India continues to face the devastating impact of an intense monsoon season, with severe flooding, waterlogging, and flash floods affecting multiple states. Assam remains the worst-hit, where the flood death toll has risen to 66 after four more fatalities were reported in the last 24 hours. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), more than 6.5 lakh people across 10 districts remain affected. Sivasagar, Charaideo, and Jorhat are among the worst-hit districts, with over 810 villages submerged and nearly 35,000 hectares of farmland damaged. Urban flooding has also been reported in Kamrup district. Relief and rescue operations are underway, with the Indian Air Force deploying helicopters to airlift and airdrop relief materials to stranded residents. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said relief operations will continue with larger-scale air drops in the coming days.


India Flood Crisis: Assam Death Toll Rises, Gujarat & J&K Hit by Torrential Monsoon Rains 

'Catastrophe Bonds' seem like a smart way to combat the impact of climate change. However, they may not be helpful to vulnerable countries in the event of a calamity. Take a look at this next report based on Bloomberg green's investigation...

Disparity In Insurance Payouts In Spotlight

Japan, a nation well-acquainted with the earth's seismic temperament, found itself grappling with the aftermath of a powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake on New Year's Day.&nbsp;The death toll now stands at 55, despite the strong tremors. Taking a global perspective, recent seismic events serve as a stark reminder of the destructive potential of earthquakes. The 7.8 magnitude earthquake in southeast Turkey last year claimed over 50,000 lives, while the 2015 Nepal earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.8, resulted in approximately 9,000 casualties. In October of the same year, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan, claiming the lives of more than 2,000 people.

But how did Japan manage to keep its quake death toll so low?&nbsp;The explanation can be found in the extensive earthquake resistance measures developed over the years, now ingrained as second nature for the nation's residents.

<h2>Japan's earthquake-prone reality</h2>

Japan's geographical location places it squarely within the seismic 'Pacific Ring of Fire',&nbsp;subjecting the country to approximately 20 per cent&nbsp;of the world's earthquakes of magnitude six&nbsp;or greater every year.

A staggering 2,000 quakes, perceptible to its population, remind Japan of its seismic vulnerability annually, though not all result in casualties.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/powerful-earthquake-in-japan-may-have-shifted-land-by-13-metres-675903">Also read |&nbsp;Powerful earthquake in Japan may have shifted land by 1.3 metres</a>

<h2>What is Japan's approach to minimise impact?</h2>

Japan's journey to becoming a global benchmark in earthquake preparedness is marked by a combination of geological understanding, meticulous planning, and continuous adaptation.

Japan sits at a crossroads where three major tectonic plates, including the Pacific Plate and the Philippine Sea Plate, interact. This geological reality places the nation at the epicenter of dynamic forces arising from the constant shifts in these colossal plates.

<h2>Building codes and retrofitting</h2>

Central to Japan's resilience is the enforcement of stringent building codes. Every home is designed and constructed to endure seismic activity, with an emphasis on two primary resilience levels.

The first level focuses on smaller earthquakes, aiming for undamaged structures, while the second level gears toward withstanding rare, extreme earthquakes. This adaptive approach acknowledges that, beyond a certain magnitude, damage may occur, but the paramount goal is to prevent human casualties.

<h2>Early warning system</h2>

Japan boasts a sophisticated early warning system, a critical component of its earthquake preparedness.

This system provides vital seconds to minutes of advance notice before strong shaking, empowering citizens and authorities to take immediate actions.

Each mobile phone in Japan is equipped with an emergency alert system for earthquakes and tsunamis.

Activated approximately five to ten seconds before the anticipated disasters, the purpose is to provide users with a brief window to take immediate protective actions if needed.

The system vocalises "Jishin desu! Jishin desu!" (translated as "There is an earthquake") until the earthquake subsides.

Also watch |&nbsp;Japan Earthquake: 7.6 Magnitude Earthquake strikes Japan, triggering tsunami warning

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/japan-earthquake-76-magnitude-earthquake-strikes-japan-triggering-tsunami-warning-675675/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<h2>Education and drills</h2>

From childhood, Japanese citizens undergo comprehensive education on emergency procedures through regular drills.

This ingrained awareness ensures a population that is not only informed but ready to respond efficiently during seismic events.

Even Japan's trains, vital for daily commuting, are equipped with seismic sensors triggering a nationwide halt during earthquakes, ensuring passenger safety.

<h2>Earthquake survival kits and measures&nbsp;</h2>

The preparations made by households for earthquakes differ, but a common practice is having earthquake survival kits.

These kits typically include first aid supplies, bottled water, food provisions, gloves, face masks, insulation sheets, essential tools like flashlights, and radios for receiving regular updates.

All the required items for these survival kits can be obtained from various outlets such as drugstores or lifestyle stores like Don Quixote or Tokyu Hands.

Just a few months back, Japan expanded its natural disaster preparations to include vending machines that would provide free food and drink in the event of a major earthquake or typhoon.

The machines, which carry around 300 bottles and cans of soft drinks and 150 emergency food items, including nutritional supplements, have been placed near buildings designated as evacuation shelters.

As per the Japanese newspaper&nbsp;Mainichi Shimbun, they are intended to "unlock" and make their contents available free of charge in the case of a severe rain warning or an evacuation order following a quake of an upper five or higher on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of seven.

<h2>Tsunami preparedness</h2>

Japan, acutely aware of the tsunami risk associated with earthquakes, has implemented robust coastal barriers, seawalls, and early warning systems. These measures work in tandem to protect coastal areas, reducing the potential impact of devastating waves.

According to the latest reports on rescue efforts, tens of thousands have been evacuated, seeking safety from the immediate threat. Approximately 1,000 people&nbsp;have found refuge at a military base.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has swiftly directed emergency workers to provide essential supplies, including water, food, blankets, and heating fuel. The urgent focus is on addressing immediate needs and ensuring the well-being of those affected.

Japan's seismic resilience, shaped by years of meticulous planning and continuous adaptation, is being put to the test in the wake of this recent earthquake. While challenges persist, the nation's commitment to earthquake readiness serves as a global benchmark, offering lessons on mitigating the impact of seismic events and fostering a resilient society.

(With inputs from agencies)

Japan, a nation well-acquainted with the earth's seismic temperament, found itself grappling with the aftermath of a powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake on New Year's Day.

