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Hyderabad: BJP MLA Raja Singh arrested amid ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ chants over allegedly ‘blasphemous’ comment on Prophet Muhammad

OpIndia Staff
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Hyderabad: BJP MLA Raja Singh arrested amid ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ chants over allegedly ‘blasphemous’ comment on Prophet Muhammad

On Tuesday, the Telangana Police registered an FIR against Raja Singh, BJP MLA from Goshamahal for his alleged blasphemous remarks against Prophet Muhammad. Later, he was arrested. This move came after severe protests broke in Hyderabad last night at South Zone DCP office where protesters demanded immediate action against Singh and chanted ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’, an Islamist chant calling for his beheading for ‘blasphemy’ against Prophet Muhammad.

According to the reports, the BJP MLA had posted a comedy video on Monday in which the demonstrators claim that he used abusive language toward Prophet Muhammad. Multiple people filed a complaint against Singh and said that he had hurt the religious sentiments of the Islamists.

Several people after the incident on Monday night gathered at the South Zone DCP office and demanded Singh’s immediate arrest for his alleged offensive remarks against Muslims and the Prophet Muhammed. Calls for his beheading were also made at the police station as per reports. The Police then booked the BJP MLA under IPC section 153A (Promoting enmity between two groups) and similar sections at the Dabeerpura police station.

DCP South Zone, P Sai Chaitanya confirmed the FIR and said that the Police has begun the investigation into the case. “We have registered a case at Dabeerpura police station and necessary action will be taken in this regard, I appeal to the public to maintain restrain since police shall act swiftly”, he was quoted.

To note, the Telangana Police had taken the BJP MLA in preventive custody on August 19 after he allegedly issued threats to attack ‘comedian’ Munawar Faruqui if the Telangana government allowed his show in the city. Singh also had said that he would burn down the venue if the show happened.

He had released a video that went viral over social media to reveal that the ‘comedian’ had cracked jokes on Hindu gods and should not be permitted to perform in Hyderabad. “Let them see what will happen if he is invited to stage a show in Hyderabad. Wherever the program is held, we shall beat him up. Whoever offers him a venue, we shall set it afire,” Singh had allegedly said in the video.

The Police then took the BJP MLA and 4 other persons into custody and released them later. Earlier, the Police also detained over 50 persons including members of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha for protesting at the venue of a show by alleged stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui. Police were deployed in huge numbers at the location ahead of the event on August 20. Faruqui was supposed to perform his show named ‘Dongri to Nowhere’ in Hyderabad on August 20.

Singh objected to Faruqui’s show, stating that Faruqui had previously insulted Hindu Gods in his shows, resulting in criminal prosecutions. Instead of inviting someone who insults God, Singh argued that brilliant Telangana artists should be supported. On 1st January 2021, in a show held at Indore, Munawar Faruqui insulted Lord Ram and Sita. A case was registered against him by the Madhya Pradesh police under sections 295A, 298, 269, 188, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code. He was also arrested and later released on bail.

In the current case, an FIR has been registered against Raja Singh, BJP MLA from Goshamahal for his alleged blasphemous remarks against Prophet Muhammad. The Police are investigating the case amid severe protests in the city.

Bollywood makes good films and Rahul Gandhi is intelligent, Swara Bhasker claims while comparing the two

OpIndia Staff
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Bollywood makes good films and Rahul Gandhi is intelligent, Swara Bhasker claims while comparing the two

Bollywood entertainer Swara Bhasker, who is expected to make a ‘comeback’ (??) with a film Jahaan Chaar Yaar, in an interview with India Today compared Bollywood with Rahul Gandhi and claimed that how Bollywood has been ‘Pappufied’. She said that since everyone kept calling him ‘Pappu’, people of India eventually started believing he is ‘Pappu’. However, Swara said she has met him and he is a ‘perfectly intelligent and articulate man’.

Bhasker then lamented that similar ‘Pappufication’ has happened to Bollywood too. Amongst other things, like bad script and bad Hinduphobic content, Bollywood has also been facing heat over nepotism charges as some ‘stars’ are identified as actors only because their parents, siblings, uncles have been part of the film industry.

Swara Bhasker, herself, can be an extended nepo-kid because her mother, Ira Bhasker, has also been a member of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), a statutory body under the information and broadcasting ministry, during UPA era. Ira Bhasker also teaches ‘cinema studies’ at Jawaharlal Nehru University.

