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The Hindu
a day ago
- Science
- The Hindu
India's water, energy demand spotlight risk of human-induced quakes
Earthquakes are usually natural — but not always. Sometimes some natural factors can combine with human activities to lead to earthquakes as well. Quakes induced by human activities are called human-induced earthquakes. According to one estimate researchers discussed in Seismological Research Letters in 2017, more than 700 human-induced earthquakes have been recorded around the world in the last 150 years, and they are becoming more common. Human activities like mining, extracting groundwater, impounding water behind a dam, injecting fluids into the ground, constructing tall buildings, and engineering coastal structures, among others, have been shown to induce seismic activity. This is because, according to experts, loading and unloading the crust in a repeated manner can cause strain to accumulate between tectonic plates, which would in turn modulate seismic activity. In India, seismologists have also been studying how the amount of water above and below the ground can affect the geological processes. A 2021 study in Scientific Reports reported that shallow earthquakes recorded in the National Capital Region could be linked to excessive groundwater extraction in the region for farming and human consumption. 'It was seen that between 2003 and 2012, when the water table had depleted significantly, there was an increase in seismic activity. The seismic activity reduced after 2014 when the water table stabilised,' Bhaskar Kundu, associate professor at NIT Rourkela and one of the authors of the study, told The Hindu. Managing extraction When groundwater is pumped out, the mass of water maintaining the pressure under the earth is removed, creating jolts on the surface. 'The situation is not of major concern because these earthquakes in the Delhi-NCR region are usually minor, with the maximum going up to 4.5 magnitude,' C.P. Rajendran, geoscientist and author of The Rumbling Earth: The Story of Indian Earthquakes, said. 'It can go up to 5.5, which for a densely populated city like Delhi could have risks.' This is because Delhi lies on several faultlines and is in the Zone 4 seismic risk category, meaning it's a quake-prone region. The risk for earthquakes induced by groundwater extraction is spread across the Gangetic plains, where the water table has been dropping in leaps, Dr. Rajendran said. This is mostly because crops sown in the region still need large quantities of water and very little of that thirst is quenched by rainfall. He added that there is a need to manage the rate of groundwater extraction and its recharge in a scientific manner and while considering the rate of seismic activity in the region. In the past, human-induced earthquakes have devastated lives and property, caused foremost by large dams that change the water load on the surface. On December 11, 1967, for example, an earthquake of 6.3 magnitude wrought significant damage in Koynanagar, a village in Maharashtra. More than 180 people were killed and thousands of houses were destroyed. Several studies that followed blamed the disaster on water overloading in the Koyna hydroelectric dam nearby. Similarly, research has recorded an increase in seismic activity around the Mullaperiyar dam in Idukki, Kerala, which like Delhi also lies in an earthquake-prone zone. Energy and quakes 'The U.S., which has recorded reservoir-induced earthquakes, has implemented regulations on how quickly a dam should be filled and emptied. Such regulations should also be enforced in India to prevent earthquakes,' Vineet K. Gahalaut, Chief Scientist at the National Geophysical Research Institute, told The Hindu. He also said seismic activities in a region should be properly evaluated before a dam is built there. 'Huge dams in seismically active areas like the Himalayas are not recommended because the water load and percolation could change the local stress regime,' Dr. Rajendran said. India's growing energy demand also increases the risk of this type of disaster. 'The methods used to extract energy to meet our needs have significant risks on our earth, be it oil or hydropower,' Dr. Gahalaut said. Fracking — where liquids are injected into the ground to push rocks apart and allow oil and natural gas — has also been shown to induce earthquakes, Dr. Gahalaut added. India currently has 56 fracking sites across six States. In Palghar district in Maharashtra, which has been experiencing a sequence of quakes since 2018, experts have said plate deformation is occurring in an isolated manner. Initial findings by seismologists indicated that the cause could be fluid migration due to rainfall. 'Strong seismic networks using instruments need to be established across India in regions like these, which are experiencing isolated plate deformation, to monitor and track seismic activity more accurately,' Dr. Kundu said. Impact of climate change Scientists have said that climate change can indirectly affect the occurrence of earthquakes and render them more frequent over time. The melting of glaciers due to global warming has been found to trigger earthquakes around Antarctica and Greenland. Changes in rainfall patterns due to climate change have also been known to modulate the water loading process on the surface. For example, sudden heavy rainfall could alter the stress accumulated between tectonic plates and induce seismic activity. The area around the Sahyadri range of the Western Ghats has been recording tremors due to heavy rainfall for this reason. 'The height of the mountains should have been reduced considering the rate of rainfall. However, the mountains have maintained their height due to seismic activity,' Dr. Gahalaut said. Changing rainfall patterns can also change the soil chemistry, Dr. Rajendran said, affecting cropping patterns and compelling farmers to turn to groundwater for irrigation, which can also induce seismic activity. Similarly, longer droughts can also reactivate seismic faults. Such a drought-induced earthquake was recorded in California in 2014. 'The risk of earthquakes is not present at all locations where there is groundwater depletion or huge dams, They have only been recorded in areas that are present on faultlines or are facing plate deformation processes,' according to Dr. Kundu. At present, the rate at which strain has been accumulating along plates and the fraction of this stress that is due to human activities is not possible to ascertain, he added. Experts have thus warned against concluding that such activities are solely to blame for tremors or earthquakes. Research thus far has only shown that these activities could postpone or accelerate tectonic processes causing these movements.