Japan, a nation well-acquainted with the earth's seismic temperament, found itself grappling with the aftermath of a powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake on New Year's Day. The death toll now stands at 55, despite the strong tremors. Taking a global perspective, recent seismic events serve as a stark reminder of the destructive potential of earthquakes. The 7.8 magnitude earthquake in southeast Turkey last year claimed over 50,000 lives, while the 2015 Nepal earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.8, resulted in approximately 9,000 casualties. In October of the same year, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan, claiming the lives of more than 2,000 people. But how did Japan manage to keep its quake death toll so low? The explanation can be found in the extensive earthquake resistance measures developed over the years, now ingrained as second nature for the nation's residents. Japan's earthquake-prone reality Japan's geographical location places it squarely within the seismic 'Pacific Ring of Fire', subjecting the country to approximately 20 per cent of the world's earthquakes of magnitude six or greater every year. A staggering 2,000 quakes, perceptible to its population, remind Japan of its seismic vulnerability annually, though not all result in casualties. Also read | Powerful earthquake in Japan may have shifted land by 1.3 metres What is Japan's approach to minimise impact? Japan's journey to becoming a global benchmark in earthquake preparedness is marked by a combination of geological understanding, meticulous planning, and continuous adaptation. Japan sits at a crossroads where three major tectonic plates, including the Pacific Plate and the Philippine Sea Plate, interact. This geological reality places the nation at the epicenter of dynamic forces arising from the constant shifts in these colossal plates. Building codes and retrofitting Central to Japan's resilience is the enforcement of stringent building codes. Every home is designed and constructed to endure seismic activity, with an emphasis on two primary resilience levels. The first level focuses on smaller earthquakes, aiming for undamaged structures, while the second level gears toward withstanding rare, extreme earthquakes. This adaptive approach acknowledges that, beyond a certain magnitude, damage may occur, but the paramount goal is to prevent human casualties. Early warning system Japan boasts a sophisticated early warning system, a critical component of its earthquake preparedness. This system provides vital seconds to minutes of advance notice before strong shaking, empowering citizens and authorities to take immediate actions. Each mobile phone in Japan is equipped with an emergency alert system for earthquakes and tsunamis. Activated approximately five to ten seconds before the anticipated disasters, the purpose is to provide users with a brief window to take immediate protective actions if needed. The system vocalises "Jishin desu! Jishin desu!" (translated as "There is an earthquake") until the earthquake subsides. Also watch | Japan Earthquake: 7.6 Magnitude Earthquake strikes Japan, triggering tsunami warning Education and drills From childhood, Japanese citizens undergo comprehensive education on emergency procedures through regular drills. This ingrained awareness ensures a population that is not only informed but ready to respond efficiently during seismic events. Even Japan's trains, vital for daily commuting, are equipped with seismic sensors triggering a nationwide halt during earthquakes, ensuring passenger safety. Earthquake survival kits and measures The preparations made by households for earthquakes differ, but a common practice is having earthquake survival kits. These kits typically include first aid supplies, bottled water, food provisions, gloves, face masks, insulation sheets, essential tools like flashlights, and radios for receiving regular updates. All the required items for these survival kits can be obtained from various outlets such as drugstores or lifestyle stores like Don Quixote or Tokyu Hands. Just a few months back, Japan expanded its natural disaster preparations to include vending machines that would provide free food and drink in the event of a major earthquake or typhoon. The machines, which carry around 300 bottles and cans of soft drinks and 150 emergency food items, including nutritional supplements, have been placed near buildings designated as evacuation shelters. As per the Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shimbun, they are intended to "unlock" and make their contents available free of charge in the case of a severe rain warning or an evacuation order following a quake of an upper five or higher on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of seven. Tsunami preparedness Japan, acutely aware of the tsunami risk associated with earthquakes, has implemented robust coastal barriers, seawalls, and early warning systems. These measures work in tandem to protect coastal areas, reducing the potential impact of devastating waves. According to the latest reports on rescue efforts, tens of thousands have been evacuated, seeking safety from the immediate threat. Approximately 1,000 people have found refuge at a military base. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has swiftly directed emergency workers to provide essential supplies, including water, food, blankets, and heating fuel. The urgent focus is on addressing immediate needs and ensuring the well-being of those affected. Japan's seismic resilience, shaped by years of meticulous planning and continuous adaptation, is being put to the test in the wake of this recent earthquake. While challenges persist, the nation's commitment to earthquake readiness serves as a global benchmark, offering lessons on mitigating the impact of seismic events and fostering a resilient society. (With inputs from agencies)

Explained | How does Japan maintain its stoic resilience amid major earthquakes?

Japan has expanded its natural disaster preparations to include vending machines that would provide free food and drink in the event of a major earthquake or typhoon.

Two machines have been installed&nbsp;in the western coastal city of Ako, which is located in an area that seismologists predict is vulnerable to a large earthquake that is projected to impact the country's central and south-west Pacific coasts in the decades to come.&nbsp;

The machines, which carry around 300 bottles and cans of soft drinks and 150 emergency food items, including nutritional supplements, have been placed near buildings designated as evacuation shelters.

As per the Japanese newspaper&nbsp;Mainichi Shimbun, they are intended to "unlock" and make their contents available free of charge in the case of a severe rain warning or an evacuation order following a quake of an upper five or higher on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of seven.

Their contents must be paid for the remainder of the period, according to the newspaper.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-seeking-explosives-in-japan-for-ukraine-artillery-shells-599545">US seeking explosives in Japan for Ukraine artillery shells: Report</a>

<h2>First of their kind&nbsp;in Japan</h2>

Earth Corp, which has a facility in the city, claims the devices are the first of their kind in Japan, one of the world's most seismically active countries, where increasingly violent typhoons have caused significant floods and landslides in recent years.

The rest of the time, its contents must be paid for, according to the newspaper.

“We would like to install [the machines] throughout the country,” a company representative told the Mainichi, as reported by the Guardian.

A city official said: “We expect that the stockpile will lead to the safety and security of our residents.”

Earlier this year, a vending machine equipped with a radio that automatically releases emergency notifications, was installed in a Tokyo park.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;North Korea says it launched satellite | Japan put its ballistic missiles on alert&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/north-korea-says-it-launched-satellite-japan-put-its-ballistic-missiles-on-alert-wion-598573/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Media reports said, earthquakes registering five&nbsp;or higher on the Japanese intensity scale would trigger the radio, which will relay evacuation and other crucial information from a local community radio station.

Experts have increased the likelihood of a "megaquake" occurring at the Nankai trough, off Japan's Pacific coast, from 50 per cent&nbsp;to 60 per cent&nbsp;over the next 20 years, and to about 90 per cent&nbsp;within the next 40 years.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe>

Japan has expanded its natural disaster preparations to include vending machines that would provide free food and drink in the event of a major earthquake or typhoon.

