The Horn of Africa, a peninsula in Northeast Africa comprising countries like Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti, has recently experienced devastating flash floods. According to reports from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) and the Kenya Red Cross, these floods have caused widespread damage in Kenya, Tanzania, and other parts of the Horn of Africa. This disaster comes at a time when the region is also straining under a sharp increase in climate-related disease outbreaks, such as diarrhoea, cholera, and measles.
Understanding Flash Floods
Flash floods are sudden, intense floods happening when heavy rainfall exceeds the soil and drainage system’s absorption capacity. Typically peaking within six hours of the initial rainfall, the impact of these events can be far-reaching. From infrastructure and crops to livestock and human lives, everything stands at risk. Factors like the intensity and distribution of rainfall, land use, topography, vegetation, soil type, and current water content influence the velocity and location of flash floods. To mitigate their effects, experts suggest avoiding residing in valleys and choosing elevated, firm ground instead.
Advancements in Ammunition Storage
In a significant achievement for defense safety, India’s Centre for Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety (CFEES) has successfully designed and tested an Underground Ammunition Storage Facility. The unique blueprint of this facility can reduce the blast effect on surrounding utilities during an explosion by up to 50%. Capable of storing up to 120 metric tons of ammunition per chamber, it provides enhanced protection against aerial attacks and sabotage. This innovative facility aids in reducing the Armed Forces’ land footprint requirements, making it a beneficial addition to India’s defense infrastructure.
Naval Logistics Revolutionized through Air Droppable Containers
India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in collaboration with the Indian Navy, has successfully trialed an air droppable container. Capable of carrying a payload of 150 kg and dropped from an IL 38SD aircraft, this innovation aims to revolutionize naval operational logistics. The container will allow for provisioning of critical engineering stores to ships deployed more than 2000 kilometers away without them having to draw nearer to the coast. Contributing to its creation were three DRDO laboratories – the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), the Aerial Delivery Research & Development Establishment (ADRDE), and the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE).
India’s First Undersea Tunnels
After more than two years of construction, India’s first subaquatic twin tunnels are on the brink of inauguration in Mumbai. These tunnels, part of the expansive 10.58-kilometer-long Coastal Road project linking Marine Drive to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, extend 2.07 kilometers. Located 17-20 meters below sea level, about 1 kilometer stretches under the ocean. This ambitious project eliminates peak hour gridlock, reducing travel times from 45 minutes to just 10. The path includes six cross passages – four for pedestrians and two for motor vehicles. The tunnels were constructed using the industry’s largest tunnel-boring machine (TBM).
