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    • Mikhail Agapov

      Answer on How to survive an Earthquake?

      Earthquakes are a common phenomenon on Earth and on several other planets as well, in which tectonic plates of the planet change their position because of the molten lava underneath. This usually happens at a slower rate, but sometimes the...
        Mikhail Agapov
        Earthquakes are a common phenomenon on Earth and on several other planets as well, in which tectonic plates of the planet change their position because of the molten lava underneath. This usually happens at a slower rate, but sometimes the...

        Earthquakes are a common phenomenon on Earth and on several other planets as well, in which tectonic plates of the planet change their position because of the molten lava underneath. This usually happens at a slower rate, but sometimes the frequency of earthquakes can be on the higher side because of which several things on the surface of the planet also get destroyed.

        Sometimes earthquakes are also accompanied by Tsunami which usually happens if an earthquake has come under the sea body.

        Every year earthquakes kill several thousands of people around the world and it becomes really impossible to predict where the next earthquake may come. Therefore, one should always be ready to deal with situations like these by preparing and hoarding items that one can use during such emergencies.

        Another reason to prepare beforehand is that earthquakes unlike any other natural disaster like Tsunami or Tornado can hit any place and are not geographically dependent. You may have heard that floods or Tsunamis are more frequent in coastal areas, but earthquakes can come from any place in the world.

        So it is always better to be ready and prepared to deal with earthquakes rather than be sorry at the time of the situation.

        Understand Earthquakes
        Before delving into survival strategies, it is crucial to understand what earthquakes are and how they occur. Earthquakes are caused by the sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust, leading to seismic waves that can shake the ground. They can vary in intensity and duration, and their effects can range from mild shaking to catastrophic destruction.

        How to prepare beforehand to deal with an earthquake?
        Being prepared ahead of time can make a significant difference in how well you cope with an earthquake. Here are some steps to take before an earthquake occurs:

        1. Create an emergency plan:
          Develop a family emergency and evacuation plan that includes designated meeting spots, contact information for family members and close friends, and an evacuation route from your home.
           
        2. Assemble an emergency kit:
          Put together a well-prepared emergency kit with essential supplies such as non-perishable food, water, first aid supplies, flashlights, batteries, a multi-tool, blankets, and any necessary medication. Ensure to have some painkillers included in your emergency kit.
           
        3. Secure your home well in advance:
          Conduct a home safety survey with the help of some good engineers and secure heavy furniture, appliances, and valuable items to prevent them from falling during shaking.
           
        4. Educate yourself, because you may not get much time during an earthquake:
          Understand the earthquake risks in your area. Research local building codes and construction methods to determine the level of earthquake resistance in your region especially in your building construction.

        What to do during an earthquake?
        When an earthquake strikes, your immediate actions can determine your safety. I still remember, when we were at home studying, and an earthquake came, At that time we didn't know what to do so we as per our knowledge stuck with a wall and started praying, but it is always to have a plan during earthquakes and act accordingly.

        1. Stay Calm:
          Panic can cloud your judgment. Several people start shouting and crying during an earthquake, but you should not do that. Stay as calm as possible and reassure those around you because they should not act instinctively in this moment. Rather they should follow and act according to the plan already made.
           
        2. Move outside of the building towards an open ground:
          It is always better to move outside slowly toward open ground away from any higher objects that can fall. You should be away from any building and electrical poles that can fall during an earthquake because the shaking is really fast and it becomes really difficult to dodge yourself.
           
        3. Drop, Cover, and Hold On if you cant leave home:
          If you are indoors, drop to the ground, take cover under a sturdy piece of furniture (such as a table or a desk), and hold on until the shaking stops. This position protects you from falling debris and provides a safer space. If you are indoors, stay there and don't run, because running outside during an earthquake can expose you to falling debris and glass.
           
        4. Stay away from windows and exterior walls:
          Glass windows can shatter, and exterior walls are more prone to collapsing. Move away from these areas.
           