India Today
11-07-2025
- Health
- India Today
NIT Rourkela study reveals health toll on parents of children with disabilities
A recent study by researchers at NIT Rourkela has brought attention to a pressing issue that often goes unnoticed, how raising children with developmental disabilities takes a serious toll on the physical and emotional well-being of parents, especially by Dr Ramakrishna Biswal, Associate Professor in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, along with senior research scholar Abhijit Pathak, the study explores how continuous caregiving can cause exhaustion, health problems, and emotional work was published in the Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work and Development. Surveying over 400 parents of children with autism, ADHD, cerebral palsy, and multiple disabilities, the research found that the daily caregiving demands often lead to chronic headaches, fatigue, pain, ulcers, and a feeling of being emotionally worn impact on physical health, the study shows, is not just a result of stress, it can also make stress harder to manage, creating a feedback loop that further weakens a caregiver's capacity. STUDY URGES CAREGIVER SUPPORT FOR BETTER CHILD DISABILITY The researchers used the biopsychosocial model, which looks at how health is shaped by physical, psychological, and social forces together, not in findings reveal that while physical health is a key factor, financial pressures and social isolation also play major roles. Many parents, especially in India, struggle with stigma, lack of awareness, and minimal access to support on the findings, Dr Biswal said: 'Disability rights are increasingly recognised, but caregivers remain overlooked. Raising such children is not just a parental duty, it's a shared responsibility of the entire community.'The team recommends including caregiver health checks and stress support within paediatric disability services. They also suggest setting up community-based centres where families can access medical, mental, and financial help in one its heart, the study sends a clear message: when caregivers are supported, children thrive. Without that, families are left to cope alone, and too often, they do so in silence.- Ends
Indian Express
04-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
NIT Rourkela Vs IIIT Kalyani for Electronics & Communication Engineering: Which one you will choose?
NIT Rourkela Vs IIIT Kalyani for ECE: Students who could not crack the JEE Advanced have to look for NITs and IIITs to pursue BTech and BE courses. As a part of this series, will analyse Electronics and Communication Engineering (EC) in NIT Rourkela and IIIT Kalyani on parameters like location, NIRF rankings, and placement report. Additionally, we will share courses beyond BTech. Take a look: NIT Rourkela With 17 academic departments offering 21 undergraduate programs in the major disciplines of engineering, architecture, science, humanities and management, and postgraduate programmes in diversified fields of research areas, NIT Rourkela is established as an Institute of National importance. The admission to BTech happens through JoSAA counselling for CSAB. IIIT Kalyani In 2014, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Government of India, the Government of West Bengal, and industry partners (Coal India Limited, Rolta Foundation, and Webel) to establish IIIT Kalyani under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. IIIT Kalyani achieved the status of an Institute of National Importance in 2017. NIT Rourkela In the National Institutional Ranking Framework 2024, NIT Rourkela secured 34th position under the overall category. The Institute ranked at the 30th spot under the research category, 19th in the engineering category, and 9th under architecture. The rankings of NIT Rourkela remained under the top 40 for the year 2024. The Institute also ranked in the QS World University Ranking 2024 and achieved a position of 291-300 under the Asia category, and 67 under the Southern Asia University category. On the other hand, in the TIMES Higher Education Ranking 2025, it got 189th slot among Asia universities ranking and in a rank band of 601-800, for Engineering and Technology (by subject). IIIT Kalyani Meanwhile, in the overall category, IIIT Kalyani did not appear in the 2024 list under the overall category. The Institute does not rank under the research, engineering or architecture category of the NIRF 2024 rankings. NIT Rourkela In the Odisha-based technology institute, the highest pay during the placement in BTech for the academic session 2023-24 was Rs 51.03 LPA. On the other hand, in 2022-2023, the highest pay was Rs 52.89 LPA. While in the academic year 2021-22, the highest pay was Rs 46.08 LPA. In 2023-24, 121 students registered for the placement, and the Institute received 130 job offers. IIIT Kalyani In the case of IIIT Kalyani, companies like Wipro, TCS, Cognizant, IBM, PWC, Yellowclass, Samsung, Ericsson, Goldman Sachs, ShareChat, OLA, Mihup, TCG, Deloitte, Jio, Capgemini, MAQ Software, among others, have recruited students from the Institute, mentions the website. The Institute does not mention ECE placement records for 2020-2024, as the ECE programme was introduced in the Institute in the year 2021. Therefore, no students were graduating in the time period aforementioned. NIT Rourkela There are various executive MBA programmes also, where the admissions are completed through CAT scores. For the two-year MBA and three-year Executive MBA, admissions are based on CAT or some other national-level management entrance exams. Admissions are also conducted through JAM, GATE, and DASA (for foreign students). The MA programme of the NIT focuses on the intersection of the humanities and social sciences. With an MA in Development Studies, the Institute hosts PhD programmes in Anthropology, English, Psychology, Economics, Sociology, and Sanskrit. IIIT Kalyani On the other hand, IIIT Kalyani has two programmes in engineering, ECE and CSE. It has an MTech course in AI and data science, and in advanced communication systems and signal processing.
