Category: Environment

Environment

Heatwave to continue across Kashmir

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As a heat wave has gripped Kashmir valley for the past several days, Srinagar recorded the season’s hottest day Thursday settling day temperature at 33.7 degree Celsius. Deputy Director Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Mukhtar Ahmad told Kashmir Post that Srinagar recorded the hottest day of the season and the same weather conditions would continue to prevail in the Valley. “We are not seeing any change in the current weather system and are expecting a slight increase in day temperatures over the five to six days,” he said. In Jammu division,…

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As heatwave grips J&K, weathermen predict a further rise in temperature

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The heatwave has gripped Jammu and Kashmir over the past few days with weathermen predicting more rise in the day temperature in the UT. The summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory, Srinagar has once again touched the season’s hottest day which was recorded on May 26 this year. As per the officials, Srinagar recorded a temperature of 31.7 degrees Celsius on Thursday. In Qazigund, the temperature was 29.9 degree Celsius while in Pahalgam, the temperature was 26.4 degree Celsius, officials told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), adding that…

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Study shows no link between COVID19 and Pollen, But govt orders 42000 Poplars axed across Kashmir Valley

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The order, which is already being followed through, will wreak havoc with local livelihoods and green cover in the Valley. With the surge in the number of COVID-19 cases in Kashmir and the resulting fear psychosis in the general population, the government of the Union territory is forcing growers of a common poplar tree species known locally as “Russi” to cut them to prevent allergies in the spring season. “A meeting held under the chairmanship of Pandurang K. Pole, IAS, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir on April 2, 2020 to discuss the…

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Cloudbursts triggers flood in Lolab, damaging houses and crops, woman washed away

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A woman died after multiple cloudbursts triggered flash floods in Lolab area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Thursday. According to local reports and the police, the woman identified as Shafiqa Bano (35) was washed away by the flash floods in Bera Rudi, Khordi, Bat Gagal, Surgam in Lolab at around 4:30 pm, reported news agency GNS. The woman’s body was later recovered by locals and police, they said. They said that there were multiple cloudbursts in Kantpora, Putshahi, and Dooniwari villages. Reports said that the flash floods caused a…

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California to Kashmir: How ready we are for 6.4 eventuality?

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The San Andreas Fault, a major dextral strike-slip fault system in United States, is probably one of the most well-known structures to mankind. Yet, the moment magnitude (Mw) 7.1 and 6.4 earthquakes that have occurred in July-2019 have caused significant damage, which is worth billions (it may go up). These earthquakes have struck portions of California and have ruptured strike slip faults (where movement is along the strike of the fault; think of rubbing your right hand on your left hand). Both these earthquakes are smaller in size compared to…

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At 32.5 Srinagar records highest temperature of the season, Jammu at 41.0 continues to struggle with heat wave

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Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, Wednesday recorded the season’s highest temperature at 32.5 degrees Celsius while the heatwave prevailed in Jammu, the metrological department said. The day temperature in Jammu settled at 41.0 degrees Celsius, around 4 degrees above normal. At 30.1 degrees Celsius, the night temperature in Jammu was up by around 4 degrees above season’s average. Jammu had recorded the season’s highest day temperature on June 10 when the mercury touched 44.4 degrees Celsius, while June 12 night was the hottest of the season at…

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Valley grappling with widespread seasonal allergy caused by pollen from Russian poplars

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The Kashmir valley is grappling with a seasonal health hazard — pollen-induced allergy. Despite thousands of Russian poplars being cut down last year on the orders of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, the pollen allergy is widespread. Though pollen allergies in the spring in the region are common, the allergy induced by the pollen of the poplar varieties imported from Russia, Australia and the US has turned into a perennial health hazard in Srinagar and other major towns, particularly Baramulla and Kupwara towns, where thousands of poplars line up…

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Earthquake of 8.5 magnitude long overdue in Himalayan region: Scientists

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A mega earthquake of magnitude 8.5 or more is long overdue in the Himalayan region but India has not learnt from past mistakes and is far from being prepared for such an eventuality with no strategy to minimise loss of life and property, scientists say. The government must ensure seismic safety, scientists from all over the country who gathered here last week for a global workshop said.The April 18-20 International Workshop on Climate Change and Extreme Events in Himalayan Region, hosted by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi, was…

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Non biodegradable disposables banned across J&K

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Jammu and Kashmir government Wednesday imposed ban on the non-biodegradable disposable items being used in the daily chores.The department of forest, environment and ecology issued a notification ordering complete ban on the disposable articles made of non-biodegradable material within the territorial jurisdiction of the state. “Government imposed complete ban on (the) articles made of non-biodegradable material listed in the schedule of the said Act, within the territorial jurisdiction of the state,” an official statement reads.The articles include disposable plates, cups, bowls, tumblers, spoons, forks and knives. The order shall be…

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Kashmir’s iconic attraction Dal Lake is facing a slow death by sewage

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Sitting near a shop in the interiors of Dal Lake, 65-year-old Abdul Rehman is old enough to remember a time when the lake’s water was clean enough to drink. Today, he gazes sadly at the highly degraded state of its water. “Even after filtering multiple times, this water will not be fit to drink,” he said.Rehman now makes it a point to ask every tourist in a shikara who glides by his shop to not throw waste overboard. “This city’s tourism economy is heavily dependent on the lake,” he added.…

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