Latest news with #AtulKulkarni
Hindustan Times
09-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Record-breaking Ashadhi Wari: AI-powered drones count over 27 lakh devotees
This year's Ashadhi Wari has officially set a new attendance record, with AI-powered drones deployed for the first time to estimate the number of pilgrims. According to Solapur rural police, the footfall on Ashadhi Ekadashi was between 27 and 28 lakh, captured through drone surveillance from 4 am to midnight on Sunday. The drones captured real-time footage which was then processed to generate an estimated headcount. (HT) To ensure accuracy, the police had divided a 65-acre area in Pandharpur into four sectors and deployed six AI-enabled drones to cover key zones, including bridges, ghat sections, the pradakshina path, and temple premises. The drones captured real-time footage which was then processed to generate an estimated headcount. 'At certain points, over 2,000 devotees were seen crossing the entry bridges per minute,' an official said. Additional data was compiled using vehicle counts from 13 parking zones, multiple bus stands, and over 100 special trains arriving in the temple town. Officials recorded over 50,000 vehicles and more than 6,000 buses during the peak period. All surveillance and coordination were managed through the integrated command and control centre set up by the Solapur Rural Police. By early Monday morning, 95% of vehicles and pilgrims had exited Pandharpur, bringing the town back to its regular rhythm. 'The return journey on Monday morning was our biggest challenge,' said Atul Kulkarni, superintendent of police (SP), Solapur rural. 'We identified six major exit routes and deployed one Deputy SP on each. This helped manage the traffic smoothly and avoid any major mishaps.' To further assist the flow, 100 GaMa commandos on motorcycles with public address systems were deployed along exit routes to guide pilgrims. Despite the massive crowd, police managed to keep the event largely incident-free. Nine police help centres were established to assist pilgrims, particularly those who were separated from their groups or families. 'We received over 2,700 missing person reports, and nearly all were reunited with their families. The remaining 50–60 are still being traced,' Kulkarni added. Disaster management teams and trained swimmers were deployed to guard the river areas, and no casualties were reported. A special 'Mauli Squad' kept watch for criminal activity among the crowd. Three police teams from Karnataka—Gulbarga, Bidar, and Bijapur—were also deployed to support the local effort. While 10 cases of chain snatching were reported, police detained 180 suspects linked to various offences. Authorities enforced a one-way movement system on the pradakshina path and other high-traffic zones, such as the 'desert' area, to prevent overcrowding. Notably, no stampede-like situations or accidents were reported this year. 'The strategic use of AI and drones helped us better monitor the crowd and avoid the usual hold-and-release system at Namdev Payari,' Kulkarni said. 'There were no reports of pushing or stampede-like pressure. It was the most efficiently managed wari we've seen so far.'
India.com
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
This 2 hour horror thriller film is too scary to watch alone, its spine-chilling scenes will haunt you for days, scarier than The Conjuring, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, 13B, name is…, lead actors are…
This 2 hour horror thriller film is too scary to watch alone, its spine-chilling scenes will haunt you for days, scarier than The Conjuring, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, 13B, name is..., lead actors are... Sometimes, the most terrifying things aren't the ghosts or the monsters, but they are what's lurking inside someone's mind. Paranormal thriller films play with your mind, intrigue you, and make you question what's real. These stories slowly build a strong feeling of apprehension inside you, and turn your mind into a haunted house. If you enjoy such movies which keep you guessing until the every end, than this horror thriller is for you. Released in 2019, the film we are talking about is 706. Directed by Shravan Kumar, the film stars Atul Kulkarni and Divya Dutta, Yashvit Sancheti, Mohan Agashe, Raayo S. Bakhirta and Anupam Shyam in key roles. The film's storyline starts with Dr. Anil Asthana, the owner of a posh hospital, who suddenly goes missing. His wife Dr. Suman Asthana becomes extremely worried, and gets deeply involve in the search of her husband. The officer, DCP Shekhawat, who handles the case tries to find out the solid leads, but struggles miserably. Meanwhile, another intriguing case comes out of a mysterious child, who is battling an undiagnosed illness and shows unusual behaviour, leaving everyone suspicious. The child desires to meet Dr. Suman and a different connection forms between the child, Dr. Suman, and DCP Shekhawat, all connected by number 706. Lead actors Atul Kulkarni and Divya Dutta are highly-praised for their performances. Child actor Yashvit Sancheti too captivates masses with his mysterious portrayal. Talking about the technical crew, cinematographer Virendra K did a great job in capturing the visuals, whereas, Kumar Tiwari handled the editing department quite well. Amar Mohile's soulful number Hai Re Farebi, sung by Prathaa Khandekar, with meaningful lyrics written by Milind Gadhavi is the highlight of the movie. Lastly, 706 offers a blend of suspense, horror and supernatural elements, that will challenge you to question about the truth and reality. If you want to watch this horror thriller, you can catch it on Prime Video or YouTube for free.