        5. If driving, pull over safely:
          If you are driving, pull over to a safe area away from buildings, trees, and overpasses. Stay in the vehicle until the shaking stops. Don't try to drive anything during an earthquake as you may end up in some trouble because several cars and busses lose their control during this time.

        What to do after the earthquake?
        Once the earthquake stops, the danger might not be over, as there are some accompanying tremors with the actual earthquake as well. Here is what to do in the aftermath:

        1. Check yourself and others:
          Check yourself and those around you for injuries. Provide first aid as needed and seek medical attention for serious injuries. 
           
        2. Assess your surroundings:
          Be cautious of potential hazards like gas leaks, fires, and structural damage. If you smell gas, turn off the gas supply and leave the building.
           
        3. Listen to authorities:
          Tune in to local news, radio, or emergency services for updates and instructions. Several regions even have a Disaster Response Team that can help you in evacuation from affected areas after an earthquake has hit your region.
           
        4. Avoid unnecessary travel:
          Roads and infrastructure might be damaged. Only travel if necessary and if it is safe to do so. Therefore, always have a radio in your emergency kit as well to be well-informed about the happenings around you.

        How to have a long-term preparation plan for earthquakes?

        In the aftermath of an earthquake, recovery and rebuilding efforts can take time. Here's how to stay prepared for the long term:

        1. Reassess Your Emergency Plan:
          Review and update your family emergency plan based on lessons learned from the earthquake. This is because no emergency plan can be fool proof and it is always a work in progress. Just ensure that you remove the mistakes that you might have made in the previous emergency plan and make it more robust.
           
        2. Restock Your Emergency Kit:
          Replace any used or expired items in your emergency kit. Emergency supplies should be restocked immediately and also ensure that you keep on using them because most of the time people just keep a stock of emergency supplies and forget to replenish them because of which most of the items become expired and unusable. Therefore always have a habit to keep on checking the expiry dates on your emergency kit and updating it.

          I usually take out some stock constantly and refill it immediately so as to ensure that it is always stocked for some emergency and also that it is safe to use if any emergency occurs.
           
        3. Strengthen Your Home:
          Consider making structural improvements to your home to increase its earthquake resistance. Consulting a good engineer should be your priority to ensure that your home becomes much safer and prepared for some other earthquake.
           
        4. Participate in Community Preparedness:
          Get involved in community efforts to prepare for and respond to earthquakes. This could involve volunteering or participating in drills and training exercises. If there is no community initiative then take initiative yourself so as to make people aware of their responsibilities as a community member to learn emergency and evacuation plan.

        Surviving an earthquake requires a combination of knowledge, preparation, and quick thinking. By understanding the nature of earthquakes, being prepared with emergency plans and supplies, and knowing how to respond during and after the shaking, you can significantly increase your chances of staying safe and protecting your loved ones. Remember, staying calm and following well-established guidelines can make all the difference in an emergency situation.

        • Mikhail Agapov

          Answer on Are Indians working in other countries becoming more racist than citizens of that country?

          It would have been better if an Indian had given an answer to this question, but I am going to take this opportunity to answer this question as I have been associated with several Indian friends. Well, I believe this is true and Indians working...
            Mikhail Agapov
            It would have been better if an Indian had given an answer to this question, but I am going to take this opportunity to answer this question as I have been associated with several Indian friends. Well, I believe this is true and Indians working...

            It would have been better if an Indian had given an answer to this question, but I am going to take this opportunity to answer this question as I have been associated with several Indian friends.

            Well, I believe this is true and Indians working in other countries tend to become more racist towards people especially their own kind when they start their lives in another country.

            Now while I am pointing out these things, it is not a way to generalize for everyone, but people need to understand where they are wrong and what they can do to make this world a better place.

            Scenario:
            There was a company that had two people working from different parts of the world. Both were Indians. One was working from India and the other was working from some foreign country.

