More than a decade after one of the worst natural disasters of our time, people in Japan are still living under the threat of another such disaster hitting their country. A recent survey shows that the memories of the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 are still alive in the minds of the people of this country.A recent survey conducted by the Japanese Red Cross Society showed that more than 80% of respondents believe that such a disaster, which occurred in 2011, could happen again in the near future. On the other hand, about 70% of these respondents admitted that they had not done enough to prepare for such a disaster.

The disaster that changed Japan

On March 11, 2011, a major earthquake measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale struck off the northeastern coast of Japan. The earthquake caused a massive tsunami, causing widespread devastation in coastal cities in the Tohoku region of Japan. This natural disaster resulted in widespread destruction in the Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures of Japan. It resulted in approximately 20,000 deaths or disappearances and forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes.The intensity of the tsunami was extremely high in parts of Japan, destroying cities and infrastructure. This natural disaster also led to the nuclear accident at Fukushima Daiichi, which has become a major environmental and social challenge for Japan. UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission States that the 2011 disaster has become the most significant reminder in modern history that communities along the coast are vulnerable to earthquakes and tsunamis. This natural disaster has forced governments and organizations around the world to improve the effectiveness of tsunami warning systems, disaster education and preparedness.

Survey reveals widespread concern about future disasters

In the lead up to the 15th anniversary of the 2011 disaster, the Japanese Red Cross Society conducted a national survey to determine how people view the threat of disasters today.The results of an online survey of 1,200 people aged 10 and older in Japan showed that 80.3% believed that a serious disaster such as the Great East Japan Earthquake would happen again in the near future.The country is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area of ​​the Earth’s surface that is vulnerable to earthquakes.Earthquakes are common in Japan. Scientists have been saying for years that serious earthquakes are possible.

The gap in preparedness remains a major concern

Despite the high level of awareness about disaster risks in the country, the survey found that a large number of people are unprepared to face a disaster. “About 70 percent of the respondents said they had not taken adequate measures to prepare for a large-scale disaster. Such measures may include the preparation of supplies needed during an emergency or the acquisition of skills needed to respond to a disaster.“This is not a problem unique to Japan. Experts have described how people often underestimate how quickly a disaster will strike or think they will have time to respond if needed. However, earthquakes and tsunamis can occur without warning.

Why does remembering past disasters matter?

Another important conclusion that can be drawn from the survey is the need to remember past disasters. The survey revealed that more than 80% of people believe that the lessons of the 2011 earthquake should not be forgotten when discussing disaster preparedness. It is at this point that public awareness campaigns and memorial services become relevant.The younger generation may not be aware of the events that occurred in 2011. They need to be aware of the events that occurred in 2011 so that they can be prepared for future disasters. Japan has invested significantly in disaster education. Practices and measures exist to reduce the effects of earthquakes.

Living with the reality of natural disasters

The earthquake and tsunami experience in Japan has created a culture that prides itself on being resilient and prepared. Yet such surveys show that such a situation can be achieved only with sustained efforts.Natural disasters are difficult to predict. Still, the effects can be minimized with planning and awareness.It has been fifteen years since the Great East Japan Earthquake. The memories of that day are a poignant reminder of the strength and weakness of those who experienced it.The message for many in Japan is that the next disaster will not be one that can be prevented. Still, being prepared for it can make a big difference.

उत्तर प्रदेश के आगरा जिले में गुरुवार रात एक कोल्ड स्टोरेज में अमोनिया गैस के रिसाव से अफरा-तफरी मच गई. घटना रात करीब साढ़े आठ बजे कुकथरी गांव स्थित समाधिया कोल्ड स्टोरेज की है। अचानक पाइपलाइन फटने से अमोनिया गैस तेजी से फैलने लगी, जिससे वहां काम कर रहे मजदूरों और आसपास के लोगों की हालत खराब हो गई. कई लोगों को सांस लेने में दिक्कत, आंखों में जलन और उल्टी की समस्या होने लगी. इस घटना में 36 से ज्यादा लोगों की तबीयत खराब हो गई, जिन्हें तुरंत सामुदायिक स्वास्थ्य केंद्र में भर्ती कराया गया. प्रशासन ने एहतियात के तौर पर पूरे गांव को खाली करा लिया.

