
Southern Railway conducts mock drill at Jolarpet railway yard
According to a press release, around 1,000 members, including personnel from Chennai Division's Safety, Civil Defence, Railway Protection Force (RPF), Government Railway Police (GRP), St. John Ambulance, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Tamil Nadu Disaster Response Force (TNDRF), and Metropolitan Disaster Response Force (MDF) took part in the exercise.
As part of the three-hour-mock drill, an accident scene was replicated using condemned coaches and mannequins of passengers. A Self-propelled Accident Relief Train (SPART) with doctors, paramedical staff, rescue workers, engineers and emergency tools for extricating passengers from wreckage was sent to the accident spot set up for the mock drill. The NDRF, TNDRF and MDF team rehearsed the rescue and relief operation.
The exercise was monitored by senior railway officials including Ganesh, Principal Chief Safety Officer, Tej Partap Singh, Additional Divisional Railway Manager, Shri Sathiya Seelan, Senior Divisional Safety Officer, Shri B. Ramakrishna, Senior Divisional Security Commissioner.
Tirupattur Collector K. Sivasoundaravalli, and Shreya Gupta, Superintendent of Police (SP), were also present, the release said.

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Time of India
18 hours ago
- Time of India
Kashi turns saffron as devotees throng KVT, other Shiv temples on 3rd Shrawan Somvar
1 2 3 4 5 6 Varanasi: Roads leading to Kashi Vishwanath Dham turned saffron with a massive turnout of kanwariyas who have arrived in the city to offer jalabhishek to Lord Shiv on the third Monday of the Shrawan month. A huge congregation of kanwariyas and pilgrims started reaching the city from Sunday, and by night they had occupied the entire area barricaded for the devotees. The sanctum sanctorum doors of the Kashi Vishwanath temple were opened after the Mangala Aarti in the early hours. The devotees queued up for offering prayers at the temple from Maidagin and Godowlia sides and were welcomed with shower of flowers by district magistrate Satyendra Kumar, the temple's chief executive officer Vishwa Bhushan Mishra, and other officials. The massive influx of the devotees continued at the temple till late afternoon. In the evening there was a slight ease in the crowd and pilgrims did not had to wait very long to offer jalabhishek. They even had the opportunity to witness the Ardhanarishwar Shringar of the deity in the evening. Additional Commissioner of Police (law and order) Shivhari Meena led the officials and forces deployed for crowd management and security arrangements. He inspected areas including Maidagin, Godowlia, Ramapura, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Bulanala, Chowk, Dashashwamedh, and Gate-4 of Kashi Vishwanath Dham to ensure smooth and safe visits and traffic for the pilgrims and kanwariyas. Despite the availability of less space for bathing due to floodwaters, the ghats remained crowded with kanwariyas and other devotees in a large numbers. Extra vigilance was maintained by police and NDRF personnel at the ghats along the river Ganga. The entire temple complex and the ghats were monitored through a CCTV network and drones. Maintaining their years-old tradition, the traders associated with the Vishwanath Gali traders union took out a procession to Kashi Vishwanath temple to offer jalabhishek. The procession, which started from Chittaranjan Park near Dashashwamedh Ghat, was also joined by many dignitaries including Varanasi City South MLA Neelkanth Tiwari. The procession moved amidst the beats of damrus and sound of conch shells. At the beginning of the procession, 11 Vedic priests worshipped the pots filled with water from 84 ghats of Kashi and the same water was offered to Lord Vishwanath. Devotees from Varanasi and neighbouring districts also thronged Markandeya Mahadev temple on the Ganga-Gomati confluence in Kaithi areas in large numbers to offer Jalabhishek. Temples like Mrityunjaya Mahadev, Kriti Visheshwar, Onkaleshwar, Tilbhandeshwar, Kedareshwar, Vishwanatha temple of BHU, and Sarangnath also remained heavily crowded with local devotees.


Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Ganesha idols up to 6 feet must be immersed in artificial ponds, rules HC
MUMBAI: In a major step towards promoting environmentally responsible Ganeshotsav celebrations, the Bombay High Court on Thursday made it mandatory for all Ganesh idols—whether made of clay or Plaster of Paris (PoP)—measuring up to six feet in height to be immersed in artificial ponds provided by municipal corporations and local bodies across Maharashtra. Ganesha idols up to 6 feet must be immersed in artificial ponds, rules HC The order came a day after the state government informed the court that it had already made immersion in artificial tanks compulsory for idols up to five feet tall. Expanding the mandate, the bench of chief justice Alok Aradhe and justice Sandeep Marne observed, 'We have to make an endeavour that the impact of immersion of idols is bare minimum on the environment. Therefore, idols up to 6 feet should compulsorily be immersed in artificial tanks provided by local bodies.' The court also directed the state government to ensure its idol immersion policy is implemented 'in letter and spirit' and asked all civic authorities in Maharashtra to make appropriate arrangements to enforce the rule. The aforesaid guidelines of the state government for immersion of idols shall apply to all festivals wherein practice of immersion of idols is followed which are to be celebrated till March 2026. BMC flags scale of preparations, logistical challenges During the hearing, senior advocate Milind Sathe, representing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), told the court that 85,306 Ganesh idols measuring less than 5 feet were immersed in artificial ponds across Mumbai last year. With the new directive extending the rule to all idols up to six feet, the number of idols expected to be immersed in artificial tanks this year would rise to approximately 1,95,306—an increase of over 110,000. Sathe added that in 2023, 3,865 idols between 5 and 10 feet in height and 3,998 idols above 10 feet—many of them made of PoP—were immersed in natural water bodies. He pointed out that arranging for the immersion of larger idols in artificial ponds had presented significant logistical challenges in the past, and the new policy would require substantial infrastructural and administrative planning. Alongside the immersion mandate, the court asked the state to constitute an expert committee to explore eco-friendly methods to recycle PoP material. The committee will be expected to examine scientifically viable ways of dissolving PoP idols without harming the environment. The legal tussle over PoP continues The high court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Thane resident Rohit Joshi, seeking implementation of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)'s guidelines prohibiting both the manufacture and immersion of PoP idols. The PIL raised concerns about pollution in rivers, lakes, and other natural water bodies caused by immersion practices. In contrast, Ganesha idol makers and artisans challenged the CPCB ban, arguing that it threatened their right to livelihood and impacted traditional practices. Taking a balanced view, the court allowed the continued manufacture and sale of PoP idols but barred their immersion in natural water bodies without specific court permission. 'It will be open to the petitioners and artisans to make PoP idols. However, the same shall not be immersed in natural water bodies without the leave of the court,' the bench clarified. The question of whether PoP idols should be banned from natural water bodies has been under judicial scrutiny since 2003, when the NGO Janhit Manch filed a PIL on environmental grounds. This prompted the CPCB to issue guidelines in 2009, which were updated in 2020 to ban immersion of PoP idols in natural sources while stopping short of prohibiting their production. A new scientific proposal adds nuance In April this year, the Rajiv Gandhi Science and Technology Commission (RGSTC)—a statutory body under the Maharashtra government—submitted a report recommending the conditional use of PoP idols. Commissioned by Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar, the report proposed that PoP idols painted with eco-friendly paints be allowed for immersion in large water bodies such as the sea and major rivers—provided these sites are far from drinking water sources and animal habitats. The report also recommended exploring 'retrievable immersion' methods that would allow PoP idols to be reused, thus minimising waste and damage to aquatic ecosystems.


Indian Express
5 days ago
- Indian Express
Bombay HC orders ‘mandatory' immersion of PoP idols up to 6 feet in artificial tanks across Maharashtra till March 2026
The Bombay High Court Thursday directed that Ganesh idols made of Plaster of Paris (PoP), and those less than 6 feet in height, will 'necessarily' and 'mandatorily' be immersed in artificial water bodies across Maharashtra. The high court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against the immersion of PoP idols in natural water sources, along with pleas filed by associations of Ganesh idol makers challenging the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) guidelines banning the immersion of such idols in natural water bodies. A bench comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep V Marne noted in the order that the interim arrangement will also be applicable to Navratri celebrations, the Maghi Ganesh festival, as well as all festivals involving idol immersions, until March 2026. On Wednesday, the Maharashtra Government informed the high court about its July 21 policy guidelines for the immersion of PoP idols. Under the new policy, idols less than five feet will be mandatorily immersed in artificial water bodies. The government also said that those exceeding five feet in height may be permitted to be immersed in natural water bodies such as lakes, rivers, and the sea in case no alternate immersion facility is available. 'The policy of the state government can be said to be a step in the right direction. However, we cannot lose sight of the fact that over 7,000 PoP idols above 5 feet will be immersed in natural bodies. The court has to make an endeavour that the impact on immersion of idols on the environment is reduced to a bare minimum. We therefore direct that instead of 5 feet, idols up to 6 feet shall necessarily be immersed in artificial water bodies,' the bench said in the order. New arrangements, logistical issues After being informed that, according to the CPCB's expert committee, its guidelines were 'always advisory in nature,' the Bombay High Court on June 9 lifted the ban on the manufacture and sale of idols made of PoP. However, the court stated that the idols would not be immersed in natural bodies without obtaining permission from the HC and sought the state's policy on immersion. On Wednesday, July 23, after perusing the state's guidelines, the court asked the Maharashtra Government and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) if it was possible to create artificial tanks for immersion of PoP idols up to 7 or 8 feet in height. On Thursday, Senior Advocate Milind Sathe, while representing BMC, informed the court that while 85,306 Ganesh idols of less than 5 feet were immersed in artificial tanks in the city last year, with the new state mandate, suitable arrangements for immersing all 1,95,306 (1.10 lakh in addition) such idols in artificial ponds will have to be made this year. He added that when 3,865 idols between 5 and 10 feet in height were immersed in natural water bodies last year, along with 3,998 above 10 feet made of PoP, there were logistical problems to ensure their immersion in artificial tanks. When Advocate Ronita Bhattacharya-Bector for the PIL petitioner argued that even the large PoP idols shall not be immersed in natural water bodies, CJI Aradhe orally remarked, 'We are also not satisfied, but we cannot create artificial ponds ourselves. We cannot remain uncut from realities and do the idealistic thing… We are part of society. We are conscious. This is only an interim arrangement for this year'. Maharashtra Advocate General Birendra Saraf said the government was 'committed to the environment', and would strictly enforce its guidelines. The Bombay High Court then directed the implementation of the state's guidelines in 'letter and spirit' and mandatory immersion of PoP idols less than 6 feet in height in artificial bodies. The court also directed the Maharashtra Government to form an expert scientific committee on the reuse and recycling of PoP idols, which would also examine methods of faster dissolution of PoP idols in an eco-friendly manner.