Japan has expanded its natural disaster preparations to include vending machines that would provide free food and drink in the event of a major earthquake or typhoon. Two machines have been installed in the western coastal city of Ako, which is located in an area that seismologists predict is vulnerable to a large earthquake that is projected to impact the country's central and south-west Pacific coasts in the decades to come. The machines, which carry around 300 bottles and cans of soft drinks and 150 emergency food items, including nutritional supplements, have been placed near buildings designated as evacuation shelters. As per the Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shimbun, they are intended to "unlock" and make their contents available free of charge in the case of a severe rain warning or an evacuation order following a quake of an upper five or higher on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of seven. Their contents must be paid for the remainder of the period, according to the newspaper. Also read | US seeking explosives in Japan for Ukraine artillery shells: Report First of their kind in Japan Earth Corp, which has a facility in the city, claims the devices are the first of their kind in Japan, one of the world's most seismically active countries, where increasingly violent typhoons have caused significant floods and landslides in recent years. The rest of the time, its contents must be paid for, according to the newspaper. “We would like to install [the machines] throughout the country,” a company representative told the Mainichi, as reported by the Guardian. A city official said: “We expect that the stockpile will lead to the safety and security of our residents.” Earlier this year, a vending machine equipped with a radio that automatically releases emergency notifications, was installed in a Tokyo park. ALSO WATCH | North Korea says it launched satellite | Japan put its ballistic missiles on alert Media reports said, earthquakes registering five or higher on the Japanese intensity scale would trigger the radio, which will relay evacuation and other crucial information from a local community radio station. Experts have increased the likelihood of a "megaquake" occurring at the Nankai trough, off Japan's Pacific coast, from 50 per cent to 60 per cent over the next 20 years, and to about 90 per cent within the next 40 years. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Japan aces disaster preparedness, vending machines to offer free food if earthquake hits

At least 14 people have died another 35 injured in a landslide in central Colombia which was triggered by torrential rain. The calamity struck the region followed by heavy rain in the surrounding coffee growing province here.

At least 14 people died and 35 injured in a landslide in central Colombia

The ten most expensive weather disasters this year caused more than $170 billion (150 billion euros) in damage, $20 billion more than in 2020, a British aid group said Monday.

Each year, UK charity Christian Aid calculates the cost of weather incidents like flooding, fires, and heat waves according to insurance claims and reports the results.

In 2020, it found the world's ten costliest weather disasters caused $150 billion in damage, making this year's total an increase of 13 percent.

Christian Aid said the upward trend reflects the effects of man-made climate change and added that the ten disasters in question also killed at least 1,075 people and displaced 1.3 million.

The most expensive disaster in 2021 was hurricane Ida, which lashed the eastern United States and caused around $65 billion in damages. After crashing into Louisiana at the end of August, it made its way northward and caused extensive flooding in New York City and the surrounding area.

Spectacular and deadly flooding in Germany and Belgium in July was next on the list at $43 billion in losses.

A cold snap and winter storm in Texas that took out the vast state's power grid cost $23 billion, followed by flooding in China's Henan province in July that cost an estimated $17.6 billion.

Other disasters costing several billion dollars include flooding in Canada, a late spring freeze in France that damaged vineyards, and a cyclone in India and Bangladesh in May.

The report acknowledged its evaluation mainly covers disasters in rich countries where infrastructure is better insured and that the financial toll of disasters on poor countries is often incalculable.

It gave the example of South Sudan where flooding affected around 800,000 people.

"Some of the most devastating extreme weather events in 2021 hit poorer nations, which have contributed little to causing climate change," the report's press release noted.

In mid-December, the world's biggest reinsurer, Swiss Re, estimated natural catastrophes and extreme weather events caused around $250 billion in damage this year.

It said the total represented a 24 percent increase over last year and that the cost to the insurance industry alone was the fourth highest since 1970.

The ten most expensive weather disasters this year caused more than $170 billion (150 billion euros) in damage, $20 billion more than in 2020, a British aid group said Monday.

The ten most expensive weather disasters this year caused more than $170 billion (150 billion euros) in damage, $20 billion more than in 2020, a British aid group said Monday. Each year, UK charity Christian Aid calculates the cost of weather incidents like flooding, fires, and heat waves according to insurance claims and reports the results. In 2020, it found the world's ten costliest weather disasters caused $150 billion in damage, making this year's total an increase of 13 percent. Christian Aid said the upward trend reflects the effects of man-made climate change and added that the ten disasters in question also killed at least 1,075 people and displaced 1.3 million. The most expensive disaster in 2021 was hurricane Ida, which lashed the eastern United States and caused around $65 billion in damages. After crashing into Louisiana at the end of August, it made its way northward and caused extensive flooding in New York City and the surrounding area. Spectacular and deadly flooding in Germany and Belgium in July was next on the list at $43 billion in losses. A cold snap and winter storm in Texas that took out the vast state's power grid cost $23 billion, followed by flooding in China's Henan province in July that cost an estimated $17.6 billion. Other disasters costing several billion dollars include flooding in Canada, a late spring freeze in France that damaged vineyards, and a cyclone in India and Bangladesh in May. The report acknowledged its evaluation mainly covers disasters in rich countries where infrastructure is better insured and that the financial toll of disasters on poor countries is often incalculable. It gave the example of South Sudan where flooding affected around 800,000 people. "Some of the most devastating extreme weather events in 2021 hit poorer nations, which have contributed little to causing climate change," the report's press release noted. In mid-December, the world's biggest reinsurer, Swiss Re, estimated natural catastrophes and extreme weather events caused around $250 billion in damage this year. It said the total represented a 24 percent increase over last year and that the cost to the insurance industry alone was the fourth highest since 1970.

Weather disasters cost $20 bn more than last year: NGO

Typhoon Hagibis: How Japan bounces back from earthquakes and other natural calamities

A powerful typhoon approached Japan on Friday, threatening to batter its capital with the heaviest rain and winds in 60 years, shutting down stores, factories and subway systems and disrupting a Formula One Grand Prix and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/two-world-cup-games-axed-as-super-typhoon-bears-down-on-japan-254892">Rugby's World Cup.</a>

Typhoon Hagibis, which means "speed" in the Philippine language Tagalog, is due to make landfall on the main island of Honshu on Saturday, a month after one of the strongest typhoons to hit Japan in recent years destroyed or damaged 30,000 houses and caused extensive power outages.

The storm could be the strongest to hit Tokyo since 1958 and people should also prepare for high waves and storm surges, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

"The typhoon could bring record-level rainfall and winds," an official at the agency told a news conference.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe ordered his cabinet ministers to do their utmost to secure people's safety.

Officials in the Chiba prefecture east of Tokyo, which was hit hard by typhoon Faxai a month ago, have told people to prepare supplies of food and water for up to three days.

Some supermarkets ran out of bottled water and batteries. Twitter users posted photographs of bare shelves and traded tips on how to prepare for disruptions to water and power cuts.

Many of more than 30,000 houses Typhoon Faxai destroyed or damaged in Chiba last month have yet to be repaired.

Japanese <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-grand-prix-cancelled-as-typhoon-hagibis-bears-down-on-suzuka-circuit-255084">Formula One Grand Prix organisers cancelled </a>all practice and qualifying sessions scheduled for Saturday, adding that the qualifying round would be held on Sunday, before the final race takes place as planned.

The approaching super typhoon has already forced the cancellation of two matches of the rugby World Cup on Saturday, while a Sunday match between host Japan and Scotland is in doubt.

