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NDTV
3 days ago
- NDTV
A Village In Himalayas Ran Out Of Water. Then, It Moved And Started Over
The Himalayan village of Samjung did not die in a day. Perched in a wind-carved valley in Nepal's Upper Mustang, more than 13,000 feet (3,962 meters) above sea level, the Buddhist village lived by slow, deliberate rhythms - herding yaks and sheep and harvesting barley under sheer ochre cliffs honeycombed with "sky caves" - 2,000-year-old chambers used for ancestral burials, meditation and shelter. Then the water dried up. Snow-capped mountains turned brown and barren as, year after year, snowfall declined. Springs and canals vanished and when it did rain, the water came all at once, flooding fields and melting away the mud homes. Families left one by one, leaving the skeletal remains of a community transformed by climate change: crumbling mud homes, cracked terraces and unkempt shrines. A changing climate The Hindu Kush and Himalayan mountain regions - stretching from Afghanistan to Myanmar - hold more ice than anywhere else outside the Arctic and Antarctic. Their glaciers feed major rivers that support 240 million people in the mountains - and 1.65 billion more downstream. Such high-altitude areas are warming faster than lowlands. Glaciers are retreating and permafrost areas are thawing as snowfall becomes scarcer and more erratic, according to the Kathmandu-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development or ICMOD. Kunga Gurung is among many in the high Himalayas already living through the irreversible effects of climate change. "We moved because there was no water. We need water to drink and to farm. But there is none there. Three streams, and all three dried up," said Gurung, 54. Climate change is quietly reshaping where people can live and work by disrupting farming, water access, and weather patterns, said Neil Adger, a professor of human geography at the University of Exeter. In places like Mustang, that's making life harder, even if people don't always say climate change is why they moved. "On the everyday basis, the changing weather patterns ... it's actually affecting the ability of people to live in particular places," Adger said. Communities forced to move Around the globe, extreme weather due to climate change is forcing communities to move, whether it's powerful tropical storms in The Philippines and Honduras, drought in Somalia or forest fires in California. In the world's highest mountains, Samjung isn't the only community to have to start over, said Amina Maharjan, a migration specialist at ICMOD. Some villages move only short distances, but inevitably the key driver is lack of water. "The water scarcity is getting chronic," she said. Retreating glaciers - rivers of ice shrinking back as the world warms - are the most tangible and direct evidence of climate change. Up to 80% of the glacier volume in the Hindu Kush and Himalayas could vanish in this century if greenhouse gas emissions aren't drastically cut, a 2023 report warned. It hasn't snowed in Upper Mustang for nearly three years, a dire blow for those living and farming in high-altitude villages. Snowfall traditionally sets the seasonal calendar, determining when crops of barley, buckwheat, and potatoes are planted and affecting the health of grazing livestock. "It is critically important," Maharjan said. For Samjung, the drought and mounting losses began around the turn of the century. Traditional mud homes built for a dry, cold mountain climate fell apart as monsoon rains grew more intense - a shift scientists link to climate change. The region's steep slopes and narrow valleys funnel water into flash floods that destroyed homes and farmland, triggering a wave of migration that began a decade ago. Finding a place for a new village Moving a village - even one with fewer than 100 residents like Samjung - was no simple endeavor. They needed reliable access to water and nearby communities for support during disasters. Relocating closer to winding mountain roads would allow villagers to market their crops and benefit from growing tourism. Eventually, the king of Mustang, who still owns large tracts of land in the area nearly two decades after Nepal abolished its monarchy, provided suitable land for a new village. Pemba Gurung, 18, and her sister Toshi Lama Gurung, 22, don't remember much about the move from their old village. But they remember how hard it was to start over. Families spent years gathering materials to build new mud homes with bright tin roofs on the banks of the glacial Kali Gandaki river, nearly 15 kilometers (9 miles) away. They constructed shelters for livestock and canals to bring water to their homes. Only then could they move. Some villagers still herd sheep and yak, but life is a bit different in New Samjung, which is close to Lo Manthang, a medieval walled city cut off from the world until 1992, when foreigners were first allowed to visit. It's a hub for pilgrims and tourists who want to trek in the high mountains and explore its ancient Buddhist culture, so some villagers work in tourism. The sisters Pemba and Toshi are grateful not to have to spend hours fetching water every day. But they miss their old home. "It is the place of our origin. We wish to go back. But I don't think it will ever be possible," said Toshi.
