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Indian Express
3 days ago
- Science
- Indian Express
Rare oarfish aka ‘doomsday fish' caught in Tamil Nadu sparks rumours about an impending calamity; should you be worried?
A rare oarfish, ominously dubbed the 'doomsday fish' in Japanese folklore, was recently caught off the Tamil Nadu coast, sparking widespread concern and curiosity among social media users. The unusual deep-sea creature, which, according to a viral video shared on X, required seven men to lift, has reignited age-old debates about whether these mysterious marine giants can truly predict natural disasters. However, before delving into the folklore surrounding this enigmatic fish, it's crucial to address what modern science tells us. A 2019 study published in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America analysed decades of data and found no statistically significant link between sightings of deep-sea fish, such as oarfish, and earthquakes in Japan, effectively debunking the scientific basis for their so-called 'doomsday' reputation. The study analysed data collected between November 1928 and March 2011, focusing on instances where deep-sea fish were spotted 10 to 30 days before earthquakes struck within a 50 to 100 kilometer radius of the sightings. Researchers found only one event that could have been plausibly correlated, out of 336 fish sightings and 221 earthquakes in Japan. 'As a result, one can hardly confirm the association between the two phenomena,' the authors write in the BSSA paper. The creature captured in Tamil Nadu is a giant oarfish (Regalecus glesne), the world's longest bony fish, which can reach lengths of up to 36 feet (11 meters). These remarkable creatures typically inhabit the mesopelagic zone, dwelling 660 to 3,300 feet beneath the ocean's surface, where sunlight barely penetrates. The silvery, ribbon-like fish with its distinctive red crest-like dorsal fin is rarely seen by humans due to its deep-water habitat. They are thin and slow due to their lack of muscles and generally swim vertically in the ocean. When oarfish do surface, it's typically because they are sick, disoriented, dying, or occasionally breeding—not because they're fleeing from impending seismic activity, according to Ocean Conservancy, a nonprofit environmental advocacy group based in the United States. The rarely seen oarfish, which usually are in deep-sea, which is also known as 'Doomsday' fish is caught in the net in TamilNadu — Aryan (@chinchat09) June 16, 2025 The 'doomsday fish' reputation stems from ancient Japanese folklore, where oarfish are called 'ryugu no tsukai,' meaning 'messenger from the sea god's palace.' This belief gained international attention following several notable coincidences, particularly the 2010 incident when multiple dead oarfish washed ashore in Japan months before the devastating 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami that led to the Fukushima nuclear disaster. More recently, these coincidences have continued to fuel superstitions. In August 2024, a 12-foot oarfish was discovered near San Diego just two days before an earthquake struck Los Angeles, adding to the mystique surrounding these deep-sea dwellers. The Tamil Nadu sighting is part of a concerning trend of increased oarfish appearances worldwide. In recent months, these rare creatures have been spotted in various locations, including Mexico, Tasmania, and California. This uptick in sightings has led to increased speculation about environmental factors, with some experts suggesting that climate change, ocean warming, or changes in deep-sea ecosystems might be driving these creatures to shallower waters.
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
State ranking table tennis tournament from June 19
Patna: The first Bihar State Ranking Table Tennis Tournament will be held between June 19 and 22 at the indoor stadium of the Patliputra Sports Complex in Kankarbagh area here. The tournament, which will be held for the first time in Bihar, will be jointly organised under the banner of the sports department, Bihar State Sports Authority (BSSA) and Bihar Table Tennis Association, the BSSA director general-cum-CEO Raveendra Sankaran said here on Friday. The tournament will feature table tennis competitions for various age groups of Under 11, 13, 15, 17, 19 for both boys and girls as well as men's and women's singles, Sankaran said, adding that players from across the state can participate in the tournament. The participants can get themselves registered after filling up a form to take part in the tournament. The last date for registration will be June 12, while all the participants will have to report on June 18 at the sports authority. Registration will be free for the participants. The state govt and BSSA will take care of the accommodation and food and other arrangements for the players. The tournament is being organised under the guidance of internationally acclaimed table tennis player and Padma Shri awardee Sharad Kamal. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
The Hindu
15-05-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Khelo India Youth Games 2025: Bihar bags historic 36 medals
