Odisha Identifies 16 Polluted River Stretches; Minister Flags Urban Wastewater as Key Cause

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia informed the Assembly on Friday that 16 polluted stretches have been identified across major rivers in the state, with urban wastewater emerging as the primary contaminant. Responding to a question in the House, the minister said polluted stretches have been reported at Kathajodi…

Read More

Delhi Chokes as Air Quality Plunges to ‘Very Poor’; Nearly Half the City Records Severe AQI

Bhubaneswar: Delhi woke up to another day of stifling air on Friday, with the capital’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) climbing to 384 at 8:00 am, placing it firmly in the ‘very poor’ category, according to real-time data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Several regions slid back into the ‘severe’ zone, marking a…

Read More

UIDAI Deactivates Over 2 Crore Aadhaar Numbers of Deceased Citizens in Major Database Cleanup

Bhubaneswar: In one of the largest data-purification drives undertaken to date, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has deactivated more than 2 crore Aadhaar numbers belonging to deceased individuals. The move, confirmed by the Ministry of Electronics & IT, is aimed at strengthening the integrity of the national identity system and preventing fraud linked…

Read More

Ethiopian Volcanic Ash Reaches India; Flights Disrupted Across Region as DGCA Issues Emergency Advisory

Bhubaneswar: Air travel across India and parts of West Asia faced major disruptions on Monday and Tuesday after a massive ash cloud from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano drifted across the Red Sea and entered the Indian airspace, particularly over the Himalayan region. The volcano—dormant for nearly 12,000 years—erupted suddenly, sending a towering plume of ash…

Read More

Winter Cyclone Likely Over Bay of Bengal, Odisha on Alert

Bhubaneswar: Two simultaneous weather systems forming over the Bay of Bengal have intensified the possibility of a rare winter cyclone, with meteorologists closely monitoring the evolving disturbance expected to influence parts of southern Odisha later this week. According to Manorama Mohanty, Director of the Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre,“The system is likely to intensify into a depression…

Read More

Delhi’s Air Quality Deteriorates Sharply as Toxic Smog Returns

Bhubaneswar: Delhi’s air quality has once again plunged into the ‘severe’ category as thick smog blankets the national capital, marking the onset of yet another hazardous winter pollution spell. The dense fog and stagnant air have reduced visibility across major parts of the city, disrupting daily life and sparking renewed public health concerns. According to…

Read More

Cyclone Montha Batters Andhra and Odisha; One Dead, Thousands Displaced

Bhubaneswar: Cyclone Montha slammed into India’s east coast late Monday night, unleashing heavy rains and powerful winds across Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, leaving behind a trail of destruction, one fatality, and widespread disruption. The cyclone made landfall between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, near Kakinada in coastal Andhra, with wind speeds touching 100 km/h and gusts up…

Read More

Cyclone Montha Brings Heavy Rains; Odisha on High Alert as 8 Districts Brace for Impact

Bhubaneswar: Cyclone Montha, brewing over the southwest Bay of Bengal, has put Odisha on high alert as the state braces for heavy rainfall, gusty winds, and potential flooding over the next two days. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red warning for eight southern districts, including Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Kandhamal,…

Read More

Is India’s Forest Cover Enough to Safeguard Ecology Amid Development Push?

Bhubaneswar: As India accelerates its infrastructure and industrial growth, questions are being raised about whether its existing forest cover is sufficient to protect the country’s fragile ecosystem while supporting development needs. According to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023, India’s total forest and tree cover stands at about 80.9 million hectares, which is…

Read More

Multiple Low-Pressure Systems Likely Over Bay of Bengal; IMD Issues Alerts for Odisha and Southern States

Bhubaneswar: A fresh low-pressure system is likely to form over the southern Bay of Bengal around October 24–25, further intensifying an already active weather pattern over the region, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The IMD reported that a well-marked low-pressure area currently lies over the southwest Bay of Bengal and is moving west-northwestward….

Read More