Airline ANA Holdings&nbsp;cancelled all domestic flights to and from Tokyo's two main airports from Friday afternoon.

It and rival J<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/flights-cancelled-as-typhoon-tapah-approaches-japan-251174">apan Airlines Co&nbsp;cancelled some flights</a> to and from airports servicing the major cities of Osaka and Nagoya.

Most flights operating to and from those airports would be cancelled on Saturday, both airlines said on their websites.

Train operators said they would suspend bullet trains between Tokyo and Nagoya in central Japan and most operations between Nagoya and Osaka, in western Japan, from Saturday morning.

Most train and subway lines in Tokyo are also due to be shut down.

Tokyo Disneyland said it would close its theme park on Saturday, its first weather-related closure since a snowstorm in 1984. Retail giant Seven &amp; I Holdings said it would shut its supermarkets and department stores in metropolitan Tokyo.

Toyota Motor Corp announced it was suspending production at three factories.

Storm surges are likely along the Pacific coast of Honshu on Saturday and Sunday, as is torrential rain, raising the risk of floods and landslides, public broadcaster NHK said.

Typhoon Ida, known as the "Kanogawa Typhoon" in Japanese, killed more than 1,000 people in 1958.

A powerful typhoon approached Japan on Friday, threatening to batter its capital with the heaviest rain and winds in 60 years, shutting down stores, factories and subway systems and disrupting a Formula One Grand Prix and Rugby's World Cup.

A powerful typhoon approached Japan on Friday, threatening to batter its capital with the heaviest rain and winds in 60 years, shutting down stores, factories and subway systems and disrupting a Formula One Grand Prix and Rugby's World Cup. Typhoon Hagibis, which means "speed" in the Philippine language Tagalog, is due to make landfall on the main island of Honshu on Saturday, a month after one of the strongest typhoons to hit Japan in recent years destroyed or damaged 30,000 houses and caused extensive power outages. The storm could be the strongest to hit Tokyo since 1958 and people should also prepare for high waves and storm surges, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. "The typhoon could bring record-level rainfall and winds," an official at the agency told a news conference. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe ordered his cabinet ministers to do their utmost to secure people's safety. Officials in the Chiba prefecture east of Tokyo, which was hit hard by typhoon Faxai a month ago, have told people to prepare supplies of food and water for up to three days. Some supermarkets ran out of bottled water and batteries. Twitter users posted photographs of bare shelves and traded tips on how to prepare for disruptions to water and power cuts. Many of more than 30,000 houses Typhoon Faxai destroyed or damaged in Chiba last month have yet to be repaired. Japanese Formula One Grand Prix organisers cancelled all practice and qualifying sessions scheduled for Saturday, adding that the qualifying round would be held on Sunday, before the final race takes place as planned. The approaching super typhoon has already forced the cancellation of two matches of the rugby World Cup on Saturday, while a Sunday match between host Japan and Scotland is in doubt. Airline ANA Holdings cancelled all domestic flights to and from Tokyo's two main airports from Friday afternoon. It and rival Japan Airlines Co cancelled some flights to and from airports servicing the major cities of Osaka and Nagoya. Most flights operating to and from those airports would be cancelled on Saturday, both airlines said on their websites. Train operators said they would suspend bullet trains between Tokyo and Nagoya in central Japan and most operations between Nagoya and Osaka, in western Japan, from Saturday morning. Most train and subway lines in Tokyo are also due to be shut down. Tokyo Disneyland said it would close its theme park on Saturday, its first weather-related closure since a snowstorm in 1984. Retail giant Seven & I Holdings said it would shut its supermarkets and department stores in metropolitan Tokyo. Toyota Motor Corp announced it was suspending production at three factories. Storm surges are likely along the Pacific coast of Honshu on Saturday and Sunday, as is torrential rain, raising the risk of floods and landslides, public broadcaster NHK said. Typhoon Ida, known as the "Kanogawa Typhoon" in Japanese, killed more than 1,000 people in 1958.

Japan's capital braces for what could be worst typhoon in 60 years

The death toll due to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/step-in-for-relief-work-in-flood-rain-hit-areas-jp-nadda-urges-bjp-workers-243943">cloudburst in Arakot village of Uttarkashi</a>&nbsp;in Uttarakhand rose to 17 as personnel of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) launched an operation to rescue people stranded in the affected area on Monday morning.

"Seventeen people have died in the cloudburst in Mori tehsil," Secretary (Incharge) Disaster Management, SA Murugesan, told ANI.

For relief and rescue operations in the affected areas of Mori Tehsil of the district, the state government has pressed two helicopters into action that reached the village with communication equipment and ropes in the morning.

Makuri, Tikochi, Arakot are the most affected villages in the Mori area.

Relief teams were facing problems to reach the area due to damaged roads, an official said.

Three medical teams have also reached Arokot from Naugaon and Purola areas to deal with medical emergencies.

The SDRF has rescued an injured from Sanel and admitted him to a hospital in Arakot.

&nbsp;As many as 170 people have been shifted to the forest rest house.

The administration is also distributing relief material in the area and has started working to restore a bridge and wireless tower to resume communication in the region, an official said.

One team of SDRF personnel has been kept ready at Sahastradhara on standby mode.

On Sunday, police had recovered bodies of six people including a Nepali national in the border area of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarkashi.

Bad weather conditions on Sunday hampered the rescue operation in the region.

A cloudburst had hit Mori Tehsil in Uttarkashi district on Sunday, prompting the state government to dispatch teams of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to carry out rescue and evacuation operations.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted widespread rainfall over the next three days in Uttarkashi.

All schools in Tehri, including government and private, will remain shut on Monday.&nbsp;

The death toll due to cloudburst in Arakot village of Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand rose to 17 as personnel of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) launched an operation to rescue people stranded in the affected area on Monday morning.

The death toll due to cloudburst in Arakot village of Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand rose to 17 as personnel of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) launched an operation to rescue people stranded in the affected area on Monday morning. "Seventeen people have died in the cloudburst in Mori tehsil," Secretary (Incharge) Disaster Management, SA Murugesan, told ANI. For relief and rescue operations in the affected areas of Mori Tehsil of the district, the state government has pressed two helicopters into action that reached the village with communication equipment and ropes in the morning. Makuri, Tikochi, Arakot are the most affected villages in the Mori area. Relief teams were facing problems to reach the area due to damaged roads, an official said. Three medical teams have also reached Arokot from Naugaon and Purola areas to deal with medical emergencies. The SDRF has rescued an injured from Sanel and admitted him to a hospital in Arakot. As many as 170 people have been shifted to the forest rest house. The administration is also distributing relief material in the area and has started working to restore a bridge and wireless tower to resume communication in the region, an official said. One team of SDRF personnel has been kept ready at Sahastradhara on standby mode. On Sunday, police had recovered bodies of six people including a Nepali national in the border area of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarkashi. Bad weather conditions on Sunday hampered the rescue operation in the region. A cloudburst had hit Mori Tehsil in Uttarkashi district on Sunday, prompting the state government to dispatch teams of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to carry out rescue and evacuation operations. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted widespread rainfall over the next three days in Uttarkashi. All schools in Tehri, including government and private, will remain shut on Monday.