मजदूरों में मची भगदड़, पास के कोल्ड स्टोरेज तक पहुंची गैस
घटना के समय समाधिया कोल्ड स्टोरेज में मजदूर ट्रक और ट्रैक्टर-ट्रॉली में आलू लोड कर रहे थे। अचानक तेज आवाज के साथ पाइप लाइन फट गई और गैस का रिसाव होने लगा। वहां काम कर रहे 60 से अधिक मजदूर जान बचाने के लिए बाहर भागने लगे. गैस की तेज गंध और धुएं से करीब 50 मीटर दूर स्थित बद्री विशाल कोल्ड स्टोरेज पर काम कर रहे मजदूरों को भी सांस लेने में दिक्कत होने लगी। कुछ कार्यकर्ता बेहोश हो गये. जैसे ही गैस गांव में पहुंची तो ग्रामीणों की तबीयत भी बिगड़ने लगी.

दो घंटे की मशक्कत के बाद गैस रिसाव पर काबू पाया गया
घटना की जानकारी मिलते ही पुलिस और प्रशासन के अधिकारी तुरंत मौके पर पहुंच गए. आगरा के अलावा फतेहाबाद और बाह क्षेत्र से छह दमकल गाड़ियां बुलाकर गैस रिसाव पर काबू पाने का प्रयास किया गया। करीब दो घंटे की कड़ी मशक्कत के बाद स्थिति पर काबू पाया गया. इस मौके पर जिलाधिकारी अरविंद मल्लप्पा बंगारी, डीसीपी पूर्वी जोन अभिषेक अग्रवाल और एसीपी पिनाहट गिरीश कुमार समेत कई प्रशासनिक और पुलिस अधिकारी मौजूद रहे.

लोगों को सांस लेने में दिक्कत हुई, अस्पताल में भर्ती कराया गया
अपर पुलिस आयुक्त राम बदन सिंह ने बताया कि पाइपलाइन फटने से अमोनिया गैस का रिसाव हो गया था, जिससे लोगों को सांस लेने में दिक्कत हुई. सभी प्रभावित लोगों को अस्पताल भेजा गया है और अब स्थिति सामान्य है. गांव निवासी ताराचंद ने बताया कि घर में बैठे-बैठे महिलाओं और बच्चों को अचानक सांस लेने में तकलीफ और उल्टी होने लगी, तब लोगों को घटना की जानकारी हुई. बरेली के नवाबगंज निवासी मोहम्मद सलीम ने बताया कि वह ट्रक में आलू लाद रहा था। अचानक तेज आवाज हुई और कर्मचारी मुंह पर कपड़ा बांधकर बाहर भागने लगे। कुछ देर बाद उन्हें तेज गैस की गंध भी महसूस हुई और सांस लेने में दिक्कत होने लगी. करीब 500 मीटर दूर जाकर वह बेहोश हो गया, जिसके बाद पुलिस उसे अस्पताल ले गई. अब उनकी हालत में सुधार है.

टैंक में 30 क्विंटल अमोनिया गैस, आधी गैस के लीक होने का डर
सीओ देवेन्द्र सिंह ने बताया कि कोल्ड स्टोरेज में ठंडक बनाये रखने के लिए अमोनिया गैस का प्रयोग किया जाता है। यह गैस आंखों में जलन पैदा कर सकती है और त्वचा को प्रभावित कर सकती है। यदि बड़ी मात्रा में इसका सेवन किया जाए तो यह सांस लेने में गंभीर समस्या पैदा कर सकता है। उन्होंने बताया कि समाधिया कोल्ड स्टोरेज के टैंक में करीब 30 क्विंटल अमोनिया गैस भरी हुई थी, जिसमें से करीब 15 क्विंटल गैस के रिसाव की आशंका है. फिलहाल स्थिति पूरी तरह नियंत्रण में है और प्रशासन पूरे मामले की जांच कर रहा है.

