Latest news with #AdityaParanjape
NDTV
17-06-2025
- General
- NDTV
Does RAT Hold Key To Air India Probe? Turbine Had Deployed Before Crash
New Delhi: India saw one of its worst aviation disasters, in which at least 270 people were killed, last week and new evidence indicates that both engines of the Air India Boeing Dreamliner 787-8 may have failed or it may have suffered a total electrical or hydraulic malfunction. Clearer audio and video from the June 12 crash show that the Ram Air Turbine or RAT - a small propeller-like device which deploys automatically when there is a dual-engine failure or total electronic or hydraulic failure - was deployed on the Dreamliner, which crashed just 32 seconds after taking off from the Ahmedabad airport. The distinct high-pitched whine of the RAT can be clearly heard in the audio in the absence of the roar of the aircraft's jet engines and its deployment can also be made out in the video, which shows the plane struggling to maintain altitude and then beginning to descend rapidly. The RAT uses wind speed to generate emergency power and experts say its deployment, which happens automatically, points to three possible scenarios - both engines of the aircraft failed, it suffered an electronic failure, or its hydraulics failed. Veteran Indian Air Force Pilot and aviation expert Captain Ehsan Khalid said he had suspected dual engine failure on the day of the crash itself, after the video emerged, as the aircraft was not 'yawing' (turning abruptly) and it is nearly impossible for birds to hit both engines at the same time. "Dual engine failure was almost everybody's guess. The lone survivor of the crash had also said he heard a sound, which could be the deployment of the RAT; the racing of an engine, which could have been the propeller turning and picking up speed; and he saw red and blue lights, which could have been the emergency power connecting and the emergency lights turning on," he said. "The aircraft was actively flying and it was not able to maintain its height. It was a dual loss of power, which would obviously lead to lower speed and a loss of lift (the upward force that opposes gravity and allows an aircraft to fly) and the plane will continue to go down the way it did. The Ram Air Turbine deploys when there is a dual engine failure or electrical failure or hydraulic failure," he explained. The former Air Force pilot said an electrical failure, in certain conditions, could have led to the engines shutting down. "The engines shut down at precisely the same time. If there had been even a two-second difference, there would have been a predominant yaw to the left or the right. The engines have shut down digitally, precisely, and at the same time, which could have only happened due to a malfunction in the software, which was executed by a wrong signal from the sensors, which could have come from an electrical failure," he said. Professor of airspace Dr Aditya Paranjape also said the evidence points to both engines failing to provide thrust. "Airplanes are configured to climb out with just one engine operational, it is a standard manoeuvre known as a one engine out climb. That manoeuvre additionally requires that the rudder be deflected in the direction of the working engine to balance out the differential yawing movement, which we don't see here... The loss of power is identical on both sides of the airplane," he emphasised. 32 Seconds Of Terror The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which was operating as Air India flight AI-171 to London, had taken off from Ahmedabad on the afternoon of June 12 and crashed into the complex of the BJ Medical College - an aerial distance of less than 2 km. The crash took place at 1.38 pm, just 32 seconds after the aircraft took off. Of the 242 people, including 10 crew members and two pilots, on board the flight, only one - 40-year-old Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British-Indian who was returning to the UK after a visit - survived. At least 30 people on the ground, including trainee doctors, were also killed. A bird hit was suspected to be the initial cause of the crash but it has been ruled out now as no bird carcasses were found on the runway and the two available videos don't show any fire, sparks, smoke or debris around the engines.