            As the country had chosen some Indian guy to liaison between Indian stakeholders, but unfortunately the person who was working from that country felt as if he was superior to the people working from India and was crossing lines every now and then by passing comments and forcing work load to Indian counter parts.

            This was also because he was good in English and was able to articulate better, therefore, he used to dominate even the Managers working from India.

            Having said that, he even used to down play roles of people that used to work from India and was always polite to people of that country even when it was their mistake most of the time.

            We felt so bad each time he used to shout at people from India that we even asked him to not do this, but obviously, it was not what he liked. He used to say things like he was intelligent and that he knew that people from India were not working hard to complete the project on time and that he would report it to the business partners, but in reality, people from India were adhering to deadlines and submitting each project on time or even sometimes before deadline as well.

            When they used to submit work before time, then he used to say why did you submit the work before time and that there were some new requirements that were under the pipeline and used to ask for justification.

            When asked for the payment, he used to block those payments stating that you should have confirmed if the work was to be delivered or not even when clients were sending constant messages and were asking for updates about the projects in hand.

            Conclusion:
            This is just one example of one Indian being racist to another Indian who is not working in the same country that he was. There are so many stories from different people around the world that have witnessed these things happening.

            This usually happens because Indians that have settled abroad they feel as if they are superior to the Indians that are in India.

            Also, they keep making the comments that make other feel inferior and when they go back to India they behave as if they are entitled to every facility there even when they are not contributing to the country's growth.

            Still saying that this is not with every Indian that lives abroad. Some people are really good and open minded and they are good with Hospitality, but some people have actually tarnished the name of India where it is said that "Guest is like a God".

             

            • Mithlesh Dhar

              Answer on What is it like to live in Jammu?

              Jammu is a city in the Jammu and Kashmir UT in India. It is one of the few places where you will find several temples and also scenic beauty. Although Kashmir has always been one of the attractions of Jammu and Kashmir region, still...
                Mithlesh Dhar
                Jammu is a city in the Jammu and Kashmir UT in India. It is one of the few places where you will find several temples and also scenic beauty. Although Kashmir has always been one of the attractions of Jammu and Kashmir region, still...

                Jammu is a city in the Jammu and Kashmir UT in India.

                It is one of the few places where you will find several temples and also scenic beauty. Although Kashmir has always been one of the attractions of Jammu and Kashmir region, still there are several places in Jammu that are scenic and beautiful.

                People from different parts of India come to Jammu specifically for Mata Vaishno Devi, which makes it one of the popular religious tourist destinations, and they usually also visit places like Patnitop Nathatop, which are at a bit higher altitude because of which tourists are also able to see snow.

                As most of the southern regions of India don't see much snow and cold during winters, people from southern regions come to Jammu and Kashmir region to spend their vacation time in this part of India.

                Is there any terrorism in Jammu?
                Several people who want to visit Jammu and Kashmir, usually ask me if there is any terrorism in Jammu as such. To every one of you who wants to visit Jammu, there is no terrorism in Jammu City and other adjoining cities or districts, and usually, the place is more secure than any other border state in India.

                Still, terrorism is a global issue and borders are close, there may be some infiltration but most of the time it is a safe place for any tourist.

                You can even be standing on a bus or train station at around 3 or 4 AM and no one will touch you. Even the language is similar to Punjabi, and most people like to speak Hindi as well if there is someone from another part of India to guide them. But it is always a better idea to have some local contacts wherever you go.

                The purpose of writing the above paragraph was to let you know that Jammu is as safe as any place in India, and you should not be afraid to visit. I have several of my relatives and friends from other states that visit the Jammu region every year to visit Mata Vaishno Devi Temple and explore other parts of Jammu as well.