US President Donald Trump gave a big warning to the Iran regime (AP Photo)

Amid Middle East chaos, US President donald trump On Friday he took another tough tone against the hostile Iran regime and issued an almost declaratory warning against what he called “deranged scoundrels.” Referring to the US military’s massive campaign against the Islamic Republic, he said Washington was carrying out strikes military, economic and otherwise to “destroy Iran’s terrorist regime”, while also taking a dig at The New York Times’ “failed” reports on the war.While professing confidence in the “unparalleled” power of the US military and boasting of widespread success in the campaign against Tehran’s establishment, Donald Trump took to Truth Social to deliver a characteristically blunt message. In the post, he declared: “We are completely destroying Iran’s terrorist regime militarily, economically and otherwise, yet, if you read the failing New York Times, you would be mistaken to think we are not winning.” Taking a dig at the New York Times, he said Iran’s “navy is gone, their air force is no more,” while its missiles, drones and other capabilities are being continuously “destroyed,” with key leaders “wiped off the face of the earth.”

Trump, in a triumphant tone praising the US military, also issued a stern warning to Iran’s power centers, hinting at possible further action under the country’s new Khamenei leadership. He wrote, “We have unparalleled firepower, unlimited ammunition and ample time – see what happens to these deranged scoundrels today.” He said: “They have been killing innocent people all over the world for 47 years, and now I, as the 47th President of the United States, am killing them. What an honor it is to do that!”Meanwhile, reports emerging from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East suggest that Iran may have attempted to attack the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. Tehran has also claimed responsibility for shooting down another US jet during a refueling mission, although Washington has described the incident as an accident. Trump, who has long maintained a tough stance against Iran, used the moment to double down on his warning to the Islamic republic’s leadership.

Jairam Ramesh and Ayatollah Khamenei (Images/PTI)

New Delhi: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took a dig at the Prime Minister on Friday. Narendra ModiQuestioned his hesitation to condemn the death of Iran’s late supreme leader Ali Khamenei.Recalling his earlier allegation of a “compromising PM”, Ramesh claimed that PM Modi “wanted to avoid angering his American and Israeli friends”, referring to US President Donald Trump and Tel Aviv Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.In a post on X, he wrote: “Why the hesitation now? A compromised Prime Minister undoubtedly wants to avoid angering his American and Israeli ‘friends’.”The Congress leader also questioned the silence of PM Modi and the Ministry of External Affairs after the death of Ayatollah Khamenei. He wrote, “Ayatollah Khamenei, the constitutional head of state in Iran, was assassinated by the US and Israel on February 28, 2026. The PM is silent. The Foreign Minister is silent. There is no obituary reference in Parliament yet.”His comments come after India supported the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution condemning Iran’s attacks on Middle Eastern countries.He further wrote, “India has rightly condemned Iran’s attacks on Gulf countries, but is completely silent on the US-Israeli attack on Iran. It must be remembered that Iran is a part of the BRICS+ forum, which India chairs this year.”Recalling the death of former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash in 2024, Ramesh said the government had earlier announced a one-day state mourning and was now hesitating. He wrote, “In May 2024, Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi died in a mysterious helicopter crash. The Modi government ordered a day of mourning on May 21, 2024, and a condolence message was delivered in the Parliament meeting on July 1, 2024.”Khamenei was killed in a coordinated attack by Israel and the United States earlier this month. He was later succeeded by his second eldest son, Mojtaba Khamenei.

