70% drop in active COVID-19 cases in HSR Layout, but authorities advise caution

covid-19

By Chandrima Mazumdar & Qamar ZJ The end of the year seems to bring good news for the residents of HSR Layout. There was a 70% drop in active COVID-19 cases from October to November. While the statistics are impressive, authorities are advising caution and no undue celebration just yet. According to Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara … Read more

Blood donation camps: Should you donate during the pandemic?

blood donation

By Aratrika Dey Hospitals are overburdened with patients and cannot admit more due to the lack of beds and shortage of medical personnel. Blood banks are facing an acute shortage of blood units. The demand for treatment has increased, while the number of blood donors has decreased, due to the fear of virus transmission. No … Read more

Koramangala records the lowest active COVID-19 cases, and zero deaths

koramangala covid-19

By Chandrima Mazumdar (Updated on Dec 3): Koramangala recorded a record low of 61 active COVID-19 cases from November 5 to 21. Amid the pandemic, the efforts of BBMP and citizens seem to have been rewarded with the number of active cases dropping from 424 in October to 162 in November (updated after this story … Read more

Citizens oppose Yelahanka ‘signal-free corridor’ plan; find it highly pedestrian-unfriendly 

pedestrians

By Aratrika Dey The BBMP has proposed a plan to build a 1.6 kilometer-long integrated flyover for the junction near the Yelahanka police station. However, it provides a solution only for the vehicle users on the busy stretch. The citizens are miffed that there is no initiative to aid the pedestrians. Bengaluru has a big … Read more

Stop Agara, Bellandur and Varthur lakes from becoming polluted ponds: Citizens set 31-point agenda for the government

bellandur lake

By Zahid H Javali & Aratrika Dey The Bangalore Environment Trust (BET), a 33-year-old advisory body of enlightened citizens has petitioned the state government to work on 31 agenda points to immediately save Agara, Bellandur and Varthur lakes from extinction. They have stressed the need for adequate budgeting towards time-bound maintenance of the Bellandur-Varthur catchment … Read more

HSR Layout will be electrocution-free zone in six months!

electric cables

By Chandrima Mazumdar About 15 months have passed since the Bangalore Electric Supply Company (BESCOM) took up the job of laying high tension cables below the ground across HSR Layout. This was to eradicate power trippings, electrocutions, and short-circuits due to bad weather. Now, it transpires that the project will take more time. Another project … Read more

Don’t feed pigeons; their poop can cause more than 60 diseases

pigeons

By Chandrima Mazumdar  Residents, unaware of the health hazards, are unwittingly feeding pigeons that frequent the Swabhimaana Park in Sector 3, HSR Layout. The other neighbourhoods in Bengaluru are no exception either. However, while feeding the birds is a noble deed, having them around in the neighbourhood is counter-productive. According to scientists, pigeon poop is … Read more

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

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