Death toll reaches 17 in Uttarakhand cloudburst, SDRF launches rescue operation

As heavy rains continue to wreak havoc in Bihar, two children have lost their lives in Kishanganj.

According to Principal Secretary, Disaster Management, Pratya Amrit, six districts have severely been affected due to the rising level of rivers following torrential rains.

These districts include Sheohar, Sitamarhi, North Champaran, Jaynagar in Madhubani, Araria, and Kishanganj.

"Two children have lost their lives in Kishanganj," he said.

Rescue and relief work is underway by the Disaster Management teams in various districts.

"People are being evacuated to safer places. We have constructed community kitchens for those who are unwilling to move from their houses," said Amrit.

He said around 16 community kitchens have been set up to provide meals to the people.

"We are following all standard operating procedures (SOPs). Accordingly, we are working on camp and medical facilities and animal protection. Also, an ex-gratia amount will be given to the deceased's family," he said.

As heavy rains continue to wreak havoc in Bihar, two children have lost their lives in Kishanganj. According to Principal Secretary, Disaster Management, Pratya Amrit, six districts have severely been affected due to the rising level of rivers following torrential rains.

As heavy rains continue to wreak havoc in Bihar, two children have lost their lives in Kishanganj. According to Principal Secretary, Disaster Management, Pratya Amrit, six districts have severely been affected due to the rising level of rivers following torrential rains. These districts include Sheohar, Sitamarhi, North Champaran, Jaynagar in Madhubani, Araria, and Kishanganj. "Two children have lost their lives in Kishanganj," he said. Rescue and relief work is underway by the Disaster Management teams in various districts. "People are being evacuated to safer places. We have constructed community kitchens for those who are unwilling to move from their houses," said Amrit. He said around 16 community kitchens have been set up to provide meals to the people. "We are following all standard operating procedures (SOPs). Accordingly, we are working on camp and medical facilities and animal protection. Also, an ex-gratia amount will be given to the deceased's family," he said.

Bihar: Two dead, six districts affected due to heavy rains

A clear 'chain of command' should be in place when multiple stakeholders get on-board to combat a disaster and government agencies should ensure that India becomes a top-notch nation for managing such emergencies, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said Saturday.&nbsp;

Officiating his first public event after taking charge of the ministry, Shah said it is important to quickly develop better resilience and capability against disasters given that India is much prone to catastrophes owing to its varied topography and expanse.

The minister was speaking at the inauguration of a two-day annual conference organised here by the NDRF on capacity building of state disaster response forces (SDRFs) in consultation with home guards, civil defence and fire services.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is a federal force of the country and has 12 battalions based across various states for quick response to any emergency, manmade or natural.

Addressing the delegates at the meeting Shah said a chain of command between various agencies, stakeholders and department should be decided and formed when dealing with a disaster.

"This is very important as I have seen a very chaotic situation emerging in absence of this protocol and order of hierarchy," he said, adding it is a big lacuna in the country's bureaucratic system that no one pays heed to the other till a formal or official order is issued.

The minister said agencies like the NDRF should not rest on their past laurels but strive to do better.

"This is now the time to work and ensure that India becomes the number one country in disaster management. The path to achieving this goal is long but that should be our target. It should be our effort that the world takes note from our best practices and counter-disaster models," Shah said.

He said the NDRF and other similar agencies should "investigate, analyse and pick errors" once they complete operation, as this exercise will ensure that the work is completed in the true sense.

Shah asked the NDRF, an agency under his ministry, to collaborate with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and develop indigenous equipment to combat disaster not only for Indian agencies but also for neighbouring countries like Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

The Home Minister assured the 12,000 personnel-strong force that the government will fulfil all their requirements for modern gadgets, equipment and infrastructure.

"It is very important to ensure that the motivation of the force's personnel working at the ground level remains high. It is they who commit their lives in the line of duty," Shah said.&nbsp;

He expressed concerns over increasing instances of forest fires, especially in the hills, and stressed upon the NDRF and its sister agencies to find out ways to effectively combat such instances.

He asked the agencies working in this domain to compile data of all disaster-combat equipment in the country, down to the district level, so that this information comes handy when a disaster strikes.

The minister said disaster management and combat was a "completely neglected" issue before 2000 and was taken only seriously after the 2001 earthquake in Gujarat's Bhuj.

At the event, NDRF Director General (DG) S N Pradhan said his force will be able to have its presence in virtually every part of the country by August and they were also working to have a women personnel combat component in every unit.&nbsp;

A clear 'chain of command' should be in place when multiple stakeholders get on-board to combat a disaster and government agencies should ensure that India becomes a top-notch nation for managing such emergencies, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said Saturday.

A clear 'chain of command' should be in place when multiple stakeholders get on-board to combat a disaster and government agencies should ensure that India becomes a top-notch nation for managing such emergencies, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said Saturday. Officiating his first public event after taking charge of the ministry, Shah said it is important to quickly develop better resilience and capability against disasters given that India is much prone to catastrophes owing to its varied topography and expanse. The minister was speaking at the inauguration of a two-day annual conference organised here by the NDRF on capacity building of state disaster response forces (SDRFs) in consultation with home guards, civil defence and fire services. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is a federal force of the country and has 12 battalions based across various states for quick response to any emergency, manmade or natural. Addressing the delegates at the meeting Shah said a chain of command between various agencies, stakeholders and department should be decided and formed when dealing with a disaster. "This is very important as I have seen a very chaotic situation emerging in absence of this protocol and order of hierarchy," he said, adding it is a big lacuna in the country's bureaucratic system that no one pays heed to the other till a formal or official order is issued. The minister said agencies like the NDRF should not rest on their past laurels but strive to do better. "This is now the time to work and ensure that India becomes the number one country in disaster management. The path to achieving this goal is long but that should be our target. It should be our effort that the world takes note from our best practices and counter-disaster models," Shah said. He said the NDRF and other similar agencies should "investigate, analyse and pick errors" once they complete operation, as this exercise will ensure that the work is completed in the true sense. Shah asked the NDRF, an agency under his ministry, to collaborate with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and develop indigenous equipment to combat disaster not only for Indian agencies but also for neighbouring countries like Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The Home Minister assured the 12,000 personnel-strong force that the government will fulfil all their requirements for modern gadgets, equipment and infrastructure. "It is very important to ensure that the motivation of the force's personnel working at the ground level remains high. It is they who commit their lives in the line of duty," Shah said. He expressed concerns over increasing instances of forest fires, especially in the hills, and stressed upon the NDRF and its sister agencies to find out ways to effectively combat such instances. He asked the agencies working in this domain to compile data of all disaster-combat equipment in the country, down to the district level, so that this information comes handy when a disaster strikes. The minister said disaster management and combat was a "completely neglected" issue before 2000 and was taken only seriously after the 2001 earthquake in Gujarat's Bhuj. At the event, NDRF Director General (DG) S N Pradhan said his force will be able to have its presence in virtually every part of the country by August and they were also working to have a women personnel combat component in every unit.

