Four people, including three students of the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) in Kerala's Kochi city, were killed and more than 50 were injured in a stampede, during a cultural event on Saturday evening.

In the immediate aftermath of the incident, questions were being raised about the kind of security arrangements in place at the event venue, which had a footfall&nbsp;of around 2,000.

An internal letter from the university authorities was doing the rounds on Monday, indicating serious lapses on the part of the officials.&nbsp;

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4 college students (2 men &amp;2 women) lose their lives at a stampede in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kochi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kochi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kerala?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kerala</a>, during a concert by singer Nikitha Gandhi, at the Cochin University of Science &amp; Tech.. 
 
Apparently, stampede took place at a gate that led to a flight of stairs... 
 
More casualties feared <a href="https://t.co/d0T0Y85fkT">pic.twitter.com/d0T0Y85fkT</a>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1728452299964780646?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The stampede took place in the run-up to a concert at an open-air venue, which was hosting 'Dhishna 2023'—a three-day tech fest. Saturday (Nov 25) marked the second day of the event.

Despite the event being quite a large one, it is said that there was no commensurate police deployment at the venue.

Kochi Police have maintained that the CUSAT authorities did not alert them or write to them seeking security arrangements for the event. It is said that the stampede occurred at the entrance gate, which leads to a flight of stairs leading to the main venue.

Owing to the congestion at the gate and the resultant melee, many are said to have tripped and fallen down the stairs, with others falling on top.&nbsp;

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Did inaction by officials in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kochi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kochi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kerala?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kerala</a> lead to stampede that killed 4 &amp; injured ~60, at a college fest? 
 
Police say they didn't get any request for security 
 
Internal letter - Principal wrote to Univ Registrar &amp; others on need for security&amp; cops <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CUSAT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CUSAT</a> 
 
Whose negligence? <a href="https://t.co/SgUsRs9llk">pic.twitter.com/SgUsRs9llk</a>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1729135733880066239?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2023</a></blockquote>
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According to an internal letter from CUSAT, dated November 24, the principal wrote to the registrar of CUSAT, also marking a copy to the Head of Department, School of Engineering and the CUSAT Security Officer.

Carrying a subject line, 'DHISHNA -2023- Police and Security Arrangement during Off-Campus Musical Programme', the letter specifies about music programmes that were to be held on Friday and Saturday evenings at the venue that would be accessible to the public.

It also states that faculty members have been assigned duties for maintaining overall discipline and emphasised the need for deploying security personnel and police to avoid untoward incidents.&nbsp;

While the letter undersigned by the principal requested adequate security personnel and police presence for the events on Friday and Saturday evenings, it also raises the question of whether the authorities were late in seeking security for the event.

The letter carries the date November 24, which also happens to be the date of event commencement.

Usually, police protection and security deployment for such events are planned well ahead. Authorities in Kerala are probing the incident and as part of this investigation on Monday, a team visited the open-air venue when the mishap had taken place.&nbsp;

Four people, including three students of the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) in Kerala's Kochi city, were killed and more than 50 were injured in a stampede, during a cultural event on Saturday evening.

Four people, including three students of the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) in Kerala's Kochi city, were killed and more than 50 were injured in a stampede, during a cultural event on Saturday evening. In the immediate aftermath of the incident, questions were being raised about the kind of security arrangements in place at the event venue, which had a footfall of around 2,000. An internal letter from the university authorities was doing the rounds on Monday, indicating serious lapses on the part of the officials. 4 college students (2 men &2 women) lose their lives at a stampede in #kochi #kerala, during a concert by singer Nikitha Gandhi, at the Cochin University of Science & Tech.. Apparently, stampede took place at a gate that led to a flight of stairs... More casualties feared pic.twitter.com/d0T0Y85fkT — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) November 25, 2023 × The stampede took place in the run-up to a concert at an open-air venue, which was hosting 'Dhishna 2023'—a three-day tech fest. Saturday (Nov 25) marked the second day of the event. Despite the event being quite a large one, it is said that there was no commensurate police deployment at the venue. Kochi Police have maintained that the CUSAT authorities did not alert them or write to them seeking security arrangements for the event. It is said that the stampede occurred at the entrance gate, which leads to a flight of stairs leading to the main venue. Owing to the congestion at the gate and the resultant melee, many are said to have tripped and fallen down the stairs, with others falling on top. Did inaction by officials in #kochi #kerala lead to stampede that killed 4 & injured ~60, at a college fest? Police say they didn't get any request for security Internal letter - Principal wrote to Univ Registrar & others on need for security& cops #CUSAT Whose negligence? pic.twitter.com/SgUsRs9llk — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) November 27, 2023 × According to an internal letter from CUSAT, dated November 24, the principal wrote to the registrar of CUSAT, also marking a copy to the Head of Department, School of Engineering and the CUSAT Security Officer. Carrying a subject line, 'DHISHNA -2023- Police and Security Arrangement during Off-Campus Musical Programme', the letter specifies about music programmes that were to be held on Friday and Saturday evenings at the venue that would be accessible to the public. It also states that faculty members have been assigned duties for maintaining overall discipline and emphasised the need for deploying security personnel and police to avoid untoward incidents. While the letter undersigned by the principal requested adequate security personnel and police presence for the events on Friday and Saturday evenings, it also raises the question of whether the authorities were late in seeking security for the event. The letter carries the date November 24, which also happens to be the date of event commencement. Usually, police protection and security deployment for such events are planned well ahead. Authorities in Kerala are probing the incident and as part of this investigation on Monday, a team visited the open-air venue when the mishap had taken place.

India: Was inaction by officials responsible for Kochi college stampede that killed 4, injured 50?

India marked the 15th anniversary of the dastardly 26th November terror attacks that laid seige to India's bustling financial capital, Mumbai. The attack was carried out by 10 Pakistani terrorists who had arrived via the sea route, as India and Pakistan share a porous maritime boundary.&nbsp;

The attack is described as&nbsp;among the worst in the 21st century as it claimed more than 170 lives across different locations in Mumbai, including luxury hotels, residential colonies, hospitals,&nbsp;and railway stations etc.

Over the last 15 years, the Indian authorities have significantly ramped up the coastal security apparatus and surveillance capabilities.

WION spoke to Director General Rakesh Pal,&nbsp;Indian Coast Guard (ICG) to understand the level of preparedness and vigil being maintained.&nbsp;

Watch here | 26/11 anniversary: Indian Coast Guard Chief Rakesh Pal speaks to WION

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Over the weekend, the Indian Coast Guards conducted a massive air-sea coordinated exercise that involved the government agencies and private entities.

Conducted off the Gulf of Kutch, in the western state of Gujarat, the 9th edition of the National Pollution Response Exercise (NATPOLREX) involved assets of the Indian Coast Guard and Air Force and those of oil refineries.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-coast-guard-relevant-agencies-re-validate-plan-to-combat-oil-spills-662217">India: Coast Guard, relevant agencies re-validate plan to combat oil spills</a>

NATPOLREX was aimed at re-validating and exercising the collective strategy to combat maritime pollution:&nbsp;oil and chemical spills at sea.

<h2>Significance of Gulf of Kutch for trade of India's energy needs</h2>

The Gulf of Kutch region is crucial for India's energy security, as more than 70 per cent of India's oil imports arrive at the oil refineries here.

It is also a highly eco-sensitive region, with Gulf of Kutch marine national park's presence aimed at ensuring the conservation of marine species exclusive to Arabia Sea. An oil spill or chemical spill at such a location could quickly spread far and cause damage, given the high wind speeds and ocean current.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/explained-lessons-india-learnt-in-the-aftermath-of-2611-terror-attacks-in-mumbai-662978">Explained | Lessons India learnt in the aftermath of 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai</a>

Speaking of the daily deployment of ICG assets, Director General Pal told WION that almost 55-60 ships and 12-14 aircraft undertake patrol duty, covering the vast Indian coastline that spans almost 7,500 km.

In total, the ICG operates around 160 ships and 80 aircraft, therefore, nearly one-third the fleet of ships and one-sixth the fleet of aircraft are deployed on a daily basis.

He added that the ICG also works closely and undertakes Coastal Security exercises with the State and Central government agencies, thereby improving synergy and inter-operability.&nbsp;

<h2>15 years since 26/11 attack: Indian Coastal Security apparatus at present</h2>

In terms of the Indian Coastal Security network being enhanced and modernised, Director General Pal said that multiple radars and infra-red cameras are being placed at various locations.

In terms of the presence of the Coast Guard, he added that there are 42 Coast Guard stations (for surface vessels) and almost a dozen Coast Guard Air Stations for the air assets.&nbsp;

In the next two years, he said that the Surface and Air fleet would be significantly enhanced with newer inductions and that the force is on track to having a fleet strength of 200 vessels and 100 aircraft (planes and helicopters).

Referring to the specific platforms being ordered, he said that it would include Indian-made platforms such as 9 Dornier-228 Maritime patrol aircraft, 9 Advanced Light Helicopters of Mark 3 variant, and the Airbus-Tata C-295 transporter aircraft.