Time of India
02-06-2025
- Time of India
PMC urges forest dept to drop charges against Katraj zoo director, return animals
Pune: The civic body has urged the forest department to drop all charges against the director of Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Museum for alleged mismanagement of wild animals in the Wild Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (WARRC), also seeking return of all animals the department took away during investigations. In Sept 2023, the forest department had registered an offence against the zoo director after receiving a complaint from honorary wildlife warden Aditya Paranjape regarding irregularities at WARRC. The department carried out three investigations as ordered by DCF Tushar Chavan. Investigations covered allegations such as the release and relocation of 612 wild animals — including birds, mammals and reptiles — outside their natural habitats; the mistreatment of Schedule I and II species, including snakes and chausingha, and the failure to maintain records or data for 328 animals that reportedly died at the centre. The department registered an offence under sections 2 (16-G), 9, 39 and 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) was also told to carry out an investigation into the matter and submit a report to the Maharashtra Zoo Authority (MZA). MZA conducted an inspection at the site after a leopard escaped from the WARRC for 40 hours in 2024. According to PMC's letter addressed to the forest department, the Indian Herpetological Society (IHS), responsible for WARRC, was to be held accountable for the events — including maintenance of accurate records, taking care of animals, administering medication on time and releasing animals into the wild while informing the department about the same. "Even though PMC has sought that the charges be dropped, I think people responsible for the mismanagement should be held accountable. The department and corporation must find the person accountable in place of the director and pursue the case," said Paranjape. After the turn of events in 2023, PMC permanently closed WARRC and terminated the contract with IHS. Alongside this, the CZA granted permission to the zoo to permanently keep the animals from the rescue centre on Dec 8, 2023, said PMC. "The errors observed in the work related to the wildlife orphanage are not intentional, but show deficiencies in daily working. Since the zoo director or any PMC official is not responsible in this regard, the Forest Offence First Report No. WL 1/2023, dated Sept 14, 2023, filed on their behalf under the Wildlife Protection Act (1972) should be cancelled. Also, since the approval of the CZA has been obtained, the animals taken from the zoo should be sent back," said PMC in its letter on May 30. The forest department is yet to file a chargesheet against IHS for mismanagement. "We have received the letter and will wait for PMC's report to the MZA. Even though we registered an offence, no chargesheet was filed. Hence, the MZA would take the next call on the subject. We have submitted our report to them," said deputy conservator of forests Mahadev Mohite.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
Pune district's wildlife warden seeks halt on riverfront development project at Mula
1 2 3 Pune: The honorary wildlife warden of Pune district, Aditya Paranjape, on Tuesday urged the Pimpri Chinchwad municipal commissioner to halt all development work on the Mula riverbank opposite Ramnadi-Mula confluence because of the harm it inflicted on wildlife. Paranjape, in his letter, stated that the development work as part of the Mula-Mutha riverfront development project is leading to significant tree felling and disturbance to wildlife in the area. This was in reference to the grievance raised by citizen Vandana Chaudhary to declare the region as a community reserve, which prompted Centre to seek a report from the state forest department. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Based on complaints received from local citizens and the warden's observations, it was concluded that there were multiple endangered species of animals and other forms of wildlife in the area that are likely to be affected by the encroachments on the river, he said. "In light of these findings, we urge you to immediately stop the encroachment in the Mula river where the current work is ongoing. We also request that the encroachments be removed to restore the wildlife. We await a formal 'action-taken report' as per the directions of the ministry of environment, forest and climate change," the letter said. Paranjape told TOI, "Citizens have been trying to protect this stretch for quite a while, and the project which govt is executing must be in accordance with the public's demands. This letter is an intimation to the commissioner to take action in this regard. Following this, if no development is observed to halt the work affecting the wildlife, then I will take legal action against them. Once they stop this, we can propose the region for a community reserve." The letter also said that the disturbances have been observed in various locations such as Wakad, Vishalnagar, Kaspate Vasti, and most importantly, the ecologically sensitive area of Ram Mula confluence. "We have documented the presence of endangered species such as the grey mongoose, Indian flying fox, rat snake, Russell's viper, Indian cobra, checkered keelback, Bengal monitor, and Indian flapshell turtle, all of which are categorised under schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Additionally, there are numerous terrestrial and aquatic birds, as well as significant freshwater species of fish, which are also getting impacted." On Sunday, activists, citizens and environmentalists staged a protest against the project at Pimple Nilakh. However, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation commissioner Shekhar Singh clarified that the work would not be halted without reason as the project received all clearances required. Alongside this, the forest department also requested the Pune Municipal Corporation to halt any work for the project on their end of the bank, which includes the "devrai" at Ramnadi-Mula confluence. The corporation agreed to halt all work at that stretch and look at alternative designs for protection. Officials from PCMC could not be reached for a comment. "We need to protect the wildlife in the region. Any form of debris dumping and encroachments on both banks is extremely harmful to the wildlife," said Shailaja Deshpande, founder of Jeevitnadi. An honorary wildlife warden is a govt-appointed volunteer who supports wildlife conservation by working alongside the state forest department. Their role includes helping enforce the Wildlife Protection Act, curbing poaching, identifying wildlife-related offences, and protecting natural habitats.
