Latest news with #Devaraj
Time of India
a day ago
- Sport
- Time of India
‘No father should see this': Heartbreaking story of pani puri vendor who lost son in Bengaluru stampede
Bengaluru Stampede BENGALURU: Devaraj NT, 43, a pani puri vendor, cannot believe his son is gone. 'His eyes used to light up when he spoke about cricket,' Devaraj said, voice trembling. 'Now, they are shut forever and my world has crashed. ' His son, Manoj Kumar , was just 18. A second-year BBM student at Presidency College, Manoj went to see his favourite team, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, celebrate their historic IPL win. He did not return alive. Devaraj, inconsolable, remembers his son as a dreamer with a heart full of ambition. 'He grew up watching me work day and night, trying to make ends meet. He always said he wanted to study well, earn, and make our lives easier. My lovely son… he wanted to do so much,' he said. Manoj went to the stadium with three of his neighbourhood friends. 'They told me it was Manoj who convinced them to go,' Devaraj said. 'I wish he hadn't gone.' Cricket wasn't just a pastime for Manoj; it was passion, joy, and an escape. 'He knew every detail about the game, every player, every statistic. He would light up while watching matches, cheering like his life depended on it. He found happiness in it. That love it took him away from me.' Now, with his dreams shattered, Devaraj is left with only memories of a bright, cheerful boy with glittering eyes and a heart full of promise. 'No father should ever have to see his child like this,' he said.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
‘Ready to give Rs 50 lakh. Will they bring back my son?': Day after Bengaluru stampede, victims' kin slam government
A day after a stampede at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru claimed the lives of 11 people as lakhs of people gathered to catch a glimpse of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) cricket team that won the IPL, several family members of the deceased hit out at the government and civic authorities on Thursday for the lapse in arrangements. A schoolgirl, a teenager who was in Bengaluru to collect his transfer certificate, an engineering student, and a civil engineer were among the 11 people who died in the tragedy. 1. Divyanshi B S: A fan who wanted to see Kohli Fourteen-year-old Divyanshi B S was passionate about cricket and a big fan of Virat Kohli. 'She wanted to see him up close. Her wish cost her her life,' Divyanshi's mother, Ashwini U L, said on Thursday. A Class 9 student who stayed in Yelahanka in Bengaluru, Divyanshi was a dancer who wanted to become a veterinarian doctor, her mother said. 'She was a very mature person. In fact, she used to inspire me on how to handle situations in life,' Ashwini said. 'Not just Virat Kohli, she knew the achievements of Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil Dev and even other players,' Ashwini, who had accompanied her daughter to watch the RCB felicitation at Chinnaswamy stadium, added. 2. Manoj Kumar: A father's hopes dashed Devaraj N T, a pani puri vendor in Bengaluru, was watching TV when he saw the news about a stampede at Chinnaswamy stadium. He immediately dialled his son, Manoj Kumar, 20, a BBA student at Presidency College. 'Someone else picked up the phone. I sensed something amiss,' Devaraj said. Kumar's family shifted to Bengaluru 22 years ago. A native of Tumakuru, Kumar stayed with his parents in Yelahanka. 'The police called me and asked me to come to Bowring Hospital. I did not have the courage to see my son's dead body,' Devaraj said. 'He went to the event with two of his friends. He had told me that he would only go to Vidhana Soudha. I did not know that he had gone near Chinnaswamy stadium,' he added. Reacting to the government announcing compensation of Rs 10 lakh, Devaraj said, 'I am ready to give Rs 50 lakh…Rs 1 crore. Will they get my son back?' 3. Prajwal G: Went to stadium despite mother's plea Prajwal G, 22, was an engineering graduate and an employee at a private firm. An RCB fan who celebrated the team's win with friends on Tuesday night, Prajwal ignored his mother's entreaties not to go to the Chinnasawmy stadium on Wednesday. 'He went against my will,' his mother, Pavithra, said on Thursday. Prajwal used to stay at Yelahanka New Town and was the only son of Pavithra and Ganesh. 'By 5.30 pm, I received the call about the incident. I went to the police station and they took me to Vydehi Hospital. There were unidentified dead bodies, and the doctors told me to see them. Hoping that it would not be my son, I entered, and then my life shattered. His body was kept as he slept at home. The government has killed my son,' Pavithra cried. 4. Poorna Chandra: A Mysuru engineer with plans to get married Poorna Chandra, 26, who hailed from K R Pet taluk in Mandya district, worked as a civil engineer in Mysuru and was a big RCB fan. On Wednesday, he was in Bengaluru to meet a woman that his family was keen to see him get married to. 'I had asked him to visit the girl's house. After visiting the house, he went to the stadium. We were not aware of it. By 6 pm, we received the call that he was dead,' Poorna's father, R B Chandru, told the media. His body was taken to his village on Thursday for the final rites. 5. Chinmayi Shetty: Trip with classmates ends in tragedy Chinmayi Shetty, 19, was not an avid cricket fan, but decided to join her classmates as they made their way to the Chinnaswamy stadium to join the RCB celebrations. An engineering student who also studied Yakshagana, Chinmayi was a resident of Doddakallasandra and hailed from Mangaluru. 'She called me over the phone at about 1.30 pm and said that she was heading to the stadium. She did not have a craze for cricket, but went there with her classmates. At 5.30 pm, I received the call that she was dead,' Chinmayi's father Karunakara Shetty said. 'I have lost my daughter. What will I do with the compensation? I want my daughter back,' Karunakara cried. 6. Shivalingu Chandappa: Was in Bengaluru to get his TC Seventeen-year-old Shivalingu, who hailed from Yadgir, was in Bengaluru to receive his transfer certificate. After collecting his documents, he decided to visit the Chinnaswamy stadium. 