Neeraj Santoshi
He is principal correspondent based at Bhopal. He covers environment and wildlife, state administration, BJP and other saffron organisations. He has special interest in social issues based stories.
Articles by Neeraj Santoshi
Experts slam claim that human activity not behind Chamoli disaster
By Neeraj Santoshi, Jayashree Nandi, Amanjeet Singh Salyal, Hindustan Times, Chandigarh, Dehradun, New Delhi
UPDATED ON MAR 04, 2021 06:09 AM IST
- Dhyani added that the burden on the ecology due to construction on Himalayan slopes made the region prone to disasters.
'For green bonus compensation, Uttarakhand should request UNEP': Niti Aayog VC
By Neeraj Santoshi, Dehradun
PUBLISHED ON FEB 27, 2021 12:26 AM IST
- Uttarakhand government has been seeking Green Bonus as compensation for the conservation of its forests by not expanding the industrial development.
Months before Chamoli tragedy, satellite images showed crack in mountain ice
PUBLISHED ON FEB 25, 2021 04:00 PM IST
Scientists from Dehradun’s Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, who visited the disaster scene, have come up with similar findings, minus the crack being visible months before
Uttarakhand responds to PIL against mining riverbed material on private lands
PUBLISHED ON FEB 24, 2021 05:58 PM IST
- In August last year the Uttarakhand High Court had stayed the state government' notification of allowing mining of riverbed material (RBM) on private lands adjacent to the rivers in the state.
Court asks Uttarakhand government to submit details of Mahakumbh preparations
By Neeraj Santoshi | Edited by Abhinav Sahay, Dehradun
PUBLISHED ON FEB 23, 2021 08:20 AM IST
- One million visitors are expected to attend the Mahakumbh on routine days while about five million are expected for Shahi Snaans (royal baths)
Expert team widens mouth of Rishiganga lake by 15ft to prevent repeat tragedy
By Neeraj Santoshi | Edited by Abhinav Sahay, Dehradun
PUBLISHED ON FEB 23, 2021 07:43 AM IST
- Scientists, Indian military personnel, Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and disaster management personnel and experts analysed the lake including its depth before widening its mouth.
Experts prepare to drain lake in Uttarakhand after chopper delivers special gear
PUBLISHED ON FEB 21, 2021 03:44 PM IST
- Two Navy divers who were winched down from a helicopter close to the lake's surface used hand-held echolocation devices to measure its depth which was found to be around 8 to 9 metres.
Uttarakhand flash flood: Death toll increases to 61
PUBLISHED ON FEB 19, 2021 11:26 AM IST
District magistrate Swati Bhadauria said 34 of the bodies have been identified and 14 [of the bodies] have been recovered from the 1.7km-long tunnel at the NTPC’s power project in Tapovan
SC stays order on allowing buses inside Corbett Tiger Reserve
By Neeraj Santoshi, Dehradun
UPDATED ON FEB 19, 2021 03:08 AM IST
The apex court also issued notices to Union environment ministry, wildlife board, tiger authority, Uttarakhand government, state’s chief wildlife warden and the director of the tiger reserve
Centre denies Char Dham road expansion link to Chamoli disaster
By Abraham Thomas, Neeraj Santoshi, New Delhi, Dehradun
PUBLISHED ON FEB 18, 2021 01:23 AM IST
The Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways (MoRTH) data submitted to the HPC have identified 161 sensitive locations in 574 km (on NH-94 Rishikesh to Uttarkashi, NH-58 Rishikesh to Mana and NH-125 Tanakpur to Pithoragarh), about one location every 3.5 km.
Uttarakhand disaster: Reni gets 1st warning system in case of sudden water surge
By Neeraj Santoshi, Dehradun
UPDATED ON FEB 18, 2021 01:32 AM IST
State Disaster Response Force commandant Navneet Bhullar said they have set up the water-level sensor nearly one kilometre upstream of the village.
_of_SDRF,_including_Everest_summiteers_1613503334401_1613503355979.jpg "The eight-member High Attitude Rescue Team (HART) of SDRF, including Everest summiteers.(HT Photo)")
Everest summiteers to IITian top cop: People at forefront of U'khand rescue ops
UPDATED ON FEB 17, 2021 01:05 AM IST
- HT spoke to some of the main rescuers and officers on the frontline who are leading and coordinating the search and rescue operations.
Portals of Badrinath shrine to open on May 18
PUBLISHED ON FEB 16, 2021 01:48 PM IST
- The portals of Badrinath shrine were closed in November last year for the winter.
Uttarakhand law to levy water tax on hydropower projects in state held valid
By Neeraj Santoshi | Edited by Abhinav Sahay, Dehradun
PUBLISHED ON FEB 14, 2021 10:51 AM IST
- The court also vacated an interim order issued by a coordinate bench of Uttarakhand HC in 2016 directing authorities concerned not to take coercive measures for recovery of the water tax demand from the petitioner
Uttarakhand disaster: Chamoli rescue ops briefly halted as water level rises
By Neeraj Santoshi, Dehradun
UPDATED ON FEB 12, 2021 02:01 AM IST
The operations resumed around 3pm, some 30 minutes later, but officials admitted that there was not much progress in clearing muck from a tunnel in the Tapovan project, where “25-35 workers” were feared trapped after Sunday’s deadly floods.
