Latest news with #Brijesh
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
PWD to begin ₹29.5 lakh repair of road leading to Garden of Five Senses amid safety concerns
Commuters to Delhi's Garden of Five Senses will soon have a smoother and safer ride, as the Public Works Department (PWD) has floated a tender for the repair and maintenance of the damaged roundabout leading up to the popular park in Said-Ul-Azaib village, near Mehrauli. The twenty-acre park, inaugurated in February 2003, features the Khas Bagh, inspired by Mughal garden design, complete with water channels, flowering shrubs, and tree-lined paths. (HT Photo) The ₹29,50,430 project was tendered on Saturday, with the PWD setting a two-month deadline for completion. The planned work includes road excavation, concrete laying and smoothing, replacement of existing pavement blocks with old PWD-provided ones, and installation of cement road barriers to segregate traffic lanes—a feature currently missing from the road. The decision comes amid growing concerns over road safety. A spot check by HT found that all roads connecting to the roundabout are in poor condition, with multiple potholes, long-running cracks, and uneven surfaces, causing frequent jolts to vehicles and raising accident risks. 'There are no barriers separating lanes. Vehicles are often forced to brake suddenly due to potholes and cracks, leading to crashes,' said Brijesh, an ice cream vendor stationed near the park's main gate. 'This happened around 12 days ago, when an auto slowed down and was hit by a car from behind.' Auto-rickshaw drivers echoed these concerns. 'The sudden jerks from potholes often cause the front axle to snap,' said one rickshaw driver, requesting anonymity. 'It happened 15 days ago when one of my workers was driving. The auto fell, injuring him.' He added that axle damage occurs two to three times a month, with repairs costing ₹1,200 each time. Locals also highlighted poor maintenance of greenery, which obscures visibility. 'It's difficult to spot oncoming vehicles at turns, leading to accidents,' said a worker in the area, requesting not to be named. Despite the hazards, the pavements remain unusable, either occupied by parked vehicles or buried under mud and construction debris. In many stretches, pavements are completely missing. Brijesh welcomed the upcoming repairs. 'It should be fixed. It's a public facility. If it were fixed, then fewer accidents would occur,' he said. The upgrade coincides with a planned revamp of the Garden of Five Senses by the Delhi Tourism Department, which has recently invited consultants to submit proposals. The twenty-acre park, inaugurated in February 2003, features the Khas Bagh, inspired by Mughal garden design, complete with water channels, flowering shrubs, and tree-lined paths.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Student withdraws petition from HC after Panjab University finds result notification to be fake
In a dramatic turn during a hearing at the Punjab and Haryana High Court, a law student seeking directions to the Panjab University (PU) to release his LLB degree and marksheets withdrew his petition after the university alleged that the result notification he relied on was forged, and that he had probably never even appeared for the exams. R K Baidwan, the petitioner, had approached the court claiming he had completed his three-year LLB course in May 2023, but the university had failed to issue his degree and detailed marks certificates. Represented by advocate Brijesh and present in person, Baidwan sought court intervention to compel the university to release the documents. But the tables turned quickly. Appearing on advance notice, PU counsel Akshay Kumar Goel told the court that the notification Baidwan had attached, dated November 25, 2024, was fake. 'It is a forged document bearing three signatures. At no point did the petitioner appear for the LLB examination,' Goel submitted. Confronted with the allegation in court, Baidwan made a surprising admission. Acting on instructions from his client, advocate Brijesh told the bench of Justice Harsimran Singh Sethi that Baidwan had been 'misled' by one Rahul Kumar, who served as the vice-president of the Panjab University Campus Student Council in 2019. Baidwan claimed Kumar had given him the forged notification, and insisted he was unaware that the document was fake. The petitioner expressed remorse, saying he regretted filing the case based on the forged document. Seeking forgiveness and promising not to repeat the 'mistake,' Baidwan prayed for permission to withdraw the petition. Justice Sethi allowed the withdrawal, disposing of the case and any pending applications. The court order also noted that the matter was 'not pressed any further,' effectively closing the chapter though the question of criminal liability for using a forged document in court may still linger.
Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
‘It wasn't clouds!': Mangalore guy captures Milky Way on cam after village gets no power for 2 days
What if you woke up one day at night and witnessed the Milky Way from your backyard in all its glory? Something similar happened to photographer Brijesh Naik, from Kepu, Mangalore, who took to Instagram to share the story. Photographer Brijesh Naik, from Kepu, Mangalore, took to Instagram to share his story of capturing the Milky Way. Thousands of travellers from around the globe travel to areas with no light pollution, chasing dark skies, to witness the Milky Way. Moreover, in India, places like the Rann of Kutch, Nag Tibba, Pin Valley, Ladakh, and many other destinations are known for being the best places to marvel at the Milky Way. However, Brijesh managed to witness it at his village. Witnessing the Milky Way at a village in India In a post shared on August 2, captioned, 'Saw Milky Way for the first time,' Brijesh revealed that his village had no electricity for two days because of heavy rain and strong winds. Bored at home, he stepped outside for some air, and it was then, he witnessed something beautiful. 'I looked up…I saw something unusual. It looked like a cloud. Since it's the rainy season, I didn't think much of it. But then I noticed…the stars were shining through it. I grabbed my camera and took long exposure photos. Then I realised it wasn't clouds. It was…the Milky Way. No power that night…but the universe lit up,' he wrote in the video. The photographer also shared pictures of the galaxy that he captured that day. How did the internet react The internet loved Brijesh's video and showered him with compliments. Some also criticised how light pollution has ruined witnessing night skies for people. An Instagram user wrote, 'Light pollution is the greatest enemy for astro photography. Your captures are really awesome. I wish I could take photos like this, too.' A user commented, 'I still remember those nights from my childhood, like around 2012, lying on the rooftop, staring at the stars. The Milky Way was clearly visible back then, and I used to wonder… what's really out there.' Another wrote, 'I liked the reel even before the photos arrived, because I knew it had to be good…stunning capture.' Best places to stargaze in India 1. Hanle, Ladhak (It is the home to the Indian Astronomical Observatory and also the only dark sky reserve in the country) 2. Pangong Lake, Ladakh 3. Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh 4. Mubra Valley, Ladakh, 5. Rann of Kutch, Gujarat 6. Coorg, Karnataka 7. Jaisalmer, Rajasthan 8. Nag Tibba, Uttarakhand
Hindustan Times
11-07-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Experts to analyse cause of deaths of cleaning workers at Delhi hospital
Police are roping in industrial and forensic experts to probe Tuesday's deaths of two workers, allegedly due to inhalation of toxic fumes while cleaning a sewage treatment plant (STP) tank at a private hospital in west Delhi. The experts will help establish what led to the gas emissions and if there were any mechanical or technical faults in the STP, officers, two senior police officers said on Thursday. Police personnel at the construction site of Balaji Action hospital in Paschim Vihar on Wednesday. (Sanchit Khanna/HT PHOTO) 'This will help us understand the circumstances under which the two labourers died. The experts will also help us to ascertain if the fumes inside the tank were strong enough to displace oxygen in the confined space (tank). We suspect that the labourers fainted and collapsed, allegedly after inhaling hydrogen sulphide and methane gases. However, we are waiting for the autopsy and forensic reports to corroborate the same,' said one of the officers familiar with the probe. The deceased — Brijesh, 26, and Vikram, 38, both from Uttar Pradesh's Hardoi district — were employed by a private firm that had the annual maintenance contract (AMC) for the STP at Sri Balaji Action Hospital, according to the police. On Tuesday around 6.30pm, Brijesh was the first to enter the tank and collapsed within two minutes, possibly after inhaling toxic gases. When he did not respond, other labourers ran to call for help. But by the time they returned, Vikram had gone in after him. He too fainted. Both were rushed to the hospital, where they were declared dead, police said. 'The supervisors and other officials of the private firm have joined our probe and we are recording their statements. Some officials of the hospital's safety department have also been questioned. Since a detailed technical investigation is needed in the case, we are roping in industrial, forensic and technical experts. The documents related to the AMC contract between the hospital and the private firm are also being examined,' said deputy commissioner of police (outer) Sachin Sharma. A case under Section 106 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for death by negligence, and Section 9 of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, was registered at Paschim Vihar East police station.