Mint
28-05-2025
- Mint
Farmers to get weather updates on feature phones with IMD's upcoming AI service: Earth Sciences Secretary M. Ravichandra
New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) is set to launch an AI-powered app called Mausam GPT that will to provide accurate local weather information in regional languages through both text and audio within six months. A key focus of this initiative is to make the system accessible on both smartphones and basic feature phones, enabling even small farmers to get timely weather forecasts at the press of just two or three buttons, earth sciences secretary M. Ravichandran told Mint. The initiative aims to benefit farmers by offering localized weather forecasts to help them decide the best time to sow crops. Travellers can also get advisories, improving planning and safety. India has around 145 million farmers in total. The number of title holders or land-owning farmers is around 86 million, according to recent agricultural census data. Ravichandran also revealed that the IMD plans to acquire two multidisciplinary oceanographic research vessels at a cost of ₹ 1,000 crore each. Additionally, a new Antarctic research station, 'Maitri-2,' will be built near the existing Maitri base, with a total project cost of ₹ 2,000 crore, including a ship with icebreaker by 2029. Ravichandran emphasized that the goal is to deliver weather information that truly benefits people, especially in rural areas. 'Simply saying it may rain or may not rain, like in the city, is of little use,' he said. He explained an early version called 'Monsoon GPT' has already been developed but needs enhancement to work on feature phones as well as smartphones. 'For example, a small farmer should be able to get weather forecasts by pressing just two or three buttons, even on a basic phone." The system will use telecom towers to determine the caller's exact location. It will then provide a simple forecast in local language, both in text and voice. For instance, the message could say: 'Day 1 – no rain, Day 2 – no rain, Day 3 – light rain.' Voice messages will aid those who cannot read. In 2024, the rural tele-density in India, which measures the number of telephone subscribers per 100 people, was 58.29%. Travelers with smartphones can simply enter the date and city to receive weather predictions and advice on suitable clothing, Ravichandran added. The first version of Mausam GPT will support five languages with plans to expand to 10 and, eventually, 25 languages. On the ocean economy front, IMD is aiming to increase its contribution to India's national economy from 4% to 8%. This will involve expanded activities in fisheries, marine tourism, and resource extraction. The ministry of earth sciences is collaborating with other departments to realize this vision. Regarding the new research vessels, Ravichandran said, 'Each vessel will be capable of carrying researchers up to six kilometres deep into the ocean to explore both living and non-living resources. Currently, we know only about 1% of the deep ocean floor.' The vessels will support deep-sea scientific surveys and sampling as part of the ministry's deep ocean mission. Equipped with advanced laboratories and scientific equipment, these vessels will be truly multidisciplinary.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Time of India
Wordle answer for May 28, 2025 with full hints, clues, and smart tips to solve puzzle #1439 before you run out of guesses
Wordle answer for May 28, 2025 is creating a buzz with its wintry twist! If you're trying to solve Wordle #1439 or just love keeping up with the daily puzzle trend, this guide has everything you need — from clues and starting word tips to the final answer. Today's five-letter solution is linked to icy climates and a familiar animal. We also take a quick look at recent past answers and offer advice on the best starter words to improve your game. Whether you're stuck or just curious, this Wordle breakdown is your daily brain booster! Today's Wordle answer for May 28 is POLAR — a chilly surprise! Check out hints, clues, recent answers, and best starter words. Follow our simple, daily guide to boost your Wordle strategy and never miss a winning guess again! Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads What is Wordle and why is it so popular? Simple and addictive : Anyone can play without needing an app or login. : Anyone can play without needing an app or login. Social sharing : Players love posting their results as colorful emoji grids without giving away the answer. : Players love posting their results as colorful emoji grids without giving away the answer. Community appeal : Friends, families, and even coworkers started solving it together. : Friends, families, and even coworkers started solving it together. Brain exercise: It's a fun way to sharpen vocabulary and deduction skills. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads What are today's Wordle hints and how tricky is the puzzle? No repeated letters Two vowels in the five-letter word Starts with the letter P Connected to a species of bear Refers to something from the Arctic or Antarctic What is the Wordle answer for May 28, 2025? The answer to Wordle #1439 for May 28 is: POLAR What was yesterday's Wordle answer? May 26 (#1437): DRONE May 25 (#1436): GRIFT May 24 (#1435): SUEDE May 23 (#1434): SHUCK What's the best Wordle starting word in 2025? ADIEU (vowel-rich) TRAIN (good consonant mix) STARE (classic balance) NOISE (vowel and consonant blend) CLOSE (solid coverage) Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Why is 'POLAR' a fitting Wordle answer for today? FAQs: May 28, 2025 — If you're stuck on today's Wordle answer for May 28 (#1439), don't worry — we've got you covered. Whether you just want a few hints or you're looking for the full answer, this guide walks you through everything step-by-step, without spoiling the fun too early. And yes, today's puzzle might have you thinking more about polar bears than sunny is a daily word puzzle game that challenges players to guess a five-letter word within six tries. Created by software engineer Josh Wardle in 2021, the game became a viral sensation due to its simple rules, limited gameplay (only one puzzle per day), and social sharing whyexploded in popularity:In early 2022, The New York Times bought Wordle, and it now lives on their site as part of their growing digital games platform. It's free to play and resets every day at midnight, offering a fresh challenge for word lovers break it down without giving the game away right off the bat. If you're playing, you're probably wondering: Is it a word I use often? Are there repeat letters? Should I start with a vowel-heavy guess?Here are the main clues for today:Still thinking? These should point you in the right right — the word is POLAR, fittingly chilly for a late spring puzzle. It's got that Arctic vibe and zero repeat letters, making it a clean solve for those paying attention to letter Wordle #1438 (May 27) brought us a much sportier vibe — the word was SPORT. Simple, common, and not too tricky. It followed a string of relatively fair games:If you're still trying to up your Wordle game, choosing the right starter word can make a big difference. The most effective words tend to include common vowels and frequently used consonants like R, S, T, N, and expert-recommended starters include:Avoid rarely used letters like Q, X, and Z in your first guess unless you're testing something though we're heading into summer, the New York Times Wordle seems to be playing with contrast. POLAR evokes icy climates, polar bears, and opposite extremes — a thematic twist that makes today's puzzle stand out. With no repeated letters and a straightforward structure, it's a satisfying word that rewards logical Wordle answer for May 28 isGreat Wordle starters include, and
