An Indian woman living in Tokyo has described the frightening moments she experienced when a strong 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck Japan on Monday evening.
In a video, she recalls the intensity of the tremors, saying in Hindi, âItna tez earthquake tha ki meri toh jaan hi chali gayi thi, kyonki vo ruk hi nahi raha tha.â She later showed her residential complex and noted that none of the local residents had stepped outside. According to her, people in Japan have deep trust in the structural strength of their buildings and believe they remain safe even during severe quakes.
Tsunami Waves Hit Northern Japan.
The Japan Meteorological Agency confirmed that tsunami waves reached several parts of northern Japan following the earthquake.
Waves were recorded in the town of Urakawa in Hokkaido and at the port of Mutsu Ogawara in Aomori.
A 50-centimetre wave hit Kuji port in Iwate prefecture, while multiple coastal areas observed waves ranging from 40 to 50 centimetres.
Earlier, authorities had issued warnings that waves up to three metres could strike the northeastern coastline. The alert covered the prefectures of Hokkaido, Aomori and Iwate, all of which experienced strong shaking during the quake.
Injuries Reported Amid Widespread Shaking.
Local media reported that several people sustained injuries across the affected regions. Public broadcasters stated that multiple injuries occurred at a hotel in Hachinohe in Aomori prefecture.
The United States Geological Survey recorded the quake at a depth of 53.1 kilometres at 14:15 UTC, with its epicentre located northeast of Misawa in northern Japan. The tremors were felt across large parts of Japanâs north and east, prompting tsunami alerts in coastal regions.
Government Response and Safety Measures.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced the formation of an emergency task force to assess the damage and oversee relief efforts. She emphasised that public safety remains the governmentâs highest priority and assured that all necessary measures are being taken to support affected residents.
As a precaution, East Japan Railway suspended several train services across the region. Japan, located on the seismically active Ring of Fire, experiences nearly 20% of the worldâs major earthquakes and maintains extensive preparedness protocols.
Recent Context.
This incident comes amid a period of increased global seismic activity, including an 8.8-magnitude earthquake in Russiaâs Kamchatka region in July, which produced tsunami waves across nearby countries. Japan continues to stay on high alert, drawing on lessons from the devastating 2011 megathrust earthquake and tsunami.
For the fourth day in a row, passengers across the country have been caught in chaos as IndiGo continues to struggle with large-scale delays and cancellations. Airports in major cities witnessed long queues and confusion, with travellers trying to rebook or find alternate options. On Friday, December 5, more than 400 IndiGo flights were reportedly cancelled, adding to the already severe disruption. A day earlier, the airlineâs on-time performance at six major metro airports crashed to just 8.5%.
What Led to the Disruptions?
IndiGo has issued multiple explanations over the past few days, pointing to a mix of operational and external factors. According to the airline, technical issues, seasonal schedule changes, bad weather, heavy air-traffic congestion, and newly implemented crew duty regulations (FDTL) combined to trigger a domino effect that they âcould not have foreseen.â
But the roots of this crisis go deeper.
Reports suggest that IndiGo had been struggling to align its pilot schedules ever since the government began enforcing stricter rules on pilot rest and flying hours. These new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) were introduced to address concerns over pilot fatigue â something airlines had resisted for nearly two years. The norms were to be applied in two stages following an order by the Delhi High Court in April 2025.
From July 1: Weekly rest increased from 36 to 48 hours.
From November 1: Additional restrictions on night-time flying hours came into force.
Airlines had warned that the November rollout could cause widespread flight disruptions because it would require more pilots. The government allowed extra preparation time, but it appears IndiGoâs planning fell short.
Since the full implementation of the second phase, the airline has reportedly been struggling to manage rosters, requesting pilots to withdraw leave and warning of shortages. But simmering dissatisfaction among pilots meant they were unwilling to co-operate. Years of frustration â long duty hours touching the DGCA limit of 13 hours, no salary hike despite profits of about â¹7,000 crore, and disagreements over how the new rules were being applied â added to the tensions.
During a meeting with Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu and DGCA chief Faiz Kidwai on December 4, IndiGo officials acknowledged âplanning gaps and miscalculationsâ as key reasons for the current meltdown. In an internal message, CEO Pieter Elbers also admitted that disruptions spread quickly in a network of IndiGoâs size and require multiple layers of intervention to fix.
When Will Things Return to Normal?
The Civil Aviation Ministry has directed several immediate corrective steps and stated that flights are expected to start stabilising by Saturday, December 6. According to the Ministry, complete normalcy should return within the next three days, provided all measures are followed as planned.
In the meantime, IndiGo has also asked for temporary relief from the newly enforced night-flying limits until February 10. The DGCA has said it will evaluate this request.
India and Russia have long maintained a steady strategic partnershipâstarting with defense cooperation, evolving through geopolitical shifts, and now moving toward deeper economic engagement. As President Vladimir Putin arrives in New Delhi in late 2025 for the annual summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, one key question is capturing attention across government and industry:
Can India and Russia truly expand bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030?
Trade data from 2024â25 shows a sharp jump:
India imported $64.23B worth of goods from Russia in 2024 (a 5% rise).
Indiaâs exports to Russia touched $4.91B (a 2% increase).
Total trade reached $69.14B in 2024 and $33.12B in the first half of 2025.
