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Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Flood and heatwave risks increasing in urban India, $2.4 trillion investment required: World Bank
As urbanisation accelerates, cities are becoming more vulnerable to floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related risks. A World Bank report released on July 22 estimates that over $2.4 trillion will be needed by 2050 to develop resilient, low-carbon infrastructure. A World Bank report released on July 22 estimates that over $2.4 trillion will be needed by 2050 to develop resilient, low-carbon infrastructure.(Photo by Sunil Ghosh / Hindustan Times) (Representational photo)(HT Files) Much of the ongoing urban expansion is taking place in 'flood-prone and heat-vulnerable areas.' Cities such as Delhi, Chennai, Surat, and Lucknow are among the most at risk, with rapid settlement growth in vulnerable zones amplifying the impacts of flooding and urban heat island effects, it noted. "In Delhi, the report highlights risks linked to rising temperatures and urban flooding. Heat stress is also expected to intensify. Between 1983 and 2016, exposure to dangerous heat levels increased by 71 percent in India's 10 largest cities, rising from 4.3 billion to 10.1 billion person-hours per year," the report titled 'Towards Resilient and Prosperous Cities in India' said. The report prepared in partnership with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs noted that "annual economic losses from rain-related flooding are currently estimated at 4 billion dollars. These are projected to rise to five billion dollars by 2030 and between 14 and 30 billion dollars by 2070 if no remedial action is taken." India's urban population is expected to nearly double from 480 million in 2020 to 951 million by 2050, making its cities increasingly vulnerable to climate-related risks, the report noted. The report warns that erratic rainfall, heatwaves, and rising sea levels are putting immense pressure on urban infrastructure. Without timely and large-scale investments in housing, transport, water supply, and waste management, the economic costs from climate-related damage will continue to rise. Also Read: 'Does the area flood?' Bengaluru homebuyers and investors now have fresh real estate worry "Timely actions can avert billions of annual damages and losses in flooding and extreme heat while investing in resilient and efficient municipal infrastructure and services," the report said. The report also raised concerns about heat-related deaths. "If emissions continue at current levels, annual heat-related deaths may rise from 1,44,000 to more than 3,28,000 by 2050. Around 20 percent of working hours in major Indian cities could be lost due to high heat stress conditions," it says. According to the report, the country's urban projected population will be around 1.1 billion by 2070. "More than 144 million new urban homes will be required, doubling the current housing stock," the report states. To offset these risks, the World Bank estimates that India will need to invest 2.4 trillion dollars by 2050 and 10.9 trillion dollars by 2070 across sectors such as housing, public transport, solid waste management, and municipal services. "However, India currently spent around 10.6 billion dollars per year from 2011 to 2018. India's current spending on urban infrastructure and services is -0.70 per cent of GDP, which is much lower than other countries and must be substantially increased", the report states. Also Read: Bengaluru floods: Was the city's Maharaja-era drainage system more effective and in sync with nature? "This is both a challenge and an opportunity," said Auguste Tano Kouame, World Bank Country Director for India. Without timely action, climate risks such as flooding and extreme heat will become much more severe, Kouame added. The report states that public financing alone will not be sufficient to meet this demand. It calls for increased private sector investment through tools such as green bonds, blended finance, and access to international climate funds. The report recommends strengthening the financial autonomy of urban local bodies and improving their capacity to plan and implement bankable projects. The report points out that an estimated investment of 150 billion dollars over 15 years could enable 60% of existing Indian cities to implement flood mitigation measures. (With PTI inputs)
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Aditya Roy Kapur greets paparazzi with a sweet smile as he is spotted in the city in a simple casual look- Watch
