logo
Railway personnel killed in IED blast in Odisha-Jharkhand border

Railway personnel killed in IED blast in Odisha-Jharkhand border

News182 days ago
Agency:
PTI
Last Updated:
Bhubaneswar, Aug 3 (PTI) A railway personnel was killed in an IED blast on a railway track near Odisha-Jharkhand border in Sundergarh district on Sunday, police said.
The deceased was identified as Itua Oram, working as a 'key man' in the Indian railways, the police said.
Police suspected involvement of Maoists in the blast as Maoist posters were found near the blast site in Sundargarh district.
The blast took place on the railway tracks connecting Karampada and Renjda under the Bimlagarh section. The track got minor damage. However, movement of any passenger train was not affected as it is a loop line, said a spokesperson of the South Eastern Railway.
The Maoists had given a call to observe a martyrs' week or 'Shahid Saptah' from July 28 to August 3. The blast site is under Saranda forest range, a local police officer.
Meanwhile, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed grief over the demise of the railway personnel in the blast and announced Rs 10 lakh ex-gratia to his family. The financial assistance would be provided from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF), the chief minister's office (CMO) said in a post on X. PTI BBM BBM RG
view comments
First Published:
August 03, 2025, 14:45 IST
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

RICH Alliance: Trump's Tariff War Backfires? Russia Backs India And Hints At Emerging Ties With China
RICH Alliance: Trump's Tariff War Backfires? Russia Backs India And Hints At Emerging Ties With China

India.com

time24 minutes ago

  • India.com

RICH Alliance: Trump's Tariff War Backfires? Russia Backs India And Hints At Emerging Ties With China

While U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly stated that he will "substantially" increase tariffs on India, New Delhi has made it clear that it will not yield to pressure. Meanwhile, Russia has also pushed back against Washington's move. Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger once famously said, 'Being America's enemy may be dangerous, but being its friend is fatal.' That sentiment seems to be playing out in real time as the relationship between India and the US may be emerging into a diplomatic turning point. In today's DNA episode, Managing Editor of Zee News, Rahul Sinha, analysed a possible alliance between India, Russia, and China: Watch Full DNA Episode Here: #DNAWithRahulSinha | वर्ल्ड ऑर्डर बदला.. यूएस का 'दबदबा' गया! 'मिशन RICH'..ट्रंप के लिए कितना घातक?#DNA #India #USA #DonaldTrump #TarrifWar@RahulSinhaTV — Zee News (@ZeeNews) August 5, 2025 In a strong statement, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused the U.S. of using tariffs as a tool to dominate other nations. She said countries that chose a different path from Washington were being economically pressured and that Russia supports a multipolar and equitable world order. This, she added, is why Russia stands with India—and even with China—against America's hegemonic approach. Zakharova further claimed the U.S. is reacting out of frustration as it struggles to accept its diminishing influence in the new world order. According to her, tariffs and sanctions will not stop the shift toward a new global structure. Zakharova also suggested, a new alliance could be on the brink after the US' tariffs announcement. This emerging alignment between Russia, India, and China could reshape the global balance of power. The question now being asked: Has Donald Trump's aggressive trade policy inadvertently triggered the rise of a powerful R-I-C-H bloc? What Is 'RICH'? A new alliance named 'RICH'—short for Russia, India, and China—could pose an even greater challenge to the United States than the BRICS. The acronym itself, symbolizing 'wealth and prosperity,' hints at a formidable coalition. While Russia has previously called for stronger India-Russia-China cooperation, current global tensions and Trump's policies may make this partnership more realistic than ever before. 'RICH' vs America GDP Power: America has a GDP of US Donald 28 trillion (Rs. 23 lakh crore), but the combined GDP of Russia, India, and China is close behind at Rs. 21 lakh crore. Population Power: Together, India, China, and Russia are home to nearly 3 billion people—about 37 percent of the world's population—far surpassing the U.S., which has just 330 million people or 4 percent of the global total. Military Strength: The combined military strength of the three nations is 4.8 million troops, compared to America's 1.3 million. Even when factoring in NATO allies, the numbers still tilt heavily toward the RICH bloc. Nuclear Arsenal: RICH nations possess approximately 6,300 nuclear weapons, compared to America's 5,200. Defense Capabilities, Self-Sufficiency While the U.S. remains the world's largest arms producer, Russia and China also rank among the top global arms manufacturers. India, too, is rapidly advancing toward self-reliance in defense production. Together, the three countries could pose a significant challenge to NATO on land, at sea, and in the air. However, experts caution that military confrontation between global powers could have catastrophic consequences, making economic and diplomatic battles more likely. Notably, these countries are also resource-rich and largely self-sufficient: Energy: Russia holds vast reserves of oil, gas, and coal and is a major exporter of fossil fuels. India is advancing in nuclear and solar energy, while China leads globally in the manufacture of solar panels and wind turbines. Natural Resources: Russia has significant reserves of titanium, nickel, cobalt, and uranium. China accounts for over 60 percent of global rare earth metal production. India, meanwhile, is rich in bauxite, iron ore, graphite, and manganese. Agriculture: India is the world's largest producer of milk and pulses. Russia leads in wheat exports, while China excels in agricultural machinery and food production. In short, if united, these three nations would have little need for external support in energy, food, or defense. Strategic Shifts and Diplomatic Openings While deep mistrust exists between India and China, recent developments suggest that the gap may be narrowing. India's National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval is set to visit China this month, followed by a trip by External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar. These diplomatic engagements, possibly accelerated by Trump's confrontational tactics, may help bridge long-standing divides.

