Latest news with #Mohanty
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Women ransack police station seeking release of fraud accused
Bhubaneswar: Nearly 100 women, victims of an investment scheme, ransacked Infocity police station here on Tuesday, opposing the arrest of a man allegedly accused of defrauding them. The victims were apprehensive that pursuing legal proceedings against the accused, identified as Ajay Mohanty (55), would jeopardise chances of recovering their money. "We took loan from a finance company. He took our money, promising significant return. When he did not return our money, we sought the police assistance. His arrest has now jeopardised chances of getting our money back," said Tuni Nayak, one of the victims. A cheating had been registered against Mohanty on the basis of a complaint lodged by the victims on April 19. Mohanty allegedly formed a women self-help group and misappropriated about Rs 10 lakh. According to police sources, the victims demanded Mohanty's immediate release on the condition that he provide a written agreement, promising to return their money. However, law enforcement officials rejected this proposal, stating it would be in violation of legal procedures. "We were compelled to arrest him as per the registered FIR. The demands put forth by the women investors, while understandable from their perspective, were both illogical and illegal under the legal framework," explained a senior police officer. The accused was subsequently remanded to judicial custody after his bail application was rejected by the court. The situation escalated when the aggrieved women stormed the police station premises. They allegedly assaulted police personnel on duty and vandalized various items, including office furniture, important documents, and decorative flower pots. The protest spilled onto the streets as some demonstrators staged a road blockade on the busy KIIT-Sikharchandi road, causing significant traffic disruptions for about one hour. "We will register separate cases against the unruly women who participated in vandalizing the police station and attacking our officers. Such behaviour cannot be tolerated, regardless of the circumstances," the officer stated.
New Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Climate
- New Indian Express
India to face twice as many heatwave days, 43% rise in extreme rainfall by 2030 due to climate change: Study
NEW DELHI: A new study reveals that climate change is expected to cause a 43% increase in the intensity of extreme rainfall events throughout the country, along with a two-fold rise in heatwave days in major Indian cities. It recommends establishing a climate observatory to provide real-time early warnings about extreme weather events to help minimise damage. Conducted by IPE Global and Esri India, the study titled "Weathering the Storm: Managing Monsoons in a Warming Climate" analysed district-level spatial and temporal assessments to develop heat stress scenarios for the years 2030 and 2040. It aimed to establish a connection between climate change and the increased frequency and unpredictability of extreme rainfall and heatwave events. According to the study, major cities in India, including Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Patna, Surat, Bhubaneswar, and Thane, are likely to experience a twofold increase in heatwave days by 2030. These rising heatwave conditions are expected to lead to more erratic and intense rainfall. 'Extended heat wave conditions are likely to trigger more frequent, incessant and erratic rainfall events,' said Abinash Mohanty of IPE Global, a co-author of the paper. The paper underlines the grim situation of climate change's impact. It points out that 8 out of 10 districts in India are going to experience multiple instances of incessant and erratic rainfall by 2030. 'The frequency, intensity, and unpredictability of these extreme heat and rainfall events have risen significantly in recent decades,' said Mohanty.
DW
7 hours ago
- Climate
- DW
How India is becoming more vulnerable to extreme weather – DW – 06/10/2025
A new study in India has shown how extreme weather events are increasing in frequency and affecting quality of life. Extreme weather events like floods, heatwaves and cyclones are happening more frequently in India, with widespread negative impacts on health, development, and the economy. An annual report on the state of India's environment released last week by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a New Delhi-based public interest research and advocacy organization, shows how the extreme weather affects large parts of India's population. The report showed that nearly 3,000 people died, 2 million hectares of crops were ruined, and 80,000 homes were destroyed in extreme weather-related events last year. It also showed that extreme weather events happened somewhere in India on 88% of days in 2024. CSE director Sunita Narain told DW that the latest report should be a wake-up call for policymakers. "This report is important and emphasizes the urgent need for stronger environmental governance, improved health care infrastructure, and ambitious climate policies to address these interconnected crises," Narain said. Air pollution, heat and flooding Large Indian cities frequently experience the worst air quality levels of anywhere in the world. Since 2021, residents in 13 Indian cities, including Delhi, have breathed unsafe air one in every three days, according to the report. Life expectancy in Delhi is nearly eight years shorter due to air pollution, according to various studies. Tackling the effects of extreme weather — Eco India To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Even though the main summer months — from April to June — are always hot in India, temperatures have grown more extreme in the past decade. The intensity of rain and flooding has also increased. About 80% of India's population lives in regions that are considered vulnerable to disasters such as heat waves or severe flooding, the report said. "This report lays bare an uncomfortable truth. India is in the eye of a perfect storm where climate chaos, health crises, and development shortfalls are colliding," Abinash Mohanty, head of climate change and sustainability at IPE Global, an international development organization, told DW. Mohanty said that the data found in the report corresponds with the key findings from IPE Global's study in 2024, which showed that 80% of districts in India are susceptible to extreme weather events. "This is more than a statistical