Wednesday, December 11

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Uttarakhand Tunnel Collapse: Successful Rescue Operation Frees 41 Trapped Workers
Travel, Weather

Uttarakhand Tunnel Collapse: Successful Rescue Operation Frees 41 Trapped Workers

Uttarakhand Tunnel Collapse: In a remarkable feat, 41 workers who were trapped for 17 days in a collapsed Himalayan tunnel in Uttarakhand, India, have been successfully rescued. Miners, employing hand drills, managed to break through the final section of the 4.5km (3-mile) tunnel, overcoming numerous challenges in the marathon rescue operation. Using wheeled stretchers through a narrow 90cm (3ft) wide pipe, the men were safely transported out and subsequently taken to a hospital for check-ups, with no reported injuries. The rescue, praised by India's president Droupadi Murmu, involved the efforts of "rat-hole" miners, skilled in navigating narrow tunnels and equipped with handheld tools. The Silkyara tunnel, a crucial part of the $1.5bn (£1.19bn) Char Dham project connecting key Hind...
74 individuals lost their lives, and the heavy rainfall resulted in an estimated ₹10,000 crore worth of damage throughout Himachal Pradesh
Weather

74 individuals lost their lives, and the heavy rainfall resulted in an estimated ₹10,000 crore worth of damage throughout Himachal Pradesh

Three significant landslides in Shimla, including the Shiva temple area in Summer Hill, claimed the lives of twenty-one individuals. New Delhi: The death toll resulting from the monsoon rains in Himachal Pradesh rose to 74 on Thursday, with another body recovered from the debris of a Shiva temple in Shimla, while two additional casualties were reported in Chamba. Among the casualties, twenty-one individuals lost their lives due to three major landslides in Shimla, including the one that occurred at the Shiva temple in Summer Hill. Over the span of 55 days since the commencement of the monsoon, the state has experienced 113 landslides, leading to financial losses of ₹2,491 crore for the Public Works Department (PWD) and ₹1,000 crore for the National Highways Authority of India (NHA...
Perseid meteor shower of 2023: Overview, Viewing Schedule, and Location Recommendations
Weather

Perseid meteor shower of 2023: Overview, Viewing Schedule, and Location Recommendations

This weekend, the Northern Hemisphere will experience the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, renowned as one of the most significant meteor showers. The Perseid meteor shower, renowned as one of the largest meteor showers, will grace the skies on August 12th, as Earth ventures through the most densely populated remnants of comet Swift-Tuttle's trajectory. NASA meteor scientist Bill Cooke, as cited by the Associated Press, explains that under clear, dark skies just prior to dawn, observers might anticipate witnessing approximately one Perseid meteor each minute. According to NASA, the Northern Hemisphere offers the optimal vantage point for observing the Perseid meteor shower. Noted for its elevated meteor rates and pleasant late-summer climate, this shower is often regarded as the ye...
Tremors felt in Delhi-NCR and Jammu and Kashmir Earthquake originated in Afghanistan
Weather

Tremors felt in Delhi-NCR and Jammu and Kashmir Earthquake originated in Afghanistan

A 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan, with its epicenter located at Latitude 36.38 and Longitude 70.77, at a depth of 181 km, according to the National Center for Seismology (NCS). The earthquake occurred on a Saturday late evening around 9:30 pm, resulting in tremors felt in parts of Delhi-NCR, Jammu and Kashmir, and on the borders of Afghanistan and Pakistan. The epicenter was situated in the Hindu Kush Region of Afghanistan, as reported by earthquake.usgs.gov. The tremors were felt in various locations, including Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri, Srinagar, Gulmarg, and the Katra region, which serves as the base camp for the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. Cities in Pakistan, such as Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Peshawar, also experienced the earthquake. Residents were in a sta...
Due to heavy rainfall in Mumbai, there have been disruptions in the local train services on the Central line, resulting in delays of approximately 25 minutes
Weather

Due to heavy rainfall in Mumbai, there have been disruptions in the local train services on the Central line, resulting in delays of approximately 25 minutes

Despite heavy rainfall causing waterlogging on the railway tracks in Mumbai, train movement remains smooth at the moment. Authorities and railway officials are actively monitoring the situation to ensure the safety and efficiency of train operations. However, the situation may change as more rain is expected, and a red alert has been issued for further heavy rainfall in Mumbai. Commuters are advised to stay vigilant, follow official updates, and be prepared for potential disruptions in train services in the event of worsening weather conditions. On Thursday, incessant rainfall in Mumbai caused widespread disruptions. The city's lifeline, the local trains on the Central line, experienced delays of up to 25 minutes due to waterlogging at Kalyan station. However, the Harbour and Transharbo...
Jaipur is shaken by a 4.4-magnitude earthquake
Weather