Praying for people: Yogi, Akhilesh, Mayawati express concern over Uttarakhand cloudburst
Praying for people: Yogi, Akhilesh, Mayawati express concern over Uttarakhand cloudburst

The Print

time24 minutes ago

  • The Print

Praying for people: Yogi, Akhilesh, Mayawati express concern over Uttarakhand cloudburst

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav said on X, 'The devastation that occurred in Dharali, Uttarkashi, is primarily due to the mistreatment of nature by some selfish individuals. 'The unfortunate incident of a cloudburst in the Dharali (Uttarkashi) region of Uttarakhand is extremely tragic and heart-wrenching. I pray to Lord Badri Vishal Ji for the well-being of the people affected by this accident,' Adityanath posted on X in Hindi. Lucknow, Aug 5 (PTI) Top Uttar Pradesh leaders, including Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Tuesday expressed concern over the cloudburst in Uttarakhand and prayed for the well-being of the people of the hill state. 'Our demand is that rescue and relief operations be carried out on a war-footing and every possible effort be made to save people's lives. Every single life is precious,' Yadav said, adding, 'Environmental protection is the guarantee of life preservation.' BSP chief Mayawati said the news of widespread destruction, including the collapse of houses and hotels, as well as several people missing due to the cloudburst in the Dharali village of the Uttarkashi district is extremely sad and concerning. 'The central and state governments should promptly take action to provide all possible assistance to the victims and strengthen safety measures in such areas for the future to ensure that loss of life and property in such disasters can certainly be minimised,' Mayawati posted on X. The Uttar Pradesh unit of Congress also took to social media to express its concern over the situation. 'The severe tragedy caused by the cloudburst in Dharali, Uttarakhand, is deeply heart wrenching,' it said on X. 'May God grant peace to the departed souls and a speedy recovery to the injured. Deepest condolences to the grieving families. It is requested from the government that relief and rescue operations be conducted with full urgency and that all possible assistance be provided to the affected families,' the Congress added. Disaster swept through the Himalayan village of Dharali on way to Gangotri on Tuesday with a massive cloudburst leading to flashfloods that barrelled through homes, trees and cars, trapping 60-70 people and leaving at least four dead. Dharali is the main stopover on way to Gangotri, the origin of the Ganga, and home to many hotels, restaurants and home stays. At least half the village was buried under the fast flowing mudslide of slush, rubble and water, officials said as rescue personnel battled the elements in the ecologically fragile heights to contain the damage. Contiguous buildings, including three- and four-storey houses, fell like a pack of cards as the surging waters washed over them. The devastating flashflood came in the wake of a cloudburst somewhere in the catchment area of the Kheer Ganga river. PTI KIS MNK MNK This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.

