Dear Sir,
There have been four earthquakes over the past week in various parts of the world; tremors were experienced in Tokyo, Nepal, Taiwan and Durban. These are ominous signs that tectonic plates are on a massive collision course.
The year 2013 witnessed 21 tremors measuring 6 on the Richter scale, 16 measuring 7, and two measuring 8. A 9 magnitude quake is in the cross-hairs as we move towards a disaster of epic proportions. The clock is ticking on the next big earthquake. And it could be a monster.
Scientists predict that over the next 20 years some 25 cities will be hit by a major earthquake.
Earthquakes can be incredibly deadly and destructive. The deadliest quake in history, in China in 1556 killed a staggering 830,000 people.
A massive quake in China killed 655,000 people, about 30 years ago. A quake measuring 9 on the Richter scale in any of the cities could kill at least a million people.
A FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency in the US) report, released in 2000, identified 15 American cities that could be devastated in a major earthquake.
Farouk Araie, [email protected]
A role model for Indian students
Dear Sir,
It is heartening to read the news item which should, in fact, act as an eye opener to several Indian parents and wards in this part of the world, that a welder’s son from the state of Bihar has been selected by Microsoft USA to work for them at a starting salary of $12,250 per month.
Vathsalya Singh Chauhan, a student of IIT Kharagpur has achieved glory even before he started his career. By dint of hard work and showing great enthusiasm in his studies, he proved that merit alone plays a pivotal role in one’s career and future development.
His father, Chandrakanth, hailing from a village, feels elated and proud of his son’s great achievement. The Indian students undergoing studies in the Gulf should understand and appreciate the efforts put in by Vathsalya to reach such heights and emulate him as a role model.
V Kalyanaraman, (e-mail address supplied)
Please send us your letters By e-mail: [email protected]