Russia is now Indiaâs second-largest trading partner. Most of this growth, however, has been powered by one engineâdiscounted Russian crude oil. Both sides know this surge cannot sustain itself unless the trade structure expands beyond energy.
This blog explores the opportunities, risks, and policy directions that will determine whether the $100 billion goal is achievable or simply aspirational.
IndiaâRussia Trade Push Ahead of Putinâs India Visit
During Putinâs state visit between December 4â5, 2025, India and Russia plan to elevate their trade partnership with a clear roadmap for achieving the $100B target by 2030.
While energy and defense remain pillars of the relationship, this visit aims to:
Broaden the trading basket beyond oil and military hardware
Promote new Russian exports like aircraft, missile systems, and petroleum products
Increase Indian exports of seafood, agricultural goods, pharmaceuticals, and machinery
Reduce the large trade imbalance
Strengthen supply chains weakened by Western sanctions on Russia
Both countries remain optimistic that the next five years offer a rare window to diversify and deepen their economic engagement.
IndiaâRussia Trade: A Strong Jump With a Structural Weakness
IndiaâRussia trade surged from under $10B before 2022 to nearly $69B in FY 2024â25. While impressive, the growth has a catch.
The Big Imbalance
Indiaâs imports: $60B+
Indiaâs exports: Under $5B
The trade deficitâaround $59Bâis one of Indiaâs largest with any country.
Oil helped India keep energy costs low, but it also created an overdependence on a single commodity.
Why This Baseline Matters
The data tells two stories:
Trade can grow rapidly when the right opportunity appears.
The present structure is fragile because it relies heavily on energy prices and supply disruptions.
To reach $100B, India and Russia need to move from an oil-centric partnership to a multi-sector economic ecosystem.
Why the $100B Target Makes Sense Now
The timing is ideal for both nations.
1. Russia Needs New Suppliers
Post-Ukraine conflict sanctions have reshaped Russian import channels. Russia urgently needs:
Pharmaceuticals
Machinery
Food products
Electronics
Chemicals
Industrial equipment
India fits these needs perfectly.
2. India Wants New Export Markets
Indian manufacturers and pharma companies are pushing into new geographies. Russia offers:
High demand
Fewer competitors
Large purchasing capacity
3. Local Currency Trade
Rupeeârouble settlement systems reduce reliance on the dollar and shield trade from financial sanctions.
4. Stable Energy Partnership
India needs Russian crude, coal, fertilizers, and petrochemicals. Russia needs large, reliable buyers. This mutual dependency creates a strong base.
5. Big Investments on the Horizon
Joint plans include expanding:
Fertilizer production
Shipping corridors
Pharma manufacturing
Labor mobility
Ports and logistics
Petrochemical investments
These ventures will promote two-way trade instead of one-sided flows.
Top Goods India Imports From Russia (Rewritten Section)
Indiaâs import basket from Russia covers a wide spectrumâfrom energy to metals to machinery. As per IndiaâRussia trade statistics for 2024â25, the major imports include:
Mineral Fuels & Oils ($57.17B) â Crude oil, petroleum products, and natural gas dominate Indian imports.
Animal & Vegetable Oils ($2.16B) â Used in cosmetics, food processing, and pharma applications.
Fertilizers ($1.67B) â Critical for Indian agriculture and soil productivity.
Precious Stones & Metals ($665M) â Essential for Indiaâs large gems and jewellery industry.
Iron & Steel ($398M) â Supports infrastructure and industrial manufacturing.
Paper & Paperboard ($150M) â Widely used in packaging and publishing.
Salt, Lime & Cement ($108M) â Supports Indiaâs construction boom.
Nuclear Reactors & Machinery ($93M) â Important for energy and advanced industries.
Inorganic Chemicals ($85M) â Used across pharma, agriculture, and manufacturing.
Top Products India Exports to Russia (Rewritten Section)
Indiaâs export strength to Russia is anchored in pharmaceuticals, chemicals, engineering goods, and food products. The major export categories for 2024â25 include:
Nuclear Reactors & Machinery ($1.13B) â India supplies advanced machinery supporting Russiaâs energy and industrial sectors.
Electrical Machinery & Equipment ($431M) â In demand due to Russiaâs modernization cycle.
Pharma Products ($419M) â India remains a top supplier of generics, vaccines, and essential medications.
Organic Chemicals ($367M) â Key inputs for Russiaâs industrial and pharma sectors.
Inorganic Chemicals ($222M) â Used across mining, agriculture, and manufacturing.
Misc. Chemical Products ($166M) â Includes pigments, dyes, and specialty chemicals.
Ceramic Goods ($146M) â Tiles, tableware, and sanitaryware with strong design appeal.
Iron & Steel ($141M) â Supports Russian infrastructure and automotive needs.
Medical & Surgical Instruments ($131M) â Diagnostic and surgical tools remain in strong demand.
Fish & Seafood ($125M) â Indian shrimp and seafood enjoy popularity in Russian markets.
Conclusion: Is the $100B Target Realistic?
Absolutely â but only if the trade structure evolves.
To reach $100B, India and Russia must:
Diversify beyond crude oil
Boost Indian exports
Create more joint ventures
Improve logistics and shipping routes
Expand local currency settlements
Build long-term supply chains
The political intent, economic synergy, and geopolitical opportunity make this one of the most promising phases in IndiaâRussia economic history.
