Latest news with #NorthernCommand
Time of India
an hour ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Multiple Chinese icebreakers deployed off Alaska rattles Trump and America - here's what they are doing
China's deployment of five icebreaking ships near Alaska marks a significant increase in its Arctic activities. This move intensifies global competition for control over the region's natural resources and new shipping routes, prompting the United States to boost its Arctic presence amid rising geopolitical tensions. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Growing Chinese Presence in the Arctic Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads U.S. Response and Arctic Preparedness Strategic Importance and Geopolitical Tensions FAQs: China has recently deployed five icebreaking vessels in Arctic waters near Alaska, a move that marks an unprecedented escalation in its presence in the region. This significant buildup surpasses the entire icebreaker fleet currently operated by the U.S. Coast Guard in the Arctic, highlighting a shift in maritime presence and prompting increased vigilance from U.S. military and Coast Guard Arctic is rapidly gaining strategic importance due to climate change, which is opening new shipping passages and revealing vast natural resources. As nations compete to assert their influence, China's expanded fleet signals its rising ambitions in this sensitive region. The operation reflects broader goals that include scientific research, natural resource exploration, and securing access to developing maritime routes. This development has raised concerns about regional security and geopolitical balance, increasing focus on Arctic preparedness and international cooperation to manage this fragile and disputed Chinese fleet includes the Xue Long 2, China's largest domestically built icebreaker, which departed from Shanghai in early July. Alongside the Xue Long 2, other research vessels such as Tan Suo San Hao, Zhong Shan Da Xue Ji Di, Ji Di, and Shen Hai Yi Hao are actively operating in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas, near Alaska and Russian waters. This represents the first time China has operated so many icebreakers simultaneously in this delicate region.U.S. Northern Command and NORAD are closely tracking these vessels, recognizing that while they remain in international waters, their presence signifies a notable rise from previous years. The strategic intent behind China's expanding Arctic operations seems connected to research, natural resource exploration, and obtaining access to new maritime routes opening due to melting response, the United States is strengthening its Arctic capabilities. The U.S. Coast Guard is scheduled to launch the Coast Guard Cutter Storis soon, and efforts are in progress to expand the nation's icebreaker fleet. However, the U.S. faces challenges such as limited shipbuilding capacity and funding issues that delay new vessel construction. Meanwhile, China continues to invest heavily in polar research and icebreaking technology, with the Xue Long 2 having been introduced in 2019. This advancement places China in a stronger position to assert influence in the Arctic, a region becoming more important due to climate change and the economic potential of newly available shipping routes and natural Arctic's vast reserves of minerals, oil, and gas, alongside emerging sea routes, have made it a hotspot for international competition. China's enhanced presence has sparked concerns among U.S. officials and Arctic nations about the future stability of power and access to the ice continues to melt and the Arctic becomes more navigable, tensions over sovereignty, environmental protection, and economic exploitation are likely to escalate. China's deployment of multiple icebreakers signals its determination to play a key role in this changing geopolitical landscape.A1. The Arctic is the area around the North Pole, covered by ice and ocean.A2. Ships designed to travel through ice covered waters.
The Star
2 days ago
- Climate
- The Star
Residents stranded by floods along key pilgrim route
Kids commute on a floating dock in a flooded residential area after heavy monsoon rains induced a rise in the water level of the Ganges river in Varanasi on August 6, 2025. (Photo by Niharika KULKARNI / AFP) RESCUERS used helicopters to pluck to safety people stranded by flood waters in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand two days after a sudden inundation and landslide killed four people, while more than a dozen were still missing. With roads cleared as rain eased, rescue teams arrived in Dharali yesterday, where Tuesday's wall of water had submerged in sludge homes and cars in the village on the way to the Hindu pilgrim town of Gangotri. Helicopters were carrying to safety those who had been stranded, the state's chief minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, said in a post on X yesterday, adding, 'The heli-rescue operation ... started in the affected areas this morning.' Authorities said about 400 people stuck in Gangotri were being rescued by air, with nine army personnel and seven civilians among the missing. But communication links with rescuers and residents remain disrupted, as mobile telephone and electricity towers swept away by the floods have yet to be replaced, officials said. 'We were stuck in the slush for about 20 minutes and were then rescued by the Indian army,' said Amardeep Singh, an army contractor on a rescue mission when his team was hit by another flash flood in Harsil, the site of an army camp. Earlier, army rescuers used their hands, as well as machinery, to shift boulders from roads turned into muddy, gushing rivers, visuals showed. More than 225 army personnel were drafted into the rescue, its Northern Command said on X. 'We saw Dharali falling before our eyes,' said Anamika Mehra, a pilgrim headed for Gangotri when the flooding hit. The hamlet of about 200 people in the state's Uttarkashi district stands more than 1,150m above sea level on the climb to the temple town. 'We were very scared, but the locals helped us and the army reached the next day to rescue us,' Mehra told the ANI news agency. Uttarakhand is prone to floods and landslides, which some experts blame on climate change. In 2021, a flash flood swept away two hydroelectric projects to send water, rocks and debris into a valley, killing more than 200 in an event scientists said could have been unleashed by a large avalanche of glacier ice. — Reuters
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Climate
- Business Recorder