Rahul Gandhi, too, has been often criticised for being a politician only because his father, mother, grandmother and great grandfather were mainstream politicians in independent India. Many have believed he should have been Prime Minister only because his ancestors have been one.

It takes someone coming from place of privilege to identify with someone who also comes from place of privilege.

Mumbai: Police arrest one Shahbaz for throwing egg at Hindu procession carrying Ganpati idol. Here is what we know so far

OpIndia Staff
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Mumbai: Police arrest one Shahbaz for throwing egg at Hindu procession carrying Ganpati idol. Here is what we know so far

On Sunday (August 21) night, the police arrested a man for hurling an egg at a procession carrying the idol of Lord Ganesha.

The incident took place at around 10 pm in the Kamathipura area in the Nagapada neighbourhood of South Mumbai. As per a report by Organiser, the accused was identified as 25-year-old Abdul Kalim Atru Khan, who also went by the alias of Shahbaz.

The Hindu devotees were bringing the Ganesha idol from Chinchpokli to Kamathipura Gully No.13 when the incident took place. This sparked off protests in the area, with the worshippers demanding strict action against the accused.

Shahbaz was booked by the Nagapada police station under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 153A and 295A. Following his arrest, he was remanded to police custody.

While speaking about the matter, an official informed, “The man has been charged under Indian Penal Code sections 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion) and 295 A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs).”

The police were able to pacify the angry devotees by registering a First Information Report (FIR) and arresting the accused. They informed that the situation was under control and that the legal process was underway.

World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen, who lost to 17-year-old Praggnanandhaa in Miami, gives 4 reasons why chess isn’t cricket

OpIndia Staff
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World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen, who lost to 17-year-old Praggnanandhaa in Miami, gives 4 reasons why chess isn’t cricket

For years, cricket, that too male cricket, has dominated the Indian sports. However, in past few years, other sports, too, are finally the due respect and credit they deserve. Indian athletes and sportspersons have made us proud in many tournaments including Olympics. Along with sports like badminton and hockey, wresting, weight lifting, and javelin throw are also getting recognition. Recently, Chennai hosted the Chess Olympiad.

In recent times, with Indian players making waves in the chess field, Twitter influencers Abhi and Niyu on Sunday tweeted how Chess is the ‘new cricket’. To that, Magnus Carlsen listed out four reasons why chess isn’t cricket.

Carlsen said how chess is played on a field with humans, while chess is played on a board with wooden pieces. He added that while cricket has a bat and a ball, chess ‘usually’ doesn’t. Further, cricket needs 22 players while chess only needs two. And finally he said that chess is not the new cricket since he does not play cricket.

On August 22, 17 year old Indian Grandmaster Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu defeated world champion Magnus Carlsen at the FTX Crypto Cup, the American finale of the Champions Chess Tour, in Miami. This is the third time in the last six months that Praggnanandhaa has defeated Carlsen. Praggnanandhaa won the game in the blitz tiebreaker after the score was tied at 2-2.

Mumbai: Man arrested over WhatsApp status on Prophet Muhammad after an acquaintance snitches on him to a lawyer

OpIndia Staff
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Mumbai: Man arrested over WhatsApp status on Prophet Muhammad after an acquaintance snitches on him to a lawyer

Police on August 21 arrested a man from the Malad suburb of Mumbai for uploading a post on Prophet Muhammad on WhatsApp Status considered “derogatory” to an acquaintance who snitched against him to a lawyer.

The lawyer, Salim Choudhari, filed a complaint with the Dindoshi police on August 19 saying that he learnt about the “derogatory” status photos and a video—from an acquaintance. The police arrested the man, a real estate agent, and produced him before a magistrate’s court, which remanded him in police custody for two days. 

The advocate also shared screenshots of the content in his complaint following which a first information report was filed by the police. The man was charged under Information Technology Act sections 295A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage reli­gious feelings) and 67A (transmitting material containing sexually explicit acts).

Killings over social media posts on Prophet Muhammad

The arrest comes months after the death of at least two people over social media posts on Prophet Muhammad. Kanhaiya Lal, a Hindu tailor, was brutally hacked to death by Islamists for extending support to beleaguered former BJP leader Nupur Sharma. Sharma had been at the receiving end of Islamist wrath after Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair dog-whistled against her, setting off an ugly chain of events as Islamists ran riot shouting ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ chants against Nupur Sharma and those supporting her. 

