Indian weather forecasters to focus on dust storms
Panaji, June 11: Indian weather forecasting agencies will focus their energies on predicting dust storms, which have claimed more than 100 lives across north India this summer, a senior official said on Monday.
Addressing the India-United States colloquium on Earth Observations and Sciences for Society and Economy, which got underway here, Union Earth Sciences Secretary M. Rajeevan said that people had started believing in Indian weather forecasting which has seen a transformation because of the adoption of better methodologies, training and new technology.
He also announced that data obtained by Indian-installed omni-buoys in the Indian Ocean would henceforth be shared with the international science and research community.
"Our focus is now on associate systems and other storms. We have had, especially in the northern parts of India, dust storms, which also killed many people," he said.
"There is a change in the perception of weather forecast in this country. People believe our forecast now. This was possible due to many factors of course. Strengthening of observation methodology, usage of high-resolution weather prediction model... and training," he said, citing the two cyclones in the Arabian Sea which Indian weather forecast machinery identified well before time.
"We have been known for good prediction of tropical cyclones... In the month of May, we had given two good predictions for Somalia and Oman, two cyclones which formed over the Arabian Sea which... It caused a lot of devastation in the two countries, but we could warn those countries well in advance," Rajeevan said.
He also said that one of the important contributions of the Union Earth Sciences Ministry and its scientists was the sharing of data stored in eight omni-buoys -- buoys equipped with technological gear including sensors, which record data and climatic conditions and relay it through wireless mechanisms -- in the international waters in the Indian Ocean with the global scientific community.
"Data from eight omni-buoys will be made available to all users. From now onwards, everyone will be able to assess the omni-buoy data freely which will be an important contribution to the international scientific community," Rajeevan said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
B'desh: Lawyer killed in clash between security personnel, followers of Hindu leader
Dhaka, Nov 26: A lawyer was killed on Tuesday during clashes between the security personnel and followers of a Hindu community leader, who was denied bail and sent to jail by a Bangladesh court, according to local media reports.
The victim was identified as Saiful Islam, a 35-year-old assistant public prosecutor and a member of the Chattogram District Bar Association, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported.
Citing Dr Nibedita Ghosh, a duty doctor at the emergency department of Chittagong Medical College Hospital, the paper said that six others were injured in the clashes that erupted after Chattogram’s Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate court denied bail to prominent Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, arrested on sedition charges.
Nazim Uddin Chowdhury, president of the Chittagong Lawyers' Association, said that protesters dragged a lawyer from beneath his chamber and hacked him to death.
As Das was being taken away in a police van, he addressed the crowd through a hand mike, urging them to remain calm.
Around 3 pm, the law enforcement agencies resorted to sound grenades, tear gas shells, and baton charges, dispersing the protesters.
Deputy Commissioner of City Police Liaquat Ali confirmed one death but said they were still investigating the cause.
The Daily Star newspaper reported that at least 10 people, including journalists, were injured during the clash.
