Understanding the hydrochemical functioning of glacierized catchments of the Upper Indus Basin in Ladakh, Indian Himalayas.

Recent studies have endorsed that surface water chemical composition in the Himalayas is impacted by climate change-induced accelerated melting of glaciers. Chemical weathering dynamics in the Ladakh region is poorly understood, due to unavailability of in situ dataset. The aim of the present study is to investigate how the two distinct catchments (Lato and Stok) drive the meltwater chemistry of the Indus River and its tributary, in the Western Himalayas. Water samples were collected from two glaciated catchments (Lato and Stok), Chabe Nama (tributary) and the Indus River in Ladakh. The mildly alkaline pH (range 7.3-8.5) and fluctuating ionic trend of the meltwater samples reflected the distinct geology and weathering patterns of the Upper Indus Basin (UIB). Gibbs plot and mixing diagram revealed rock weathering outweighed evaporation and precipitation. The strong associations between Ca2+-HCO3-, Mg2+-HCO3-, Ca2+-Mg2+, Na+-HCO3-, and Mg2+-Na+ demonstrated carbonate rock weathering contributed to the major ion influx. Principal component analysis (PCA) marked carbonate and silicates as the most abundant minerals respectively. Chemical weathering patterns were predominantly controlled by percentage of glacierized area and basin runoff. Thus, Lato with the larger glacierized area (~ 25%) and higher runoff contributed low TDS, HCO3-, Ca2+, and Na+ and exhibited higher chemical weathering, whereas lower chemical weathering was evinced at Stok with the smaller glacierized area (~ 5%). In contrast, the carbonate weathering rate (CWR) of larger glacierized catchments (Lato) exhibits higher average value of 15.7 t/km2/year as compared to smaller glacierized catchment (Stok) with lower average value 6.69 t/km2/year. However, CWR is high in both the catchments compared to silicate weathering rate (SWR). For the first time, in situ datasets for stream water chemical characteristics have been generated for Lato and Stok glaciated catchments in Ladakh, to facilitate healthy ecosystems and livelihoods in the UIB.

Assessment of trace metal contamination in the core sediment of Ramsar wetland (Kabar Tal), Begusarai, Bihar (India).

The concentration of trace metals Mn, Pb, Ni, Zn, and Cu in the core sediment from Kabar Tal wetland was analyzed to understand the level of contamination in the vertical profile. Additionally, total organic carbon (TOC) and available phosphorus (AP) were also analyzed to infer the biogeochemistry of trace metals and the correlation that exists among them. Five core sediments were collected at the end of the monsoon season from different locations in the study area, representing diverse anthropogenic and agricultural activities. The average concentration of trace metals in sediments followed the order Mn > Pb > Ni > Zn > Cu. The trace metal concentration in the surface sediments was higher and decreased with depth in the vertical profile. Contamination factor (CF), geoaccumulation index (Igeo), enrichment factor (EF), and pollution load index (PLI) were used to evaluate sediment quality and the pollution status of the lake sediments. Cu, Zn, and Ni showed minor to moderate enrichment, and Pb showed a severe level of enrichment in all the core sediment samples. However, the sediment quality guidelines' index indicates that the sediments are moderately polluted with copper, zinc, and nickel and severely polluted with lead. There exists a strong positive correlation among Pb-Ni, Ni-AP, and AP-Pb, and a strong negative correlation among TOC-Ni, TOC-Pb, and TOC-AP for all the sediment samples. Additionally, the principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA) suggest that a good similarity exists among Pb, Ni, and Zn. The study indicates that trace metals in wetland sediments have originated from multiple anthropogenic sources like agricultural runoff (fertilizers), direct addition of solid wastes, discharge of untreated wastewater, and long-range transport from the oil refinery in the wetland.

Mega festivals like MahaKumbh, a largest mass congregation, facilitated the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to humans and endangered animals via contaminated water.

Our surrounding environment has been influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic situation. The second wave of COVID-19 in India has proven to be more devastating and aggressive than the first wave of the pandemic, which led to recognizing India as one of the world's topmost worst-hit nations considering >4000 fatalities reported in a single day in May 2021. Such "resurgence and acceleration" of COVID-19 transmission has been fuelled by the MahaKumbh festival and political mass gathering (elections rallies) events, where the COVID-19 protocols have been ignored by millions of pilgrims/followers. The present review discusses only the consequences of this year's MahaKumbh festivals, the largest religious mass gathering on earth, which was held during the COVID-19 pandemic in India, and its impact on both the spread of SARS-CoV-2 among participants and their families and its influence on the quality of the river Ganga. This article tries to give readers outside of India an overview of how much impact of any such single large gathering of any relgion in any part of the world can drive coronavirus infections and effectively commence the second/third wave outbreak with this case study. Furthermore, the religious large scale celebration are widely accepted through out the world that have played a significant role in the spread of the pandemic into remote villages and towns all over the subcontinent/world, thus affecting many areas with insufficient healthcare facilities that have been relatively spared. This review also highlights the potential risk of transmission from infected humans into the aquatic environment of the river Ganga. Besides the obvious relevance of SARS-CoV-2, a large variety of other water-related disease vectors (bacteria, viruses, and protozoa) stemming from visitors to the religious congregation were introduced into the upstream regions of the Ganga river. Their sheer number is assumed to have had a severe influence on its delicate ecosystem, including endangered mammals such as the river Dolphins. The detailed epidemiological and clinical study on transmission routes of SARS-CoV-2 is the need of the hour to understand the pathogenesis of RNA virus infection and prevent the massive spreading of such infectious respiratory diseases. An interdisciplinary approach, rooted in evidence-based efficient learning, contextual strategies, and a streamlined unified approach should be adopted to help in the development of a proactive prevention model during future MahaKumbh festival (and similar religious gatherings) instead of just "picking up the pieces" in a conventional post-event model.