After killing the tailor, the murderers shared a video boasting how they had killed Kanhaiya Lal, brandishing their knives and declaring that they would kill PM Narendra Modi in a similar manner. Kanhaiya Lal had been receiving threats of murder from Islamists for days because of a social media post that was shared accidentally by his minor son. He was also arrested by the police. Despite reporting to the police that his life is under threat, he was not given protection. Hours after the gruesome incident, the murderers were arrested from Rajasamand district.

Similarly, in Maharashtra’s Amravati, a man named Umesh Kolhe became a victim of violence for supporting Nupur Sharma over her comments on Prophet Muhammad in a TV news debate. Significantly, Kolhe was killed after one of his good friends, Yusuf Khan, had instigated Islamists against him. 

Umesh Kolhe’s friend Yusuf Khan had spotted Kolhe’s WhatsApp message supporting Nupur Sharma and had circulated it in other WhatsApp groups. He had also informed about it to Sheikh Irfan Khan, who runs an NGO. Irfan Khan then plotted the murder and gave the responsibility of recce to Maulana Mudassir Ahmed alias Sonu Raza Sheikh Ibrahim. After that, Irfan Khan engaged four daily wage workers Shahrukh Pathan, Abdul Taufiq, Shoaib Khan and Atib Rashid, who had worked for his NGO earlier, for the execution of the plan.

On the night of June 21, Shoaib stabbed Umesh Kolhe in his neck. Initially, the police had said that this was a robbery gone wrong, but after there was a change in the government in Maharashtra, the police admitted that Kohle was killed for supporting Nupur Sharma.

Gujarat: State Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi hands over Indian Citizenship certificates to Hindu refugees from Pakistan

OpIndia Staff
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Gujarat: State Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi hands over Indian Citizenship certificates to Hindu refugees from Pakistan

On Monday, August 22, Harsh Sanghavi, Gujarat’s Minister of State for Home, handed over citizenship certificates to several Pakistani Hindu refugees who had come to Ahmedabad years ago and had applied for Indian citizenship.

The Gujarat minister took to Twitter to inform the same.

Tweeting about the same, BJP leader Dhaval Patel stated that under the BJP regime in Gujarat, up to now, 1032 Hindu refugees have obtained citizenship in the state.

Notably, prior to this, Sanghavi on August 12, 2022, had also handed over citizenship certificates to 24 Pakistani Hindus who were living in the state’s Rajkot district.

Addressing all 24 individuals, Sanghavi said: “I welcome you all as brothers and sisters of this big country… hope like all of us here, you too will join the development motto, and we promise you all that we will extend support to you all for your growth and progress.”

The refugees had expressed their gratitude to Sanghvi on the occasion. A teary-eyed woman named Valbhai Namodi told the minister how she had been waiting for this moment for years and finally, her patience paid off.

Kesarben Shankarchand, another woman studying to make a career in the aviation sector, thanked the Indian government for citizenship. Shankarchand told the minister, “My family was waiting for Indian citizenship for the last 16 years.

Describing it as the happiest moment of her life, Kesarbhai Sankalchand, the 22-year-old Pakistani Hindu said, “Now I will be able to complete my graduation and fulfil our dreams in my country India.”

CAA and Delhi Riots

in December 2019, the BJP government amended the Citizenship Act, which gives fast-track citizenship to persecuted minorities of the three neighbouring Islamic states of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. After the passage of the Act, Muslim mobs went on a rampage, rioting and causing arson and violence throughout the country.

Islamists came out of the woodwork to claim that the Muslims were being discriminated against since the CAA provided fast-track citizenship to only persecuted minorities of Islamic nations but not Muslims. Adding to that, Muslim leader Asadduddin Owaisi went as far as to demand proof that minorities were persecuted in Pakistan.

Opposition parties and several groups criticized the amendments in the Citizenship Act. They tried to propagate that CAA, combined with the National Register of Citizens (NRC), aims to target minorities living in India, especially the Muslim community. Since its enactment in December 2019, there were large scale protests across the country. Sit-in protests at Shaheen Bagh attracted a lot of attention, especially because of the anti-India speeches given by the speakers at the site.

In the background of these protests, there was an alleged larger conspiracy to cause unrest in the Indian state that resulted in riots in February 2020. As a result, several arrests were made by investigation agencies, including that of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Tahir Hussain and several others. As per reports, Police registered over 700 cases connected to the riots and detained or arrested 3,400 people by the end of March 2020. A detailed report on the anti-Hindu Delhi Riots by OpIndia can be read here.

