Latest news with #Ababeel
NDTV
14 hours ago
- General
- NDTV
Heroes Of Kishtwar: How Local Volunteers Responded To Cloudburst Tragedy
Kishtwar: When massive boulders, giant conifer trees from mountains came crashing down with mounds of slush, it flattened the yatra base camp at Chisoti in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar and reduces most of the village into rubble. The extent of death and destruction in the Kishtwar cloudburst tragedy that hit Machail Yatra, a Hindu pilgrimage, is yet to be determined. Rescuers are still trying to find missing people who are believed to be buried under mountains of slush or swept away by pulverising force of floodwaters. Amid chaos and fear, a group of local volunteers rushed to the site of tragedy to save lives and extend a helping hand in a helpless situation. Ababeel Group is known for its emergency assistance and disaster relief efforts in Chenab Valley, the hilliest region of Jammu and Kashmir, prone to accidents, landslides, and land sinking. "When we received the sad news, we rushed there with 45 volunteers and nine ambulances. First, we evacuated the injured and shifted them to hospital and eventually joined the rescue operation" said Burhan Mir, a volunteer at Ababeel. Initially, getting there was not easy for local administration and volunteers as landslides had blocked narrow road connecting Padder Valley with Kishtwar. Rescuers say trans-shipment of injured became necessary because of landslides. "Thank God, despite the odds, we managed to evacuate many injured and shifted them to hospital," said a volunteer. As part of first responders after the tragedy, local volunteers started digging and removing debris to retrieve bodies and find any survivors. According to Burhan, the group has been formed due to frequent incident landslides, fires, and accidents in Chenab Valley. "It's our job to rush whenever there is any natural disaster or accident. As you know Chenab Valley is accident prone area. We are always on the forefront to respond to such a situation" he said. The group has 250 volunteers connected through WhatsApp. "At any time, volunteers are just a message away. All our volunteers are available here today. Many yatris were also stranded, and we tried to help them as much as possible," said Burhan. Volunteer groups like Ababeel and Tariq memorial trust say their motive is Kidmat-e-Khalq - service to humanity - regardless of religion, cast and creed. "We are breaking stereotype of Hindu - Muslim divide here. We do it through our deeds, not just words," said Abrar, a volunteer. So far, more than 60 bodies have been recovered and over 80 are still missing. Besides hundreds of rescue workers, heavy machines including rock breakers and drills have been deployed to break massive boulders to recover bodies.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
All hands on deck in Kishtwar as desperate search for the missing picks up
From politicians and non-governmental organisations to locals, hundreds joined the rescue operations in Kishtwar as searches continue for the missing in the aftermath of cloudburst in Chishoti village in Kishtwar. The death toll currently stands at 65. Of these, 49 bodies have been found, while others died on their way to hospitals, officials said. However, no bodies were found during the day as rescuers from the National Disaster Response Force, the State Disaster Response Force, the army, police and local volunteers continued to look for the missing. J&K's Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Javid Ahmad Dar said he would head to the site Saturday to assess the situation. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is already there, and will visit the site Saturday to oversee rescue. With scores more still missing and many others injured and in hospitals, the death toll is likely to climb. From J&K Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, and Kishtwar District Development Council chairperson Pooja Thakur to local NGO Ababeel, people across political and religious lines came forward to help with the rescue. Sharma, accompanied by Kishtwar MLA Shagun Parihar, who arrived joined the rescuers. Meanwhile, Ababeel, a local NGO, had pressed its ambulances for carrying the victims to the hospitals in Atholi, Kishtwar and Doda. As searches continued, several people were separated from the family, with locals opening their doors for them. The flash flood left thousands stranded on their way to the temple, with locals stepping in to help them with food and shelter. Meanwhile, locals too were affected — a video showed Kishtwar DDC Chairperson Pooja Thakur bringing home a group of children after their family went missing in the floods. The Jammu and Kashmir administration has augmented health care facilities at the Atholi sub-district hospital and the Kishtwar district hospital. Official sources said that a specialised team of specialists and neurosurgeons have been sent to the Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu, and 13 other doctors and 31 paramedics have been dispatched to the 30-bedded SDH in Atholi. Doctors have also been sent to the district hospital at Kishtwar. 'The tertiary care institutions have also been put in a state of full readiness. Senior officers from the health and medical education department are stationed in Paddar to oversee rescue and medical operations,' one official said, over 200 units of blood have been made available at GMC, Jammu, for emergency. In the aftermath of the flash flood, religious organisations in Jammu have announced that Janmashtami celebrations would be muted this year. The traditional jhankis for the Hindu God Krishna, usually organised on the eve of Janmashtami, were cancelled. 'We took a decision Thursday evening as people everywhere are in shock and grief over the tragedy,' said Satish Kotwal, president of the Sanatan Dharam Sabha, Bhaderwah. Cloudbursts have not been new to the hilly Chenab Valley region. In April, three people died in flash floods that damaged residential and commercial properties, and a portion of the Jammu-Srinagar national highway. In July 2022, several roads and vehicles parked in Doda's Thathri were damaged in a cloudburst. Flash floods in Kishtwar's Honzer village in July 2021 claimed over two dozen lives.