Ensure India is number 1 in disaster management: Amit Shah

As Indonesia reels from the carnage of yet <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/people-could-be-hit-by-hot-rocks-thick-ash-indonesian-disaster-agency-warns-after-danger-of-more-eruptions-186863">another natural disaster</a>, authorities around the globe are working on how they can prepare for the kind of freak tsunami that battered coasts west of Jakarta this month.

The December 23 tsunami killed around 430 people along the coastlines of the Sunda Strait, capping a year of earthquakes and tsunamis in the vast archipelago, which straddles the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire.

No sirens were heard in those towns and beaches to alert people before the deadly series of waves hit shore.&nbsp;

Seismologists and authorities say a perfect storm of factors caused the tsunami and made early detection near impossible given the equipment in place.

But the disaster should be a wake-up call to step up research on tsunami triggers and preparedness, said several of the experts, some of whom have travelled to the Southeast Asian nation to investigate what happened.&nbsp;

"Indonesia has demonstrated to the rest of the world the huge variety of sources that have the potential to cause tsunamis. More research is needed to understand those less-expected events," said Stephen Hicks, a seismologist at the University of Southampton.&nbsp;

Most tsunamis on record have been triggered by earthquakes. But this time <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/indonesian-tsunami-volcano-lost-two-thirds-of-its-height-187149">it was an eruption of Anak Krakatau volcano t</a>hat caused its crater to partially collapse into the sea at high tide, sending waves up to 5 metres (16 feet) high smashing into densely populated coastal areas on Java and Sumatra islands.

During the eruption, an estimated 180 million cubic metres, or around two-thirds of the less-than-100-year-old volcanic island, collapsed into the sea.

But the eruption didn`t rattle seismic monitors significantly, and the absence of seismic signals normally associated with tsunamis led Indonesia`s geophysics agency (BMKG) initially to tweet there was no tsunami.

Muhamad Sadly, head of geophysics at BMKG, later told Reuters its tidal monitors were not set up to trigger tsunami warnings from non-seismic events.&nbsp;

The head of Japan`s International Research Institute of Disaster, Fumihiko Imamura, told Reuters he did not believe Japan`s current warning system would have detected a tsunami like the one in the Sunda Strait.

"We still have some risks of this in Japan...because there`s 111 active volcanoes and low capacity to monitor eruptions generating a tsunami," he said in Jakarta.&nbsp;

Scientists have long flagged the collapse of Anak Krakatau, around 155 km (100 miles) west of the capital, as a concern. A 2012 study published by the Geological Society of London deemed it a "tsunami hazard."&nbsp;

Anak Krakatau has emerged from the Krakatoa volcano, which in 1883 erupted in one of the biggest explosions in recorded history, killing more than 36,000 people in a series of tsunamis and lowering the global surface temperature by one degree Celsius with its ash.

Broken warning system

Some experts believe there was enough time for at least a partial detection of last week`s tsunami in the 24 minutes it took waves to hit land after the landslide on Anak Krakatau.

But a country-wide tsunami warning system of buoys connected to seabed sensors has been out of order since 2012 due to vandalism, neglect and a lack of public funds, authorities say.&nbsp;

"The lack of an early warning system is why Saturday`s tsunami was not detected," said disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Nugroho, adding that of 1,000 tsunami sirens needed across Indonesia, only 56 are in place.&nbsp;

"Signs that a tsunami was coming weren`t detected and so people did not have time to evacuate."

President Joko Widodo this week ordered BMKG to purchase new early warning systems, and the agency later said it planned to install three tsunami buoys on the islands surrounding Anak Krakatau.&nbsp;

The cost of covering the country is estimated at 7 trillion rupiahs ($481.10 million). That is roughly equivalent to Indonesia`s total disaster response budget of 7.19 trillion rupiahs for 2018, according to Nugroho.

But other experts say even if this network had been working, averting disaster would have been difficult.

"The tsunami was very much a worst-case scenario for any hope of a clear tsunami warning: a lack of an obvious earthquake to trigger a warning, shallow water, rough seabed, and the close proximity to nearby coastlines," said seismologist Hicks.

In the Philippines, Renato Solidum, undersecretary for disaster risk reduction, said eruptions from the country`s Taal volcano had caused tsunami waves before in the surrounding Taal Lake.

He told Reuters that what happened in Indonesia showed the need to "re-emphasize awareness and preparedness" regarding volcanic activity and its potential to trigger tsunamis in the Philippines.

The United States has also suffered several tsunamis caused by volcanic activity, including in Alaska, Hawaii, and Washington, according to the national weather service.

More education

In Indonesia earlier this year, a double quake-and-tsunami disaster killed over 2,000 people on Sulawesi island, while at least 500 died when an earthquake flattened much of the northern coastline of the holiday island of Lombok.&nbsp;

In a country where, according to government data, 62.4 per cent of the population is at risk of being struck by earthquakes and 1.6 per cent by tsunamis, attention is now focused on a continued lack of preparedness.

"Given the potential for disasters in the country, it`s time to have disaster education be part of the national curriculum," Widodo told reporters after the latest tsunami.

For Ramdi Tualfredi, a high school teacher who survived last week`s waves, these improvements cannot come soon enough.&nbsp;

He told Reuters that people in his village of Cigondong on the west coast of Java and close to Krakatau had never received any safety drills or evacuation training.

"I`ve never received education on safety steps," he said.&nbsp;

"The system...totally failed."

As Indonesia reels from the carnage of yet another natural disaster, authorities around the globe are working on how they can prepare for the kind of freak tsunami that battered coasts west of Jakarta this month.