Excise policy scam: A timeline of the controversy, political war-of-words and CBI probe

Dibakar Dutta
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Excise policy scam: A timeline of the controversy, political war-of-words and CBI probe

Amidst allegations of corruption against Manish Sisodia in connection to the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-2022, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal came to the defence of his party leader.

In a statement on Monday (August 22), he claimed that Sisodia must be felicitated with the country’s highest civilian award instead of being held accountable for financial irregularities.

“Manish Sisodia reformed govt schools which other parties could not do in 70 years. Such a person should get Bharat Ratna. The entire country’s education system should be handed over to him, but instead, they conducted CBI raids on him,” Kejriwal remarked.

While his bizarre comments have drawn ridicule from several quarters and rightly so, it has taken away the public discourse from the matter at hand i.e. the estimated loss of ₹900 crores to the exchequer and allegations of corruption through the implementation of Excise Policy 2020-2021 by the Delhi government.

Here is how the controversy unfolded:

September 4, 2020: Expert committee constituted by the Excise Commissioner floats a new excise policy.

November 17, 2021: Delhi government implements Excise Policy 2020-2021. It changes the manner in which alcohol is sold in Delhi. Introduces private players in the market and marks the exit of government-owned liquor vendors.

May 2, 2022: Proposals such as home delivery of liquor, allowing liquor vendors to offer unlimited discounts, opening of stores till 3 am are tabled before the Delhi Cabinet.

July 8, 2022: Naresh Kumar, who was appointed the Chief Secretary of Delhi in April 2022, finds irregularities and procedural lapses in the new liquor policy. He prepares a report and seeks the response of Manish Sisodia on July 8.

July 22, 2022: Incumbent Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, VK Saxena, orders a CBI probe on the recommendation of Naresh Kumar.

July 29, 2022: Delhi government makes a U-turn on its new excise policy. Manish Sisodia issues official direction to revert to the old regime of excise policy for the following 6 months.

August 17, 2022: The Central Bureau of Investigation names Delhi Deputy Chief Minister, ex-Only Much Louder (OML) CEO Vijay Nair and 13 others in an FIR for irregularities in the implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy 2020-2021.

August 19, 2022: CBI raids the residence of Manish Sisodia. Besides, 20 locations across 7 States were searched by officials of the central agency.

While dismissing allegations levelled against him, Manish Sisodia claimed, “CBI had come to our house. They are welcome. We (he and his party leaders) are extremely honest. We are building the future of millions of children.”

He added, “It is very unfortunate that those who do good work in our country are harassed in this manner. That is why our country has not yet become number 1 in the world.”

August 20, 2022: AAP leader Manoj Nagpal resigns from the party, and accuses it of corruption. “AAP today has become a corrupt party. AAP’s excise policy boosted the youngsters to consume more alcohol and furthered their addiction”, he said.

August 21, 2022: Manish Sisodia claims that a Look Out circular (LoC) has been issued, CBI denies the allegation.

August 22, 2022: Delhi Deputy Chief Minister cries foul, alleges that the BJP asked him to abandon Aam Aadmi Party in exchange for dismissing all cases. Arvind Kejriwal, meanwhile, declared that Sisodia should be felicitated with the Bharat Ratna.

Reportedly, Manish Sisodia waived off ₹144.36 crores on the license fee, to be paid by the private liquor vendors, under the garb of the coronavirus pandemic. He also caused loss to the Excise Department and benefitted liquor licensees by waiving the import pass fee of ₹50 per beer case.

All these changes were made without the final approval of the Lieutenant Governor and thus considered illegal under the Delhi Excise Rules of 2010 and Transaction of Business Rules of 1993. The CBI had therefore registered a case against Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister.

‘Inform police if you don’t know the Imam coming to your village’: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma after arrest of suspicious Islamic clerics in Assam

OpIndia Staff
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‘Inform police if you don’t know the Imam coming to your village’: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma after arrest of suspicious Islamic clerics in Assam

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Monday that if an Imam visits a village and the residents do not recognise him, they should immediately alert the police and this should be an accepted Standard Operating Procedure.

