Joshimath sinking: Did micro earthquakes lead to subsidence?

Part 1: Report by Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology finds very small seismic activities as contributing factor

‘Ghost villages’ of Uttarakhand report mass migrations for the fear of leopard attacks 

One man-eater hunted last week; Villagers claim no help from forest department 

Uttarakhand’s plans to create 100,000 ‘ecopreneurs’ raises hope and questions

Some experts have questioned the approach as well as the ambitious target number of trainees, which equates to around one per cent of the state&…

Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (June 4, 2020)

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

The flavoured salts of Uttarakhand

The age-old flavoured salts loaded with micronutrients are not only a healthy option, but can also tickle your taste buds

Temple town to ghost town: Kedarnath before and after flash flood

Floods in Kedar valley swept away or damaged almost everything in its way, except for the main Shiva temple, a grey stone structure, said to have …

For the love of butterflies

Book>> Butterflies on the roof of the world • by Peter Smetacek • Aleph • Rs 499

IN PHOTOS: Uttarakhand’s Valley Without Flowers

Uttarakhand’s famed Valley of Flowers seems to be losing its floral diversity and density, finds Vikas Choudhary. Changes in weather and flawed …

Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (November 4, 2022)

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

Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (August 23, 2023)

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

Here is why forest fires now pose a threat to the very survival of Uttarakhand’s unique biodiversity

Forest fire season in Uttarakhand coincides with flowering & breeding months of several vulnerable species, many of them native to Himalayas 

SC declines to designate Joshimath crisis a national disaster; redirects petitioner to HC

We don’t want anyone to use these proceedings only for sound bytes for social media, SC said

What caused land subsidence in Joshimath?

The reasons behind this are the National Thermal Power Corporation’s Tapovan-Vishnugad hydropower project and Helang bypass, which …

Joshimath’s tragedy again shows us how fragile Uttarakhand’s Himalayas are

Climate change, glacial melt, sedimentation and human activity are a toxic brew threatening the very existence of Uttarakhand

‘Climate change could be behind Uttarakhand cloudbursts’

March, April and May were warmer than normal over Uttarakhand, which could have contributed to the cloudbursts

Forest fires in India: Alerts since April 1 nearly double that of 2020

The country reported 82,170 VIIRS alerts in the fortnight till April 14; Uttarakhand sees significant jump in number  

Lateral thoughts: Holiday plans in quandary

The Chamoli disaster could affect tourism and economy, already battered by COVID-19 pandemic 

Chamoli glacier burst: Himalayan blunders compounded

The issue is about carrying capacity of the fragile region, which is even more at risk because of climate change

Uttarakhand may be staring at another disaster

To cater to the booming tourism economy, the government is giving way to unregulated infrastructure construction, environmental degradation and …

Pine forests are depleting natural water resources in the Himalayas

Recent studies in Almora show that the groundwater recharge rate in oak forests is 23 per cent, compared to a measly 8 per cent in pine forests

SC stays Uttarakhand HC order declaring Ganga, Yamuna living entities

The Uttarakhand government had challenged the order on the ground that the victims of floods in the Ganga and Yamuna could sue the guardians of …

Why are leopards in Rajaji turning man-eaters?

Leopards in the Rajaji National Park have killed over a dozen people in the past year. Why is the big cat choosing humans over its natural prey?

Uttarakhand sits on forest right claims settlement for two years in a row

With the state assembly election around the corner, the model code of conduct is the favourite excuse for non implementation of FRA

The Chipko movement as it stands today

The idea behind the Chipko movement originated in early 1970s from Mandal, a village in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. Forty-three years later, …

Mountains of Sanjeevani

The Uttarakhand government's initiative to spend Rs 25 crore on an elusive mythical herb should trigger a wider quest to identify, document and …