                What all places are there to visit in Jammu?
                Most of the time people that visit Jammu and Kashmir, go for Mata Vaishno Devi Temple, but there are several different places that you can explore in the Jammu region. Below is a list of places where you can visit in Jammu:

                1. Shiv Khodi
                2. Siyad Baba Waterfall
                3. Swarg Ashram in Talwara
                4. Patnitop
                5. Nathatop
                6. Aap Shambhu Temple
                7. Raghunath Temple
                8. Bagh-E-Bahu
                9. Bahu Fort
                10. Aquarium at Bagh-E-Bahu
                11. Hanuman Temple at Rehari
                12. Jaggar Kotli
                13. Sulla Park
                14. Mansar Lake
                15. Hill Sides around Kotbalwal
                16. Salal Dam Project
                17. City Market

                There are several other places also that I will be adding to the above list, and most of the places are nearby Jammu. Although these might not be exactly in Jammu but places like Reasi and other districts.

                Still, most people are unaware of these places and always end up in well-known places, which are always crowded. 

                It is also good to have a local person with you that can take you to these places, and you can also do shopping in the City Market. I will try to mention areas where you can shop for awesome items and clothes.

                From my childhood we used to go to the same market for buying our clothes may be school or party wear. Also, you will be able to find several dry fruit shops nearby the Raghunath Temple that you can explore.

                So, what is it like to live in Jammu?
                Jammu is a beautiful place, and maybe because of the need for more development it looks a bit old, but for people like me that have grown up in areas of Jammu and surrounding cities, it is one of the best places to be in.

                During summer, Jammu is really hot, so it is always better to go there after August or September when the weather starts becoming a bit cool.

                I love the weather in Jammu after August, we are able to see the chillness of winds like nowhere in India and are also able to enjoy those small lanes and roads where I used to walk to go for tuition.

                You will also love the simplicity of the town and will be able to enjoy the weather as well.

                Having said that living in Jammu is like living in the past and in Nostalgia when we had our independent houses that we used to explore in our childhood. Also, walking in the morning at Jammu is a great experience. You usually don't see the same monotonous streets. You see several ups and downs on the roads because of which you are able to exercise your legs in a better way.

                Also, the facilities in Jammu are good, like any other city, although there used to be electricity cuts when I was a kid. We used to have electricity for 4 hours and then there used to be a cut for 2 hours. I think the infrastructure has improved, still, there are some times when electricity cuts happen, so most of us have invertor at our homes.

                Voltage fluctuations are normal, so we usually have huge voltage stabilizers at our home and our fridges and ACs also have stabilizers attached to them.

                The education system in Jammu is also good, and most of the schools and colleges are having good faculties that helped us in becoming what we are today, still, improvements can be made, and I am not sure if the same is being followed after I completed my 10+2.

                Talking about food, initially, it was only about panipuri that was famous, but these days I am able to see several restaurants and dhabas also opened and do sell momos and spring rolls.

                Jammu also is famous for Kandur Wans, which are typical Kashmiri Bakery Outlets, that are famous among Kashmiri Pandits. You should definitely try the breads that are baked in those outlets.

                As a normal life of Kashmiri Pandits in Jammu, we used to take our bags and used to buy Bread two times a day. For breakfast and for evening tea as well. I used to love Katlam and Telwor during evening tea.

                There are different types of bread that are being sold in those outlets like;

                1. Kulcha
                2. Telwor
                3. Katlam
                4. Choch
                5. Gird
                6. Khatai
                7. Lavas
                8. Bagirkhani
                9. Tak Tich
                10. Roth

                These were some of the bread that I remember right now. I will try to add some more as soon as I remember them. Khatain out of those was the favorite of several kids as those were sweet cookies like, but big in size.

                So if you are living in Jammu, you will also love to relish these breads at least 2 times a day.

                It also depends on which area of Jammu are you residing in because if you are more towards Janipr, Durga Nagar, Muthi, and Bantalab, then you will have more Kashmiri Pandits, having said that you will also be able to find more shops that cater to our community.