As for the vessels, he said that orders were being placed for one training ship and six Offshore Patrol Vessels.

The Indian Coast Guard is responsible for patrolling and safeguarding more than 2million square kilometres of India's Exclusive Economic Zone(EEZ) and handles Search and Rescue in a zone that is more than twice as large as the country's &nbsp;EEZ.

India marked the 15th anniversary of the dastardly 26th November terror attacks that laid seige to India's bustling financial capital, Mumbai. The attack was carried out by 10 Pakistani terrorists who had arrived via the sea route, as India and Pakistan share a porous maritime boundary.

India marked the 15th anniversary of the dastardly 26th November terror attacks that laid seige to India's bustling financial capital, Mumbai. The attack was carried out by 10 Pakistani terrorists who had arrived via the sea route, as India and Pakistan share a porous maritime boundary. The attack is described as among the worst in the 21st century as it claimed more than 170 lives across different locations in Mumbai, including luxury hotels, residential colonies, hospitals, and railway stations etc. Over the last 15 years, the Indian authorities have significantly ramped up the coastal security apparatus and surveillance capabilities. WION spoke to Director General Rakesh Pal, Indian Coast Guard (ICG) to understand the level of preparedness and vigil being maintained. Watch here | 26/11 anniversary: Indian Coast Guard Chief Rakesh Pal speaks to WION × Over the weekend, the Indian Coast Guards conducted a massive air-sea coordinated exercise that involved the government agencies and private entities. Conducted off the Gulf of Kutch, in the western state of Gujarat, the 9th edition of the National Pollution Response Exercise (NATPOLREX) involved assets of the Indian Coast Guard and Air Force and those of oil refineries. Also read | India: Coast Guard, relevant agencies re-validate plan to combat oil spills NATPOLREX was aimed at re-validating and exercising the collective strategy to combat maritime pollution: oil and chemical spills at sea. Significance of Gulf of Kutch for trade of India's energy needs The Gulf of Kutch region is crucial for India's energy security, as more than 70 per cent of India's oil imports arrive at the oil refineries here. It is also a highly eco-sensitive region, with Gulf of Kutch marine national park's presence aimed at ensuring the conservation of marine species exclusive to Arabia Sea. An oil spill or chemical spill at such a location could quickly spread far and cause damage, given the high wind speeds and ocean current. Also read | Explained | Lessons India learnt in the aftermath of 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai Speaking of the daily deployment of ICG assets, Director General Pal told WION that almost 55-60 ships and 12-14 aircraft undertake patrol duty, covering the vast Indian coastline that spans almost 7,500 km. In total, the ICG operates around 160 ships and 80 aircraft, therefore, nearly one-third the fleet of ships and one-sixth the fleet of aircraft are deployed on a daily basis. He added that the ICG also works closely and undertakes Coastal Security exercises with the State and Central government agencies, thereby improving synergy and inter-operability. 15 years since 26/11 attack: Indian Coastal Security apparatus at present In terms of the Indian Coastal Security network being enhanced and modernised, Director General Pal said that multiple radars and infra-red cameras are being placed at various locations. In terms of the presence of the Coast Guard, he added that there are 42 Coast Guard stations (for surface vessels) and almost a dozen Coast Guard Air Stations for the air assets. In the next two years, he said that the Surface and Air fleet would be significantly enhanced with newer inductions and that the force is on track to having a fleet strength of 200 vessels and 100 aircraft (planes and helicopters). Referring to the specific platforms being ordered, he said that it would include Indian-made platforms such as 9 Dornier-228 Maritime patrol aircraft, 9 Advanced Light Helicopters of Mark 3 variant, and the Airbus-Tata C-295 transporter aircraft. As for the vessels, he said that orders were being placed for one training ship and six Offshore Patrol Vessels. The Indian Coast Guard is responsible for patrolling and safeguarding more than 2million square kilometres of India's Exclusive Economic Zone(EEZ) and handles Search and Rescue in a zone that is more than twice as large as the country's EEZ.

15th Anniversary of 26/11: How prepared is India's Coastal Security apparatus?

An oil spill or chemical spill at sea can prove disastrous for the environment, fisheries, shipping, tourism and the overall economy. As a major importer of crude oil and chemicals (which are brought in by very large crude carrier-class ships) from various International sources, India faces the constant threat of possible oil spills within the country's territorial waters and in the larger Indian Ocean region, dotted by littoral nation-states. As the lead agency for combating oil spills, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG)) conducted the 25th National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOSDCP) and preparedness meeting at Vadinar, Gujarat, on Thursday. This is a precursor to the multi-agency National Level Pollution Response Exercise (NATPOLREX), the 9th edition of which will be conducted Saturday, off the Gulf of Kutch, Gujarat.&nbsp;

Chaired by the Chief of the Indian Coast Guard, Director General Rakesh Pal, the NOSDCP and preparedness meeting was attended by more than 80 delegates from various ministries of the Indian Government, representatives of Ports and Oil Handling companies. The national capabilities and collective preparedness to respond to any oil spill contingency in Indian waters were reviewed during the meeting.&nbsp;

In his address, Director General Rakesh Pal, Director General Indian Coast Guard, who serves as the Chairman&nbsp;of NOSDCP, committed that the ICG is cognizant and prepared to counter the threats to the region and its resources, including marine oil and chemical spills at sea. He added that as new vulnerabilities continue to emerge, the stakeholders must recognise the opportunity to enhance cooperation through stronger partnerships, effective coordination and imbibing best practices of the developing technologies. He also stated that the Indian Coast Guard is indigenously building two more state-of-the-art Pollution Response Configured Specialized Vessels besides the three existing to further bolster Pollution Response Capacity.

At present, the Indian Coast Guard operates three Pollution Response Vessels, also known as Pollution Control Vessels - ICGS Samudra Prahari, ICGS Samudra Paheredar and ICGS Samudra Pavak. These vessels are fitted with specific equipment to deal with chemical and oil spills at sea. They also carry copious amounts of chemicals that are used for controlling and minimising the impact of oil spills and related disasters. The significance of conducting the 9th edition of NATPOLREX, off the Gulf of Kutch, lay in the fact that the region is home to numerous petrochemical facilities.&nbsp;

In recent years, India had deployed both Coast Guard and Naval vessels to combat ship fires and possible maritime disasters that were unfolding off the coast of Sri Lanka. While the Indian Coast Guard is responsible for guarding more than 2 million square kilometres of India's Exclusive Economic Zone, it is also responsible for Search and Rescue operations over a region spanning more than 4 million square kilometres.&nbsp;

An oil spill or chemical spill at sea can prove disastrous for the environment, fisheries, shipping, tourism and the overall economy. As a major importer of crude oil and chemicals (which are brought in by very large crude carrier-class ships) from various International sources, India faces the constant threat of possible oil spills within the country's territorial waters and in the larger Indian Ocean region, dotted by littoral nation-states.

An oil spill or chemical spill at sea can prove disastrous for the environment, fisheries, shipping, tourism and the overall economy. As a major importer of crude oil and chemicals (which are brought in by very large crude carrier-class ships) from various International sources, India faces the constant threat of possible oil spills within the country's territorial waters and in the larger Indian Ocean region, dotted by littoral nation-states. As the lead agency for combating oil spills, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG)) conducted the 25th National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOSDCP) and preparedness meeting at Vadinar, Gujarat, on Thursday. This is a precursor to the multi-agency National Level Pollution Response Exercise (NATPOLREX), the 9th edition of which will be conducted Saturday, off the Gulf of Kutch, Gujarat. Chaired by the Chief of the Indian Coast Guard, Director General Rakesh Pal, the NOSDCP and preparedness meeting was attended by more than 80 delegates from various ministries of the Indian Government, representatives of Ports and Oil Handling companies. The national capabilities and collective preparedness to respond to any oil spill contingency in Indian waters were reviewed during the meeting. In his address, Director General Rakesh Pal, Director General Indian Coast Guard, who serves as the Chairman of NOSDCP, committed that the ICG is cognizant and prepared to counter the threats to the region and its resources, including marine oil and chemical spills at sea. He added that as new vulnerabilities continue to emerge, the stakeholders must recognise the opportunity to enhance cooperation through stronger partnerships, effective coordination and imbibing best practices of the developing technologies. He also stated that the Indian Coast Guard is indigenously building two more state-of-the-art Pollution Response Configured Specialized Vessels besides the three existing to further bolster Pollution Response Capacity. At present, the Indian Coast Guard operates three Pollution Response Vessels, also known as Pollution Control Vessels - ICGS Samudra Prahari, ICGS Samudra Paheredar and ICGS Samudra Pavak. These vessels are fitted with specific equipment to deal with chemical and oil spills at sea. They also carry copious amounts of chemicals that are used for controlling and minimising the impact of oil spills and related disasters. The significance of conducting the 9th edition of NATPOLREX, off the Gulf of Kutch, lay in the fact that the region is home to numerous petrochemical facilities. In recent years, India had deployed both Coast Guard and Naval vessels to combat ship fires and possible maritime disasters that were unfolding off the coast of Sri Lanka. While the Indian Coast Guard is responsible for guarding more than 2 million square kilometres of India's Exclusive Economic Zone, it is also responsible for Search and Rescue operations over a region spanning more than 4 million square kilometres.