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Scientists unlock secrets of Martian weather systems
1 2 Bhubaneswar/Rourkela: Researchers from NIT Rourkela, in collaboration with scientists from UAE University and Sun Yat-sen University in China, provided new insights into the complex atmospheric phenomena of Mars through a comprehensive study spanning two decades with data collated from multiple Mars missions. The research, published in the journal New Astronomy Reviews, examines three crucial elements of Martian weather — dust devils, large-scale dust storms, and water-ice clouds. The study was co-authored by professor Jagabandhu Panda and research scholar Anirban Mandal from NIT Rourkela's Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, along with international collaborators. The team analysed data from various Mars missions, including India's Mars Orbiter Mission (MoM), to understand how dust and water-ice interact to influence the planet's climate and temperature. Their findings revealed that dust devils, which are small spinning columns of air, are more prevalent during summer in the northern hemisphere and play a vital role in keeping dust suspended in the atmosphere. "Advancing weather prediction on Mars is not just a scientific pursuit; it's crucial for ensuring the success of future missions and understanding the planet's habitability," said Panda. He emphasised the need for more ISRO missions to Mars and increased investment in university research to further advance scientific understanding. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 300만원 가상화폐 투자금 있다면 '이렇게'해라. 나우투자그룹 더 알아보기 Undo The research also sheds light on Mars' notorious dust storms, which can escalate to cover entire regions or even the whole planet. These storms operate in a feedback loop where sunlight heats the dust, warming the atmosphere and strengthening winds, which in turn lifts more dust into the air. The study's findings are particularly significant as they could help protect future spacecraft and support astronaut missions to Mars. "By tracking seasonal changes and their impact on dust and cloud formation, researchers refined our understanding of the Martian climate system, potentially enabling more accurate weather predictions on the Red Planet," Panda said. A significant focus of the study was on Mars' water-ice clouds, which form in two distinct types — the aphelion cloud belt during summers when Mars is farthest from the Sun, and the polar hood clouds that form during winter. These delicate, wispy formations are particularly visible near the equator, around massive volcanoes like Olympus Mons, and in polar regions.
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
NIT research to improve weather prediction on Mars for better robotic, human mission planning
Researchers from NIT Rourkela and Sun Yat-sen University analysed over 20 years of Mars mission data to study how dust storms, dust devils, and water ice clouds shape the Martian climate. Their findings, published in New Astronomy Reviews, are expected to aid future human missions and deepen understanding of Mars' atmospheric dynamics. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Researchers from National Institute of Technology (NIT), Rourkela and Sun Yat-sen University in China have examined how spinning dust devils, powerful dust storms and widespread water ice clouds can influence the atmosphere on examining information from more than 20 years of data collected by multiple Mars missions, including India's Mars Orbiter Mission (MoM), the team has studied how dust and water ice interact to shape the planet's climate and findings of this research have been published in the prestigious journal, New Astronomy to Jagabandhu Panda, professor, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, NIT Rourkela, understanding these processes will also help in preparing for human exploration missions."Mars, also known as the red planet, is home to some of the most dramatic weather systems in the solar system. Dust raised by local and regional storms can travel far and disturb wind patterns resulting in change of temperatures, and in some cases, reshape the Martian atmosphere in dramatic ways," he said."Knowing how Martian weather works can help protect spacecraft, support future astronauts, and improve our understanding of whether Mars may once have supported life," he explained that advancing the weather prediction on Mars is not just a scientific pursuit, it is the cornerstone of ensuring that future missions can sustain there and realise the past and future habitability of the red imaging data of more than 20 years, the researchers have traced how changing season on Mars evolve the dust and clouds formation and movement."These findings refine the human knowledge and understanding of Mars' climate system and may be useful for predicting future weather on the planet. As more missions head to the Red Planet, long-term studies like this one offer essential clues about its ever-changing skies," he said.
