
Bengal CM Mamata inaugurates Jagannath Temple in Digha
A new Jagannath Temple was inaugurated in Digha on Wednesday by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The opening coincided with Akshay Trithiya, a day considered auspicious.
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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday inaugurated the newly built Jagannath Temple in the sea resort town of Digha on the auspicious occasion of Akshay Trithiya. Banerjee thanked the workers and engineers who built the structure in three years."I would like to thank all those who have come here for the inaugural programme. People from all religions have come here," she said.The chief minister said that in the coming years, the temple would evolve as a major pilgrimage site.

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Indian Express
6 days ago
- Indian Express
Steeped and brewed in Kashmir's rich traditional history, have a taste of the iconic kawha
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Hindustan Times
30-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Indian YouTuber recounts terrifying hiking experience in Norway, praises volunteers for swift rescue: 'Angels do exist'
Hiking can be a highly rewarding experience, but it also carries inherent risks. Without proper preparation, sudden weather changes and challenging terrain can quickly transform a peaceful outing into a potentially life-threatening situation. A recent incident in Norway involving Indian content creator Akash Banerjee and his wife, Nidhi, serves as a stark reminder of these dangers. While hiking to Preikestolen, also known as Pulpit Rock, they found themselves in a perilous situation. (Also read: Man trekking to Kedarnath with 40kg load to earn daily wage captures hearts online) Banerjee took to Instagram to share his harrowing account, recounting the chain of events that unfolded: "I don't believe in angels & fairies - but I encountered them myself in Norway. Still shaking my head in disbelief (and relief that angels do exist)." He explained that after reaching the summit and soaking in the scenic views, disaster struck on their way back. Nidhi slipped, severely injuring her ankle, around 4 kilometres away from the nearest civilisation. The couple was left stranded in freezing cold winds, with rain approaching and no immediate way to move Nidhi to safety. Banerjee, unsure of what to do next, was advised by fellow hikers to call Norway's emergency number, 113. Reluctantly, he called the number, uncertain of what to expect. However, what followed was nothing short of miraculous. "Within minutes, the responders used my phone to pinpoint our location and assured me that help was on the way," Banerjee wrote. True to their word, within an hour, a team of rescuers, including doctors, arrived at their location. The team used a vacuum bag to secure Nidhi's leg and a portable stretcher to transport her safely to the base camp. What left Banerjee in awe was that these volunteers were not professional rescuers, but ordinary Norwegians who gave their time to help those in need. (Also read: ChatGPT falsely claims Norwegian man killed his sons, he takes legal action against Sam Altman's OpenAI) Adding to the surprise, Banerjee discovered that the rescue operation was provided by the Norwegian People's Aid (Norsk Folkehjelp), an NGO that offers rescue services and first aid free of charge. The volunteers, who came from various professions, such as a surveyor and a petroleum industry worker, had selflessly stepped in to assist. Banerjee praised the nation's community spirit and hospitality, remarking that Norway's generosity and willingness to help made it one of the happiest nations in the world. Check out the post here: A post shared by Akash Banerjee (@ Banerjee's post quickly went viral, with social media users praising the actions of the Norwegian volunteers. One user commented, "It's called sense of community and civic sense. Civic sense isn't just picking up garbage, it's having the compassion to be kind to everyone." Another added, "Beautiful country. Lovely, helpful people. So glad you got all the assistance you needed and more."


NDTV
29-05-2025
- NDTV
"Still Shaking My Head In Disbelief": Indian Man Recounts Harrowing Hike Experience In Norway
An Indian content creator recently recounted a harrowing hiking experience in Norway with his wife and shared how local volunteers came to their rescue. In a long Instagram post, Akash Banerjee revealed that he and his wife were hiking to Preikestolen, popularly known as Pulpit Rock, near the city of Stavanger. They reached the viewpoint successfully and enjoyed the picturesque view. However, on their descent, their journey took an unexpected, dangerous turn when Mr Banerjee's wife, Nidhi, slipped on the wet trail and sprained or possibly fractured her ankle. "About 4 kilometres from civilisation, biting cold winds, rain fast approaching and unable to move - I was at my wits end on what to do next," he recalled. Mr Banerjee shared that after being encouraged by fellow hikers, he called Norway's emergency number, 113, "with a lot of scepticism". However, what happened next restored his faith in humanity. "Within minutes, the responders had used my phone to pin my location and assured me help was on the way," he said. "In less than an hour, an army of mountain rescuers - accompanied by doctors - were with us," he shared. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Akash Banerjee (@ The rescue team, part of Norwegian People's Aid (Norsk Folkehjelp), quickly examined his wife's injuries and carried her down to base camp on a portable stretcher. "They examined Nidhi - put her leg in a vacuum bag - opened up a portable stretcher - and 6 super-humans carted Nidhi all the way to the base camp. All with a smile," he shared. The couple was concerned about the cost of such a rescue, but this was also eased after he learned that the team was volunteers offering their expertise for free. "These rescuers were not part of any paid / professional team that was at the park / trail - they were normal working Norwegians who just land up to help when the need arises," he wrote. "For a nation that spends so much time in rain / darkness - I came to understand why Norway is one of the happiest nations on the planet. I am at a loss of words - but I am deeply thankful & in awe of Norwegians & Norwegian People's Aid," he added. "I don't believe in angels and fairies - but I encountered them myself in Norway. Still shaking my head in disbelief - and relief - that angels do exist," Mr Banerjee said. Since being shared, the post has garnered more than 33,000 likes. In the comments section, users praised the Norwegian volunteers. "Beautiful country. Lovely, helpful people. So glad you got all the assistance you needed and more," wrote one user. "Humanity at its best. They don't get penalised for leaving their work and going for rescue or doing community work. Encouraged and built into social structure, a lesson for world at large. Good to know you guys are safe. And many blessings to these angels indeed," commented another. "I live in Norway and i can attest to every word said sense and prioritising your fellow citizens is at its peak in how Norwegians show their patriotism not by hating a particular sect of people in your country," wrote a third user.