Country News

Indian cities reeling under heat stress: Time to talk about thermal comfort

Stories from the field Author: Rozita Singh, D Kiran Kumar

As per media reports, heat-wave deaths in India have increased by 296% over the last 23 years with more than 150 civilians already reported dead this year. It is also being said that for the first time in its 140 year old history, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued temperature advisories for heat waves from April to June. The advisories include early warnings similar to the kind that were, until now, issued only for heavy rains and cyclones!


Delhi's experiment toward a greener environment

Stories from the field Author: Nimish Jha

Recent observations by the Delhi High Court, based in New Delhi, India, in regard to Delhi’s deterioration into a "gas chamber" highlights the plight of citizens in the wake of rising hazardous levels of pollution and environmental degradation. It was only last year that the World Health Organization named Delhi the world's most polluted city in a study of 1,600 cities.


As Chennai looks to rebuild, it must learn from other resilient Indian cities like Surat

Stories from the field Author: Usha P Raghupathi

When development disregards nature, cities are rudely reminded of it when disaster strikes.

Chennai—which is no stranger to inundation—has certainly seen unnaturally high rainfall this year, but there is no doubt that these floods are also a manmade disaster.