Chamoli glacier burst: Sonar system being used to locate bodies in muddy water
UPDATED ON FEB 11, 2021 04:28 PM IST
Chamoli Police have also issued an alert of rising water level in Alaknanda and appealed to people to remain vigilant, especially those living near its banks
Wadia institute scientists visit Chamoli disaster site, explain what caused it
By Neeraj Santoshi | Edited by Abhinav Sahay, Dehradun
PUBLISHED ON FEB 10, 2021 07:56 AM IST
- A temporary lake created by the blocking of a Himalayan stream by the debris from a broken glacier and rock slide eventually burst out causing the Chamoli tragedy, say scientists from the Wadia institute.
Major rockslide hit hanging glacier, led to disaster: Scientists
By Neeraj Santoshi, Dehradun
PUBLISHED ON FEB 10, 2021 04:11 AM IST
A team of five scientists who visited the flash-flood site in Chamoli submitted its interim report to the institute’s director Kalachand Sain on Tuesday. It was the first team of scientists to visit the disaster site.
Uttarakhand: Breach, avalanche? Cause of flood divides scientists
By Jayashree Nandi, Neeraj Santoshi, New Delhi
UPDATED ON FEB 09, 2021 08:04 AM IST
Glacial lakes are typically formed when a glacier retreats, with the water collecting in the area where the glacier used to be, and dammed by the moraine (or material such as rocks left behind by the glacier).
Breach, avalanche? Cause of flood divides scientists
By Jayashree Nandi and Neeraj Santoshi
PUBLISHED ON FEB 08, 2021 11:51 PM IST
New Delhi: There was no consensus till Monday evening on what exactly may have triggered the disastrous flash flood in the Rishiganga valley on Sunday
ISRO experts revealed mix of rockfall, snow avalanche caused Chamoli tragedy: CM
By Neeraj Santoshi | Edited by Sparshita Saxena, Dehradun
UPDATED ON FEB 08, 2021 09:32 PM IST
Expert from Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology also claimed that a mix of rockfall and snow avalanche led to the Chamoli tragedy.
Chamoli disaster revives tales of Gaura Devi and her role in Chipko movement
By Neeraj Santoshi | Edited by Sparshita Saxena, Dehradun
UPDATED ON FEB 08, 2021 05:57 PM IST
- Raini village's Gaura Devi who played a key role in the Chipko movement in March 1974.
Uttarakhand CM to seek Isro help to understand what caused Chamoli tragedy
PUBLISHED ON FEB 08, 2021 04:46 PM IST
201 are still missing, 11 bodies have been recovered, 27 have been rescued so far, search and rescue operation is on, say authorities
Uttarakhand glacier burst: Toll climbs to 18, 202 still missing
UPDATED ON FEB 08, 2021 01:44 PM IST
Rescue operations by personnel of state disaster response force, national disaster response force, army, and Indo-Tibetan Border Police resumed on Monday morning
Uttarakhand flood: Raini villagers had raised alarm before HC around 2 years ago
By Neeraj Santoshi | Edited by Sparshita Saxena
UPDATED ON FEB 07, 2021 11:28 PM IST
- The entire hydel project, just a few meters from their homes, was washed away in the sudden flash flood triggered by a glacial lake burst.
Uttarakhand doctor credits blessings of patients for his Padma Shri award
PUBLISHED ON JAN 26, 2021 01:47 PM IST
Born on August 31, 1956, Sanjay settled in Dehradun over two decades ago after his training as an orthopaedic surgeon at Chandigarh’s Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research
20-yr-old takes over Uttarakhand CM role on Girl Child Day
PUBLISHED ON JAN 25, 2021 05:36 AM IST
Chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said nominating Shrishti Goswami as the chief minister of child assembly for a day and organising a session in the state legislative assembly on national girl child day is a matter of pride and respect for all the girls in the state.
Uttarakhand CM for a day, 20-year-old Shrishti Goswami takes stand on 3 points
By Neeraj Santoshi, Dehradun
UPDATED ON JAN 24, 2021 08:40 PM IST
- Chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said nominating Goswami as the chief minister of child assembly for a day was a matter of pride.
Mahakumbh 2021: Uttarakhand HC tells state govt to share SOP on crowd management
By Neeraj Santoshi, Dehradun
UPDATED ON JAN 12, 2021 06:04 PM IST
- Before the epidemic, over 12 crore pilgrims were expected to participate in the four-month-long Mahakumbh.
Uttarakhand HC stays Governor’s nod to de-notify Shivalik Elephant Reserve
PUBLISHED ON JAN 12, 2021 04:50 PM IST
- On November 24, 2020, the state wildlife board during its 16th meeting had approved the de-notification of Shivalik Elephant Reserve, with government officials saying there is no law to define an elephant reserve.