उत्तर प्रदेश समाचार: उत्तर प्रदेश के मुरादाबाद जिले में एक ऐसी घटना सामने आई है जिसने लोगों को हैरान कर दिया है. यहां बिलारी रोडवेज बस स्टैंड पर एक नवविवाहिता अपने पति को चकमा देकर फरार हो गई। यह घटना सोमवार 9 मार्च 2026 दोपहर करीब 2 बजे की बताई जा रही है. जानकारी के मुताबिक, अमरोहा निवासी पीतम सिंह अपनी पत्नी रिमझिम को उसकी ससुराल रामपुर से विदा कराकर वापस घर ले जा रहा था। होली का त्योहार मायके में बिताने के बाद रिमझिम अपने पति के साथ रोडवेज बस से मुरादाबाद की ओर जा रही थी। लेकिन रास्ते में उसने ऐसा कदम उठाया कि उसके पति की सारी खुशियां पल भर में खत्म हो गईं.

पकौड़े खाने की इच्छा जताने पर पति को नीचे भेज दिया।
सफर के दौरान जब बस बिलारी रोडवेज बस स्टैंड पर रुकी तो रिमझिम ने अपने पति से कहा कि उसका मन पकौड़े खाने का हो रहा है. उसने बड़ी मासूमियत से उससे कैंटीन से पकौड़े और पानी लाने को कहा। पत्नी की बात सुनकर पीतम सिंह बस से उतरकर पकौड़े खरीदने चला गया। लेकिन जब वह बस में लौटा तो उसकी पत्नी अपनी सीट से गायब थी। इतना ही नहीं उसका मोबाइल फोन भी बंद था. इस घटना से पति पूरी तरह से डर गया और पहले तो उसे लगा कि उसकी पत्नी के साथ कोई अनहोनी हो गई है.

लोगों ने बताया कि महिला फोन पर बात करते हुए नीचे आयी थी.
घबराए पीतम सिंह ने बस स्टैंड और आसपास के इलाकों में पत्नी की काफी तलाश की। लेकिन काफी देर तक कोई सुराग नहीं मिला. तभी वहां मौजूद कुछ लोगों ने उसे बताया कि उसकी पत्नी बस से उतरते वक्त फोन पर किसी से बात कर रही थी. यह सुनकर पति और अधिक परेशान हो गया। कई घंटों तक तलाश करने के बाद भी जब कोई जानकारी नहीं मिली तो उन्होंने पुलिस से मदद लेने का फैसला किया।

पति ने युवक इमरान पर लगाए गंभीर आरोप
बिलारी थाने में दी गई शिकायत में पीतम सिंह ने गांव सागरपुर निवासी इमरान नाम के युवक पर गंभीर आरोप लगाए हैं। उसने बताया कि उसकी पत्नी रिमझिम 18 साल की है और दोनों की शादी 1 दिसंबर 2025 को हुई थी. पीतम का आरोप है कि उसकी पत्नी का पहले से ही इमरान नाम के युवक से प्रेम संबंध था. उसका कहना है कि पकौड़े और पानी मांगने का बहाना सिर्फ इसलिए बनाया गया था ताकि वह बस स्टैंड की भीड़ का फायदा उठाकर अपने प्रेमी के साथ भाग सके.

पुलिस ने तलाश शुरू की, सीसीटीवी खंगाले जा रहे हैं
पति की शिकायत के बाद पुलिस मामले की जांच में जुट गई है. बिलारी थाना पुलिस ने गुमशुदगी की रिपोर्ट दर्ज कर ली है और मामले की जांच उपनिरीक्षक विनीत कुमार को सौंपी गई है। पुलिस महिला और आरोपी युवक की तलाश में संभावित ठिकानों पर छापेमारी कर रही है। इसके साथ ही बस स्टैंड के आसपास लगे सीसीटीवी कैमरों की फुटेज भी खंगाली जा रही है. पुलिस रिमझिम के मोबाइल फोन के कॉल डिटेल रिकॉर्ड के जरिए इमरान की लोकेशन का पता लगाने की कोशिश कर रही है।

ससुर बोले- बहू के इरादों का अंदाजा नहीं था
इस घटना के बाद पिता पीतम सिंह ने भी गहरा दुख व्यक्त किया है. उनका कहना है कि उन्हें अपनी बहू के ऐसे इरादों का अंदाजा नहीं था. नवविवाहिता के इस कदम से पूरा परिवार और आसपास के लोग हैरान हैं. फिलहाल पुलिस हर पहलू से मामले की जांच कर रही है और उम्मीद है कि जल्द ही सच्चाई सामने आ जाएगी.

