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Strong Quake Hits Southern Japan

A preliminary magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck late Tuesday afternoon. The tremor shook Kumamoto on Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu.

The Japan Meteorological Agency reported the event. It occurred at 4:29 p.m. local time. The epicenter sat 10 kilometers, or about 6 miles, below the sea surface.

Authorities quickly issued a tsunami advisory. The quake hit the western part of Kumamoto. That area lies roughly 900 kilometers, or 540 miles, southwest of Tokyo.

No damage or injuries appeared in early reports. Meanwhile, the U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center assessed the situation. It found no tsunami risk beyond the local coasts.

Officials continue to monitor the region for aftershocks and any further developments.

India’s Monsoon Surges as Deep Depression Forms Over Bay of Bengal

India’s southwest monsoon has kicked into high gear. Satellites have captured a massive cloud shield stretching nearly 1,000 kilometers. This marks the arrival of the season’s first deep monsoon depression over the Bay of Bengal.

The sprawling system is set to deliver widespread heavy to extremely heavy rain across eastern, central, and northern India. The intense weather will last for the next five days.

The latest thermal infrared images from the INSAT-3DS satellite reveal dense bands of towering clouds. These clouds are consolidating over the northwestern Bay of Bengal and the nearby Odisha-West Bengal coast.

The elongated cloud mass stretches nearly 1,000 km from the Andhra Pradesh coast to southern West Bengal. It pumps enormous moisture onto the Indian mainland.

Wind analyses show a clear cyclonic circulation feeding the system. The circulation draws moisture from the Bay of Bengal. At the same time, it interacts with the western arm of the monsoon trough across north India. Meteorologists link this combination to some of the season’s heaviest rain events.

According to the India Meteorological Department, the system strengthened into a deep depression on Monday morning. It had moved slowly northward at just 3 kmph over the previous six hours.

At 5:30 a.m. IST, the center sat near 21.3°N and 88.1°E over the West Bengal-North Odisha coast. It was about 40 km south of Sagar Island, 70 km east-southeast of Digha, 100 km south of Diamond Harbour, 120 km east-southeast of Balasore, and 120 km south-southwest of Canning.

The IMD expects the system to keep moving north-northwestward. It should cross the West Bengal-North Odisha coast between Balasore and Canning during the afternoon of July 27. After that, it will track inland toward eastern and central India.

Because the deep depression is moving slowly, rain will linger over several states.

Odisha is likely to see heavy to extremely heavy rainfall. Isolated spots may receive more than 21 cm of rain on July 27. Heavy to very heavy showers should continue through July 30.

Chhattisgarh can expect widespread rain with heavy to very heavy falls on July 27 and 28. Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Bihar are also set for heavy rain over the next few days.

The rain belt will gradually shift westward. East and West Madhya Pradesh should receive heavy rainfall between July 27 and 30.

Uttar Pradesh is also heading into an active spell. Heavy to very heavy rain is forecast across eastern districts through July 30. The rain will then spread into western parts of the state.

Weather experts note that the deep depression will coincide with the western arm of the monsoon axis moving across the Indo-Gangetic plains. This will significantly strengthen monsoon activity over north India.

As a result, widespread rain is expected across Delhi, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh later this week.

The development arrives as India works to erase its seasonal rainfall deficit. With the first monsoon depression of the season now moving inland, forecasters expect rain to become widespread across much of the country through the end of July.

This should bring relief to rain-deficient regions. At the same time, it raises the risk of flooding, waterlogging, and landslides in vulnerable areas.

Keoladeo National Park Faces Serious Water Shortage

Keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, is confronting a growing water crisis. The UNESCO World Heritage site depends on steady monsoon rains and an annual supply from the Panchana Dam. Both sources have fallen short this year.

Park officials state that the wetland needs 550 million cubic feet of water each year. Most of that volume traditionally flows from the Panchana Dam in Karauli through the Ajan Bundh. So far, authorities have released none of that water.

V. Chetan Kumar, director of Keoladeo National Park, described the situation clearly. “We have not received any water from Panchana Dam this year,” he said. Several wetland blocks have already dried up. As a result, staff members are moving fish—the main food source for many birds—from dry sections into remaining water-filled areas.

The park now relies on emergency measures. These include limited supplies from the Chambal drinking-water pipeline and groundwater pumping. Officials have requested a weekly delivery of three million cubic feet from the Chambal line. However, Kumar stressed that this water offers only temporary relief. It cannot meet the full ecological needs of the wetland.

