Child Deaths From Cough Syrups Point to Drug Safety Failures
At least 22 children have died in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan since September after consuming Coldrif, a cough syrup found to contain fatal levels of diethylene glycol, a harmful chemical found in products like coolants and industrial cleaners. The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed concern about the failure of India’s domestic drug regulatory system to enforce proper screening and manufacturing standards for medicines sold within the country.
Gujarat Bridge Collapse Reveals Culture of Neglect in Indian Governance
At least 11 people were killed and five seriously injured after the Gambhira Bridge in Gujarat’s Vadodara district collapsed into the Mahisagar River on the morning of July 8. The incident lays bare a longstanding culture of neglect and carelessness that defines public infrastructure governance across much of India.
Study Warns of Major Earthquake Risk in North, Northeast India
A new geological study finds that, contrary to earlier belief, the Indian Plate beneath the Tibetan Plateau is breaking and twisting deep below the surface. The discovery has serious implications for understanding earthquake risks across South and East Asia, including Myanmar, India, Bhutan, Nepal and China.
India Plans to Limit Nuclear Liability to Boost Trade and Energy
The Indian government has proposed to ease its nuclear liability laws, driven mostly by commercial and geopolitical goals, according to Reuters. The move involves a shift in how legal responsibility is assigned in the event of a nuclear accident, raising concerns that public interest may have been sidelined.
Delhi Earthquake: Why a 4.2 Quake Felt Strong; What Comes Next?
A magnitude 4.2 earthquake struck the Haryana-Delhi-Uttar Pradesh region early on Feb. 17, at 5.36 am, sending tremors across the National Capital Region. Occurring at a shallow depth of 10 km, the earthquake felt stronger than expected and led to concerns about the possibility of aftershocks, and whether it could be a precursor to a larger event.
Was the Delhi Railway Station Stampede a Preventable Tragedy?
The stampede at New Delhi Railway Station on the night of February 15, which claimed 18 lives and injured several others, points to a failure on the part of both the railway authorities and the government to anticipate and prevent overcrowding during the Maha Kumbh period.
When One Bug Causes a Global Crisis
The global disruption of vital digital services by a software bug that took place on July 19 shows that our world, highly reliant on technology, is also incredibly vulnerable to its failings. An update introduced on July 19 by CrowdStrike, which provides antivirus software to Microsoft for its Windows devices among other clients, contained a critical bug, resulting in significant disruptions across a wide range of systems that rely on CrowdStrike’s security software.
At Least 121 People Killed in Uttar Pradesh Stampede
Emerging details from media reports suggest several failings by local authorities and the police in preventing the tragedy of the stampede in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras district, where at least 121 people, mostly women and children, had died as of July 3.
Local Muslims Led Rescue in Kanchanjunga Train Accident
Recent calamities and tragedies in India, including the Kanchanjunga Express train accident in West Bengal, show the instinctual response of Indians to help one another in times of disaster. This behaviour stands in stark contrast to the divisive tactics employed by certain political figures along religious and caste lines, demonstrating that inherent unity transcends manufactured divides.
Airlines in India Must Address Global Safety Issues With Boeing 737 Max
Akasa Air has announced it is purchasing 150 Boeing 737 Max jets, a model also operated by SpiceJet and Air India Express. The 737 Max has been under intense scrutiny and embroiled in controversy following two fatal crashes that precipitated its global grounding in 2019. Presently, renewed safety concerns regarding the aircraft have emerged.
Women Have the Right to Safety AND Freedom
In Uttar Pradesh, an intriguing twist unfolds under the Safe City Project. The new policy introduces a unique restriction: private coaching centres are now barred from conducting late evening classes specifically for female students. And the controversial “anti-Romeo squads” will do the rest. This decision, allegedly for safety, ends up penalising the very group it intends to safeguard – the women and girls of the state. Moreover, it also impacts boys and men who enjoy socialising.
Are We on Shaky Ground?
When the earth beneath India and Nepal trembled on the night of Nov 3, it wasn’t just another natural occurrence but a stark reminder of the simmering geological tensions beneath our feet. The magnitude 6.4 earthquake with its epicenter nestled in Nepal’s Doti district is the latest in what seems to be an increasingly unstable chapter for the region. As residents, we must ask ourselves: are we ready for the “big one”?
The Murky World of Electoral Bonds
Imagine you’re at a poker table, and one player has a special deck of cards. He knows what’s coming next, but you and your friends are left guessing. Wouldn’t you be sceptical about the fairness of the game? Welcome to the high-stakes world of electoral bonds in India—a subject that’s headed for the courtroom on Oct. 31, and one that we should all care deeply about.