India: Coast Guard, relevant agencies re-validate plan to combat oil spills

The Indian Coast Guard is known as the 'Sentinels of the Sea', a maritime force that rescues a life at sea, almost every other day. In addition to maritime search and rescue, the Coast Guard is also tasked with preventing smuggling via the sea route, curbing transnational crime, and combating maritime pollution.

With India being the third largest importer of crude oil, the sixth largest importer of chemicals, and large tanker ships ferrying them to Indian ports, the risk of oil spills and chemical spill disasters at sea, is omnipresent.

In order to test and validate their pollution response strategy, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) works with a host of relevant government and private entities. As part of this, the coast guard inaugurated the 9th edition of the multi-agency National Level Pollution Response Exercise (NATPOLREX) Friday (Nov 24) at Vadinar in the Indian state of Gujarat.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-is-closely-monitoring-chinas-influenza-outbreak-amid-mild-covid-scare-662356">India is 'closely monitoring' China's influenza outbreak amid mild Covid scare</a>

The first day of NATPOLREX involves discussions, presentations, and tabletop exercises. The sea-going of the exercise and the assessment of real-world capabilities will be done on Saturday (Nov 25), off the coast of Vadinar.

The two-day NATPOLREX is happening just a day after the coast guard and related agencies re-validated the National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOSDCP) and preparedness.

NOSDCP and preparedness meeting was attended by more than 80 delegates from various ministries of the Indian Government, representatives of Ports and Oil Handling companies. The national capabilities and collective preparedness to respond to any oil spill contingency in the South Asia region (as per the South Asia Co-Operative Environment Programme- SACEP) were reviewed during the meeting. The SACEP covers the coast of India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Maldives, Sri Lanka.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-delhi-aqi-gets-severe-environment-minister-takes-stock-in-review-meet-662361">India: Delhi AQI gets 'severe', environment minister takes stock in review meet</a>

Speaking at the inauguration of NATPOLREX, Director General Rakesh Pal, Chief of the Indian Coast Guard said that the exercise was an opportunity to put theory to practice and assess the performance of the Pollution response teams and the equipment. Speaking about the importance of conducting the exercise in the Gulf of Kutch region in Gujarat, he said that the region was eco-sensitive with 42 islands along the Jamnagar coast.&nbsp;

"These islands form the habitat of 70 species of sponges, 52 species of corals, and 90 species of birds. This region is the hub of three major oil refineries, they handle more than 130 million metric tons of imports and 50&nbsp; million metric tons of export, annually. There are also nine single point moorings. Almost 70 percent of the crude oil that India imports arrives at this region," Director General Pal said.

Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indian-student-killed-in-us-americas-gun-problem-becomes-a-global-human-issue-662363">Indian student killed in US | America's gun problem becomes a global human issue</a>

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A Single Point Mooring (SPM) is a floating buoy/jetty anchored offshore to allow the handling of liquid cargo such as petroleum products for tanker ships. SPM is mainly used in areas where a dedicated facility for loading or unloading liquid cargo is not available.

The ICG is responsible for patrolling and safeguarding more than 2 million square kilometres of India's Exclusive Economic Zone and handles Search and Rescue in a zone that is twice as large. Operating 157 surface assets and 78 air assets, the ICG is also aided by static electronic surveillance sensors placed at various locations.

At present, the Indian Coast Guard operates three Pollution Response Vessels, also known as Pollution Control Vessels - ICGS Samudra Prahari, ICGS Samudra Paheredar, and ICGS Samudra Pavak.

These vessels are fitted with specific equipment to deal with chemical and oil spills at sea. They also carry copious amounts of chemicals that are used for controlling and minimising the impact of oil spills and related disasters.

The ICG Chief said that the Indian Coast Guard is indigenously building two more state-of-the-art Pollution Response Configured Specialized Vessels besides the three existing, to further bolster Pollution Response Capacity.

The Indian Coast Guard is known as the 'Sentinels of the Sea', a maritime force that rescues a life at sea, almost every other day. In addition to maritime search and rescue, the Coast Guard is also tasked with preventing smuggling via the sea route, curbing transnational crime, and combating maritime pollution.

The Indian Coast Guard is known as the 'Sentinels of the Sea', a maritime force that rescues a life at sea, almost every other day. In addition to maritime search and rescue, the Coast Guard is also tasked with preventing smuggling via the sea route, curbing transnational crime, and combating maritime pollution. With India being the third largest importer of crude oil, the sixth largest importer of chemicals, and large tanker ships ferrying them to Indian ports, the risk of oil spills and chemical spill disasters at sea, is omnipresent. In order to test and validate their pollution response strategy, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) works with a host of relevant government and private entities. As part of this, the coast guard inaugurated the 9th edition of the multi-agency National Level Pollution Response Exercise (NATPOLREX) Friday (Nov 24) at Vadinar in the Indian state of Gujarat. Also Read | India is 'closely monitoring' China's influenza outbreak amid mild Covid scare The first day of NATPOLREX involves discussions, presentations, and tabletop exercises. The sea-going of the exercise and the assessment of real-world capabilities will be done on Saturday (Nov 25), off the coast of Vadinar. The two-day NATPOLREX is happening just a day after the coast guard and related agencies re-validated the National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOSDCP) and preparedness. NOSDCP and preparedness meeting was attended by more than 80 delegates from various ministries of the Indian Government, representatives of Ports and Oil Handling companies. The national capabilities and collective preparedness to respond to any oil spill contingency in the South Asia region (as per the South Asia Co-Operative Environment Programme- SACEP) were reviewed during the meeting. The SACEP covers the coast of India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Maldives, Sri Lanka. Also Read | India: Delhi AQI gets 'severe', environment minister takes stock in review meet Speaking at the inauguration of NATPOLREX, Director General Rakesh Pal, Chief of the Indian Coast Guard said that the exercise was an opportunity to put theory to practice and assess the performance of the Pollution response teams and the equipment. Speaking about the importance of conducting the exercise in the Gulf of Kutch region in Gujarat, he said that the region was eco-sensitive with 42 islands along the Jamnagar coast. "These islands form the habitat of 70 species of sponges, 52 species of corals, and 90 species of birds. This region is the hub of three major oil refineries, they handle more than 130 million metric tons of imports and 50 million metric tons of export, annually. There are also nine single point moorings. Almost 70 percent of the crude oil that India imports arrives at this region," Director General Pal said. Watch | Indian student killed in US | America's gun problem becomes a global human issue × A Single Point Mooring (SPM) is a floating buoy/jetty anchored offshore to allow the handling of liquid cargo such as petroleum products for tanker ships. SPM is mainly used in areas where a dedicated facility for loading or unloading liquid cargo is not available. The ICG is responsible for patrolling and safeguarding more than 2 million square kilometres of India's Exclusive Economic Zone and handles Search and Rescue in a zone that is twice as large. Operating 157 surface assets and 78 air assets, the ICG is also aided by static electronic surveillance sensors placed at various locations. At present, the Indian Coast Guard operates three Pollution Response Vessels, also known as Pollution Control Vessels - ICGS Samudra Prahari, ICGS Samudra Paheredar, and ICGS Samudra Pavak. These vessels are fitted with specific equipment to deal with chemical and oil spills at sea. They also carry copious amounts of chemicals that are used for controlling and minimising the impact of oil spills and related disasters. The ICG Chief said that the Indian Coast Guard is indigenously building two more state-of-the-art Pollution Response Configured Specialized Vessels besides the three existing, to further bolster Pollution Response Capacity.

Indian Coast Guard commences 'NATPOLREX' - to combat oil and chemical spills at sea

Indian and Japanese space agencies have been working on a lander-rover mission to explore the moon. Known as LUPEX (Lunar Polar Exploration Mission), this mission is currently in its planning phase.