Bihar government's sustained efforts to nurture, promote, and incentivise sporting activities and culture have started paying rich dividends as the state has significantly upped its ranking from 28th position to 15th, winning a record 36 medals at the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) 2025 in its backyard. The mega sports event concluded on Thursday with Bihar making its presence felt emphatically at the national level, first by successfully organising and subsequently improving its ranking and medals tally. It is Bihar's best ever performance at the KIYG with the state fetching seven gold, 11 silver and 18 bronze medals. Bihar has won two gold medals each in Thang Ta, Rugby, and Athletics and one gold medal in SepakTakraw. It has also witnessed a growth of 620 per cent over the last Khelo India Youth Games held in 2023, where it won five medals including two gold, two silver and one bronze. It was the state's second best performance. Bihar ranked 21st and 24th at the sixth and fifth KIYG respectively, after finishing 28th in all the initial editions of the Games which began in 2018. The state could barely open its account with a bronze medal in the 2018 games. In 2019, it won five medals, including one silver and four bronze but the medals tally increased to nine in 2020. Out of nine medals, the state could win just one gold and silver each and seven bronze medals. READ: Indian Sports Wrap, May 15: Dates of shotgun trials 2 and 3 announced, Khelo India Beach Games to take place in Daman and Diu However, in 2021, Bihar witnessed a sharp decline in its medals tally as it returned home with just two. Bihar's overall medals tally was seven in 2022 and five in 2023. In recent years, the Bihar government has taken umpteen measures to improve the state of sports affairs in Bihar and build infrastructure, creating a favourable environment for sports from the panchayat to the state level. The government has provided other facilities such as national and international coaches, training, and support staff. It has come out with a sports scholarship scheme awarding INR 3 to 20 lakh to different categories of players. Besides, the state government also came out a scheme 'Medal Lao, Naukri Pao' as per which players winning medals at national and international level get government jobs. The government also came out with another scheme titled 'Mashaal' which is a talent hunt competition to identify, train and hone children's talent at school level to make them compete at national and international level. BSSA DG Raveendran Sankaran said Bihar created history in KIYG as its athletes worked hard in the build-up to the Games. | Photo Credit: RV MOORTHY/The Hindu On Bihar's performance at the KIYG, Bihar State Sports Authority Director General Raveendran Sankaran told the media, 'This is Bihar. We do not write history, rather, we create history. Our talented athletes have given wings to their dreams. It is the outcome of four years of hard work. Athletes were given training by specialised coaches in their fields. Even foreign coaches gave training to the athletes.' The Sports Department and Bihar State Sports Authority were formed to give special attention to the development of sports, Sankaran said, adding that 'our athletes have worked hard for the Games.' The Youth Games had commenced on May 4, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi through video conferencing. On the last day, decisive events for medals in Basketball, Wrestling and Fencing were played at Patna and Rajgir in the Nalanda district. Related Topics Khelo India Youth Games
Time of India
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Once known for caste wars, Bihar now hogs limelight for sports battles
1 2 3 Patna: The state, which used to grab national headlines for caste wars and massacres, has been trying to carve a niche in the sports arena by developing world-class infrastructure, and hosting national and international events. Bihar is not only hosting the 7th edition of Khelo India Youth Games 2025 from May 4 to 15, Rajgir, so far famous for its tourist sites, is also set to host Men's Asia Cup hockey tournament from Aug 29 to Sept 7. The winners will qualify for the World Cup to be jointly hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands. Hockey India and Bihar State Sports Authority (BSSA) signed an MoU recently to finalise the historic city as the venue for the marquee event. Ravindran Shankaran, BSSA DG-cum-chief executive officer, said it was a matter of pride for Bihar as the tournament was being held in India for the third time only, after 1989 in New Delhi and 2007 in Chennai. Earlier, Rajgir played host to the women's Asian Champions Trophy from Nov 11 to Nov 20, 2024, featuring China, India, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Thailand. With India winning the prestigious tournament, the state govt awarded cash prize of Rs10 lakh each to the Indian team members. Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey said the Rajgir stadium is of international standards. Rajgir Sports University and Sports Academy was inaugurated by CM Nitish Kumar on August 29, 2024. It is the first university in Bihar with 24 types of indoor and outdoor sports facilities like hockey turf, swimming pool, football ground, cricket stadium and an indoor stadium. Besides, the Nitish Kumar govt has already announced plans to develop the state's first international-level sports city in Punpun block of Patna district. The ambitious project over 100 acres will be equipped with Olympic-standard facilities. The complex will feature modern stadiums, dedicated training centres, hostels for athletes and state-of-the-art sports science laboratories. It was approved during the 2025-26 budget session with an aim to provide world-class training and infrastructure for athletes. Bihar govt has allocated Rs 568 crore for sports in the 2025-26 budget, which