in separate messages while ordering an inquiry into the circumstances leading to the tragedy. Eknath Shinde, the state's other deputy CM, said a structural audit of similar bridges across the state would be done district collector Jitendra Dudi told TOI, "A five-member committee will be constituted to investigate the bridge collapse."