Indian and Japanese space agencies have been working on a lander-rover mission to explore the moon. Known as LUPEX (Lunar Polar Exploration Mission), this mission is currently in its planning phase. The latest details to emerge from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) suggest that the mission could live for 100 days on the lunar surface, which is more than five times the mission life of India's successful lunar mission Chandrayaan-3. LUPEX could also involve a massive lunar rover that weighs 350 kg. For scale, the Chandrayaan-3 rover 'Pragyan', weighed 26 kg. These preliminary details were shared recently by Nilesh Desai, director, Space Applications Centre, ISRO. Addressing students and faculty at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Desai elaborated on the plans related to the LUPEX mission. He said that the Japanese H3 rocket would be used for launching this mission, which would eventually land at the exact lunar south pole (90-degree latitude) and explore the permanently shadowed regions in the vicinity of the south pole, by performing drilling and in-situ experiments. Notably, the Chandrayaan-3 Vikram lander had touched down near the 70-degree latitude of the moon and it was the closest that any craft had landed to the unexplored lunar south pole. He added that the lunar lander would be built by ISRO and it would carry a Japanese-built lunar rover. The permanently shadowed areas at the lunar south pole are of significance, as they are widely believed to contain ice and other minerals. While the third Indian lunar mission lasted for its planned mission life of 14 Earth days (1 lunar day), he said that LUPEX was being planned for a mission life of nearly 100 Earth days. The LUPEX rover is also meant to explore a 1km x 1km area at the lunar south pole, as opposed to the 500m x 500m exploration area that was chosen for Chandrayaan-3. Watch | Chandrayaan-3 successfully completed fortnight-long mission × Sharing insights into the payloads that the ISRO-built lander would carry, he said that it would have a ground penetrating radar, mid-infrared spectrometer and Raman Spectrometer, Permittivity and thermophysical investigation for Moon's aquatic scout (PRATHIMA) payloads. In addition to this, there would also be Japanese sensors, he said. For the Chandrayaan-3 landing mission, the Space Applications Centre(SAC), Ahmedabad, has contributed 11 systems, of which eight were camera systems, Desai added. Ishii Yasuo, vice president of the Japanese Space Agency JAXA had earlier told WION about how the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 would offer further confidence for the Indo-Japanese moon mission and its progress. Likewise, Nilesh Desai mentioned that the Japanese moon mission 'Moon Sniper' that is travelling to the moon is aiming to demonstrate a precise landing within a small area. Also read | India’s remote areas may soon get Eutelsat-OneWeb satellite internet Desai said that LUPEX would be looking to do something similar and attempt to land at the rim of a lunar crater. The lunar south polar region has very harsh and unpredictable terrain that comprises 2km-tall mountains, deep craters, and boulders, thereby making any landing attempt immensely challenging. However, it must be remembered that such a joint mission requires various phases of detailed discussion, and technical consultations before it can even proceed to the hardware being finalised, developed, integrated, tested and readied. In such cases, scientists from both agencies are required to visit the facilities of the other and work together on crucial aspects of the mission. It would be safe to say that a mission of this kind that involves close cooperation between two space agencies, would take a handful of years to materialise. Given that this mission is years away, the various science outcomes and lessons learnt from Chandrayaan-3 could be implemented in LUPEX to make it more advanced and thereby derive more science and data from the lunar South Pole.

India-Japan Moon mission LUPEX could break the records of Chandrayaan-3

In a significant development in the Indian telecom and space sector, private firm Eutelsat-OneWeb has received the necessary clearances to beam 4G-speed internet from their satellites into Indian territory and the country's territorial waters.

At present, the company is awaiting satellite spectrum allocation from the Government of India. The firm has a constellation of more than 640 satellites, placed 1200kms above the earth's surface.

Notably, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), played a role in placing 72 of these satellites into orbit at a crucial time for the company.

Eutelsat-OneWeb is the first to receive this clearance in India at a time when there have been reports of Elon Musk's Starlink and Mukesh Ambani's JioSpaceFiber (a partnership between Reliance Jio and SES) also attempting to foray into this segment in India.

While not much is known about the progress of Starlink's India presence and the ground hardware for the same, recent reports have indicated a technical setback faced by SES, temporarily affecting the functionality of the O3b mPower satellites and thereby the JioSpaceFiber venture.

Eutelsat-OneWeb aims to provide internet services to the rural and unconnected areas, territorial waters of India on a 24/7 basis. The total quantum of internet speed that can be provided would be 21Gbps, they added.&nbsp;

Bharti Group Chairman and Vice-President (Co-Chair) of the Board of Directors of Eutelsat Group, Sunil Bharti Mittal, said, “We are pleased to note the Indian space regulator’s green light to launch Eutelsat-OneWeb’s commercial satellite broadband services in India. This will be a critical step forward to meet India’s ambition of providing internet connectivity for all and will enable the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of Digital India. Eutelsat OneWeb is ready to deploy as soon as it receives the final spectrum authorization to launch commercial services.”

“As a next logical step, we are sanguine that the government will soon take the decision on satellite spectrum allocation to pave the way for the commencement of next-generation satellite communications in India,” said Lt. Gen AK Bhatt (Retd), who serves as the Director General of the Indian space industry body, Indian Space Association.&nbsp;

On Tuesday, IN-SPACe, the government-run facilitator and regulator for private space firms in India said that it has authorised Eutelsat-OneWeb constellation to enable the provisioning of its capacity in India for providing communication services.

However, the IN-SPACe authorisation provided to the firm has a validity period of five years and is subject to the assignment of the spectrum by the Indian Government's Department of Telecommunication (DoT) for both the gateways(ground-based stations that communicate with the satellites) and user terminal operations, and other requisite regulating licenses and approvals.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/uttarakhand-tunnel-rescue-rescuers-release-first-visuals-of-trapped-workers-taken-via-endoscopic-camera-660965">WATCH I Uttarakhand tunnel rescue: First visuals of trapped workers taken via endoscopic camera released</a>

Eutelsat-OneWeb said they have also obtained in-principle approval to establish and operate two gateways in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, which would secure the provision of vital high-speed, low-latency internet connectivity to customers across India, once services are rolled out.&nbsp;

Low Earth orbit satellites, such as those operated by Eutelsat-Oneweb, circle the Earth at an altitude of 600-1200kms, travelling at high speeds of approximately 28,000kmph.

Therefore, a single satellite would be visible from one point on Earth only for a handful of minutes, which means that each satellite offers coverage only over a small area at a time.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iceland-volcanic-eruption-may-happen-with-30-minute-warning-met-office-661221">Iceland volcanic eruption may happen with 30-minute warning: Met Office</a>

In order to operate any service from LEO, one would require a fleet of satellites covering the earth and performing a sort of endless relay race - where one takes over after the other.

This is precisely why Eutelsat-OneWeb operates more than 640 satellites in its fleet. Being close to the earth, it is possible to rapidly beam down internet signals from these satellites and enable internet usage on-board flights, ships, and even in remote areas (where terrestrial communication connectivity is sparse) for high-speed utilities such as video-calling, online gaming, etc.

In contrast, geostationary satellites are perched at 36,000-km above the Earth's surface. When looked at from the blue planet, they always appear to be in a constant position at all times. This is because they move at the same speed at the earth's rotation.

Being as far above from the Earth, three equally-spaced geostationary satellites are capable of providing near-total global coverage. However, the regions near the earth's poles would find it very challenging to receive signals from these satellites. Also, there is a considerable amount of lag due to the long distance between the satellite and Earth. Therefore, it is not ideal for telephony and video-calling, online gaming, etc.

In a significant development in the Indian telecom and space sector, private firm Eutelsat-OneWeb has received the necessary clearances to beam 4G-speed internet from their satellites into Indian territory and the country's territorial waters.

In a significant development in the Indian telecom and space sector, private firm Eutelsat-OneWeb has received the necessary clearances to beam 4G-speed internet from their satellites into Indian territory and the country's territorial waters. At present, the company is awaiting satellite spectrum allocation from the Government of India. The firm has a constellation of more than 640 satellites, placed 1200kms above the earth's surface. Notably, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), played a role in placing 72 of these satellites into orbit at a crucial time for the company. Eutelsat-OneWeb is the first to receive this clearance in India at a time when there have been reports of Elon Musk's Starlink and Mukesh Ambani's JioSpaceFiber (a partnership between Reliance Jio and SES) also attempting to foray into this segment in India. While not much is known about the progress of Starlink's India presence and the ground hardware for the same, recent reports have indicated a technical setback faced by SES, temporarily affecting the functionality of the O3b mPower satellites and thereby the JioSpaceFiber venture. Eutelsat-OneWeb aims to provide internet services to the rural and unconnected areas, territorial waters of India on a 24/7 basis. The total quantum of internet speed that can be provided would be 21Gbps, they added. Bharti Group Chairman and Vice-President (Co-Chair) of the Board of Directors of Eutelsat Group, Sunil Bharti Mittal, said, “We are pleased to note the Indian space regulator’s green light to launch Eutelsat-OneWeb’s commercial satellite broadband services in India. This will be a critical step forward to meet India’s ambition of providing internet connectivity for all and will enable the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of Digital India. Eutelsat OneWeb is ready to deploy as soon as it receives the final spectrum authorization to launch commercial services.” “As a next logical step, we are sanguine that the government will soon take the decision on satellite spectrum allocation to pave the way for the commencement of next-generation satellite communications in India,” said Lt. Gen AK Bhatt (Retd), who serves as the Director General of the Indian space industry body, Indian Space Association. On Tuesday, IN-SPACe, the government-run facilitator and regulator for private space firms in India said that it has authorised Eutelsat-OneWeb constellation to enable the provisioning of its capacity in India for providing communication services. However, the IN-SPACe authorisation provided to the firm has a validity period of five years and is subject to the assignment of the spectrum by the Indian Government's Department of Telecommunication (DoT) for both the gateways(ground-based stations that communicate with the satellites) and user terminal operations, and other requisite regulating licenses and approvals. Also read | WATCH I Uttarakhand tunnel rescue: First visuals of trapped workers taken via endoscopic camera released Eutelsat-OneWeb said they have also obtained in-principle approval to establish and operate two gateways in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, which would secure the provision of vital high-speed, low-latency internet connectivity to customers across India, once services are rolled out. Low Earth orbit satellites, such as those operated by Eutelsat-Oneweb, circle the Earth at an altitude of 600-1200kms, travelling at high speeds of approximately 28,000kmph. Therefore, a single satellite would be visible from one point on Earth only for a handful of minutes, which means that each satellite offers coverage only over a small area at a time. Also read | Iceland volcanic eruption may happen with 30-minute warning: Met Office In order to operate any service from LEO, one would require a fleet of satellites covering the earth and performing a sort of endless relay race - where one takes over after the other. This is precisely why Eutelsat-OneWeb operates more than 640 satellites in its fleet. Being close to the earth, it is possible to rapidly beam down internet signals from these satellites and enable internet usage on-board flights, ships, and even in remote areas (where terrestrial communication connectivity is sparse) for high-speed utilities such as video-calling, online gaming, etc. In contrast, geostationary satellites are perched at 36,000-km above the Earth's surface. When looked at from the blue planet, they always appear to be in a constant position at all times. This is because they move at the same speed at the earth's rotation. Being as far above from the Earth, three equally-spaced geostationary satellites are capable of providing near-total global coverage. However, the regions near the earth's poles would find it very challenging to receive signals from these satellites. Also, there is a considerable amount of lag due to the long distance between the satellite and Earth. Therefore, it is not ideal for telephony and video-calling, online gaming, etc.

