Latest news with #Basavraj
Indian Express
7 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Dr Shriram Nene suggests ways to beat the summer heat: ‘Drink before you are thirsty, and..'
Dr Shriram Nene, a cardiothoracic surgeon and public health advocate, often shares helpful tips and tricks on his social media to keep the public aware. In a recent upload, he shared some easy ways to help Indians tackle the unbearable heat during the summer months. 'Staying cool isn't just about comfort, it's about your health. Dehydration, fatigue, and heat strokes are real risks. But with a few smart habits, you can enjoy the season without letting the heat get to you,' he wrote on Instagram. Check out Dr Nene's suggestions below: '3.7L water for men and 2.7L for women. Drink before you are thirsty, and avoid sugary drinks and alcohol as they make it worse,' he said. Dr Basavaraj S Kumbar, Consultant- Internal Medicine, Aster Whitefield Hospital, Bengaluru, added that you should drink 8-10 glasses a day, always carry a water bottle, and add lemon, cucumber, or mint to your water for a refreshing twist. Begin with a glass of water in the morning to kick-start hydration and metabolism. 'Reduce your intake of coffee, energy drinks, and sodas. Instead, have coconut water, herbal tea, or lemon water. Too much caffeine and sugar may cause dehydration, lethargy, and bloating, leaving you feeling sluggish,' he shared. Dr Nene urged people to stay indoors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and take cold showers if they feel drained. A post shared by Dr. Shriram Nene (@drneneofficial) 'Loose, light coloured clothes > dark, tight ones. Sunblock, hat, sunglasses = heat armour,' said Dr Nene. Dr Basavraj concurred, further suggesting that people remain in shades and try to avoid direct sunlight between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. He added that people should wear protective clothing and apply sunscreen for additional protection from excess heat and dehydration. Dr Nene advised keeping the young and elderly out of the glare of the heat: 'Watch out for babies, the elderly, and folks with health issues, as they feel the heat way harder.' Dr Basavraj added a few more tips, starting with using hydration alarms or apps and abiding by the 8×8 rule (eight glasses of 8 ounces of water every day) to maintain steady intake. He added that taking small sips during the day is better than consuming huge amounts at a time. 'Make water-dense foods such as watermelon, cucumber, oranges, and strawberries a part of your diet, along with adding soups, smoothies, and fresh fruit juices. These not only hydrate but also contain crucial vitamins and minerals to cool the body,' said the expert. 'If you want to spice up your regular water, try choosing coconut water, which is high in electrolytes, or herbal teas such as chamomile or green tea, which contain antioxidants,' said Dr Basavraj. Flavoured water with fruits, mint, or cucumber makes the water tasty and provides nutrients, whereas buttermilk and fresh fruit juices keep you hydrated and fresh, he added. DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.