As Indonesia reels from the carnage of yet another natural disaster, authorities around the globe are working on how they can prepare for the kind of freak tsunami that battered coasts west of Jakarta this month. The December 23 tsunami killed around 430 people along the coastlines of the Sunda Strait, capping a year of earthquakes and tsunamis in the vast archipelago, which straddles the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire. No sirens were heard in those towns and beaches to alert people before the deadly series of waves hit shore. Seismologists and authorities say a perfect storm of factors caused the tsunami and made early detection near impossible given the equipment in place. But the disaster should be a wake-up call to step up research on tsunami triggers and preparedness, said several of the experts, some of whom have travelled to the Southeast Asian nation to investigate what happened. "Indonesia has demonstrated to the rest of the world the huge variety of sources that have the potential to cause tsunamis. More research is needed to understand those less-expected events," said Stephen Hicks, a seismologist at the University of Southampton. Most tsunamis on record have been triggered by earthquakes. But this time it was an eruption of Anak Krakatau volcano that caused its crater to partially collapse into the sea at high tide, sending waves up to 5 metres (16 feet) high smashing into densely populated coastal areas on Java and Sumatra islands. During the eruption, an estimated 180 million cubic metres, or around two-thirds of the less-than-100-year-old volcanic island, collapsed into the sea. But the eruption didn`t rattle seismic monitors significantly, and the absence of seismic signals normally associated with tsunamis led Indonesia`s geophysics agency (BMKG) initially to tweet there was no tsunami. Muhamad Sadly, head of geophysics at BMKG, later told Reuters its tidal monitors were not set up to trigger tsunami warnings from non-seismic events. The head of Japan`s International Research Institute of Disaster, Fumihiko Imamura, told Reuters he did not believe Japan`s current warning system would have detected a tsunami like the one in the Sunda Strait. "We still have some risks of this in Japan...because there`s 111 active volcanoes and low capacity to monitor eruptions generating a tsunami," he said in Jakarta. Scientists have long flagged the collapse of Anak Krakatau, around 155 km (100 miles) west of the capital, as a concern. A 2012 study published by the Geological Society of London deemed it a "tsunami hazard." Anak Krakatau has emerged from the Krakatoa volcano, which in 1883 erupted in one of the biggest explosions in recorded history, killing more than 36,000 people in a series of tsunamis and lowering the global surface temperature by one degree Celsius with its ash. Broken warning system Some experts believe there was enough time for at least a partial detection of last week`s tsunami in the 24 minutes it took waves to hit land after the landslide on Anak Krakatau. But a country-wide tsunami warning system of buoys connected to seabed sensors has been out of order since 2012 due to vandalism, neglect and a lack of public funds, authorities say. "The lack of an early warning system is why Saturday`s tsunami was not detected," said disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Nugroho, adding that of 1,000 tsunami sirens needed across Indonesia, only 56 are in place. "Signs that a tsunami was coming weren`t detected and so people did not have time to evacuate." President Joko Widodo this week ordered BMKG to purchase new early warning systems, and the agency later said it planned to install three tsunami buoys on the islands surrounding Anak Krakatau. The cost of covering the country is estimated at 7 trillion rupiahs ($481.10 million). That is roughly equivalent to Indonesia`s total disaster response budget of 7.19 trillion rupiahs for 2018, according to Nugroho. But other experts say even if this network had been working, averting disaster would have been difficult. "The tsunami was very much a worst-case scenario for any hope of a clear tsunami warning: a lack of an obvious earthquake to trigger a warning, shallow water, rough seabed, and the close proximity to nearby coastlines," said seismologist Hicks. In the Philippines, Renato Solidum, undersecretary for disaster risk reduction, said eruptions from the country`s Taal volcano had caused tsunami waves before in the surrounding Taal Lake. He told Reuters that what happened in Indonesia showed the need to "re-emphasize awareness and preparedness" regarding volcanic activity and its potential to trigger tsunamis in the Philippines. The United States has also suffered several tsunamis caused by volcanic activity, including in Alaska, Hawaii, and Washington, according to the national weather service. More education In Indonesia earlier this year, a double quake-and-tsunami disaster killed over 2,000 people on Sulawesi island, while at least 500 died when an earthquake flattened much of the northern coastline of the holiday island of Lombok. In a country where, according to government data, 62.4 per cent of the population is at risk of being struck by earthquakes and 1.6 per cent by tsunamis, attention is now focused on a continued lack of preparedness. "Given the potential for disasters in the country, it`s time to have disaster education be part of the national curriculum," Widodo told reporters after the latest tsunami. For Ramdi Tualfredi, a high school teacher who survived last week`s waves, these improvements cannot come soon enough. He told Reuters that people in his village of Cigondong on the west coast of Java and close to Krakatau had never received any safety drills or evacuation training. "I`ve never received education on safety steps," he said. "The system...totally failed."

Indonesia's latest tsunami raises global questions over disaster preparedness

The government will soon launch a Rs 100 crore project to ensure accurate dissemination and synchronisation of Indian Standard Time (IST), a move aimed at putting in place accurate timing system nationwide.

Accurate time dissemination and precise time synchronisation would have &quot;significant impact&quot; on diverse areas including banking, telecom, weather forecast, disaster management and automatic signalling in railways, a senior consumer affairs ministry official said.

As part of the ambitious project, the ministry would strengthen the infrastructural facilities of 5 existing regional reference standards laboratories. Besides, two more such labs would be soon set up. 
&quot;We are launching a Rs 100 crore project for time dissemination initiative. In budget for 2018-19, Rs 20 crore has already been provided,&quot; Consumer Affairs Secretary Avinash Kumar Srivastava told reporters here.

To have accurate time dissemination, the facilities at the five labs located in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Faridabad and Guwahati would be strengthened with the help of National Physical Laboratory (NPL).

&quot;Synchronisation of all networks and computers within the country with a national clock is a must, especially for the real time application in strategic sector and national security,&quot; a senior ministry official explained.

For instance, non-uniformity of time across different systems could create problems in investigation of cyber crime, the official added.

The ministry is implementing the Legal Metrology Act, which covers the provisions for units of weights and measures.

According to the ministry, accurate time dissemination and precise time synchronisation has significant impact on industrial, strategic, societal and other spheres.

Such a framework would be key to monitoring of power grids, international trade, banking system, weather forecast and disaster management, among others.

The synchronisation of time could even reduce mobile phone bills, the secretary said, without elaborating.

A group of secretaries on Science and Technology had flagged that all telecom and internet service providers were not mandatorily adopting the Indian Standard Time.

A Standard Time and Frequency Signal (STFS) Dissemination Service using INSAT system is provided by National Physical Laboratory (NPL). The particular time has a precision of better than one microsecond and accuracy of better than 20 microseconds, as per ISRO website.