“I don’t think an athlete ever chooses the sport. It’s the sport that selects the athlete.”

When Ramit Tandon said this about being a squash player, his words were laced with a smile and a sense of pride. For the 34-year-old, squash came into his life by visiting with his father and watching him play. Today, he is one of India’s best players in the game, but for this he is grateful to his father who instilled in him the fire to accept it as his profession.

Read the full story

But still, the man from Kolkata played squash more for fun than anything else.

“I got the opportunity to play the game because of my father, otherwise I probably wouldn’t have known what squash is, as do a lot of people in our country. But when you get exposed to certain things, at a young age of 5 years, 6 years, it’s not about you choosing it or choosing it. It’s just something that aligns with you. You like it more than other activities, you get into it,” Ramit told India Today.

“So for me too, this journey wasn’t a conscious decision like, ‘Oh, I want to be a squash player.’ It was like, okay this is fun, let me enjoy my time playing squash. While my friends played cricket or football, I used to spend my time on the squash court and gradually that passion turned into a profession.”

Now, Ramit is ranked 38th in the PSA Squash Tour Rankings. He is the second highest ranked Indian after Abhay Singh (World No. 27) and is one of the legends who led the squash revolution in the country along with Joshna Chinappa, Anahat Singh and Velavan Senthilkumar.

But seeing Ramit showcasing his skills inside the squash court was something that almost never happened. In fact, he could have lived a completely different life – in the world of finance, dealing with the ups and downs of balance sheets and the stock market.

From corporate room to squash court

Ramit’s love for squash led his parents to send him from Kolkata to Chennai to train at the Indian Squash Academy. Amidst all the training sessions and trials, one thing that never lagged behind for Ramit was his education.

“The instruction to focus on studies came from my parents. Education, you know, I always believe that India is a very academically-driven society. Unlike some other countries, where you go to England or America, there is a place for music, arts, sports – it is equally respected – but India as a society is more academically driven,” Ramit said.

But despite their strict instruction to focus on squash as well as studies, Ramit’s parents continued to push him in his sporting journey – for which he is grateful.

“I always say this – by yourself, you are not unique, you are alone. It is the team around you that sacrifices dreams for your dreams, which is very selfless and not an easy thing to do. As a child you don’t understand that, but growing up you realize what the people around you have done for you,” said Ramit.

Ramit excelled in his studies and subsequently got admission in Columbia University, New York, where he earned a BA in Statistics. At that time he was exposed to America’s strong college sports structure, but he never wanted to take things professionally.

“I wasn’t comfortable taking that risk. I was watching my friends, they were all applying for jobs in finance and different fields and that was the norm.”

“Professional sport is obviously more risky than a secure job where your paycheck is secure every month and you live a very structured lifestyle. You have a city you call home, you have an office you go to. It’s not like squash where one day I’m in a certain country and the next day I’m in another country.”

“So, at the time I decided to work in finance, I wasn’t comfortable taking that risk,” Ramit said.

So it looks like the squash dream has been left behind at this point. Ramit joined a hedge fund called Birch Grove Capital in New York as a financial analyst. He worked steadily for a few years before the love for squash gradually came back into his life.

While he was playing on the weekends, the excitement of being on the court slowly began to take over his corporate lifestyle.

“Initially, when you start a new job, the learning process is extremely difficult. So for the first year, I was learning something new every day. But with time, you start realizing that you have to repeat the same tasks over and over again for a long time. And that’s the real world.”