Talking to reporters in Guwahati, Sarma said, “We have made some SoP that if any Imam comes to your village and you do not know him, immediately inform the Police Station, they will verify, only after that, they can stay.” “Our Muslim community of Assam is helping us in this work,” he further added.

“We’re also making a portal for Imam & other people who are coming to madrasa from outside the state. Those who are from Assam, do not need to register their names in that portal, people from outside will have to register their names in the portal,” Sarma went on to add.

These remarks from the Assam Chief Minister follow after two Imams were arrested in Assam by the Goalpara Police as part of a larger anti-terror operation against the Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) and the Islamic terrorist outfit Al Qaeda Indian Subcontinent. Jalaluddin Sheikh (49), the imam of Tilapara Natun Masjid, and Abdus Subhan (43), the imam of Tinkunia Shantipur Masjid, Mornoi, were both arrested after being questioned by police for several hours.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma earlier stated that five modules of the terrorist organisation Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) had been disbanded with the cooperation of other investigating agencies in the past five months.

The CM stated that jihadi activities in Assam have become a significant concern as a result of the police breaking various Islamist modules comprised of Bangladeshi immigrants. A number of jihadi and terror modules have also been disbanded by police in other jurisdictions.

After Kareena Kapoor, Alia Bhatt says, “don’t like me, don’t watch me,” ahead of the release of her movie Brahmastra

OpIndia Staff
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After Kareena Kapoor, Alia Bhatt says, “don’t like me, don’t watch me,” ahead of the release of her movie Brahmastra

Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt, who is busy promoting Brahmastra, her upcoming movie with husband and co-star Ranbir Kapoor, recently asked audiences to not watch her movies if they did not like her.

Following in the footsteps of Bollywood heavyweights such as Kareena Kapoor Khan and Aamir Khan, Alia Bhatt recently said in an interview with Mid-Day: “I can’t keep defending myself verbally. And if you don’t like me, don’t watch me. I can’t help it. That’s something I can’t do [anything about].”

The actor made the remark when she was asked about the alleged trolling she faced for being a star kid. Bhatt added, “People have something to say. Hopefully, I will prove to them with my movies that I am actually worth the space I occupy.”

“What the hell is this nonsense? Why is this happening for no reason?,” the actress exclaimed when asked about the nepotism controversy in the Indian film industry.

It is pertinent to mention here that back in 2020, Kareena Kapoor Khan had also stated during the nepotism debate that it is the people who have made the stars and that nobody is forcing people to go and watch movies. She then said, “The audience has made us, no one else has made us. Same people pointing fingers are the ones who have made these nepotistic stars right? Aap Jaa Rahe Ho Na Film Dekhne? Mat Jao. Nobody has forced you. So I don’t understand it. I find this whole discussion is completely weird.”

Kareena Kapoor Khan was, however, not the only one to make the arrogant remark. Following the release of his 2014 movie ‘PK’, Aamir Khan also snubbed his fans for objecting to the Hinduphobic nature of the film. While speaking about the matter, he snobbishly remarked, “Mujhe lagta hai ki ya ek democracy hai aur haar aadmi ko apna vichar samne rakhna ka adhikaar hai (This is a democracy and everyone should have the right to express their opinion).

“Agar kisiko film nahin pasand aayi toh usko nahin dekhni chahiye (If someone does not like the movie, then, he should not watch it),” Aamir Khan had said then.

What is more interesting here is that after Kareena Kapoor Khan and Aamir Khan starrer movie Lal Singh Chadda failed miserably at the box office with social media users calling for the boycott of the movie, Kareena Kapoor reversed her position, begging that people not boycott the film.

Drying rivers, forest fires and more: Climate Change threat looms over Europe as drought-like conditions break centuries-old record

OpIndia Staff
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Drying rivers, forest fires and more: Climate Change threat looms over Europe as drought-like conditions break centuries-old record

No one in history has ever recorded the River Loire of France being dried up. However, the extreme drought conditions in the country have changed history forever. River Loire is famous for the hundreds of castles across its shores. It is a shallow-water river and one of the major attractions in the country. However, the tourists are unable to see it in its glory due to the unprecedented drought conditions.

The Loire ends its journey into the Atlantic Ocean. Water has now been missing even 100 KMs before the final destination point. Sandbanks are visible everywhere. Earlier, people used to walk between the shores using little Islands in the river, but the situation has changed, and they just walk through the dried-up river.

