Subdued Deepawali and rains keep air pollution at bay in Bangalore

Subdued Deepawali and rains keep air pollution at bay in Bangalore 1

By Qamar ZJ While North India had ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ air pollution ratings, Bangalore recorded ‘moderate’ to ‘satisfactory’ pollution levels during and after Deepawali (Diwali in North India). This was partly due to subdued celebrations and November 15 evening rains that brought down the pollution loads. North India more polluted than South India If … Read more

Non-Green firecrackers flood the city despite ban 

firecrackers

By Aratrika Dey Quite a few shops are found to be selling non-green firecrackers in the city, despite the Karnataka government ban on the sale of non-green merchandise. Initially, the ban included firecrackers of all grades. However, it was altered to allow only green crackers to be sold to the public.  Vendors have been caught … Read more

City’s footpaths invaded by vehicles 

bangalore footpaths

By Aratrika Dey Bengalureans have increasingly taken to social media to voice their frustrations regarding the persisting problem of footpath encroachment by cars and two-wheelers. In several places, the footpaths can be seen lined with rows after rows of two-wheelers and four-wheelers. Vehicle users are getting away with parking in ‘no-parking’ zones. The city lacks … Read more

Cough, talk, breathe: Help IISc’s diagnostic tool to identify COVID-19

COVID-19

By Aratrika Dey A team of researchers from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) is working on a tool to diagnose people. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has allowed them to collect data  for possible deployment in the future. The eight-member team headed by Dr Sriram Ganapathy have named this sound-based initiative Project … Read more

COVID-19: A city yoga instructor on how to build immunity with breathing

yoga trainer anshu vyas

By Anshu Vyas Seetharaman COVID-19 has brought spirituality back into our lives, and yoga is one such form. Pranayama is made of two words: ‘Prana’ and ‘ayama’. Prana is the life force; it is more than just the breath. Ayama is to regulate. Pranayama means to regulate breathing, which is the life force. It is … Read more

Cycle lane on Outer Ring Road encroached by motorcyclists

cycle lane

Originally tweeted by Rahul Kumar (@rahulcomp24) on November 10, 2020 By Aratrika Dey The city’s cyclists breathed a sigh of relief as a dedicated pop-up lane on Outer Ring Road was designed for them, without the fear of being hit by passing vehicles. But their happiness is shortlived as motorcyclists are invading their safe spaces. … Read more

Where is the road? HSR Layout residents cry for a motorable stretch

hsr layout roads

By Aratrika Dey Some of the main roads of HSR Layout are a dream to drive and walk on these days. However, a 200-meter stretch of the road in Sector 4 is crying for attention for months, and the authorities are not paying any attention. Adjacent to the Freedom International School, this thoroughfare connects 17th … Read more

Crowds throng Chickpet, violating social distancing norm

chickpet

Originally tweeted by womanjari (@ManjariR) on November 10, 2020. By Chandrima Mazumdar Amid the ongoing pandemic, a video showing the crowded Chickpet area in Majestic has gone viral. The 26-second clip shows the crowded street with people violating the social distancing rules. While most were seen wearing masks, some people did not wear their masks … Read more

APPALLING: HSR Layout in the dark for months due to dysfunctional streetlights

hsr layout

By Aratrika Dey The ‘posh’ neighbourhood of HSR Layout is in dire need of well-lit roads. Forget the residential areas, even the main thoroughfares (27th Main, 24th Main, 19th Main, 17th Main, 14th Main, 5th Main, 9th Main, 22nd Cross, 17th Cross) are without functional streetlights. Only the lights from houses and the passing vehicles … Read more

Know your neighbour: This beauty queen healed herself through yoga, and now runs a yoga school

Prathima David

By Chandrima Mazumdar From fat to fit, from winning a national beauty pageant to quitting her corporate job and becoming a yoga trainer, Prathima David’s work-life balance instantly inspires you. She faced two major accidents, and only yoga came to her rescue. She struggled with weight issues and lost 37 kilos, thanks to yoga again. … Read more

Dengue & COVID-19 can be a deadly cocktail: The near-death experience of a young survivor in Bangalore

dengue

By Nagashree N About two months ago, I was admitted to the hospital because I had tested positive for both dengue and COVID-19. Thankfully, I am more or less fine now but it will still take me a month to recover completely. How it started For more than six months since the pandemic, I had … Read more

COVID-19: How scuba diving lessons are helping me during the pandemic

Neha Contractor

By Neha Contractor In May 2020, I returned to Bangalore from the Andamans as the island was shutting down due to COVID-19. Before this, I had quit my corporate job and spent all of 2019 learning more about the ocean and teaching scuba. I was able to dive whenever I could. On my days off, … Read more