Hindustan Times
10-07-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Daily wagers die cleaning STP tank at west Delhi hospital
Two daily wage workers died at a private hospital in west Delhi's Paschim Vihar on Tuesday evening, allegedly after inhaling toxic fumes while cleaning a sewage treatment plant (STP) tank on the hospital premises, police said on Wednesday. Though the FIR does not name any suspects, a senior police officer said investigations will cover the hospital administration, the private firm, and its supervisors. (Sanchit Khanna/ HT Photo) The deceased — Brijesh, 26, and Vikram, 38, both from Uttar Pradesh's Hardoi district — were employed by a private firm that had the annual maintenance contract (AMC) for the STP at Sri Balaji Action Hospital, according to the police. Senior officers said the labourers were provided only blue disposable masks and no other protective or life-saving equipment. The incident occurred around 6.30pm on Tuesday. A case under Section 106 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for death by negligence, and Section 9 of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, has been registered at Paschim Vihar East police station. Deputy commissioner of police (outer) Sachin Sharma said action was taken following the medico-legal reports from the hospital. 'The workers were declared dead by the attending doctor. Initial investigation revealed that both had lost consciousness while engaged in the maintenance of a carbon filter. The work was being undertaken by the AMC contractor,' Sharma said. Though the FIR does not name any suspects, a senior police officer said investigations will cover the hospital administration, the private firm, and its supervisors. 'Those found responsible for the negligence that led to the deaths will be prosecuted as per law,' the officer said, requesting anonymity. Under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, the manual cleaning of sewers, septic tanks or STPs without protective gear and proper safety measures is strictly prohibited. The law holds employers — including contractors and institutions — criminally liable in case of hazardous cleaning-related deaths, with provisions for imprisonment and fines. Despite the ban, such incidents continue to occur across the country, often due to lax enforcement and the use of informal labour. Dr Sunil Sumbli, medical superintendent and head of medical services at Action Balaji Hospital, declined to comment on the matter. Attempts to contact Friends Enviro Engineers, the contractor firm located at 136, Nehru Market, Badarpur, New Delhi, via phone calls and messages went unanswered. Vikram's cousin, Shatrughan Gautam, 22, also a daily wage worker at the hospital, said he was present when the incident occurred. He alleged that no proper safety equipment was provided to the labourers during the maintenance work. 'Five of us, including Brijesh and Vikram, were asked to stay after 5pm for the STP maintenance. We were given only blue disposable masks,' he said. Describing the sequence of events, Gautam said Brijesh was the first to enter the tank and collapsed within two minutes, possibly after inhaling toxic gases. 'When he didn't respond, we ran to call for help. But by the time we returned, Vikram had gone in after him. He too fainted. Brijesh's body had started turning black. Vikram's hadn't,' he said. Gautam blamed two sub-contractors — Praveen Mishra and Arvind Mishra — for the deaths. 'Brijesh had told them earlier that he was getting headaches from the fumes. Still, they insisted he enter the tank. We don't know if Vikram went in voluntarily or was told to,' he said. Fire department officials later rescued the men and rushed them to the hospital, where they were declared brought dead. Gautam said the labourers were told that chemical materials needed to be poured into the tank and levelled manually. 'There were at least 20 bags of chemicals and materials to be spread out by foot. The supervisors said human help was essential to finish the work and that we could leave only after it was done,' he said. The labourers were being paid around ₹430 per day, according to their colleagues. They typically reported to work at 8am and finished by 5pm. Vikram is survived by his wife, four children, and his parents. Brijesh is survived by his wife and parents. Santosh Gautam, also in his 20s, and a daily wage electrician at the same hospital, said neither of the deceased had any formal training in tank maintenance or dealing with toxic gases. 'Vikram was my cousin. He had joined barely 15–20 days ago. We didn't know he was being asked to clean or work inside the tanks,' he said. DCP Sharma said a crime scene team and forensic experts from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) were called in for a thorough inspection and documentation, including scene photography. The bodies were later sent to a government hospital mortuary for post-mortem examination. 'A case has been registered under relevant sections of law. The investigation is under way,' he added.