India’s remote areas may soon get Eutelsat-OneWeb satellite internet

The Indian Navy on Thursday launched its most advanced and state-of-the-art anti-submarine warfare shallow watercraft, named Amini.

A ceremonial 'ship launch', where a newly-built ship is transferred from land to the water, was performed on Thursday.

The vessel is named after a strategically important island in the Lakshadweep archipelago on India's western coast, almost 400 km off Kochi, Kerala.

This is the fourth in the series of eight anti-submarine warfare shallow watercrafts being built in India by domestic shipyards for the Indian Navy.

Four of these ships, each with more than 80 per cent indigenous content, have been launched this year.

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Launch of 'Amini' <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndianNavy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndianNavy</a> Anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft, today at <a href="https://twitter.com/larsentoubro?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@larsentoubro</a> Kattupalli <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/chennai?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#chennai</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TamilNadu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TamilNadu</a> 
 
Spec- 77m long, 900tons displacement, 46kmph speed, 3333km range, 80% indigenous 
 
4 ships of this class launched this year<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Defence?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Defence</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/india?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#india</a>… <a href="https://t.co/vCZdAbH8SH">pic.twitter.com/vCZdAbH8SH</a>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1725154948470473089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The ceremony, which was presided over by Chief of Materiel of the&nbsp;Indian Navy, Vice Admiral Sandeep Naithani, and other top officials, took place at the Larsen and Toubro Shipyard in Chennai, southern India.

In keeping with maritime tradition of the Indian Navy where the spouse of the senior officer carries out the launching ceremony and a puja (prayer) is performed, Manju Naithani, wife of admiral Sandeep, launched the ship to the invocation from the Atharva Veda, a Hindu holy scripture.&nbsp;

The 77-meter-long anti-submarine warfare shallow watercraft has a displacement of 900 tonnes, a maximum speed of 25knots (46.3kmph) and an endurance of approximately 1800Nautical miles (3333kms).

These vessels are designed to undertake anti-submarine operations in coastal waters and Low-Intensity Maritime Operations and Mine-laying operations.&nbsp;

The contract for building eight anti-submarine warfare ships was signed between India's Defence Ministry and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, in April 2019.

As per the build strategy, four ships are being built at GRSE, Kolkata, and the remaining four are subcontracted to L&amp;T Shipbuilding, Kattupalli, for hull and part outfitting.

These contracts being executed within the country, help generate employment, offer a boost to Indian industry and help enhance related infrastructure.&nbsp;

At the time of launching, a ship is not in a state of operational readiness. In fact, of the Float-Move-Fight criteria, the ship can only perform its float role&nbsp;at the time of launch.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indian-student-speaks-to-wion-reveals-shocking-state-of-canadas-education-system-housing-and-health-infra-659409">Indian student speaks to WION, reveals shocking state of Canada's education system, housing and health infra</a>

After launch, the ship would have to be integrated with various equipment, systems, and sub-systems, they would have to be tested rigorously and proven. After that, the ship's weapon systems and armaments are to be integrated and tested.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/osama-bin-ladens-21-yr-old-letter-goes-viral-after-tiktok-influencers-promote-it-netizens-say-eyes-opened-659443">Osama bin Laden’s 21-yr-old letter goes viral after TikTok influencers promote it, netizens say 'eyes opened'</a>

During these phases, when the ship is nearing the final stages of readiness, it is commissioned into the Indian Navy and it earns the prefix INS - Indian Navy Ship.

Finally, once this entire process is complete, it can undertake its wide gamut of operations and fulfil the Float-Move-Fight objectives.

The Indian Navy on Thursday launched its most advanced and state-of-the-art anti-submarine warfare shallow watercraft, named Amini. A ceremonial 'ship launch', where a newly-built ship is transferred from land to the water, was performed on Thursday.

The Indian Navy on Thursday launched its most advanced and state-of-the-art anti-submarine warfare shallow watercraft, named Amini. A ceremonial 'ship launch', where a newly-built ship is transferred from land to the water, was performed on Thursday. The vessel is named after a strategically important island in the Lakshadweep archipelago on India's western coast, almost 400 km off Kochi, Kerala. This is the fourth in the series of eight anti-submarine warfare shallow watercrafts being built in India by domestic shipyards for the Indian Navy. Four of these ships, each with more than 80 per cent indigenous content, have been launched this year. Launch of 'Amini' #IndianNavy Anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft, today at @larsentoubro Kattupalli #chennai #TamilNadu Spec- 77m long, 900tons displacement, 46kmph speed, 3333km range, 80% indigenous 4 ships of this class launched this year#Defence #india… pic.twitter.com/vCZdAbH8SH — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) November 16, 2023 × The ceremony, which was presided over by Chief of Materiel of the Indian Navy, Vice Admiral Sandeep Naithani, and other top officials, took place at the Larsen and Toubro Shipyard in Chennai, southern India. In keeping with maritime tradition of the Indian Navy where the spouse of the senior officer carries out the launching ceremony and a puja (prayer) is performed, Manju Naithani, wife of admiral Sandeep, launched the ship to the invocation from the Atharva Veda, a Hindu holy scripture. The 77-meter-long anti-submarine warfare shallow watercraft has a displacement of 900 tonnes, a maximum speed of 25knots (46.3kmph) and an endurance of approximately 1800Nautical miles (3333kms). These vessels are designed to undertake anti-submarine operations in coastal waters and Low-Intensity Maritime Operations and Mine-laying operations. The contract for building eight anti-submarine warfare ships was signed between India's Defence Ministry and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, in April 2019. As per the build strategy, four ships are being built at GRSE, Kolkata, and the remaining four are subcontracted to L&T Shipbuilding, Kattupalli, for hull and part outfitting. These contracts being executed within the country, help generate employment, offer a boost to Indian industry and help enhance related infrastructure. At the time of launching, a ship is not in a state of operational readiness. In fact, of the Float-Move-Fight criteria, the ship can only perform its float role at the time of launch. Also read | Indian student speaks to WION, reveals shocking state of Canada's education system, housing and health infra After launch, the ship would have to be integrated with various equipment, systems, and sub-systems, they would have to be tested rigorously and proven. After that, the ship's weapon systems and armaments are to be integrated and tested. Also read | Osama bin Laden’s 21-yr-old letter goes viral after TikTok influencers promote it, netizens say 'eyes opened' During these phases, when the ship is nearing the final stages of readiness, it is commissioned into the Indian Navy and it earns the prefix INS - Indian Navy Ship. Finally, once this entire process is complete, it can undertake its wide gamut of operations and fulfil the Float-Move-Fight objectives.

Indian Navy launches anti-submarine warfare craft 'Amini'; 4 of eight India-made crafts launched in 2023

All expendable spacefaring rockets have the same fate: part by part, they eventually end up in the sea and sleep with the fishes, in different oceans along the rocket's flight path.

Once in the sea, some are washed ashore, some are caught in fishing nets and some remain in the depths forever. Some rocket stages (that complete their task and burn out within the earth's atmosphere) splash down during the progress of the launch mission itself.

