Earth Day: Four decades ago, 20 million rallied to protect the world. And now?

Although thousands organised protests against the deterioration of the environment then, man-made disasters like waste accumulation aplenty from factors, including urbanisation, lead to taking a toll not just on nature but also on humans. (EPS | BP Deepu)

Environmental impacts lead to a domino effect, with food crisis setting in, impacting not just animals and birds, but also causing widespread poverty among humans. Egrets (in pic) now search for food over open drains as water bodies show decreasing levels. (EPS| Jithendra M)

Garbage dumped along water bodies show the apathy that Earth Day calls for urgent addressal. (EPS| Sathya Keerthi)

Climate change becomes eminent and imminent with 2016 already been declared the warmest year globally. This has also led to water levels in dams like the upper anaicut in Trichy depleting fast, depriving humans of basic needs. (EPS | M K Ashok Kumar)

It is a common scene nowadays in Bengaluru to find water bodies drying up fast and sewage finding its way into lakes. (EPS | Nagaraja Gadekal)

Mangalavanam, known as the 'green lung' of Kochi in Kerala, stands as the sole green patch in the metro city which is fast consumed by the concrete jungle. (EPS| Albin Mathew)

Bengaluru, as the Garden City of India, ceases to exist as it takes the step to stay more true to its other moniker as the electronics city. ( EPS | Jithendra M)

Between the earth and the skies, the horizon for future generations remains a big question, unless acted otherwise. A scene from Shangumugham in Thiruvannathapuram. (EPS | BP Deepu)