PARAGRAPH, WORDS AND MEANINGS
TOPIC OF THE DAY –
Drowning In Dust: Dealing With Extreme Weather
A wave of extreme weather over northern States in India has killed at least 124 people and caused much misery, mostly in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The residents of this ‘weather hotspot’ region is used to annual storms carrying natural dust clouds in the pre-monsoon season, from the Thar desert and further west. But they have been hit by a particularly destructive version this year, one that combined hot western winds and moisture from the east. Record April temperatures in parts of Pakistan, at one place exceeding 50°C, are thought to have added to the ferocity of the dust-laden winds. This could be a recurring feature, and there is a need to develop accurate forecasting methods and protocols to mitigate the impact. Many of the casualties in the recent storms were caused by collapsing infrastructure, such as electricity transmission lines that were not built to withstand such weather. Good housing could have saved many. India’s vulnerability to such storms has always been underscoredby scientific estimates of the flow of aerosols, or dust particles. Their presence in the country is three times the global average due to sheer abundance of mineral dust. There is also a body of research that points to altered climate patterns due to accumulation of dust particles, which affect even the Himalayan glaciers. Considering the large population in the Indo-Gangetic Plain, where the impact of weather on public health and agriculture is massive, the Central and State governments should do everything possible to cut loss of life and property. Globally, the major dust-producing regions pump 1,000-3,000 tera grams of particles into the atmosphere annually, with the Sahara alone responsible for a third of this, according to the UN Environment Programme. India is at the receiving end of winds from West Asia, although some scientists reported recently an overall reduction in dust volumes in the pre-monsoon season due to a pattern of increased rainfall. Even if that were to be true, unexpected surges such as the recent one pose a challenge. The Centre has to raise its game in forecasting, and broadcast early warnings. In fact, as the World Meteorological Organisation points out, clarity and frequency of warnings are key to saving lives. In the wake of the storm on May 2, State governments have blamed the India Meteorological Department for not providing clear warnings, while the IMD claims to have conveyed the forecast of the coming storm to the Centre several days ahead. This clearly points to lack of coordination, that affects disaster-preparedness. Millions of people who are in the path of extreme weather each year expect better from official agencies. On the ground, strong public infrastructure and adequate capacity among administrators and personnel to handle rescue and rehabilitation must be ensured.
WORDS AND MEANINGS –
Misery
Meaning: A state or feeling of great physical or mental distress or discomfort.
Example: “a man who had brought her nothing but misery”
Synonyms: Unhappiness, Distress
Antonyms: Contentment, Pleasure
Destructive
Meaning: Causing great and irreparable damage.
Example: “the destructive power of weapons”
Synonyms: Devastating, Ruinous
Antonyms: Non-violent, Creative
Ferocity
Meaning: The state or quality of being ferocious.
Example: “the ferocity of the storm caught them by surprise”
Synonyms: Savagery, Brutality
Antonyms: Gentleness
Recurring
Meaning: Occur again periodically or repeatedly.
Example: “when the symptoms recurred, the doctor diagnosed something different”
Synonyms: Reoccur, Return
Mitigate
Meaning: Make (something bad) less severe, serious, or painful.
Example: “drainage schemes have helped to mitigate this problem”
Synonyms: Alleviate, Reduce
Antonyms: Aggravate, Increase
Collapsing
Meaning: (of a structure) suddenly fall down or give way.
Example: “the roof collapsed on top of me”
Synonyms: Crumple, Subside
Withstand
Meaning: Remain undamaged or unaffected by; resist.
Example: “the structure had been designed to withstand winds of more than 100 mph”
Synonyms: Resist, Oppose
Antonyms: Surrender, Yield
Vulnerability
Meaning: The quality or state of being exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally.
Example: “conservation authorities have realized the vulnerability of the local population”
Underscored
Meaning: To emphasize the importance something.
Example: The need for fire detectors in cargo bays was underscored by some accidents in the 1980s.
Abundance
Meaning: The state or condition of having a copious quantity of something; plentifulness.
Example: “vines and figs grew in abundance”
Synonyms: Infinity, Opulence
Antonyms: Lack, Scarcity
Accumulation
Meaning: A mass or quantity of something that has gradually gathered or been acquired.
Example: “the accumulation of paperwork on her desk”
Synonyms: Collection, Gathering
Antonyms: Dissipation
Blamed
Meaning: Feel or declare that (someone or something) is responsible for a fault or wrong.
Example: “the inquiry blamed the train driver for the accident”
Synonyms: Criticize, Inculpate
Antonyms: Absolve, Forgive
Conveyed
Meaning: Make (an idea, impression, or feeling) known or understandable.
Example: “the real virtues and diversity of America had never been conveyed in the movies”
Synonyms: Project, Exude
Rescue
Meaning: An act of saving or being saved from danger or difficulty.
Example: “the dramatic rescue of nine trapped coal miners”
Synonyms: Saving, Release
Rehabilitation
Meaning: The action of restoring something that has been damaged to its former condition.
Example: “the rehabilitation of the mangrove forests”
Ensured
Meaning: Make certain that (something) will occur or be the case.
Example: “the client must ensure that accurate records are kept”
Synonyms: Confirm, Secure