“That’s when I realized that squash, which I had been doing for 15-20 years, still excites me every time I step on the court. I did the work for a year and I was already feeling bored. So I started realizing that maybe there was some connection with this game that I shouldn’t give up,” Ramit said.

So does he miss the life of being a financial analyst?

“I will say I clearly miss parts of what I used to do. Not necessarily the crunch of numbers in finance, but you miss your friends and the lifestyle you lived. It’s a completely different life. Wearing a suit and going to the office versus wearing shorts and running around the squash court.”

“So there are parts of that world that I enjoy and still follow. I still follow the markets and it’s something I’m interested in. But there are parts of what I do now that I really enjoy and I’m glad I left it to do that,” Ramit said.

dreaming of olympics

While many may say that a revolution is happening in India with squashRamit feels this largely depends on the fact that the sport will be played in the Olympics. This will be the debut of squash at the Summer Games in Los Angeles in 2028 and the 34-year-old feels India is on board at this stage.

“We are at a stage right now where there is more focus than ever on getting squash included in the Olympics. There have been strong players in every generation. Before Anahat, you had Deepika and Joshna at their peak. Then Saurav Ghoshal, Harinder Pal Sandhu, Mahesh Mangaonkar.”

“India has always been a strong squash-playing nation. Maybe not at the top like Egypt, but consistently in the top five or six. Even today, we have four men in the top 50 and strong women players too,” Ramit said.

The world No. 38 is not getting ahead of himself like most athletes and is now turning his focus to the Asian Games 2026. He was part of the bronze medal-winning team in the 2018 edition, but missed the final.

He now enters JSW Indian Open 2026 In search of salvation.

In squash, the Professional Squash Association (PSA) classifies its world events into six tiers according to prize money and ranking points: Copper, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond. Copper to Gold events typically feature 24 players, while Platinum tournaments feature 32 players and Diamond events feature 48 competitors. The ranking points awarded also increase with each level, starting at 500 points for a Copper title and going up to 3100 points for a Diamond-level victory.

JSW Indian Open is a copper event with valuable points to gain. Last year, Ramit was the top-ranked Indian player and was in the top 30 in the world. But 2025 did not go well for him as he slipped to 40th in the world and made an unceremonious exit from the competition.

The Indian Open is a tournament that Ramit enjoys a lot and sees it as a game-changer for the sport. He is also requesting to organize more such events in India.

“I think it is time that India starts hosting more such events. We have hosted many small tournaments which help the grassroots level, but it is very important to bring the top players to India.”

Ramit said, “None of our players growing up had the opportunity to watch the best players in the world at the age of 8 or 9 because we did not host those level competitions. Now, young kids get to see the best players in India compete. Their goals will go beyond just winning national championships. They will want to compete at the international level. So this is very important not only for the top players but for the entire squash culture of the country.”

The 34-year-old is someone who is self-criticizing and realizes where he went wrong in the very busy times of 2025. She says her aim is to win the crown at the Indian Open in Mumbai, which will be held from March 18-22.

“Last season I realized that I was stuck chasing ranking points and playing too many tournaments. Instead of focusing on solid performances in lesser events, I was competing everywhere. So this year we decided to reduce the tournament burden and focus more on quality performances. Last year I went into the Indian Open as the number one seed, this year I am the number three seed. But if you are in the top four seeds, you are looking to win tournaments. That goal remains the same. Yes,” said Ramit.

For the Indian star, all roads lead to the grand stage in LA for the Olympics in two years. Although he tries his best to keep a straight face and calm his enthusiasm, the same passion for the game that forced him to change suits and market data is still clearly visible.

“The Olympics is the biggest sporting event on the planet, so anyone who has put time into the sport will want to compete there and wave their country’s flag. But at the same time it’s still two and a half years away. I can’t just put the Olympics as my only goal. There are short-term goals for that – the Asian Games is the biggest sport at the moment.”

“But if you ask me how I would like to end my squash career, it would probably be by competing in the Olympics,” Ramit said.

– ends