The shortage has already slowed bird activity. Several species have delayed nesting because water levels remain too low. Kumar warned that a prolonged crisis will also harm local livelihoods. Naturalists, guides, hotel operators, and others who depend on park tourism face potential income losses.

Keoladeo National Park hosts about 336 bird species. Thousands of migratory birds arrive each winter from Europe, Central Asia, and Siberia. These visitors typically reach the park in early November and stay until March. Meanwhile, many resident waterbirds breed during the monsoon months. The park draws thousands of domestic and international tourists every year to observe its rich birdlife.

According to Kumar, the annual inflow from Panchana Dam does more than maintain water levels. Floodwaters historically carry fish fry, plankton, aquatic plants, and nutrients into the park. These elements sustain the entire food chain and keep the wetland productive. Timely releases support breeding colonies of storks, herons, cormorants, ibises, and thousands of migratory waterfowl. The water supply acts as the primary driver of the park’s ecological health.

With no release from Panchana this season and rainfall below normal, fish mortality has risen. Park staff continue emergency interventions, yet they describe these steps as insufficient for long-term recovery.

The administration has written to the divisional commissioner and the water resources department. Officials are seeking the immediate release of water from Panchana Dam.

Continued shortages could again draw attention from UNESCO. Keoladeo became a national park in 1982 and earned World Heritage status in 1985. In 2000, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee voiced serious concern over inadequate water releases. It called for the required volume to flow from Panchana Dam between July and September each year.

Later decisions in 2016, 2023, and 2025 repeated the same warning. UNESCO has consistently stated that a minimum of 550 million cubic feet is essential to protect the park’s ecological function and Outstanding Universal Value. The organization has also urged Rajasthan to develop a lasting water-security plan.

An Empowered Committee on Forests and Wildlife Management, formed by the state government in 2005, earlier recommended setting aside at least 250 million cubic feet of water from Panchana Dam exclusively for the park.

Park managers continue to press for action as the dry season advances and the next wave of migratory birds approaches.

Heavy Cloudburst Floods Ahmedabad, Brings City to a Halt

Ahmedabad came to a standstill on Thursday. An intense cloudburst dumped nearly seven inches of rain in just two hours. The downpour hit between 10 a.m. and 12 noon. Roads quickly flooded. Vehicles got trapped. Traffic ground to a halt. The event also exposed clear gaps in the city’s flood preparedness.

Authorities declared a holiday for all schools and colleges on July 24. Heavy rain continued to batter parts of Gujarat throughout the day.

Civic officials reported the heaviest rainfall in the southwest and northwest zones. These areas received an average of nine inches. The west zone logged eight inches. The central zone recorded 6.5 inches. Meanwhile, the south zone saw about four inches during the same period.

Despite its large municipal budget, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation faced sharp criticism. Roads turned into rivers within hours. Commuters sat stuck in long traffic jams. Many vehicles stalled in waist-deep water.

In Manekbagh, motorists pushed their cars and two-wheelers through flooded intersections. Water reached waist level in several spots. Residents questioned the city’s pre-monsoon preparations. Just two hours of rain had brought the large city to a complete stop.

The situation proved equally severe in Ambli village in Bopal. Floodwaters submerged roads, homes, and public infrastructure. Water levels rose above waist height in multiple areas. A local pond wall collapsed and sent three parked cars into the water. The incident sparked strong frustration among residents.

Several people said civic authorities failed to respond to their distress. “Everyone comes asking for votes, but no one comes when we need help,” residents reported. Many relied on neighbors for rescue and support.

Flooding also affected an Arogya Kendra health center. Nearly two feet of water entered the compound. Staff had to close the entrance. While some children played in the rain, many families struggled as water entered their homes.

Emergency services stayed busy all day. The fire department handled 10 calls about fallen trees. It also responded to two wall collapses and eight electrical short circuits. Police, fire personnel, and municipal workers assisted stranded residents across several localities.

The municipal corporation advised people to avoid 15 severely waterlogged roads. Officials temporarily closed eight major underpasses and later reopened them. Authorities also opened three gates of the Vasna Barrage. This step lowered the Sabarmati River’s water level and improved drainage as the rain eased.

The India Meteorological Department issued a red alert for heavy rainfall in South Gujarat. Parts of Central Gujarat and Saurashtra remained under an orange alert. For Thursday, orange alerts covered much of central and south Gujarat. Mahisagar, Dahod, and Panchmahal stayed under a red alert for extremely heavy rain.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. They reviewed the situation. The central government assured the state of all possible assistance.

