The International Biodiversity Conference, held at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre, opened on October 1, 2012. Union Minister of Environment and Forests, Jayanthi Natarajan, inaugurated the event, which gathered over 1,000 delegates for the Meeting of Parties (MoP 6). The event focuses on advancing the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which deals with the safe handling of living modified organisms (LMOs). The meeting will be followed by the Conference of Parties (CoP 11) starting October 8. India has agreed to the Cartagena Protocol and is working on its ratification, with an emphasis on biotechnology's role in securing food security. There are also concerns about the socio-economic impact on indigenous communities and the safe trade of LMOs. Over 12,000 delegates have registered for the 19-day event, with more than 300 side events planned.
A tragic incident occurred on Sunday when an Indian Coast Guard Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv crashed during a routine training mission in Porbandar, Gujarat. The crash, which took place at the Coast Guard Air Enclave, claimed the lives of three crew members, including the two pilots. According to officials, the helicopter experienced technical difficulties at around 12:10 pm, leading to the crash. All three crew members were initially rushed to a hospital in critical condition, but despite efforts, they succumbed to their injuries. Two were declared dead upon arrival, while the third died later. The crash, which occurred near the runway, caused a fire that was quickly contained by emergency services. The incident follows recent upgrades to the ALH fleet, which were intended to address previous safety concerns. The Indian Coast Guard is currently investigating the cause of the crash.