NDTV
11-08-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
After Asim Munir's Threat, A Look At Pakistan's Nuclear Capabilities
New Delhi: India has formally condemned Pakistani Army chief Asim Munir's recent nuclear threats, delivered during a public address in Florida, as "irresponsible". Speaking to an audience of Pakistani-origin residents, Munir -- who holds the rank of Field Marshal -- warned that if Pakistan faced an "existential threat" in a future conflict with India, it would be prepared to retaliate with catastrophic force. "We are a nuclear nation. If we think we are going down, we'll take half the world down with us," he was quoted as saying. In the same address, Munir tied his warning to India's recent decision to suspend certain provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty after the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people. Despite Munir's bold claim, does Pakistan have global nuclear strike capabilities? Pakistan's Nuclear Arsenal According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) 2025 Yearbook, as of January, Pakistan's stockpile was estimated at around 170 nuclear warheads, a figure unchanged from the previous year. The country has continued developing a nuclear triad comprising aircraft capable of delivering nuclear gravity bombs, ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles. and sea-launched cruise missiles (SLCMs) intended for submarine deployment. The SIPRI report states that Pakistan is developing multiple new delivery systems, suggesting that its arsenal could expand in the next decade. Missile Capabilities Pakistan's Shaheen-3 stands as its most advanced ballistic missile, boasting a range of 2,750 kilometres. This capability allows it to strike targets across the entirety of India. Complementing the Shaheen-3 is the Ababeel missile, which introduces the potential for multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs). This feature could allow it to deliver multiple warheads to distinct targets, posing a significant challenge to missile defence systems. India's S-400 air defence system provides robust protection against a range of aerial threats, such as these. Pakistan's missile arsenal remains confined to regional influence. Claims of global reach, such as those suggesting coverage of "half the world," overstate capabilities. The Shaheen-3, with its 2,750 km range, can target parts of the Middle East and all of India but falls short of reaching East Asia, Western Europe, or North America. The Ababeel, with a 2,200 km range, is still in development, with unverified MIRV capabilities. Shorter-range systems like the Fatah-II (400 km, hypersonic), Shaheen-II (1,500-2,000 km), and Ghauri-II (over 2,000 km) cater to regional and battlefield roles. Submarine-launched Babur-3 (450 km) and short-range missiles like Abdali (200-300 km), Ghaznavi (290-320 km), and Nasr (70 km) are Pakistan's other tactical options. All of Pakistan's missiles, including the Nasr short-range ballistic missile, are considered dual-capable, meaning they can carry either conventional or nuclear warheads. Pakistan is developing two variants of the Ra'ad air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) to supplement its limited number of nuclear gravity bombs. Neither version is currently believed to be operational. The Mirage III and possibly Mirage V aircraft are thought to serve as Pakistan's primary nuclear-capable aircraft. According to the SIPRI report, the locally produced JF-17 fighter will assume this role in the future, with the Ra'ad ALCM integrated into its weapons suite. One significant development is Pakistan's Ababeel medium-range missile, reportedly capable of delivering multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRVs). As of early 2025, it had not been operationally deployed. Analysts view Pakistan's MIRV pursuit as a counter to India's acquisition of advanced ballistic missile defence systems, including the Russian-made S-400. Naval Component According to the SIPRI report, Pakistan is working to establish a credible second-strike capability through a sea-based nuclear force. The Babur-3 SLCM, tested in 2017 and 2018, is designed to arm the Pakistan Navy's three Agosta-90B diesel-electric submarines. This capability, once operational, would complete Pakistan's nuclear triad. The exact yields of Pakistan's warheads are unknown. Its 1998 nuclear tests demonstrated a maximum yield of approximately 12 kilotons. While it is possible that boosted fission warheads with higher yields have since been developed, there is no open-source evidence of two-stage thermonuclear designs. Pakistan reportedly stores its nuclear warheads separately from delivery systems in peacetime. SIPRI's estimates include around eight "other stored warheads" that may be intended for future systems such as the Shaheen-III missile. India Responds To Munir The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement on Monday, calling Munir's comments "nuclear sabre-rattling" and "stock-in-trade" for Pakistan's military. "The international community can draw its own conclusions on the irresponsibility inherent in such remarks, which also reinforces the well-held doubts about the integrity of nuclear command and control in a state where the military is hand-in-glove with terrorist groups," the MEA said.