The Milky Way may have flipped dramatically upside down billions of years ago. Astronomers say a violent head-on collision with another galaxy triggered this cosmic shake-up.

Researchers from Durham University uncovered fresh evidence for the event. They presented their findings at the Royal Astronomical Society’s National Astronomy Meeting in Birmingham.

The discovery helps solve a long-standing puzzle. Data from the European Space Agency’s Gaia mission had shown that the Milky Way’s vast stellar halo rotates unusually slowly. Now scientists have a compelling explanation.

To reach their conclusions, the team ran powerful supercomputer simulations. They tracked the evolution of 25 galaxies similar to our own over billions of years.

The results stood out clearly. Galaxies with slowly rotating stellar halos almost always shared two key traits. First, they experienced a major head-on merger. Second, they underwent a dramatic “disc flip,” where the galactic disc tilted more than 90 degrees.

Lead researcher Kirill Batrakov pointed to a specific event in our galaxy’s past. “We already know that the Milky Way had a massive head-on collision with a galaxy known as Gaia-Sausage-Enceladus,” he explained. “So, we think that the Milky Way disc likely flipped in the past.”

This dwarf galaxy slammed into the young Milky Way roughly 10 to 11 billion years ago. The massive impact reshaped our galaxy in dramatic ways. It scattered billions of stars into the elongated, sausage-shaped orbits that astronomers still observe today.

Moreover, the collision proved powerful enough to reorient the entire galactic disc. As a result, even the Sun may have once followed a very different path through the Milky Way.

“A disc flip also means most of the Milky Way’s stars once moved on very different trajectories than they do today,” Batrakov added. “Possibly even our own Sun. This suggests our ‘stable’ spot in the galaxy might not have been so stable for the Solar System’s whole lifetime.”

The study also reveals deeper connections. The slow rotation of the stellar halo closely matches the motion of the surrounding dark matter halo. Both appear to have evolved together as the Milky Way gradually absorbed smaller satellite galaxies.

Because Earth sits inside the Milky Way, scientists can examine its structure in unmatched detail. This new research adds an exciting chapter to our galaxy’s story. It offers valuable clues about how galaxies grow, evolve, and interact across cosmic time.

Char Dham Yatra Resumes After Brief Weather Halt

The Char Dham Yatra resumed on Tuesday. Uttarakhand authorities had paused the pilgrimage for one day as a safety precaution amid harsh weather. After reviewing the latest conditions, officials decided to restart the journey.

Garhwal Commissioner Anand Swaroop confirmed the update. He noted that authorities are coordinating closely with district administrations, police, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and other departments along the routes.

Moreover, teams continue to monitor the pilgrimage paths around the clock. They maintain extra vigilance in vulnerable spots.

Swaroop urged pilgrims to stay alert. He advised them to wait in designated safe areas or holding points if heavy rain, landslides, or other issues temporarily block the route. Pilgrims should follow instructions from the administration and police at all times. They can resume travel only after officials give the all-clear.

“Pilgrim safety remains the administration’s top priority,” Swaroop emphasized. Additionally, he confirmed that all relevant departments are tracking weather updates and route conditions. This allows teams to respond quickly whenever needed.

Heavy rainfall has impacted several areas. For instance, it has affected the Kedarnath route and caused the Sharda River to swell significantly. In Champawat district, the irrigation department issued a red alert at the Banbasa Sharda Barrage on the India-Nepal border due to rising water levels. As a result, authorities imposed movement restrictions in the border area and suspended vehicular traffic across the barrage.

The Uttarakhand government encourages all pilgrims to check the latest weather forecasts before starting their journey. Furthermore, they should rely only on official updates from the administration for accurate information.

This careful approach helps ensure devotees can complete their sacred journey safely.

Karnataka Battles Emerging Drought as Monsoon Falls Short

Karnataka now faces serious drought concerns after a weak Southwest Monsoon left vast areas dry. The delayed rains have slowed planting, lowered reservoir levels, and left many farmers worried about their future.

Severe Rainfall Shortfalls Hit Hard

The state saw a 30 to 42 percent rainfall deficit during the first half of the monsoon season. In response, Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has asked the central government to send a team and assess the growing crisis.

So far, 21 of Karnataka’s 31 districts report severe rainfall shortages. These shortfalls hurt both agriculture and water supplies. June proved especially dry. The state received only 116 mm of rain instead of the usual 199 mm. That marks the fourth-driest June in the last 50 years.