But the upper stage of the rocket, which is responsible for injecting the satellite into its precise orbit continues&nbsp;its stay in space&nbsp;as a piece of space debris. Given that these rocket upper stages remain in unstable orbits, they are eventually dragged towards the earth's atmosphere, making&nbsp;an uncontrolled re-entry, burning up in the earth's atmosphere and touching down in oceans, or in rare cases, on land.&nbsp;

The latest piece of space debris to undergo this process is the upper stage of India's LVM3-M4 rocket, which carried the Indian moon mission Chandrayaan-3 to its intended initial orbit.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/chandrayaan-3-is-a-success-a-soft-landing-for-vikram-lander-a-giant-leap-for-indias-space-odyssey-628404">Chandrayaan-3 is success: A soft landing for Vikram lander, giant leap for India's space odyssey</a>

The cryogenic upper stage (the cylindrical portion just below the rocket's nose cone) of the LVM3 M4 launch vehicle made an uncontrolled re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere, on&nbsp;Wednesday (Nov 15) at 14:42 hrs (IST; 9:12 AM GMT, Thursday), said the Indian Space agency ISRO.

The probable impact point was predicted over the North Pacific Ocean, it is said.&nbsp;

Launched on July 14&nbsp;2023, the LVM3-M4 rocket completed its launch mission in almost 17 minutes.

The Cryogenic upper stage, which remained suspended in space as a piece of debris,&nbsp;has now taken its place in the ocean, almost three months after the launch.&nbsp;

Also watch |&nbsp;All about Chandrayaan-3 mission

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As suggested by the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC), the post-mission orbital lifetime of such objects must be within 25 years.

Therefore, with this upper stage having been removed from orbit in less than just about three months, the process is compliant with the "25-year rule", ISRO said.&nbsp;

Post Chandrayaan-3 injection, the upper stage had also undergone “passivation” to remove all residual propellant and energy sources to minimise the risks of accidental explosions as per the space debris mitigation guidelines prescribed by the United Nations and IADC.

Passivation and Post-mission disposal of this rocket body in adherence to the internationally accepted guidelines once again reaffirms India’s commitment to preserving the long-term sustainability of outer space activities, ISRO added.&nbsp;

A rocket&nbsp;upper stage contains unused fuel in its tanks, there are also batteries, self-destruct systems etc. A malfunction in one of these could lead to an explosion and it would create a lot of small and large pieces of space debris, which are harder to keep track of.

Therefore, space agencies are required to ensure that the rocket upper stage is "passivised". That means, all onboard sources of the stored energy of a spacecraft or orbital stage, such as residual fuels, batteries, high-pressure vessels, self-destructive devices, flywheels and momentum wheels, should be "depleted" or "safed" when they are no longer required for mission operations or post-mission disposal.&nbsp;

All expendable spacefaring rockets have the same fate: part by part, they eventually end up in the sea and sleep with the fishes, in different oceans along the rocket's flight path.

All expendable spacefaring rockets have the same fate: part by part, they eventually end up in the sea and sleep with the fishes, in different oceans along the rocket's flight path. Once in the sea, some are washed ashore, some are caught in fishing nets and some remain in the depths forever. Some rocket stages (that complete their task and burn out within the earth's atmosphere) splash down during the progress of the launch mission itself. But the upper stage of the rocket, which is responsible for injecting the satellite into its precise orbit continues its stay in space as a piece of space debris. Given that these rocket upper stages remain in unstable orbits, they are eventually dragged towards the earth's atmosphere, making an uncontrolled re-entry, burning up in the earth's atmosphere and touching down in oceans, or in rare cases, on land. The latest piece of space debris to undergo this process is the upper stage of India's LVM3-M4 rocket, which carried the Indian moon mission Chandrayaan-3 to its intended initial orbit. Also read | Chandrayaan-3 is success: A soft landing for Vikram lander, giant leap for India's space odyssey The cryogenic upper stage (the cylindrical portion just below the rocket's nose cone) of the LVM3 M4 launch vehicle made an uncontrolled re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere, on Wednesday (Nov 15) at 14:42 hrs (IST; 9:12 AM GMT, Thursday), said the Indian Space agency ISRO. The probable impact point was predicted over the North Pacific Ocean, it is said. Launched on July 14 2023, the LVM3-M4 rocket completed its launch mission in almost 17 minutes. The Cryogenic upper stage, which remained suspended in space as a piece of debris, has now taken its place in the ocean, almost three months after the launch. Also watch | All about Chandrayaan-3 mission × As suggested by the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC), the post-mission orbital lifetime of such objects must be within 25 years. Therefore, with this upper stage having been removed from orbit in less than just about three months, the process is compliant with the "25-year rule", ISRO said. Post Chandrayaan-3 injection, the upper stage had also undergone “passivation” to remove all residual propellant and energy sources to minimise the risks of accidental explosions as per the space debris mitigation guidelines prescribed by the United Nations and IADC. Passivation and Post-mission disposal of this rocket body in adherence to the internationally accepted guidelines once again reaffirms India’s commitment to preserving the long-term sustainability of outer space activities, ISRO added. A rocket upper stage contains unused fuel in its tanks, there are also batteries, self-destruct systems etc. A malfunction in one of these could lead to an explosion and it would create a lot of small and large pieces of space debris, which are harder to keep track of. Therefore, space agencies are required to ensure that the rocket upper stage is "passivised". That means, all onboard sources of the stored energy of a spacecraft or orbital stage, such as residual fuels, batteries, high-pressure vessels, self-destructive devices, flywheels and momentum wheels, should be "depleted" or "safed" when they are no longer required for mission operations or post-mission disposal.

Oceans apart, India's Chandrayaan-3 rocket 'LVM3 M4' now sleeps in the sea

Space is harsh. Space is unforgiving. Space is not for everyone. So, when you are nearing the final stages of building the most-sophisticated satellite to study the earth, you better get it right. Because you have only one shot. That's what the teams from the Indian Space agency ISRO and America's NASA have been doing in Bengaluru, the city known as India's IT and Aerospace hub.&nbsp;

They have been putting their jointly-built satellite NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar), through a series of tests, in order to see how well it can withstand the harsh conditions of sitting atop a spacefaring rocket and the brutal conditions of circling the earth at around 28,000 kmph, at an altitude of 747 km above the earth's surface.&nbsp;

Just like how smartphones and other gadgets are tested in factories, for their ability to withstand impact, wear-and-tear, water resistance and heavy usage, satellites are put through tests that simulate the conditions that they would encounter in space.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/indian-rocket-firm-skyroot-to-launch-french-satellites-from-2024-645783">Indian rocket firm Skyroot to launch French satellites from 2024</a>

Satellites comprise a plethora of sophisticated electronic, electrical and optical systems and all of them are rated to work in the harsh environs of space - where temperatures can swing wildly, there's a risk of collision with millimetre-sized space debris, where the pressure is barely a fraction of that at sea-level etc.

The testing processes are meant to validate the functioning of these systems and sub-systems. Remember, once the satellite lifts-off on a rocket, there's no coming back for service and repairs. Therefore, all hardware and related software must be tested as much as possible.&nbsp;

The SUV-sized NISAR comprises two radar imaging systems - an S-band radar that was built at the Space Applications Centre in Ahmedabad, India and the L-band radar built at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. Both of them have been fixed to form a barrel-like structure.

Also watch |&nbsp;Indian space agency successfully launches next-gen satellite

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The satellite's main body, or bus, includes components and systems developed by both ISRO and JPL. The bus will provide power, navigation, pointing control, and communications aspect of the mission.

While NASA is providing the radar reflector antenna, the deployable boom, a high-rate communication subsystem for science data, GPS receivers, a solid-state recorder, and payload data subsystem, ISRO is providing the spacecraft bus, the S-band SAR electronics, the launch vehicle, and associated launch services and satellite mission operations.

According to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, this week, the NISAR satellite passed a major milestone, as it emerged successfully from a 21-day test. These tests were aimed at evaluating the satellite's ability to function in the extreme temperatures and the vacuum of space. NISAR is the first space hardware collaboration between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation, or ISRO, on an Earth-observing mission.&nbsp;

Scheduled to launch in the first quarter of 2024, the satellite will scan nearly all the planet’s land and ice twice every 12 days, monitoring the motion of those surfaces down to fractions of an inch. It will be able to observe movements from earthquakes, landslides, and volcanic activity and track dynamic changes in forests, wetlands, and agricultural lands.

Integrated at ISRO's UR Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru, the satellite underwent tests at ISRO's Satellite Integration and Test Establishment. It’s one of a battery of tests the satellite will face leading to launch. Other tests will ensure it can withstand the shaking, vibration, and jostling that it will encounter during launch.

"NISAR, partially covered in gold-hued thermal blanketing, entered the vacuum chamber on October 19th. Over the following week, engineers and technicians lowered the pressure to an infinitesimal fraction of the normal pressure at sea level. They also subjected the satellite to an 80-hour 'cold soak' at 14 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 10 degrees Celsius), followed by an equally lengthy 'hot soak' at up to 122ºF (50 C)."

"This simulates the temperature swings the spacecraft will experience as it is exposed to sunlight and darkness in orbit," said NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. During the three-week test period, ISRO and JPL teams worked around the clock, testing the performance of the satellite’s thermal systems and its two primary science instrument systems – the L-band and S-band radars – under the most extreme temperature conditions they will experience in space.