Hindustan Times
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Ashoke Pandit on Atul Kulkarni's visit to Pahalgam after terror attack: ‘I asked him not to talk about such issues on…'
Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit has reacted to actor Atul Kulkarni's recent visit to Kashmir following the ghastly terror attack that took place in the Pahalgam region earlier this month. Atul Kulkarni's visit was intended to encourage people to continue visiting the region to support its tourism industry. (Also Read | Atul Kulkarni visits Pahalgam after terrorist attack, asks people not to cancel vacation: Humara Kashmir hai, hum ayenge) While speaking to ANI, the filmmaker, commenting on Atul's approach, stated that it overlooks the deeper issue of "terrorism" in the region. He also expressed disappointment that Atul "never condemned" the fact that 'Islamic Jihad was behind this incident'. Calling the attack an "undeclared war" against India, Ashoke said, "The massacre that happened in Pahalgam was an undeclared war that Pakistan wages against India. Be it Atul Kulkarni or Suniel Shetty, they stated that tourism continues to flourish here, and by doing so, we can give a reply to terrorists..." "We, the Kashmiri Pandits who rate the victims, always say that tourism has nothing to do with terrorism. Even when crores of people are going there, this incident still happened. Terrorism is constant there... I appealed to Atul to study things and not handle and talk about such issues on a surface level. We all know that Kashmir is ours, but at such a time, you cannot take it as a joke... He never condemned that Islamic Jihad was behind this incident, and Hindus were killed selectively. He didn't condemn that, but was worried about tourism," he added. Earlier, while Atul was in Kashmir, he expressed his deep sadness over the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. He revealed that he was moved by the news of "90 percent of tourist bookings" being cancelled and decided to visit Kashmir in person to send a message of support, instead of just discussing the incident from Mumbai. A post shared by Atul Kulkarni (@atulkulkarni_official) "What happened on the 22nd was a very tragic incident; this should not have happened. The entire country is deeply saddened. When I read about it, I was thinking that every time something like this happens, what do we do? We post on social media, we talk to friends, we write something, but then I thought, what can I actually do in real action?" Atul told ANI. Earlier, at the sidelines of the Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Award 2025 ceremony, Suniel Shetty had also urged Indian citizens to plan their next holiday in Kashmir and nowhere else, while speaking to the media. "Hume nagrik ki taraf se ek hi karna hai, hume ye decide karna hai ki aaj se hamari agli chutti jo hogi, woh Kashmir mein hi hogi aur kahin nahi hogi. Unko ye dikhana hai ki hume darr nahi hai, aur waqi mein darr nahi hai (As a citizen, we have to do one thing. We have to decide that our next holiday will be in Kashmir and nowhere else. We have to show them that we are not scared)," said Suniel Shetty. On April 22, terrorists attacked tourists at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, killing 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen, while leaving several others injured in one of the deadliest attacks in the Valley since the 2019 Pulwama strike, in which 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans were killed.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
"You cannot take it as a joke..": Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit calls out Atul Kulkarni for focusing on tourism instead of terrorism
Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit has reacted to actor Atul Kulkarni's recent visit to Kashmir following the ghastly terror attack that took place in the Pahalgam region earlier this month. Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit has reacted to actor Atul Kulkarni 's recent visit to Kashmir following the ghastly terror attack that took place in the Pahalgam region earlier this month. Kulkarni's visit was intended to encourage people to continue visiting the region to support its tourism industry. While speaking to ANI, the filmmaker, commenting on Kulkarni's approach, stated that it overlooks the deeper issue of "terrorism" in the region. He also expressed disappointment that Kulkarni "never condemned" the fact that "Islamic Jihad was behind this incident." Calling the attack an "undeclared war" against India, Pandit said, "The massacre that happened in Pahalgam was an undeclared war that Pakistan wages against India. Be it Atul Kulkarni or Suniel Shetty , they stated that tourism continues to flourish here, and by doing so, we can give a reply to terrorists..." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Container Houses Vietnam (Take A Look At The Prices) Container House Search Now Undo "We, the Kashmiri Pandits who rate the victims, always say that tourism has nothing to do with terrorism. Even when crores of people are going there, this incident still happened. Terrorism is constant there... I appealed to Atul to study things and not handle and talk about such issues on a surface level. We all know that Kashmir is ours, but at such a time, you cannot take it as a joke... He never condemned that Islamic Jihad was behind this incident, and Hindus were killed selectively. He didn't condemn that, but was worried about tourism," he added. Earlier, while Kulkarni was in Kashmir, he expressed his deep sadness over the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. He revealed that he was moved by the news of "90 percent of tourist bookings" being canceled and decided to visit Kashmir in person to send a message of support, instead of just discussing the incident from Mumbai. "What happened on the 22nd was a very tragic incident; this should not have happened. The entire country is deeply saddened. When I read about it, I was thinking that every time something like this happens, what do we do? We post on social media, we talk to friends, we write something, but then I thought, what can I actually do in real action?" Kulkarni told ANI. Earlier, at the sidelines of the Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Award 2025 ceremony, Suniel Shetty had also urged Indian citizens to plan their next holiday in Kashmir and nowhere else, while speaking to the media. "Hume nagrik ki taraf se ek hi karna hai, hume ye decide karna hai ki aaj se hamari agli chutti jo hogi, woh Kashmir mein hi hogi aur kahin nahi hogi. Unko ye dikhana hai ki hume darr nahi hai, aur waqi mein darr nahi hai (As a citizen, we have to do one thing. We have to decide that our next holiday will be in Kashmir and nowhere else. We have to show them that we are not scared)," said Suniel Shetty. On April 22, terrorists attacked tourists at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, killing 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen, while leaving several others injured in one of the deadliest attacks in the Valley since the 2019 Pulwama strike, in which 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans were killed.
New Indian Express
30-04-2025
- New Indian Express
Tourism stakeholders criticise Kashmir's decision to close 48 tourist spots for security audit
SRINAGAR: The recent decision to temporarily close for security audit following the has drawn sharp criticism from tourism stakeholders, who fear it will tarnish the Valley's image and deter potential travellers. 'The decision to close 48 tourist destinations in Kashmir by the government is very unfortunate,' said prominent hotelier and J&K Hoteliers Club president Mushtaq Chaya. 'Closure of 48 tourist spots will send a very bad message outside and those tourists who were planning to visit Kashmir will now hesitate to travel to the Valley.' The government's move comes in the wake of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed The incident has triggered heightened security concerns and led to a comprehensive review of safety at tourist locations across Jammu and Kashmir. Officials stated that the closures are temporary and aimed at ensuring the security of visitors. The 48 destinations fall across eight districts, Srinagar, Budgam, Baramulla, Anantnag, Kulgam, Kupwara, Ganderbal and Pulwama, and include picturesque but lesser-known spots such as Yousmarg, Tosamaidan, Doodpathri, Aharbal, Kousarnag, Bangus, Verinag Garden, Sinthan Top, Margan Top, Naranag and Astanmarg Viewpoint. Some prominent locations closed in north Kashmir include Gurez, Bangus Valley, Baba Reshi and Kaman Post, areas that had only recently opened to tourists due to the improved security situation in the region. In Srinagar, the historic Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta, along with Badamwari, Rajouri Kadal, Aali Kadal, Faqir Gujri and parts of Dachigam National Park, are among the 15 places affected. In central Kashmir, Yousmarg, Tosamaidan and the rapidly emerging Doodpathri destination have been closed. In the south, tourist attractions like Aharbal, the Sun Temple in Kehribal, Verinag, Sinthan Top and Margan Top have also been affected. Travel Agents Association of Kashmir (TAAK) Secretary General Sajad Kralyari said the closures have created a negative atmosphere, resulting in a wave of cancellations. 'Closure of 48 tourist spots has added to the negativity and might lead to further cancellations,' he said. 'The officials have told us that after security clearance, these tourist spots will again be thrown open.' Despite the setbacks, Kralyari remained hopeful. 'Major tourist destinations including Sonamarg, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Dal Lake, Boulevard and Mughal Gardens are open. Ninety percent of tourists visit these places only,' he said. 'There have been about 80–90 percent cancellations. We are hopeful of revival of tourism again. We are receiving queries again.' He also credited the warm response of locals and celebrity actor Atul Kulkarni's recent visit for helping to restore confidence in Kashmir's safety. 'The hospitality displayed by the Kashmiri people after the Pahalgam terror attack and celebrity Atul Kulkarni's visit to Kashmir has sent a message outside that Kashmir is safe. We are hopeful that tourism will again pick up in the Valley,' he added. The Pahalgam attack has sparked massive outrage in the region. For the first time in over three decades of militancy, a complete shutdown was observed across the Valley against the killings of civilians. People also took out rallies and protests denouncing the violence.