is Rs 88 crore more than the previous year. Of this, Rs 373 crore is earmarked for stadiums and sports infrastructure, while Rs 195 crore will support various sports activities. Dr Subhangi, the coach of the Maharashtra team participating in the Khelo India games in Bhagalpur, was all praise for the standards of infrastructure. Among other national and international sports events hosted by the state are SepakTakraw World Cup 2025 from March 20 to 25 at Patliputra Indoor Stadium in Patna, 32nd National Junior Fencing Championship 2024-2025 in Patliputra Sports Complex from Dec 2 to 5 last year and 68th National School Games Fencing Under-19 (Boys and Girls) Championship from Feb 10 to 14. Sports Conclave 2.0 was successfully organised in May 2023 in Patna, in which officials, national and state sports federations, policymakers, business enterprises and several key stakeholders from the sports industry participated. Patna: The state, which used to grab national headlines for caste wars and massacres, has been trying to carve a niche in the sports arena by developing world-class infrastructure, and hosting national and international events. Bihar is not only hosting the 7th edition of Khelo India Youth Games 2025 from May 4 to 15, Rajgir, so far famous for its tourist sites, is also set to host Men's Asia Cup hockey tournament from Aug 29 to Sept 7. The winners will qualify for the World Cup to be jointly hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands. Hockey India and Bihar State Sports Authority (BSSA) signed an MoU recently to finalise the historic city as the venue for the marquee event. Ravindran Shankaran, BSSA DG-cum-chief executive officer, said it was a matter of pride for Bihar as the tournament was being held in India for the third time only, after 1989 in New Delhi and 2007 in Chennai. Earlier, Rajgir played host to the women's Asian Champions Trophy from Nov 11 to Nov 20, 2024, featuring China, India, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Thailand. With India winning the prestigious tournament, the state govt awarded cash prize of Rs10 lakh each to the Indian team members. Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey said the Rajgir stadium is of international standards. Rajgir Sports University and Sports Academy was inaugurated by CM Nitish Kumar on August 29, 2024. It is the first university in Bihar with 24 types of indoor and outdoor sports facilities like hockey turf, swimming pool, football ground, cricket stadium and an indoor stadium. Besides, the Nitish Kumar govt has already announced plans to develop the state's first international-level sports city in Punpun block of Patna district. The ambitious project over 100 acres will be equipped with Olympic-standard facilities. The complex will feature modern stadiums, dedicated training centres, hostels for athletes and state-of-the-art sports science laboratories. It was approved during the 2025-26 budget session with an aim to provide world-class training and infrastructure for athletes. Bihar govt has allocated Rs 568 crore for sports in the 2025-26 budget, which is Rs 88 crore more than the previous year. Of this, Rs 373 crore is earmarked for stadiums and sports infrastructure, while Rs 195 crore will support various sports activities. Dr Subhangi, the coach of the Maharashtra team participating in the Khelo India games in Bhagalpur, was all praise for the standards of infrastructure. Among other national and international sports events hosted by the state are SepakTakraw World Cup 2025 from March 20 to 25 at Patliputra Indoor Stadium in Patna, 32nd National Junior Fencing Championship 2024-2025 in Patliputra Sports Complex from Dec 2 to 5 last year and 68th National School Games Fencing Under-19 (Boys and Girls) Championship from Feb 10 to 14. Sports Conclave 2.0 was successfully organised in May 2023 in Patna, in which officials, national and state sports federations, policymakers, business enterprises and several key stakeholders from the sports industry participated.
Time of India
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Sports complex undergoes overhaul ahead of Games
1 2 Patna : The state capital is buzzing with anticipation as it prepares to host the Khelo India Youth Games 2025 from May 4. The Pataliputra Sports Complex is undergoing a transformation with state-of-the-art upgrades and infrastructure developments in full swing. The Games will be held in five locations – Patna, Rajgir, Gaya, Bhagalpur and Begusarai. The inauguration will be held at the Pataliputra Sports Complex here. Ravindran Shankaran, director General of the Bihar State Sports Authority (BSSA), said, "Upgradation work is being carried out throughout the campus from the main gate to the sports complex. A VIP lounge is being made in the east stand gallery. This will be fully air-conditioned. Thick glass will be used at the front, providing a clear view of the entire sports complex ground." He added that the BSSA building is being modernised with rooms for players, coaches, officials, media conferences and office spaces, alongside upgraded toilets. The running track and football field have been developed to international standards, high-mast LED lighting installed and internal roads topped with asphalt. "The entire sports complex has been painted, the entry gate arch refurbished and the VIP gallery upgraded with HPL panelling, a false ceiling and lighting," Shankaran said, adding that additional competition venues in Patna include IAS Bhavan, Gyan Bhavan, Ganga Pathway and BMP 5 Indoor Stadium.