Jaipur is shaken by a 4.4-magnitude earthquake

As the tremors struck various parts of the Jaipur city, panic-stricken residents hurriedly evacuated their houses. On Friday, July 21, 2023, Jaipur experienced a 4.4-magnitude earthquake that struck at 4:09 am local time. The tremors were felt in various parts of the city, causing panic-stricken residents to rush out of their houses for safety. According to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS), the earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of 10 km. The NCS tweeted the earthquake's details: "Earthquake of Magnitude: 4.4, Occurred on 21-07-2023, 04:09:38 IST, Lat: 26.88 & Long: 75.70, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Jaipur, Rajasthan, India." Following the initial 4.4-magnitude earthquake in Jaipur on July 21, 2023, two more earthquakes hit the city. The first one, measuring 3.1 in m...
Life comes to a grinding halt as Delhi grapples with the inundation while the tumultuous waters of the Yamuna River
Weather

Life comes to a grinding halt as Delhi grapples with the inundation while the tumultuous waters of the Yamuna River

Following the havoc caused by the flooding in Delhi, there is a glimmer of relief as the water level in the overflowing Yamuna River has finally stabilized and receded slightly. This marks the first positive development since the floodwaters engulfed various parts of the city earlier this week, wreaking havoc on normal life. As a precautionary measure, thousands of individuals have been evacuated, and authorities have mandated the closure of schools and colleges until Sunday, acknowledging the prevailing flood-like situation. The relentless rise of the Yamuna River disrupted the daily lives of Delhi residents, as homes, markets, roads, tourist attractions, and even the administrative hub of the city succumbed to its surging waters. To address this flood-like situation, authorities took ...
Delhi Flood Warning – Yamuna River Crosses Critical Level at 206.04 mm, Evacuation Initiates
Weather

Delhi Flood Warning – Yamuna River Crosses Critical Level at 206.04 mm, Evacuation Initiates

Due to heavy rainfall and increased water release from the Hathnikund barrage in neighboring Haryana, the water level in the Yamuna River has been steadily rising. Consequently, the evacuation process for residents residing along the Yamuna floodplains has commenced as the 'Orange alert' threshold of 206 meters has been surpassed. As per the most recent data provided by the flood control department, the water level in the Yamuna River in Delhi was measured at 205.76 meters at 8 pm on Monday. This indicates that the river continues to flow above the critical mark of 205.33 meters. The data specifically mentions that the water level at the Old Railway Bridge was recorded at 205.76 meters during the same time period. According to officials, the initiation of the evacuation process for i...
Delhi and Mumbai experience simultaneous onset of monsoon after a 62-year gap.
Weather

Delhi and Mumbai experience simultaneous onset of monsoon after a 62-year gap.

NEW DELHI: With a cyclonic circulation approaching Odisha from the Bay of Bengal, the monsoon has entered an active phase, promising widespread rainfall across southern, central, and northern regions over the next five to seven days. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) stated that the nationwide rainfall deficit for the month of June, currently at 28% below normal as of June 25, is expected to gradually diminish in the upcoming week. The weather agency also mentioned that the weather system is likely to extend its influence to encompass more areas in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, and the entirety of Jammu and Kashmir within the next two days. According to IMD officials, the last occurrence of simultaneous monsoon arrival in both Delhi and Mumbai was on June 21, 1961. Ty...
Gujarat faces relentless gusts as cyclone Biparjoy strikes the region.
Weather, Travel

Gujarat faces relentless gusts as cyclone Biparjoy strikes the region.

On Thursday evening, the 'very severe' cyclonic storm Biparjoy made landfall in Gujarat, causing injury to at least 22 individuals and resulting in the uprooting of electric poles and trees. By Friday evening, the cyclone is expected to weaken and transition into a depression as it progresses towards Rajasthan. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the intensity of cyclone Biparjoy downgraded from 'very severe' to 'severe' after its landfall. "The cyclone has now moved from the sea to land and is centered around Sauarashtra-Kutch. The cyclone's intensity has decreased to 105-115 kmph," stated Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director of IMD. State officials reported that the combination of heavy rainfall and strong winds caused over 524 trees and electric poles to be uprooted ...