According to JPL, this latest round of testing followed 20 days of testing in September in which engineers used ISRO’s compact antenna test facility to evaluate whether the radio signals from the two radar systems’ antennas passed requirements. In the antenna test facility, a lining of foam spikes are placed on the walls, floor and ceiling, in order to prevent radio waves from bouncing around the room and interfering with measurement.

With thermal vacuum and compact antenna tests successfully done, NISAR will soon be fitted with its solar panels and its nearly 40-foot (12-metre) radar antenna reflector, which resembles a snare drum and will unfold in space at the end of a 30-foot (9-metre) boom extending from the spacecraft.

After more tests, the satellite would finally be wheeled away to the Indian Spaceport, Satish Dhawan Space Centre, in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.&nbsp;

Satellites are always transported in specialised containers where temperature, moisture, vibration etc are within very controlled limits. For safety and security purposes, these specialized containers always travel in a convoy that clears the path for them. The road journey from Bengaluru to Sriharikota is around 350 kms.&nbsp;

Once at the spaceport, the satellite would be taken to a clean room to undergo its final health checks, fuel-filling and integration within the rocket's nose cone. Owing to the sensitive electronics and space-grade components on-board, the satellite is always placed in a clean room and transported in such conditions.&nbsp;

A clean room is a specialised facility where the pressure, temperature and humidity are kept constant regardless of the weather outside. Clean rooms also have negligible amounts of dust particles per cubic metre of air.

Finally, it would be mounted atop the rocket. In this case, it would be the Indian Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle(GSLV) rocket, formerly known as the GSLV Mk2.&nbsp;

Space is harsh. Space is unforgiving. Space is not for everyone. So, when you are nearing the final stages of building the most-sophisticated satellite to study the earth, you better get it right.

Space is harsh. Space is unforgiving. Space is not for everyone. So, when you are nearing the final stages of building the most-sophisticated satellite to study the earth, you better get it right. Because you have only one shot. That's what the teams from the Indian Space agency ISRO and America's NASA have been doing in Bengaluru, the city known as India's IT and Aerospace hub. They have been putting their jointly-built satellite NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar), through a series of tests, in order to see how well it can withstand the harsh conditions of sitting atop a spacefaring rocket and the brutal conditions of circling the earth at around 28,000 kmph, at an altitude of 747 km above the earth's surface. Just like how smartphones and other gadgets are tested in factories, for their ability to withstand impact, wear-and-tear, water resistance and heavy usage, satellites are put through tests that simulate the conditions that they would encounter in space. Also read | Indian rocket firm Skyroot to launch French satellites from 2024 Satellites comprise a plethora of sophisticated electronic, electrical and optical systems and all of them are rated to work in the harsh environs of space - where temperatures can swing wildly, there's a risk of collision with millimetre-sized space debris, where the pressure is barely a fraction of that at sea-level etc. The testing processes are meant to validate the functioning of these systems and sub-systems. Remember, once the satellite lifts-off on a rocket, there's no coming back for service and repairs. Therefore, all hardware and related software must be tested as much as possible. The SUV-sized NISAR comprises two radar imaging systems - an S-band radar that was built at the Space Applications Centre in Ahmedabad, India and the L-band radar built at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. Both of them have been fixed to form a barrel-like structure. Also watch | Indian space agency successfully launches next-gen satellite × The satellite's main body, or bus, includes components and systems developed by both ISRO and JPL. The bus will provide power, navigation, pointing control, and communications aspect of the mission. While NASA is providing the radar reflector antenna, the deployable boom, a high-rate communication subsystem for science data, GPS receivers, a solid-state recorder, and payload data subsystem, ISRO is providing the spacecraft bus, the S-band SAR electronics, the launch vehicle, and associated launch services and satellite mission operations. According to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, this week, the NISAR satellite passed a major milestone, as it emerged successfully from a 21-day test. These tests were aimed at evaluating the satellite's ability to function in the extreme temperatures and the vacuum of space. NISAR is the first space hardware collaboration between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation, or ISRO, on an Earth-observing mission. Scheduled to launch in the first quarter of 2024, the satellite will scan nearly all the planet’s land and ice twice every 12 days, monitoring the motion of those surfaces down to fractions of an inch. It will be able to observe movements from earthquakes, landslides, and volcanic activity and track dynamic changes in forests, wetlands, and agricultural lands. Integrated at ISRO's UR Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru, the satellite underwent tests at ISRO's Satellite Integration and Test Establishment. It’s one of a battery of tests the satellite will face leading to launch. Other tests will ensure it can withstand the shaking, vibration, and jostling that it will encounter during launch. "NISAR, partially covered in gold-hued thermal blanketing, entered the vacuum chamber on October 19th. Over the following week, engineers and technicians lowered the pressure to an infinitesimal fraction of the normal pressure at sea level. They also subjected the satellite to an 80-hour 'cold soak' at 14 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 10 degrees Celsius), followed by an equally lengthy 'hot soak' at up to 122ºF (50 C)." "This simulates the temperature swings the spacecraft will experience as it is exposed to sunlight and darkness in orbit," said NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. During the three-week test period, ISRO and JPL teams worked around the clock, testing the performance of the satellite’s thermal systems and its two primary science instrument systems – the L-band and S-band radars – under the most extreme temperature conditions they will experience in space. According to JPL, this latest round of testing followed 20 days of testing in September in which engineers used ISRO’s compact antenna test facility to evaluate whether the radio signals from the two radar systems’ antennas passed requirements. In the antenna test facility, a lining of foam spikes are placed on the walls, floor and ceiling, in order to prevent radio waves from bouncing around the room and interfering with measurement. With thermal vacuum and compact antenna tests successfully done, NISAR will soon be fitted with its solar panels and its nearly 40-foot (12-metre) radar antenna reflector, which resembles a snare drum and will unfold in space at the end of a 30-foot (9-metre) boom extending from the spacecraft. After more tests, the satellite would finally be wheeled away to the Indian Spaceport, Satish Dhawan Space Centre, in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. Satellites are always transported in specialised containers where temperature, moisture, vibration etc are within very controlled limits. For safety and security purposes, these specialized containers always travel in a convoy that clears the path for them. The road journey from Bengaluru to Sriharikota is around 350 kms. Once at the spaceport, the satellite would be taken to a clean room to undergo its final health checks, fuel-filling and integration within the rocket's nose cone. Owing to the sensitive electronics and space-grade components on-board, the satellite is always placed in a clean room and transported in such conditions. A clean room is a specialised facility where the pressure, temperature and humidity are kept constant regardless of the weather outside. Clean rooms also have negligible amounts of dust particles per cubic metre of air. Finally, it would be mounted atop the rocket. In this case, it would be the Indian Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle(GSLV) rocket, formerly known as the GSLV Mk2.

Explained | ISRO-NASA satellite 'NISAR' gets a feel of space in Bengaluru

The prevailing weather system in the Bay of Bengal has concentrated into a depression and lay around 510km&nbsp;southeast of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, as of Wednesday. It is expected to further intensity into a deep depression and head north-northwestwards from Thursday and move towards the Odisha and West Bengal coasts by the weekend, said the Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai, under the Indian Meteorological Department.&nbsp;

As a result of this weather system, parts of Northern Coastal Tamil Nadu have been receiving rainfall since Monday evening and such conditions are expected to prevail for a few days. &nbsp;This is also being referred to as the first widespread spell of rain during the ongoing North East Monsoon along India's East Coast.&nbsp;

"As on Wednesday morning, the depression lay centred over Westcentral Bay of Bengal, 650kms south-southeast of Paradip, Odisha and 790kms south of Digha, West Bengal. It is likely to move initially northwestwards and intensify into a deep depression off Andhra Pradesh on Thursday morning. Thereafter, it would recurve and reach off the Odisha coast on Friday morning and North Odisha-West Bengal coasts on Saturday," the RMC said, on the predicted progression of this meteorological feature.

For the coming days, a moderate to heavy rainfall warning has been issued for the northern Tamil Nadu coast and Puducherry.&nbsp;

Fishers have been issued warning about adverse weather at sea, owing to the prevailing weather system. Gusty winds of 55kmph are forecast along the Tamil Nadu coast for the next two days. Later in the week, as the evolved weather system moves further towards the north, squally weather and wind speeds of 55kmph are forecast for the coasts of Odisha, West Bengal and Bangladesh.

Tuesday saw a significant amount of rainfall in Chennai, with most parts of the city and adjoining regions recording an average of 7-8cms rainfall. "Hit or miss rains today for Chennai to Pondicherry coasts," said private weather blogger Tamil Nadu Weatherman, about the likelihood of rainfall on Wednesday. He also pointed out that an upper air circulation near the southern top of the Indian landmass could bring rain to the southern parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.&nbsp;

The prevailing weather system in the Bay of Bengal has concentrated into a depression and lay around 510km southeast of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, as of Wednesday.