alarm, it is a lived crisis unfolding in real time," he said. Mohanty added that India's development model needs to be "radically reimagined" to adapt to hotter temperatures, biodiversity loss, and water emergencies." "The consequences of inaction today will become irreversible realities tomorrow," he said. What actions can the Indian government take? Narain from the CSE said the Indian government can do more to help develop adaptation strategies by investing in data collection. "The report does not discount the enormous strides that India has made in many fields. What it essentially does is hold up a mirror and make us acquainted with the fact that we need to sit back and take note of the trends, make sense of them, and initiate corrective actions," said Narain. "Unless we have clear, credible data, there can be no solutions or policies. Our strong plea therefore is that we need more, not less data. We need to be transparent," said Narain. Akshay Deoras, a climate scientist at the University of Reading, told DW that the CSE report should shake Indian policymakers, industries, and citizens out of being complacent about the impacts of climate change. "Climate resilience is no longer optional — it's an existential imperative," Deoras said. Deoras added that he believes India must move from reactive relief to anticipatory planning and from climate rhetoric to grounded, scalable action through establishment of climate risk observatories. "The clock is ticking — and there are no second chances," said Deoras. "This report lays bare the accelerating impact of climate change on India. Experiencing extreme weather on so many days in a year is not a statistical fluke — it signals a shifting baseline," he added. This will lead to compounded effects like crop losses, rising displacement, and biodiversity stress. "Without an immediate investment in adaptation, early warning systems, and reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases, we are heading toward a destabilized climate future, especially for the next generation," said Deoras. Can villages help India achieve climate goals? To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Edited by: Wesley Rahn
India Today
11 hours ago
- Climate
- India Today
Climate change to make India hotter and wetter, drive 43% rise in extreme rains
A study by IPE Global and Esri India reveals that climate change is set to trigger a dramatic escalation in extreme rainfall events across India, compounding the country's already severe weather global temperatures rise, Indian cities and rural districts are bracing for a future where heavy, erratic rains and heatwaves will become the new normal, with profound implications for lives, livelihoods, and to the study, the intensity, frequency, and unpredictability of extreme heat and rainfall events have surged alarmingly over the past three decades. Between 1993 and 2024, India experienced a 15-fold increase in extreme heatwave days during the March–May and June–September periods. Even more concerning is the fact that the last decade alone saw a 19-fold spike in such events. The study projects that by 2030, major urban centres — including Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Surat, Thane, Hyderabad, Patna, and Bhubaneswar—will witness a two-fold increase in heatwave days. However, it is the anticipated rise in extreme rainfall that is especially troubling: eight out of ten Indian districts are expected to experience multiple instances of erratic and intense rains by research highlights a clear trend: as heatwave hotspots expand, so too does the likelihood of incessant and unpredictable rainfall. Coastal districts, both on the eastern and western coasts, are already experiencing more frequent and erratic downpours, a pattern set to intensify in the coming study estimates that the frequency of extreme rainfall events could rise by as much as 43% over current levels, driven by microclimatic changes and local drivers such as land-use change, deforestation, and encroachment on mangroves and Mohanty, Head of the Climate Change and Sustainability Practice at IPE Global and lead author of the study, emphasized the urgency of action: 'The study and its stark findings suggest how climate change has exposed India to extreme heat and rainfall, and the situation is going to be grimmer and harsher by 2030, with the majority of urban centers impacted the most.' Even more concerning is the fact that the last decade alone saw a 19-fold spike in such events. (Photo: PTI) He further warned that meteorological phenomena like El Nino and La Nina are gaining stronger momentum, resulting in abrupt surges in climate extremes such as floods, cyclones, storm surges, and extreme study calls for a paradigm shift in India's approach to climate resilience. It recommends hyper-granular risk assessments, the establishment of Climate Risk Observatories, and the appointment of heat-risk champions within district disaster management committees. These measures, it argues, are essential to safeguard agriculture, industry, and infrastructure from the mounting threats posed by climate to Ashwajit Singh, Founder and Managing Director of IPE Global, 'Only then can India truly emerge as the climate solutions capital to the world'.Must Watch
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
People with Covid symptoms must avoid Rath Yatra: Odisha govt
Dr Mohanty informed that steps are being taken to re-operationalise the ICUs that were set up during the last Covid-19 wave in Puri. Additional beds are being arranged at the district headquarters hospital (DHH) while more doctors and medical staff will be deployed. The hospital is also being equipped with necessary medical supplies and infrastructure to handle any emergency. The government has also directed districts to stay on high alert and ramp up Covid surveillance and emergency response systems. Districts have been asked to ensure operational readiness of oxygen plants, availability of hospital beds, critical care units and stock of essential drugs. Meanwhile, the state reported 15 new Covid-19 cases in the last two days, taking the tally to 38 so far. Director of public health Dr Nilakanta Mishra said the situation is under control. 'The state has an active caseload of 29 after nine patients recovered from the infection. The condition of others are stable and none of them serious,' he said. Health experts had earlier flagged the potential risk of clusters forming during large gatherings, particularly given the circulation of the JN.1 sub-variants in Odisha.