Aditya Roy Kapur's charm lit up Mumbai as he greeted photographers with a smile, winning fans' hearts. He shared that on-screen chemistry with Sara Ali Khan developed naturally, deepening during promotions. Excited about 'Metro In Dino' and reuniting with director Anurag Basu, Aditya embraced the creative journey wholeheartedly. Aditya Roy Kapur has captivated audiences with his role in 'Metro In Dino'. Recently spotted in Mumbai, his natural charisma caught everyone's attention. A video showcasing him stepping out with a warm smile while greeting the paparazzi is currently trending across social media platforms. Warm Paparazzi Greeting Draws Fan Love A video shows Aditya warmly acknowledging the paparazzi with a smile and a pose, drawing plenty of heart emojis from his fans in the comments. In a recent interview with Hindustan Times, he opened up about the strong bond and on-screen rapport he shares with Sara Ali Khan , which grew throughout the making and promotion of the film. On-Screen Chemistry: Natural and Unplanned The actor explained that on-screen chemistry is not something that can be planned or manufactured by actors; it either naturally exists or it doesn't, and ultimately, it is up to the audience to decide. He noted that while chemistry itself can't be forced, strong writing and an effective director play important roles in creating situations that help bring out that connection between actors. Growing Friendship Behind the Scenes He shared that he and Sara were only socially acquainted before working together, and that truly getting to know her happened on set. He explained that filming allowed him to learn about her personality through their work together, but it was during the promotional phase that their bond deepened even more. While shooting, they focused on preparing for scenes and maintaining a professional atmosphere, but promotions required spending extended time together more casually, allowing them to learn a lot about each other beyond their on-screen roles. Theatre Holds a Special Place for Aditya Aditya expressed his excitement about having a film showcased in cinemas and his joy in reuniting with director Anurag Basu . Reflecting on their previous collaboration, Ludo, Aditya felt there was more to explore creatively. When Basu approached him with ideas for his character and story in the new film, Aditya was eager to return to the set and dive into the project.
News18
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Saiyaara Song Hits Spotify Global Top 50; Ananya Panday Urges Fans To Make It No. 1
Last Updated: Ananya Panday cheered as Saiyaara's title track entered Spotify's global Top 50. She now wants fans to help push it to number one. Ahaan Panday's Bollywood debut Saiyaara isn't just making waves at the box office—it's now ruling music charts across the globe. The film's soulful title track has officially entered Spotify's Global Top 50 list, a major milestone for an Indian film song. Celebrating the moment, Ahaan's cousin and Bollywood actor Ananya Panday took to Instagram to share the exciting update. Reposting a screenshot of the song's chart placement, she wrote, 'Saiyaara on global charts top 50 on Spotify, how crazy! I'm doing my bit to take it to number 1 now. Let's do it India #OnLoop." Her post is now being widely circulated among fans of the film. While the film features multiple chartbusters sung by Vishal Mishra and composed by Tanishk Bagchi, the title track stands out for its fresh energy and unique musicality. It is sung by Faheem Abdullah, who also co-composed it with his longtime collaborator Arslan Nizami. In an interview with Hindustan Times, Faheem spoke about his journey from Kashmir to Bollywood, calling the opportunity a 'pinch-me" moment. 'To be able to do music itself is a privilege. We never thought we'd ever do music for a film. That was never something we consciously thought about until we got that call," he shared. He hopes the success of Saiyaara can open the door for more Kashmiri artists to enter the Indian mainstream. 'Kashmir is a very undiscovered place when it comes to music in our country. It has huge potential when it comes to talent," Faheem added. Directed by Mohit Suri, Saiyaara stars Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda in lead roles. The romantic drama has already crossed Rs 100 crore at the box office and is being praised for reviving the classic Bollywood love story aesthetic. With its soundtrack now topping international playlists, the film's cultural impact is only growing. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Aditya Roy Kapur Looks Handsome In Casual, Greets Paps With A Smile In Viral Video
