Snow disappears from Uttarakhand's Om Parvat for first time ever, experts raise alarm
Pithoragarh, Aug 27: Snow disappeared completely for the first time ever from Uttarkahand's Om Parvat last week, leaving visitors wondering what was wrong.
Experts attributed the phenomenon to scanty rain and scattered snowfall in the upper Himalayan region over the past five years, rise in vehicular pollution, and global warming.
An official had said the tourism in the region could get impacted if the hill remained snowless for a longer period. However, snowfall on Monday night brought back snow to Om Parvat.
Om Parvat, a popular tourist spot in Vyas valley, is located at an altitude of around 14,000 feet. The snow atop the hill naturally forms a pattern resembling the Hindi word "Om", which is how the spot derived its name.
"It was really disappointing to see Om Parvat which has a reputation of being eternally clad in snow, utterly devoid of it when I went there on August 16," a visitor said.
Showing snowless photos of the Om Parvat clicked by her, Urmila Sanwal, a resident of Gunji village here, said, "There was no snow on the 'Om' shaped hill. The spot was barely recognisable without snow."
Dhan Singh Bisht, who is in charge of the base camp of Adi Kailash yatra in Dharchula, said, "It is for the first time in my 22 years of service in Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam that I saw a completely snowless Om Parvat."
The annual snow melting rate at Om Parvat used to be 95-99 per cent earlier, but this year it melted completely, the KMVN official said.
However, after snowfall on Monday night, snow has returned to Om Parvat, Bisht said.
Bisht, who has a 20-year experience of organising the Kailash-Mansarowar and Adi Kailash yatras, said the district administration officials in Pithoragarh who were taken aback to see viral photos of a snowless Om Parvat have had a sigh of relief with snow returning to the popular tourist spot.
Scanty rain and scattered snowfall in the upper Himalayan region over the past five years may have been the reason behind total disappearance of snow this year from Om Parvat, he said.
Sunil Nautiyal, Director of GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, Almora, attributed the disappearance of snow to the rising temperature in the eco sensitive zones of the Himalayan region due to increased number of fuel-driven vehicles, besides the general phenomenon of global warming.
"To check this, we will have to determine the bearing capacity of all sensitive places of the high Himalayan region as well as rampant forest fires as carbon generated by forest fires is also damaging the sensitive spots in the Himalayan region," Nautiyal said.
A manifold increase in tourist footfall in the region following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Jolingkong in October last year is also seen as a factor behind the phenomenon.
"Tourist footfall has gone up 10 times since Modi's visit to Jolingkong for a darshan of the Adi Kailash peak," said Krishna Garbiyal, a resident of Garbiyang village of Vyas valley.
बर्फ पिघलने के कारण ॐ पर्वत की आकृति अदृश्य हो गई है। वैसे तो इस सीजन में हमेशा बर्फ कम होती है लेकिन इस बार ज़्यादा बर्फ पिघलने से ॐ पर्वत पर ॐ की आकृति नहीं दिख रही है। स्थानीय लोगों का कहना है कि इस बार यात्रा में हर दिन हज़ारों यात्रियों और वाहनों के आने से ये स्थिति पैदा हो… pic.twitter.com/Rjve9L82t4
— Ajit Singh Rathi (@AjitSinghRathi) August 26, 2024
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.
Use AI-based security system to ensure safety of women healthcare personnel: Sharan Prakash Patil
Bengaluru, Sep 13: Karnataka's minister for Medical Education & Skill Development Sharan Prakash Patil on Friday suggested integration of AI technology in the security system to ensure safety of women healthcare personnel across Karnataka, an official release said.
The minister chaired a high-level meeting at Vikasa Soudha to discuss measures aimed at strengthening security at medical colleges, hospitals and hostels. This follows a previous meeting led by Patil to review the current security systems and propose enhancements.
During the meeting, Patil also emphasised the importance of integrating feedback from women healthcare professionals and other stakeholders. “Directors of medical institutions must gather feedback in writing and take concrete steps to implement necessary measures."
Patil suggested that a security audit committee should be formed with monthly meetings to review the safety protocols. Additionally, thorough background checks must be conducted for all security personnel, according to the release.
“To further ensure safety, 24/7 canteen facilities should be available so that women healthcare staff do not need to leave the premises,” the minister said.
Patil also announced that a panel will be formed at the State Secretariat to oversee the implementation of these measures.
B L Sujatha Rathod, Director of Medical Education, provided a detailed presentation on the current security initiatives. The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Mohammad Mohsin, Principal Secretary of Medical Education, Mission Director of National Health Mission Y Naveen Bhat and Venkateshmurthy, Joint Secretary.
ಇಂದು ವಿಕಾಸಸೌಧದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಹಿಳಾ ಆರೋಗ್ಯ ಸಿಬ್ಬಂದಿ ಸುರಕ್ಷತೆಯ ಕುರಿತ ಉನ್ನತಮಟ್ಟದ ಸಭೆಯ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷತೆ ವಹಿಸಿ ಮಾತನಾಡಿದೆ.
— Dr. Sharan Prakash Patil (@S_PrakashPatil) September 13, 2024
ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದಾದ್ಯಂತ ಮಹಿಳಾ ಆರೋಗ್ಯ ಸಿಬ್ಬಂದಿಗೆ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಭದ್ರತೆ ಹಾಗೂ ರಕ್ಷಣೆ ಒದಗಿಸುವ ನಿಟ್ಟಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಅತ್ಯಾಧುನಿಕ ಕ್ರಮ ಕೈಗೊಳ್ಳಲಾಗುವುದು.
ಪ್ರಸ್ತುತ ಭದ್ರತಾ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆಗಳನ್ನು ಪರಿಶೀಲಿಸಿ ವೈದ್ಯಕೀಯ ಕಾಲೇಜು,… pic.twitter.com/cEsiOYtYm0