India.com
28-07-2025
- Politics
- India.com
More shame for Pakistan as it fails again to develop duplicate of India's Agni-5, Ababeel missile test exposes...
New Delhi: Pakistan's scientists and engineers, who are not lagging behind in copying India, are not able to make ballistic missiles. The dream of Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his General Asim Munir is getting shattered again and again. When did Pakistan test Ababeel missile? Recently, Pakistani scientists tested the medium range ballistic missile (MRBM) Ababeel missile once again, but this test proved unsuccessful. After the Pahalgam terrorist attack, during the Indian Army's Operation Sindoor which ran from 6-7 May to 10 May, Pakistan was defeated by such weapons of India. Its defense system and weapons proved unsuccessful. Since then, there is a lot of fear in Pakistan. Why does Pakistan want to make Ababeel missile? Ababeel is a three-stage solid fuel missile. Its range is said to be around 2,000 kilometers. It was tested for the first time in January 2017. In this, MIRV technology (Multiple Independent Re-entry) is being used, which has the power to destroy many enemy targets simultaneously. Pakistan wants this feature in its war fleet, but is failing again and again. Before the recent test, the test of Ababeel had also failed in October 2023. Why is Pakistan failing every time to make ICBM? According to the website IDRW, MIRV technology is considered very good for intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). The specialty of ICBM is that it can strike up to 5,000 kilometers. Like India's Agni-5 missile, whose test in March 2024 was very successful. At the same time, Pakistan is failing again and again in copying it. Why does Pakistan require ICBM? Pakistan has developed the weapon system according to its regional needs. Pakistan does not have ICBM missiles. Pakistan does not even need it as its entire preparation is against India only. Pakistan has made Shaheen series missiles, which are capable of hitting short, medium and long distances. Despite repeatedly failing in the Ababeel missile test, Pakistan has been continuously claiming that it has tested a medium range ballistic missile. In a post on X, some defense experts have raised the question that Pakistan has a lot of problems in engineering. Lack of adequate test infrastructure including systematic issues, dependence on foreign technology, especially China, and lack of resources make Pakistan weak in this matter, whereas India has its own strong infrastructure in this matter as its strong infrastructure includes highly professional, dedicated, and capable entities like DRDO and HAL.
India.com
06-05-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Pakistan Test-Fires New Missiles: India Or Pakistan, Who Has More Powerful Missiles?
photoDetails english 2896497 Updated:May 06, 2025, 02:04 PM IST ICBM, MIRVs At Display 1 / 7 India and Pakistan, both nuclear-armed neighbors, have developed extensive missile arsenals as part of their strategic deterrence postures. While both nations possess a range of missile capabilities, India's missile program exhibits advancements in range, payload, and technology, particularly with the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) technology. 1. India's Long-Range Missile Capabilities 2 / 7 India's missile program, spearheaded by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), includes the Agni series. Agni-V is an ICBM with a range of approximately 7,000–8,000 km, capable of carrying nuclear warheads and equipped with MIRV technology. Agni-VI is currently under development, this missile is expected to have a range exceeding 10,000 km and will also feature MIRV capabilities. 2. Pakistan's Missile Capabilities 3 / 7 Pakistan's missile arsenal primarily focuses on regional deterrence. Shaheen-III is a medium-range ballistic missile with a range of up to 2,750 km, capable of reaching all parts of India. Ababeel was tested in 2017, and this missile reportedly has a range of 2,200 km and is designed to carry MIRVs, enhancing its strategic capabilities. While these missiles bolster Pakistan's deterrence posture, their range and technological sophistication are currently limited compared to India's ICBMs. 3. Nuclear Warhead Estimates 4 / 7 Both countries maintain nuclear arsenals as part of their strategic deterrence and India is estimated to possess approximately 165-170 nuclear warheads. Pakistan is estimated to have around 170-172 nuclear warheads. 4. Technological Advancements 5 / 7 India has made significant strides in missile technology. India's successful test of the Agni-V with MIRV capability allows a single missile to carry multiple nuclear warheads, each capable of striking different targets. Pakistan's development of the Ababeel missile indicates efforts to achieve similar capabilities, though operational deployment details remain limited. 5. Strategic Doctrines 6 / 7 Adheres to a "No First Use" (NFU) nuclear policy, India emphasizing deterrence and restraint. Pakistan maintains a policy that allows for first use of nuclear weapons under certain circumstances, aiming to deter conventional military threats. 6. India vs Pakistan Verdict 7 / 7 In summary, while both India and Pakistan have developed missile capabilities to serve their strategic objectives, India's advancements in long-range ICBMs and MIRV technology provide it with a more extensive and technologically sophisticated missile arsenal. Pakistan continues to enhance its missile capabilities, focusing on regional deterrence and developing technologies trying to get an edge against India.