                When you go more toward Bantalab, Akhnoor, or Kot Balwal, then you will find more open lands and areas with lush green surroundings. It is more like being in a countryside area.

                Most houses are huge with private gardens which are usually used by kids to play sports. This is mostly because the apartment system is not that famous in those parts of Jammu and new apartments have just started coming. Also, because there is less exposure to industries like IT or Cosmetics, therefore for employment most of the youth of Jammu is now moving towards others.

                I also started my career in Chandigarh then moved to Pune for higher studies and now settled in Hyderabad.

                But I usually think of gaining good experience and moving back to Jammu to live a more leisure life. Although hard work is more in terms of electricity and water, still living in a place like Jammu has its own perks.

                You feel more connected to nature and also the culture that surrounds you. You feel as if the whole city is your neighborhood, because Jammu city is not that big, still if you have a nack for exploring surrounding areas, then it is one of the most unexplored areas in India.

                If you own a large farmhouse in Jammu, you can easily make good money through the tourism industry especially in the winter season, because during winter Jammu is one of the best places to explore.

                As Jammu is comparatively a small city, therefore, most of the people you see are always there. You will be able to recognize everyone in the city once you start living there and everyone will know that you exist. It's not like a big metro city where you will not see your friend the next day you travel. You are bound to bump into each other in Jammu no matter what, and this is amazing because you start having trust in the people you see on a daily basis, and this in turn creates a more humble relation with each other.

                When you go to tuition, or school, and then college, you end up seeing everyone every day and you are also traveling in the same buses every single day. Those buses or matadors are always taking their time for a few more passengers and you can even ask the driver to wait as your friend is coming from his home, and they will wait indeed.

                It's not like other cities, where time is a constriant. We know that we will have to take some time in advance because the transport especially the intracity buses or matadors move as per their own convenience. Although you can ask the driver or conductor to drive fast if you are getting really late and they usually oblige as well.

                Sometimes back when I used to travel to tuition and school, we even used to stand on the back of buses on the railings because the busses used to be full inside and there was no other space to stand. So, we used to climb on the stairs at the back of the matador or bus and wait there until the bus stops because we cannot shout and tell the conductor or driver to stop the bus.

                But I believe now it is illegal to do so, as there would have been some accidents also, still, it was a fun part as we were young and it was not considered taboo in Jammu City. This was how it was considered to travel in Jammu City as Normal. Let alone the thought of having seat belts in busses or ACs.

                When buses used to get stuck in heavy traffic, especially in Janipur Chowk, it was suffocating for me as well. If there was someone from another state, they would faint in those busses because they were cramped with so many people that each one of us had only one leg space to stand.

                Travelers were pushed onto buses and the conductor used to climb on the door and kept everyone inside. There were no stops as such and the conductor used to whistle to indicate the driver to stop.

                It was kind of effective as well because they were really good in understanding those signals and used to stop correctly anywhere they found space. They would even come to your house as long as it was on main road. :D

                Last time I visited Jammu it was still the same, but there were some infrastructure upgrades happening and the roads were more connected to each other. Although there was enough work to be done, but the upgrade of the city was on a pace. 

                I bet most of the people who lived in Jammu would be able to connect with the information that is in this blog and maybe able to share similar experiences.

                Conclusion;
                Jammu is one of the best places to live in India and you should definitely visit this place, but I will recommend you guys to visit it after August or September because before that it is just too hot to deal with the sun.

                You can really have a great retro relish in this city of temples and also be able to gain experiences that many of the travelers are not able to do during their trip to Jammu and Kashmir. 

                Last but not the least, don't forget to eat Chole Kulche or Kaladi Kulche in Jammu City (Old City) at the Sardar Ji's shop. I will add the address soon. :)

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                • Mikhail Agapov

                  Mikhail Agapov

                  MoscowНе ходи в другой монастырь со своими правилами (Don’t go to another monastery with your own rules)