Hardest-Hit Regions

Malnad and Coastal Karnataka suffered the most. Kodagu district, a key part of the Cauvery catchment, recorded a steep 63 percent deficit at one point. South Interior Karnataka faced a 40 percent shortfall, while North Interior Karnataka saw deficits between 13 and 28 percent.

In Kolar district, the impact stands out clearly in villages like Thotli. Farmers there say sowing has almost stopped. The district normally gets about 170 mm of annual rainfall but has received only 140 mm since January.

Out of 85,801 hectares of farmland, only around 2,200 hectares have been planted so far. Farmers prepared fields after early showers, yet the long dry spell halted progress on key crops such as red gram and groundnut. They now wait for rain before sowing ragi, maize, cowpea, and field beans.

Farmers Share Their Struggles

Ramesh, a farmer from Thotli village, expressed deep concern. “We expected the Southwest Monsoon to arrive on time, but May and June disappointed us. Nearly 70 percent of farmers here rely completely on rainfall. Our main crop, ragi, needs good rain by August, but none has come.”

He also highlighted problems beyond fields. Dairy farmers lack fodder and water. Horticulture growers suffer too. Tomato prices have dropped sharply, and mangoes now sell for as low as Rs 3 per kilogram.

Nagaveni, another local farmer, added her worries about livestock. “We graze our cattle in the burning heat with no relief. There is barely any water for the animals. We planned to grow ragi, but without rain it feels impossible. The government must provide fodder and water quickly.”

Government Takes Action

Although officials have not yet declared a statewide drought, the government is preparing. Chief Minister Shivakumar reviewed the situation with senior officers and district commissioners. He warned them to act swiftly and avoid any neglect.

“No farmer should suffer due to inaction,” he stated firmly.

Currently, 178 taluks face deficient rainfall, and reservoir levels across the state sit at about 40 percent capacity. Drinking water remains the top priority.

The Chief Minister instructed officials to visit fields personally instead of depending on reports. He directed them to focus on drinking water supply, cattle fodder, crop insurance, groundwater recharge, and drought relief works.

Karnataka has already released Rs 329 crore to deputy commissioners for immediate measures. District teams can use up to Rs 1 crore right away where needed.

Looking Ahead

Shivakumar also cautioned against wasteful irrigation and promised to base water releases strictly on available storage. He plans to inspect conditions himself and wants a full ground assessment completed within 15 days. That report will go to the central government.

Officials will also arrange extra fodder and explore new water sources as groundwater levels drop.

Farmers across Karnataka continue to watch the skies anxiously. The next few weeks will decide whether the state can save its kharif season or face another challenging drought year.

The India Meteorological Department has issued a strong alert for an active southwest monsoon. Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall will sweep across northwest, central, and eastern India in the coming days. Officials also warn of flash flood risks in vulnerable regions.

Delhi Braces for a Cool-Down

Residents in the national capital will feel big relief soon. Daytime temperatures may plunge from around 40 degrees Celsius on Sunday to nearly 30 degrees Celsius by Tuesday. Monsoon activity will intensify quickly.

Delhi can expect scattered thunderstorms and heavy showers from Monday to Wednesday. These rains will bring much-needed cooler weather to the low 30s.

Here is the weekly temperature outlook for Delhi:

• Sunday: 40°C
• Monday: 37°C
• Tuesday: 30°C
• Wednesday: 33°C
• Thursday: 35°C
• Friday: 36°C
• Saturday: 32°C

On Sunday, the city will see scattered rain along with thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds blowing between 20 to 30 kmph.

Broader Monsoon Impact

Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall will drench Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and several northeastern states. The active monsoon will continue to deliver widespread showers across these areas.

In the Northeast, states like Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura will experience frequent heavy downpours throughout the week.

Northwest and central India will also stay busy. Forecasters predict heavy to very heavy rains over Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. Isolated areas may even see extremely heavy rainfall, which raises the risk of flash floods and landslides. Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Vidarbha will receive widespread showers.

Eastern regions will remain under monsoon influence too. West Bengal and Sikkim may witness isolated extremely heavy rain. Bihar, Odisha, and Jharkhand will get heavy to very heavy showers.

In western India, Konkan and Goa will see widespread rainfall. Gujarat and parts of Maharashtra can expect scattered showers.

Southern states will stay active as well. Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu will experience widespread rain accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds.

The monsoon has gained strong momentum across the country. These rains will bring relief from heat but also demand caution in flood-prone zones.

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