Last Updated: In a recent chat with the Hindustan Times, the actor reflected on his chemistry with his co-star, Sara Ali Khan Aditya Roy Kapur has won hearts with his performance in Metro In Dino. He was recently spotted in Mumbai, and his effortless charm turned heads. A video of the actor casually stepping out and greeting paparazzi with his smile has gone viral on social media. In the video, shared by Filmygyan, we can see Aditya Roy Kapur greeting paps with a smile and pose for the camera. Fans dropped heart emojis in the comment section. In a recent chat with the Hindustan Times, the actor reflected on his chemistry with his co-star, Sara Ali Khan, and the friendship they have built over the course of the film's shoot and promotions. Aditya Roy Kapur said, 'When it comes to chemistry, I don't think that's something that two people can sit and plan, saying we will now conjure it up. You can't do that, it's either there or it's not there. And that's for the audience to judge." 'Good writing helps, though, and so does a good director, who helps to put you in situations that bring that out of both of you," he said. Aditya added, 'We didn't know each other before. We just knew each other socially, and that's not the same as spending hours together on a film set working on something together. I learned everything about Sara on the job." 'In fact, promotions were even more intense because you end up spending a lot more time together just being yourself. On set, you're still trying to prep for a scene, you're going in there, just chilling and going back to work. But with promotions, we've been in the thick of it, constantly learning things about each other," he said. Aditya Roy Kapur has seen success in theatrical projects as well as OTT projects. However, the theatre has a soft corner in his heart. 'Having your film in the theatre is an amazing feeling, and it's great to have that happen. I was so excited to be back with Dada (Anurag Basu, director) and doing another film with him. We had such a great time on Ludo, but it felt like it was not complete. It felt like there was more to explore, so when he called about this film and told me the ideas that he had for this track, and for this character, it was very exciting, and I just wanted to get back on set with him," he said First Published: July 22, 2025, 18:14 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India Today
7 hours ago
- Health
- India Today
No roti and rice: Inside Sarfaraz Khan's incredible body transformation
Sarfaraz Khan's father Naushad Khan revealed how the Mumbai batter was able to undergo a drastic body transformation over the past few months. Sarfaraz surprised the cricket world on Monday, July 21, when he showed off a leaner physique. The 27-year-old received praise from Kevin Pietersen for focusing on his physique and the former England skipper said that it could bring him more success on the field. advertisementBefore the start of India A's tour of England for the matches against the England Lions, Sarfaraz had reportedly dropped 10 kilos and it is now being reported that the Mumbai batter has been able to lose close to 17. Speaking to Hindustan Times, Sarfaraz's father said that they have stopped eating roti and rice for the past one to one and a half months at their home, focusing more on vegetables and proteins. He went on to say that cutting out sugar from the diet has helped Sarfaraz shed weight. "We have controlled our diet a lot. We have stopped eating roti, rice, etc. We haven't eaten roti or rice at home for 1 to 1.5 months. We eat broccoli, carrot, cucumber, salad, and green vegetable salad. Along with that, we eat grilled fish, grilled chicken, boiled chicken, boiled egg, etc. We are also having green tea and green coffee," said Naushad to Hindustan Times. "We eat avocados also. There are sprouts also. But the main thing is that we have stopped eating roti and rice. We have stopped eating sugar. We have stopped eating maida (flour) and bakery items."Naushad said that he is also participating in the diet plan with his son as he is planning on getting a surgery on his knee. He went on to say that Sarfaraz plans to lose more weight in the coming months. "He has almost lost 10 kgs within 1.5 months. He is working on reducing his weight even further. I have reduced 12 kgs myself because I had a knee issue. So, I also benefited from it. The doctor told me that I have to do a knee replacement. So, I told him that I had to delay it. He told me that I have to reduce my weight for that," said Naushad. Sarfaraz's India career so farAfter being a run-machine on the domestic circuit for Mumbai, Sarfaraz finally got his chance to play for the Indian team during the series at home against England in 2024. The 27-year-old impressed everyone with his batting but has found it tough to seal a spot in the side. advertisementWhile he was part of the touring squad to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Sarfaraz didn't get to play a single game and was subsequently not considered to be a part of the team for the ongoing series against England. However, he did impress during the India A vs England Lions games and the intra-squad match, where he scored a hundred. - Ends