Indian Express
31-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Modi-Shah's unwavering resolve against Naxalism is bearing results
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has achieved what no Indian leader before him could — he has broken the backbone of Naxalism through an unrelenting mix of resolve, strategic clarity, and national will. That mission saw another major victory in Jharkhand recently. Last week, the Latehar police, in a joint operation with the CRPF, under the leadership of SP Kumar Gaurav, achieved a big success. In a fierce encounter in the forests of Ichawar, Latehar district, the forces neutralised Pappu Lohra, the top commander of the Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad (JJMP), carrying a reward of Rs 15 lakh. Alongside him, Prabhat Ganjhu, another dreaded extremist with a Rs 5 lakh bounty, was also gunned down. This marks a decisive step forward in restoring peace in Jharkhand's Naxal-hit regions. This follows another historic breakthrough in Chhattisgarh, where 26 Naxals, including top Maoist leader Nambala Keshava Rao alias Basavraj, were neutralised by security forces. Basavraj — the general secretary of the banned CPI (Maoist) and one of the most elusive Maoist leaders — carried a bounty of Rs 1 crore. His elimination has dealt perhaps the biggest blow ever to the Maoist movement, shattering both its ideological leadership and operational backbone. This is not an isolated success; it is the result of a decade-long campaign against Left-wing extremism waged under Modi's leadership and Union Home Minister Amit Shah's precise and forceful execution. The red corridor — once a symbol of bloodshed, state retreat, and Maoist tyranny — is now shrinking both geographically and ideologically. When PM Modi assumed office in 2014, the Naxal threat was at a dangerous peak. Over 120 districts, spanning dense forests in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Maharashtra, lay under the shadow of Maoist rule, enforced not by law but by guns. The state vacillated between paralysis and misplaced appeasement. Civilians paid the price with high casualties, security forces were repeatedly ambushed, and India's internal security apparatus was stretched thin. The country's unity and sovereignty were under severe threat. Modi's approach was radically different. He declared Naxalism the country's most serious internal security threat and vowed not merely to manage but to decisively defeat it. This vision has evolved into a comprehensive, multi-pronged strategy — blending tactical precision, last-mile development, and deep political will. The results today speak volumes. From 126 Naxal-affected districts in 2014, the number has been pared down to just 38. The most affected districts have halved from 12 to six; districts of concern dropped from nine to six, and the category of other LWE-affected districts plummeted from 17 to six. Violent incidents attributed to Maoists have fallen by over 50 per cent since 2013 — from 1,091 to 412 in 2023. Civilian deaths have declined by a staggering 86 per cent, and casualties among security personnel have reduced by 77 per cent. In 2014, 56 jawans were martyred while 63 Naxals were killed; today, these numbers have reversed, proving the state has regained control and momentum. But the Modi-Shah doctrine is not just about guns and operations. It embodies a philosophy of replacing alienation with aspiration. Recognising that Naxalism thrives in areas of deprivation and neglect, the government launched massive development initiatives in insurgency-affected tribal regions. Thousands of kilometres of roads have been constructed, opening up villages once cut off from the rest of the country. Mobile network coverage in core LWE areas soared from under 30 per cent to over 90 per cent, connecting millions digitally for the first time. The government's Special Central Assistance Scheme guarantees Rs 30 crore annually to each severely affected district, ensuring targeted development reaches the grassroots. Over Rs 6,500 crore has been disbursed to enhance police capabilities, build infrastructure, and modernise security forces. Piped water, solar lighting, health centres, fortified police stations — are all now visible in areas that were once lawless and unreachable. This is governance reclaiming the lost spaces of the republic. Equally crucial has been the humane policy of surrender and rehabilitation. More than 8,000 Naxals have laid down their arms since 2014, with 1,600 surrendering in just the past 16 months. These former militants, many battle-hardened cadres, are being offered new lives through rehabilitation and skill development, further weakening the insurgency. Shah's clear dual-track approach — embrace those who return to peace, crush those who persist in violence — has delivered far better results than decades of vacillation. While the Modi-Shah doctrine has shown unwavering resolve, the contrast with the previous UPA regime could not be starker. The UPA government's approach to Naxalism was marked by confusion, inconsistency, and a clear lack of political will. While the then Union Home Minister P Chidambaram famously declared in 2011 that 'winning hearts is key to winning the battle against Naxalism' and ruled out the possibility of a military operation, senior Congress leaders like K Keshava Rao openly labelled Naxalism as a 'socio-economic problem', urging the Centre to 'solve it instead of running away from it.' The most glaring example was the appointment of Binayak Sen — convicted on the charge of being a Maoist sympathiser — to the Planning Commission's Steering Committee on Health during the drafting of the 12th Five Year Plan. The results today are a testament to the government's unwavering resolve and strategic clarity. Through a calibrated blend of security action, development outreach, and political determination, Naxalism has been taken up head on. As India marches toward a Naxal-free future by 2026, PM Modi's doctrine stands as a model of how strong leadership can overcome even the most entrenched internal threats. The writer is national spokesperson, BJP