The prevailing weather system in the Bay of Bengal has concentrated into a depression and lay around 510km southeast of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, as of Wednesday. It is expected to further intensity into a deep depression and head north-northwestwards from Thursday and move towards the Odisha and West Bengal coasts by the weekend, said the Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai, under the Indian Meteorological Department. As a result of this weather system, parts of Northern Coastal Tamil Nadu have been receiving rainfall since Monday evening and such conditions are expected to prevail for a few days. This is also being referred to as the first widespread spell of rain during the ongoing North East Monsoon along India's East Coast. "As on Wednesday morning, the depression lay centred over Westcentral Bay of Bengal, 650kms south-southeast of Paradip, Odisha and 790kms south of Digha, West Bengal. It is likely to move initially northwestwards and intensify into a deep depression off Andhra Pradesh on Thursday morning. Thereafter, it would recurve and reach off the Odisha coast on Friday morning and North Odisha-West Bengal coasts on Saturday," the RMC said, on the predicted progression of this meteorological feature. For the coming days, a moderate to heavy rainfall warning has been issued for the northern Tamil Nadu coast and Puducherry. Fishers have been issued warning about adverse weather at sea, owing to the prevailing weather system. Gusty winds of 55kmph are forecast along the Tamil Nadu coast for the next two days. Later in the week, as the evolved weather system moves further towards the north, squally weather and wind speeds of 55kmph are forecast for the coasts of Odisha, West Bengal and Bangladesh. Tuesday saw a significant amount of rainfall in Chennai, with most parts of the city and adjoining regions recording an average of 7-8cms rainfall. "Hit or miss rains today for Chennai to Pondicherry coasts," said private weather blogger Tamil Nadu Weatherman, about the likelihood of rainfall on Wednesday. He also pointed out that an upper air circulation near the southern top of the Indian landmass could bring rain to the southern parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Deep depression brewing in Bay of Bengal, to head towards Odisha, West Bengal coasts

The weather system that has been brewing in the Bay of Bengal off India's east coast could develop into a deep depression in the coming days, according to the Regional Meteorological Centre(RMC), Chennai.

RMC, which comes under the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), said that in the next 48 hours, this weather system’s impact would likely be felt along the coast of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. &nbsp;As a result of this weather system, parts of northern coastal Tamil Nadu have been receiving rainfall since Monday evening and such conditions are expected&nbsp; to prevail for a few days.

This is also being referred to the first widespread rain of the ongoing north east monsoon along India's east coast.&nbsp;

On the likely progression on the weather system, the RMC said, "It is likely to move west-northwestwards and concentrate into a depression over the Bay of Bengal on Wednesday, thereafter it would move towards northwest and may intensify into a deep depression off the Andhra Pradesh Coast on Thursday.”

Subsequently, it would recurve north-northeastwards and reach northwest Bay of Bengal, off Odisha coast on Friday, the RMC added.

For Tuesday and Wednesday, heavy to very heavy rainfall has been forecast for various districts of Tamil Nadu, including Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Villupuram, Puducherry and Karaikal area. For Chennai city, the sky condition is expected to remain cloudy, with moderate rainfall and heavy spells in some areas.&nbsp;

Fishers have been warned about adverse weather at sea, owing to the prevailing weather system. &nbsp;Gusty winds of 55kmph are forecast along the Tamil Nadu coast for the next two days.

Later in the week, as the weather system moves further towards the north, squally weather and wind speeds of 55kmph are forecast for the coasts of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal and Bangladesh.

&nbsp;

The weather system that has been brewing in the Bay of Bengal off India's east coast could develop into a deep depression in the coming days, according to the Regional Meteorological Centre(RMC), Chennai.

The weather system that has been brewing in the Bay of Bengal off India's east coast could develop into a deep depression in the coming days, according to the Regional Meteorological Centre(RMC), Chennai. RMC, which comes under the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), said that in the next 48 hours, this weather system’s impact would likely be felt along the coast of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. As a result of this weather system, parts of northern coastal Tamil Nadu have been receiving rainfall since Monday evening and such conditions are expected to prevail for a few days. This is also being referred to the first widespread rain of the ongoing north east monsoon along India's east coast. On the likely progression on the weather system, the RMC said, "It is likely to move west-northwestwards and concentrate into a depression over the Bay of Bengal on Wednesday, thereafter it would move towards northwest and may intensify into a deep depression off the Andhra Pradesh Coast on Thursday.” Subsequently, it would recurve north-northeastwards and reach northwest Bay of Bengal, off Odisha coast on Friday, the RMC added. For Tuesday and Wednesday, heavy to very heavy rainfall has been forecast for various districts of Tamil Nadu, including Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Villupuram, Puducherry and Karaikal area. For Chennai city, the sky condition is expected to remain cloudy, with moderate rainfall and heavy spells in some areas. Fishers have been warned about adverse weather at sea, owing to the prevailing weather system. Gusty winds of 55kmph are forecast along the Tamil Nadu coast for the next two days. Later in the week, as the weather system moves further towards the north, squally weather and wind speeds of 55kmph are forecast for the coasts of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal and Bangladesh.

Depression brewing in Bay of Bengal, could move along Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Odisha coasts: Weather officials

The officers of India’s Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) are responsible for carrying out anti-smuggling and counter-trafficking measures across international borders. They are known as the agency that works to secure India’s national and economic security by preventing the smuggling of gold, narcotic drugs, fake currency notes, antiques, firearms, wildlife and environmental products etc.&nbsp;

In a significant development in April 2023, the DRI was also empowered to seize wildlife-related trade that is being traded within India, thanks to an amendment in Section 50 of the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972.&nbsp;

According to DRI officials, specific intelligence led them to a gang involved in illegal wildlife trade, near Srivilliputhur, Tamil Nadu. The officials are said to have identified and intercepted three persons who were carrying a large bag and behaving in a suspicious manner. Upon apprehending them, it was revealed that the bag contained two elephant tusks, which are covered under Schedule 1 of the WPA, 1972.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-minister-drops-crucial-dates-when-city-could-experience-artificial-rain-656602">Delhi's pollution woes likely to be solved by artificial rain after IIT Kanpur steps in</a>

“The two elephant tusks weighing 21.63kg&nbsp;in total were recovered and seized, as per the newly amended Section 50 of the Wildlife Protection Act. The seized tusks and the three persons who have committed the offence under WPA were handed over to the Tamil Nadu Forest Department,” said the DRI.&nbsp;

According to the DRI, the amended Act has empowered them to make seizures of illegally traded wildlife items across the country. In June this year, the Chennai DRI had seized two elephant tusks weighing 4.03 kg,&nbsp;apprehended seven members of a cartel and handed them over to the State Forest Department.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/amarnath-cave-road-connectivity-project-kicks-up-row-politicians-say-environmental-disaster-in-making-656575">Amarnath cave road connectivity project kicks-up row, politicians say environmental disaster in making</a>

Repeat seizures of elephant tusks bring to the fore the important issue of poaching of wild elephants (a powerful cultural and religious entity in India) and the lucrative business opportunities offered by the illegal ivory trade. In recent years, at least 90 cases of elephant tusk seizures have been reported in India, along with 29 cases of elephant poaching, as per government data.&nbsp;

The officers of India’s Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) are responsible for carrying out anti-smuggling and counter-trafficking measures across international borders.

The officers of India’s Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) are responsible for carrying out anti-smuggling and counter-trafficking measures across international borders. They are known as the agency that works to secure India’s national and economic security by preventing the smuggling of gold, narcotic drugs, fake currency notes, antiques, firearms, wildlife and environmental products etc. In a significant development in April 2023, the DRI was also empowered to seize wildlife-related trade that is being traded within India, thanks to an amendment in Section 50 of the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972. According to DRI officials, specific intelligence led them to a gang involved in illegal wildlife trade, near Srivilliputhur, Tamil Nadu. The officials are said to have identified and intercepted three persons who were carrying a large bag and behaving in a suspicious manner. Upon apprehending them, it was revealed that the bag contained two elephant tusks, which are covered under Schedule 1 of the WPA, 1972. ALSO READ | Delhi's pollution woes likely to be solved by artificial rain after IIT Kanpur steps in “The two elephant tusks weighing 21.63kg in total were recovered and seized, as per the newly amended Section 50 of the Wildlife Protection Act. The seized tusks and the three persons who have committed the offence under WPA were handed over to the Tamil Nadu Forest Department,” said the DRI. According to the DRI, the amended Act has empowered them to make seizures of illegally traded wildlife items across the country. In June this year, the Chennai DRI had seized two elephant tusks weighing 4.03 kg, apprehended seven members of a cartel and handed them over to the State Forest Department. ALSO READ | Amarnath cave road connectivity project kicks-up row, politicians say environmental disaster in making Repeat seizures of elephant tusks bring to the fore the important issue of poaching of wild elephants (a powerful cultural and religious entity in India) and the lucrative business opportunities offered by the illegal ivory trade. In recent years, at least 90 cases of elephant tusk seizures have been reported in India, along with 29 cases of elephant poaching, as per government data.

India: Wildlife Act amendment helps crackdown on illegal trade; elephant tusks seized

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