Modi misread Trump: Now India pays the price
Modi misread Trump: Now India pays the price

India Today

time24 minutes ago

  • India Today

Modi misread Trump: Now India pays the price

A war of words has erupted between New Delhi and Washington, exposing the fragility of what was once hailed as a geopolitical success story. India has hit back hard at US President Donald Trump's threat to hike tariffs on Indian goods over continued imports of Russian oil, calling the targeting "unjustified and unreasonable" whilst slamming what it perceives as Washington's double The so-called Modi-Trump bromance, once paraded as diplomatic triumph, is now cracking under the weight of harsh reality. What began with mutual praise and public spectacle, from the "Howdy Modi" event in Houston to the grand "Namaste Trump" reception in Ahmedabad, has devolved into accusations, tariffs, and transactional Fatal MiscalculationOne of New Delhi's fundamental missteps was assuming that warm handshakes and mega-rallies could override hard economic interests. Modi's outreach to Trump was personal, public, and passionate, but Trump doesn't separate business from bromance. The "great friend" narrative gave India false confidence that proved Modi threw his weight behind Trump, literally sharing the stage with him in Houston and Ahmedabad, it was a bet on personal chemistry over policy complexity. India saw Trump not as a volatile businessman-president, but as a dealmaker who'd favour "friends." The reality? Trump doesn't do friendships, he does leverage. And India misread that playbook temples in Varanasi to villages in Gujarat, people performed pujas praying for Trump's victory. Modi had pulled off spectacular diplomatic theatre, and India felt it had America in its corner. Yet Trump's loyalty lies only with the US balance sheet, viewing India as a trade surplus machine rather than a strategic Russian Oil WedgeIndia's dependence on Russian oil has become the new wedge in this deteriorating relationship. With crude prices volatile and energy security paramount, India turned to Moscow for discounted supply, with Russia now accounting for up to 40% of India's oil imports. Trump, who views foreign policy through a profit-loss lens, sees this as lashed out, accusing India of undermining the West's Ukraine strategy and "helping Putin," with tariffs becoming punishment. Worse still, he's framed it as India profiting from global chaos. Modi's government finds itself caught in a trilemma: oil security, global optics, and Trump's offensive 4th August 2025, India's Ministry of External Affairs dropped a diplomatic bombshell in response. Calling Trump's tariff threats "unjustified and unreasonable," the MEA emphasised that India's oil purchases are driven by survival, not sympathy for Moscow. With Middle Eastern oil redirected to Europe after the Ukraine war, India had little choice but to buy discounted Russian crude to shield its economy. India's anger wasn't merely economic, it was moral. The statement highlighted US and EU hypocrisy, pointing out how the West continues trading heavily with Russia in everything from uranium to fertilisers, yet singles out India for 25% Tariff HammerTrump's imposition of a 25% tariff on all Indian goods wasn't just economic muscle-flexing, it was a warning shot. The US goods trade deficit with India stood at $45.7 billion in 2024, which Trump views as theft, plain and simple. His administration has revived old complaints about high tariffs, restricted market access, regulatory red tape, and "unfair" practices in pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and most jarring for India was Trump's renewed outreach to Pakistan, military meetings, energy cooperation discussions, and vague proposals of "regional balance." For a country that expected Trump to be firmly in its anti-Pakistan corner, this felt like betrayal, exposing another blind spot in India's strategic Path ForwardIndia must now abandon illusions of personal diplomacy. Trump is a negotiator, not a friend, he respects leverage, not loyalty. New Delhi must shift from sentimentality to strategy, from ceremonial displays to pragmatic biggest lesson? Don't tie national strategy to individual leaders. American policy is shifting toward hard realism, and India must do the same. This means engaging not as a junior partner seeking approval, but as a sovereign power navigating a multipolar obsession with optics, handshakes, stagecraft, mega-events, must give way to tough negotiations, quiet diplomacy, and pragmatic positioning. Because Trump isn't here to dance at "Namaste Trump" events, he's here to deal. And if Modi wants to succeed, it's time to stop praying and start playing hardball politics.- Ends

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store