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Top CPI (M) leader Basavraj among 30 Naxals killed in Chhattisgarh operation
CPI(Maoist) general secretary N Keshava Rao alias Basavraj NEW DELHI: Top CPI(Maoist) leader Nambala Keshava Rao alias Basavraj is among the around 27-30 Naxals killed in an intelligence-based operation by the security forces in Narayanpur, according to Chhattisgarh government sources. Sources indicated that several top Naxal commanders and wanted insurgents are among those neutralised in the operation, which was on for the past three days. Chhattisgarh government and CRPF sources told TOI that apart from Basavraj, other senior CPI(Maoist) leaders may be among the deceased. Their identities are being established or confirmed before putting out an official list. Basavraj, aged 68 years, was CPI(Maoist) general secretary and member of its Politburo, Central committee and the Central Military Commission. He hailed from Jiyyannapeta in Srikakulam district of Telangana and had done engineering from the Regional Engineering College, Warangal. Basavraj carried a Rs 1 crore bounty on his head, declared by NIA and various state governments including Chhattisgarh govt. Known by at least 8 aliases — Gaganna, Prakash, Krishna, Vijay, Basavraj, Umesh, Raju and Kamlu — Keshava Rao had taken over the reins of CPI(Maoist) from Ganapathy after the latter stepped back due to age and unspecified ailments. The major anti-Naxal operation in Narayanpur, following the largest ever, 21-day Operation Blackforest in Karreguttalu Hills on the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border, killed 31 Maoists and led to recovery of a huge cache of weapons and Naxal supplies. Chhattisgarh chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Wednesday commended the courage and determination of the security personnel involved in the Narayanpur operation. He stated, 'Our brave soldiers have been standing firm for three days, facing extremely challenging terrain with unmatched dedication and bravery. This fight is not just against Naxals but in favor of peace and development. The entire state salutes their spirit. ' The search operation is still underway, with sources indicating that recoveries may include a large cache of weapons and other materials.
Indian Express
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Led deadliest attacks: Who is Basavraj, top Maoist man killed in Abujhmad encounter?
In a major breakthrough in the fight against Left Wing Extremism, security forces have gunned down top Maoist leader Nambala Keshav Rao, popularly known as Basavraj. He is one of the 26 Naxals killed in the encounter in Abujhmad, Chhattisgarh. Basavraj succeeded Ganapathy as CPI (Maoist) general secretary in 2018. Ganapathy or Muppala Lakshman Rao was the first general secretary after the People's War and MCC merged in 2004 to form the CPI (Maoist). He is believed to have fled to the Philippines. Basavraj, who graduated from REC Warangal, is around 70. He is best known for leading the attacks in which Maoist killed 76 CRPF personnel at Chintalnar, and for ambushing a Congress convoy at Jhiram Ghati in which state party leaders were stabbed and gunned down. He hails from Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh and was attracted to the CPI(ML) People's War Group from an early age. He eventually joined it in the early 1980s. Prior to getting attracted to Maoist ideology, Basavraj was a kabaddi player in school and junior college. He was known to be one of the most academically accomplished Naxal leaders, with a degree from the National Institute of Technology, Warangal. Basavraj was heading the CPI (Maoist) Military Commission when, in November 2018, he was asked to take over as the General Secretary after the resignation of Ganapathy. Keshava Rao graduated at a time when the NIT, which was earlier known as Regional Engineering College (REC), had become a fountainhead of Maoist ideology and many students who studied at the institute went on to join the Maoist movement. He is known to have hobnobbed with other guerrilla movements like the LTTE and worked extensively in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh. He was also known as an explosives expert who prepared deadly IEDs used to ambush security forces, and was the NIA's most wanted man with a reward of over Rs 1 crore. The killing of Araku Telugu Desam Party MLA Kidari Sarveswara Rao and ex-MLA Siveri Soma on September 23, 2018, by the Maoists is attributed to a plan set in motion by Basvaraj. According to sources, the operation by the District Reserve Guard (DRG) from four districts of Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur and Kondagaon was undertaken based on information that a senior Maoist leader was hiding in a specific area in Abujhmad. The Abujhmad is unsurveyed land larger than the state of Goa. While a large part of it is in Narayanpur, it also extends to Bijapur, Dantewada, Kanker and Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district.