Notably, Loire valley is a UNESCO World Heritage site with majestic chateaux such as Chambord, Chenonceau and Azay-le-Rideau attracting tourists from across the world. Eric Sauquet, head of hydrology at France’s National Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE), told Reuters that this year’s drought should be a wake-up call for the people and the authorities.

He said, “The Loire’s tributaries are completely dried up. It is unprecedented. We have to worry about the Loire.” Speaking about the marine animals living in the river, he pointed out that low water levels are disastrous for the fishes as it lacks oxygen and makes it easier for the predators to kill the fish. He said, “Fish need water to live, cool water. When water levels get this low, their environment shrinks, and they get trapped in puddles.”

Nuclear plants and the water crisis

There are four nuclear plants on the shores of the river. France made dams at Naussac and Villerest in the 1980s to ensure water supply to these plants that are located at Belleville, Chinon, Dampierre, and Saint-Laurent. With a combined capacity of 11.6 Gigawatts, these plants are responsible for a fifth of the French electricity production.

The authorities have not released waters from the two dams owing to the requirements of the nuclear plants. However, the delay in releasing water is causing further damage to the river’s ecosystem.

In recent times, the wildfires, torrential rain that damaged Paris metro, and storms that his southern France, the country has seen how disastrous Mother Nature could be. On the contrary, the villages in the south faced a tough time arranging waters as natural springs have dried up. The residents have to rely on the water tankers for consistent supply.

Sauquet said, “Climate change is underway, it’s undeniable… All users will have to re-think their behaviour with respect to water resources.” Météo-France, the nation’s meteorological service, in its bulletin, mentioned that July was the driest on record, with only 15 per cent of the average rainfall received this year.

The drought situation is spreading quickly across Europe

The extreme drought is gripping Europe quickly. As per a Washington Post report, thousands of people have died due to heat waves and massive wildfires. The temperatures are at an all-time high, and Europe is quickly feeling the heat of extreme drought.

There has been below-average rainfall, and the temperatures are above what Europe faces in general. As the conditions continue to remain the same, the region is facing the worst drought in recorded history. Drought is causing further damage as dried-up land and vegetation are catching fire more easily, and crops are dying amidst the lack of water.

European Drought Observatory has issued ‘warning’ conditions for almost hand of Europe that including severe drought and major soil moisture deficit. Apart from that, around 17 per cent of Europe is seeing vegetation getting dried up or thinning. Farmers are among the most affected people in Europe as they are unable to get the required amount of water for their crops.

Sky News quoted senior scientist at the European Drought Observatory Andrea Toreti saying that the present drought conditions could be the worst in the past 500 years. The autumn and winter went dry, resulting in lower groundwaters for spring and summer. Furthermore, ‘human-caused’ climate change added up to the temperature.

Reports suggest that during July, southern parts of Britain, including London, received only 10-20 per cent of the average rainfall. In some areas, the rainfall was next to nothing. On average, London gets around 45 mm or 1.77 inches of rainfall, but this time it was reduced to mere 0.04 inches.

Sattelite images show how draught has gripped London. Source: Washington Post

Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands are facing acute water shortages. The Rhine and other rivers in Germany have become shallow, worrying the experts. Notably, the freight shipping costs on the Rhine have been increased by four times, and large vessels crossing the river have been ordered to carry 30-40 per cent less than their capacity; otherwise, they may run aground.

The Rhine plays a vital role in the shipping industry across Europe, and any disturbance affects the whole ecosystem. Because of the shipping hurdles, the experts believe that Germany may see a fall of up to 0.5 percent in the GDP.

Po River in Italy is facing similar problems, and the Prime Minister of Italy has described it as the “most serious water crisis in 70 years”. In early July, Italy declared a state of emergency in five of the most affected regions. Notably, 30 per cent of Italy’s population lives in the river’s basin. According to AccuWeather, the present conditions have taken a toll on the agriculture and the fishing industry across the region.

Due to the water scarcity in the Po River, the farmers are unable to get the required water supply resulting in rising problems for over three million cattle and six million pigs. The crop yields have decreased by 30 per cent due to weather conditions. Above all, the war in Ukraine has also impacted the cost of harvesting and steaming.

Due to lack of water, shrinking reservoirs, low rainfall, and high temperatures, wildfires have become common in Europe. Recently, 10,000 people were evacuated on Thursday in France near Bordeaux after a wildfire broke in the region. Over 1,000 firefighters had to participate in controlling the blaze.

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