‘Climate change may increase risk of glacial lakes bursting, Sikkim-like disasters may spike’

Down to Earth spoke to Kalachand Sain, director, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun, to understand the causes of the Sikkim glacial …

Sikkim: Threat of South Lhonak lake bursting was forewarned by researchers two years ago

Twenty-one other glacial lakes in the Teesta river basin show potential threat  

North India Deluge 2023: A water plan addressing urban floods can pull Chandigarh out of troubled waters

Rainwater harvesting structures along the stormwater drains will enable the use of rainwater endowment along with preventing floods

Most Asia-Pacific countries ill-prepared for natural disasters: ESCAP

Over the past 60 years, temperatures in the region have increased faster than the global mean

2022 too short, too far: A year of disasters

Down To Earth recaps the primary environment, health and developmental news from 2022  

Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (November 10, 2022)

Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal

Flood-protection measures: Pakistan is in for a long haul

Punjab needs to employ 871 years of flood-protection, while other flood-prone provinces like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh would require around …

Monsoon report card: Rainfall deficit in 8 states, excess in 8 others

Sudden swing from heavy downpour to deficient rainfall in 163 districts in 15 days in August

After Cyclone Yaas, Sunderbans brace for massive floods again

A low-pressure area brewing over north Bay of Bengal might coincide with spring tides on June 11 and prolong flooding 

Did stratospheric warming lead to excessive rainfall in Tamil Nadu?

Each district witnessed a minimum excess precipitation of 400%, said IMD   

Kerala floods: What to expect when none of the 61 dams have any emergency plan?

Deep-rooted mistakes unearthed when a CAG audit report on flood control and forecasting was analysed

Climate policies lack focus on sustainable mountain development in East Africa

There is need to integrate issues of climate change adaptation into development policies, plans and strategies

Kyrgyzstan's glaciers at risk

Ninety four per cent of the country’s glaciers may melt by the end of this century and the situation is only aggravated by gold mining in …

Typhoon Koppu brings severe floods to Philippines

Till now, the slow-moving typhoon has killed two people and forced tens of thousands to flee from their homes

Linking India’s rivers may not be a fruitful exercise, say environmentalists

The intrastate river linking concept has become popular with three projects allocated in Bihar for flood control

Where have we gone wrong?

With every monsoon, the extent of floods in the country and its ensuing misery increases. Is this suffering largely self-inflicted?

How did it get so bad?

Ostrich policy and bad science. In Bihar, embankments built by government to prevent floods have been counter-productive

Is the alarm justified?

Yes. The disease is spreading fast. Yet there is little scientific data to devise a strategy to deal with it

World Bank's Pakistan flood-control plan faulty

World Bank pulled up for aid to flood control programmes in Pakistan

Why alluvial flood plains of north Bihar need alternative sanitation system

Flood is a recurring threat to the sustainability of open defecation free status in Bihar. Unique toilets, built on elevation, can show the way ahead

India jumps to fourth place in computing capacity for weather forecasting

The super computer, Pratyush will help in major improvements in various services offered by institutions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences for …

What 190 years of glacial lake outburst flood data tells us about the Hindu Kush Himalayas

Over 70% of GLOF outbreaks since 1833 have happened in last 50 years

Heavy rains, flooding in north Italy claim 8 lives; thousands evacuated

An average of 200 mm of rainfall happened in the last 36 hours

What fuelled this year's flood fury in Pune?

Unplanned development and erratic weather majorly caused the deluge, find experts

The devastating Sikkim floods teach us several lessons

Planning for economic development in hilly regions should take climate impact into account and dams should never be built in ecologically …