Accurate time dissemination and precise time synchronisation would have "significant impact" on diverse areas including banking, telecom, weather forecast, disaster management and automatic signalling in railways, a senior consumer affairs ministry official said

The government will soon launch a Rs 100 crore project to ensure accurate dissemination and synchronisation of Indian Standard Time (IST), a move aimed at putting in place accurate timing system nationwide. Accurate time dissemination and precise time synchronisation would have "significant impact" on diverse areas including banking, telecom, weather forecast, disaster management and automatic signalling in railways, a senior consumer affairs ministry official said. As part of the ambitious project, the ministry would strengthen the infrastructural facilities of 5 existing regional reference standards laboratories. Besides, two more such labs would be soon set up. "We are launching a Rs 100 crore project for time dissemination initiative. In budget for 2018-19, Rs 20 crore has already been provided," Consumer Affairs Secretary Avinash Kumar Srivastava told reporters here. To have accurate time dissemination, the facilities at the five labs located in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Faridabad and Guwahati would be strengthened with the help of National Physical Laboratory (NPL). "Synchronisation of all networks and computers within the country with a national clock is a must, especially for the real time application in strategic sector and national security," a senior ministry official explained. For instance, non-uniformity of time across different systems could create problems in investigation of cyber crime, the official added. The ministry is implementing the Legal Metrology Act, which covers the provisions for units of weights and measures. According to the ministry, accurate time dissemination and precise time synchronisation has significant impact on industrial, strategic, societal and other spheres. Such a framework would be key to monitoring of power grids, international trade, banking system, weather forecast and disaster management, among others. The synchronisation of time could even reduce mobile phone bills, the secretary said, without elaborating. A group of secretaries on Science and Technology had flagged that all telecom and internet service providers were not mandatorily adopting the Indian Standard Time. A Standard Time and Frequency Signal (STFS) Dissemination Service using INSAT system is provided by National Physical Laboratory (NPL). The particular time has a precision of better than one microsecond and accuracy of better than 20 microseconds, as per ISRO website.

Government looks to synchronise Indian Standard Time

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today vowed to implement Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction in Asian region, news agency Reuters reported.

&quot;We have to wholeheartedly embrace the spirit of Sendai, which calls for an all-of-society approach to disaster risk management. In India, we are committed to walk the talk on the implementation of Sendai Framework,&quot; Modi said in his inaugural address at the Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in New Delhi.

The Sendai Framework is a 15-year global plan to combat disasters. It was adopted at the Third UN World Conference in Sendai, Japan, on March 18, 2015.

The Asian Ministerial Conference will work on formulating a plan to put the Sendai framework into motion.

&quot;The expected outcomes of the conference are an Asian regional plan for implementation of the Sendai framework. Second, a political declaration that reiterates the commitments of the governments to disaster risk reduction and also fundamentally important- stakeholder actions, statements containing various initiatives to reduce disaster risk,&quot; said United Nations secretary general&#39;s special representative for Disaster Risk Reduction, Robert Glasser, Reuters reported.

According to the United Nations, Asia-Pacific is the world&#39;s most disaster-prone region. It accounted for over half of the world&#39;s 344 disasters last year, with more than 16,000 deaths and 59 million people affected in the region alone, according to the UN.

Prime Minister Modi warned of daunting challenges due to the rapid rise of urbanisation in the region.

&quot;Urbanisation will pose greater challenges for disaster risk management, by concentrating people, property and economic activity in smaller areas, many of them in disaster-prone locations. If we do not manage this growth, in terms of both planning and execution, the risk of economic and human losses from disasters will be higher than ever before,&quot; said Modi.

(WION with inputs from Reuters)

Sendai framework is a 15-year global plan to combat disasters which was finalised in Japan last year

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today vowed to implement Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction in Asian region, news agency Reuters reported. "We have to wholeheartedly embrace the spirit of Sendai, which calls for an all-of-society approach to disaster risk management. In India, we are committed to walk the talk on the implementation of Sendai Framework," Modi said in his inaugural address at the Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in New Delhi. The Sendai Framework is a 15-year global plan to combat disasters. It was adopted at the Third UN World Conference in Sendai, Japan, on March 18, 2015. The Asian Ministerial Conference will work on formulating a plan to put the Sendai framework into motion. "The expected outcomes of the conference are an Asian regional plan for implementation of the Sendai framework. Second, a political declaration that reiterates the commitments of the governments to disaster risk reduction and also fundamentally important- stakeholder actions, statements containing various initiatives to reduce disaster risk," said United Nations secretary general's special representative for Disaster Risk Reduction, Robert Glasser, Reuters reported. According to the United Nations, Asia-Pacific is the world's most disaster-prone region. It accounted for over half of the world's 344 disasters last year, with more than 16,000 deaths and 59 million people affected in the region alone, according to the UN. Prime Minister Modi warned of daunting challenges due to the rapid rise of urbanisation in the region. "Urbanisation will pose greater challenges for disaster risk management, by concentrating people, property and economic activity in smaller areas, many of them in disaster-prone locations. If we do not manage this growth, in terms of both planning and execution, the risk of economic and human losses from disasters will be higher than ever before," said Modi. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

India: Modi vows to implement global disaster plan

At least 17 people have been killed by heavy rains and flooding in Assam, while at least 14 people have died in Bangladesh, with millions of people also displaced, officials said on Saturday. 
 
Although rainfall had decreased as of Saturday, officials in Assam, a tea-growing and oil-rich state, added water levels across rivers were still overflowing. 
 
&quot;Overflowing rivers are flooding new areas, making things worse,&quot; said Keshab Mahanta, Assam&#39;s water resource minister. 
 
Home Minister Rajnath Singh is in Assam making an aerial survey and holding discussions with state officials about relief efforts. 
 
The home minister will be accompanied by minister of state for home, Kiren Rijiju and minister for ministry of development of north eastern region Jitendra Singh and will take stock of the situation in the districts of Nagaon and Morigaon besides the Kaziranga national park. 
 
He will also be visiting Bhagatgaon camp of flood-affected people in Morigaon district, an official release said. 
 
Authorities in Assam have opened more than 800 temporary shelters and food and medicines distribution centres across the state, a senior official at the state disaster management authority said. 
 
Flooding is an annual problem during the monsoon season in South Asia, but the impact has been worsened by crumbling civic infrastructure, clogged drains and uncontrolled urban expansion. 
 
(Reuters) 
&nbsp;

Despite a decrease in rainfall, the water levels across rivers in Assam were still overflowing

At least 17 people have been killed by heavy rains and flooding in Assam, while at least 14 people have died in Bangladesh, with millions of people also displaced, officials said on Saturday. Although rainfall had decreased as of Saturday, officials in Assam, a tea-growing and oil-rich state, added water levels across rivers were still overflowing. "Overflowing rivers are flooding new areas, making things worse," said Keshab Mahanta, Assam's water resource minister. Home Minister Rajnath Singh is in Assam making an aerial survey and holding discussions with state officials about relief efforts. The home minister will be accompanied by minister of state for home, Kiren Rijiju and minister for ministry of development of north eastern region Jitendra Singh and will take stock of the situation in the districts of Nagaon and Morigaon besides the Kaziranga national park. He will also be visiting Bhagatgaon camp of flood-affected people in Morigaon district, an official release said. Authorities in Assam have opened more than 800 temporary shelters and food and medicines distribution centres across the state, a senior official at the state disaster management authority said. Flooding is an annual problem during the monsoon season in South Asia, but the impact has been worsened by crumbling civic infrastructure, clogged drains and uncontrolled urban expansion. (Reuters)

Heavy rains kill 31 in Assam and Bangladesh, Indian home minister Rajnath Singh conducts aerial survey

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