Helicopters rescue people stranded by floods on key India pilgrim route
BHATWADI: Indian rescuers used helicopters on Thursday to pluck to safety people stranded by flood waters in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, two days after a sudden inundation and landslide killed four people, with more still missing. With roads cleared as rain eased, rescue teams arrived in Dharali, where Tuesday's wall of water had submerged in sludge homes and cars in the village on the route to the Hindu pilgrim town of Gangotri. Helicopters were carrying to safety those who had been stranded, the state's chief minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, said in a post on X. Dhami said the destruction was 'massive' and that the number of missing persons was still being estimated. 'If the weather supports us then we will bring every single person by tomorrow,' he told Reuters, referring to rescue efforts. Heavy rains, landslides hamper rescue efforts in northern Indian state, dozens missing Authorities said about 400 people stuck in Gangotri were being rescued by air, with nine army personnel and seven civilians among the missing. Relatives of missing people gathered at the helicopter base at Matli village, desperately searching for their loved ones. Mandeep Panwar said he wanted to reach Dharali, where his brother ran a hotel and is among those missing since Tuesday. 'If you see the videos, ours was the first hotel to be hit by the deluge. I have not heard from my brother and he has been missing since,' Panwar said. Communication links with rescuers and residents remained disrupted, as mobile telephone and electricity towers swept away by the floods have yet to be replaced, officials said. Earlier, army rescuers used their hands, as well as machinery, to shift boulders from roads turned into muddy, gushing rivers, visuals showed. More than 225 army personnel were drafted into the rescue, their Northern Command said on X. 'We saw Dharali falling before our eyes,' said Anamika Mehra, a pilgrim headed for Gangotri when the flooding hit. The hamlet of about 200 people in the state's Uttarkashi district stands more than 1,150 metres (3,775 feet) above sea level on the climb to the temple town. Uttarakhand is prone to floods and landslides, which some experts blame on climate change.
Dubai Eye
2 days ago
- Climate
- Dubai Eye
India uses helicopters to speed up rescue efforts in flood-hit parts
Indian rescuers used helicopters on Thursday to pluck to safety people stranded by flood waters in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand two days after a sudden inundation and landslide killed four people, while more than a dozen were still missing. With roads cleared as rain eased, rescue teams arrived in Dharali, where Tuesday's wall of water had submerged in sludge homes and cars in the village on the way to the Hindu pilgrim town of Gangotri. Helicopters were carrying to safety those who had been stranded, the state's chief minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, said in a post on X, adding, "The heli-rescue operation... started in the affected areas this morning." Authorities said about 400 people stuck in Gangotri were being rescued by air, with nine army personnel and seven civilians among the missing. But communication links with rescuers and residents remain disrupted, as mobile telephone and electricity towers swept away by the floods have yet to be replaced, officials said. "We were stuck in the slush for about 20 minutes and were then rescued by the Indian army," said Amardeep Singh, an army contractor on a rescue mission when his team was hit by another flash flood in Harsil, the site of an army camp. Earlier, army rescuers used their hands, as well as machinery, to shift boulders from roads turned into muddy, gushing rivers, visuals showed. More than 225 army personnel were drafted into the rescue, its Northern Command said on X. The hamlet of about 200 people in the state's Uttarkashi district stands more than 1,150 m above sea level on the climb to the temple town. "We were very scared, but the locals helped us and the army reached the next day to rescue us," Mehra told news agency ANI. Uttarakhand is prone to floods and landslides, which some experts blame on climate change.
Hindustan Times
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Northern Command chief felicitates troops for success of Op Mahadev
Northern Command army commander Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma on Wednesday visited the Dachigam area where three terrorists involved in Pahalgam attack were killed in an operation by security forces. Northern Command army commander Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma. (File) The commander felicitated soldiers for the successful operation. 'Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, Army Cdr NC visited Kashmir in Gen Area Dachigam to compliment and felicitate troops for their resilient action, as also swift and successful execution of Operation Mahadev in Lidwas on July 28 , where three hardcore terrorists were neutralised,' the command said on its X handle. 'Northern Command stands by its commitment to keep # Kashmir terror-free,' it said. Earlier on Tuesday, Northern command and Chinar Corps military leadership briefed J&K lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha after the killing of three terrorists involved in Pahalgam attack. The office of the LG said that Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, GOC-in-C, Northern Command and Lt Gen Prashant Srivastava, GOC 15 Corps on Tuesday briefed Sinha on Operation Mahadev. 'Congratulations to army, CRPF and J&K Police for successful Ops & eliminating three Pakistani terrorists involved in the heinous Pahalgam terror attack,' Sinha said. On July 28, three Pakistani terrorists, involved in the Pahalgam attack were killed in a joint, coordinated and protracted operation by army, J&K Police and CRPF. The terrorists were identified as Suleman Shah, Hamza Afgani & Jibran Bhai. Two AK series rifles, an M4 rifle and a large quantity of ammunition and warlike stores were recovered from the site. On April 22, as many as 26 people, including 25 tourists, and one local were killed when terrorists opened fire on them in the Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam. In response to the attack, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 to target nine terror infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir triggering an exchange of missiles and drones between the two countries till May 10 when a ceasefire was announced.