NDTV
19-05-2025
- Climate
- NDTV
Waterlogging After Heavy Rain In Bengaluru, MLA Visits Affected Area On JCB
Quick Reads Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. Heavy rainfall in Bengaluru has caused severe waterlogging, disrupting daily life and leading to traffic congestion. Many areas are flooded, damaging homes and belongings. Authorities are clearing water and have issued alerts for continued heavy rain. Bengaluru: Heavy rainfall since the last 48 hours in Bengaluru has resulted in severe waterlogging in several low-lying areas of the city and putting a halt to the daily life. Many tree branches fell and vehicles broke down due to the heavy waterlogging, causing a traffic congestion in the city, which is already known for its infamous traffic concerns. Visuals showed people wading through knee-deep water as the city's drainage system failed to cope with the sudden downpour. Streets turned into streams, and several vehicles were seen partially submerged. Commuters were also left stranded as public transport services slowed down. The water also entered many houses in residential areas, with people's belongings soaked and electronic items damaged. Officials moved the affected residents to a safer area. The affected districts include Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Tumakuru, Mandya, Mysuru, Hassan, Kodagu, Belagavi, Bidar, Raichur, Yadgir, Davanagere, and Chitradurga. Sai Layout and the Horamavu locality were among the worst-affected areas. Amid the severe waterlogging, local MLA B Basavraj on Monday visited the affected area in Sai Layout on a JCB. During his visit, Mr Basavraj took stock of the situation. Authorities are using JCBs to clear waterlogging in some areas - especially those where water has entered the homes of residents. Alert issued in Karnataka The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a 'yellow' alert for heavy rain in coastal Karnataka, while an 'orange' alert for very heavy rain in north and south interior Karnataka. In Bengaluru, the weather department has issued an alert for heavy rain in districts including Udupi, Belagavi, Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri, and Shivamogga, among others. "Scattered to widespread moderate rain with thunder and lightning in coastal districts and heavy rain at isolated places across the state in southern interior districts today and tomorrow, in northern interior districts from May 19 to 22 is expected," the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre said in a post on X. ಮುಂದಿನ 7 ದಿನಗಳ #ಹವಾಮಾನ #ಮುನ್ಸೂಚನೆ ಮತ್ತು #ಎಚ್ಚರಿಕೆಗಳು: (ಮೂಲ: IMD) ರಾಜ್ಯದಾದ್ಯಂತ ಅಲ್ಲಲ್ಲಿ ಗುಡುಗು, ಮಿಂಚು ಸಹಿತ ಕರಾವಳಿ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಚದುರಿದಿಂದ ವ್ಯಾಪಕವಾಗಿ ಸಾಧಾರಣ ಮಳೆ ಹಾಗೂ ಅಲ್ಲಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾರಿ ಮಳೆ, ದಕ್ಷಿಣ ಒಳನಾಡು ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಇಂದು ಮತ್ತು ನಾಳೆ, ಉತ್ತರ ಒಳನಾಡು ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮೇ 19 ರಿಂದ 22 ರವರೆಗೆ ಹಾಗೂ — Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (@KarnatakaSNDMC) May 19, 2025 An IMD official said, "As per the current pattern of the cyclonic circulation, Karnataka, especially the coastal parts, will get heavy rainfall. Bengaluu is also expected to receive heavy rainfall for the next two days." In its daily bulletin issued on Sunday, the weather department also warned of temporary power disruptions, minor traffic issues, and the possible uprooting of weak trees due to the weather conditions. It advised residents in the affected areas to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel.
