natural disasters

October 19, 2026 3:54 PM

UP govt installing lightning detection sensors in five districts to prevent loss of life

As part of its initiative to minimise loss of life caused by natural disasters, Uttar Pradesh government is installing lightning detection sensors in five districts of the state in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, an official statement issued here on Sunday said. The sensors, being installed in Etah, Meerut, Balrampur, Lakhimpur Kheri and Sonbhadra, will help rapidly detect lightning activity and issue timely warnings, it said. This will give people...

January 13, 2026 2:47 PM

Wildfires, storms fuel 2025 insured losses of $108 billion, Munich Re says

Global insured losses from natural disasters fell to $108 billion last year, Munich Re said in a report on Tuesday. That compared with an inflation-adjusted $147 billion in 2024, the German reinsurer said, as the U.S. mainland avoided hurricanes for the first time in 10 years. Munich Re's total estimate for last year sightly exceeds Swiss Re's of $107 billion, which it published in December. Damage from floods, wildfires and severe storms was the main contributor to insured losses, accounting...

October 13, 2025 8:19 PM

UAE Pledges $10 Million to Boost Community Resilience Against Natural Disasters in Asia-Pacific

The UAE has announced a US$10 million contribution to strengthen community resilience against natural disasters across Asia and the Pacific. The initiative, launched through the UAE Aid Agency, will support Emirates Nature- WWF in partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to implement the “Community Resilience to Natural Disasters Programme.” The announcement was made under the directives of UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during the 2025 IUCN World...

September 15, 2025 9:23 PM

Supreme Court to widen scope of Himalayan ecological crisis case

The Supreme Court on Monday voiced concern over the growing risk of natural disasters in the Himalayan region, following recent landslides and monsoon-related devastation across Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta said the court will expand the scope of its suo motu case on ecological imbalance beyond Himachal Pradesh to cover the entire Himalayan range. “It isn’t going to be limited to Himachal only, but the entire Hima...

August 12, 2025 11:44 AM

India’s preparedness for disasters: Building resilience through simulation, coordination, and awareness

India, owing to its vast and diverse geography, is vulnerable to a wide range of natural and human-induced disasters, including earthquakes, floods, cyclones, droughts, tsunamis, landslides, and industrial accidents. With over 27 states and union territories (UTs) identified as disaster-prone and more than 58% of the landmass susceptible to seismic activity, disaster preparedness is not a choice—it is a necessity. To ensure a systemic and organised disaster response, India has established ...

April 2, 2025 12:01 PM

Myanmar junta should expand access for earthquake rescuers, aid and rights groups say as death toll nears 3,000

Myanmar's ruling junta should free up movement by international aid workers to help survivors of a devastating earthquake, even in areas controlled by groups battling it, aid and human rights groups said, as the death toll looks set to cross 3,000. The military has struggled to run Myanmar since overthrowing the elected civilian government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021, reducing to tatters the economy and basic services including healthcare. With thousands injured and infrastructu...

February 19, 2025 12:11 PM

Centre approves ₹1,554.99 crore in disaster relief for five states

The High-Level Committee (HLC), chaired by Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah, on Wednesday, approved ₹1,554.99 crore in additional central assistance under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for five states affected by natural disasters in 2024. This funding aims to support states that faced floods, flash floods, landslides, and cyclonic storms. The approved assistance includes ₹608.08 crore for Andhra Pradesh, ₹170.99 crore for Nagaland, ₹255.24 crore fo...