'I was watching TV and was blaming the public, wondering why they needed to go to the stadium and Vidhana Soudha in such big numbers. I was unaware that my son was also there,' Shivalingu's father, Honnappa, who works as a labourer in Honigeri village in Yadgir district, said. 'By evening, we received the call that Shivalingu was no more,' he added. 7. Bhoomik Lakshman: A fateful outing with friends Bhoomik Lakshman, 19, was a resident of M S Ramaiah Layout. According to his father, Lakshman D H, Bhoomik visited the Chinnaswamy stadium with his friends. 'He did not inform me, but at around 3 pm, he made a video call to his mother and showed her the celebrations. Later, I heard that there was a stampede. I tried reaching him over the phone, but he did not pick up the call,' Lakshman said. 'My son could have been saved if there were proper medical facilities. My son was killed due to the apathy of the civic agencies and the government,' he added.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Farmers seek compensation for loss of land to power transmission lines
Representatives of the State Sugarcane Growers' Association met Energy Minister K J George on Wednesday seeking a fair compensation for the loss of cultivable land due to Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) drawing power transmission cables and installation of towers. In a memorandum submitted to the Minister, association's oganisational secretary Attahalli Devaraj said high voltage 66/11 KV and 220 KV power transmission lines of KPTCL passed over agricultural lands, resulting in loss of cultivable area for many farmers. The transmission lines from KPTCL Mini Station in Gejjeyanavaddaragudi in Hunsur sub division passed through several villages, including Dharmapura, Karimuddanahalli, Aspatre Kaval, Basti Maranahalli, Hallada Koppalu, Udduru Kaval, Tarikal and other areas in Hunsur. These power transmission lines and towers built on the land have not been accompanied by any clear steps regarding compensation to the affected farmers, the association said. 'In response to an RTI application, the officials have claimed that land rates were fixed during a meeting held with farmers in March 2024. But, when asked which specific farmers or land owners attended the meeting, the officials said no farmers had agreed to be present at the meeting. This clearly indicates that the farmers were not part of the decision-making exercise and fair land rate had not been determined', Mr. Devaraj alleged, while contending that the authorities had held meetings on the issue without bringing it to the notice of the land-owning farmers or seeking their consent. The association sought to bring to the Minister's notice that the market rate of the land in the region was ₹2 lakh per gunta. Hence, a fair rate should be determined for the land and an appropriate compensation amount should be fixed. The farmers' body also contended that the transmission lines had already been electrified without the farmers' consent. The association pointed out that farmers in villages such as Koodanahalli, Devalapura, Marasettihalli, Joranahalli, Varuna and Vajamangala too had not been adequately compensated while drawing the 220 KV line from Kadakola to Vajamangala in Mysuru taluk. 'Their lands lie near layouts where land prices range between ₹6 lakh and ₹10 lakh per gunta, while the department quotes only ₹50,000 to ₹60,000', Mr. Devaraj said in the memorandum. Irrigation pumpsets The association urged the government to discontinue the policy of Aadhaar-linked registration and meter installation for irrigation pumpsets. The irrigation pumpsets of farmers should be regularised upon payment of ₹5,000, the association said. For lands that had been affected by power transmission lines, the government should provide free electricity connections for irrigation pumpsets, it added.
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Farmers seek increase in FRP for sugarcane
State Sugarcane Cultivators' Association has sought an increase in Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane for the current season 2025-26. A delegation of farmers, led by Atahalli Devaraj, secertary of the association, met the authorities in Bengaluru on Wednesday and submitted their demands. Mr. Devaraj told reporters here on Thursday that FRP for sugarcane has been increased by only ₹150 a tonne, which, he said, is unscientific. A review must be conducted, and the price should be fixed at ₹4,500 a tonne as per the CACP (Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices) report, he added. The association members also reiterated their long-pending demand of fair share of profits accrued from sugarcane by-products, by the sugar mills. In a memorandum submitted to the authorities, the association said the government has fixed an additional price of ₹150 a tonne for sugarcane by-products. But the sugar mills were yet to pay the amount due for the previous year (2024-25), and steps should be taken to ensure that the amount was released to the farmers immediately, Mr. Devaraj said. The association claimed that there was an outstanding amount of ₹950 crore payable to the sugarcane farmers. On the issue of computing the rates, the farmers said that FRP should be the price at the field and pointed out that sugar mills tend to recover transportation charges from field to factories. This, Mr. Devaraj said, should be stopped. The association pointed out that sugar factories deduct 25% of payment for sugarcane crop that was burnt due to fire and wanted the government to step in and end this practice. Seeking transparency in weighing, the farmers have sought the installation of weighing machine in front of sugar mills. Besides, there is an 8% deduction by way of wastage during harvesting and this should also be stopped, according to the association. The delegation, which met senior officials of the Directorate of Sugarcane Development and Sugar, also discussed other issues faced by farmers and urged the authorities to address their demands.
New Indian Express
02-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Parents anxious as RTE admissions yet to begin in Tamil Nadu
COIMBATORE: Many parents across Tamil Nadu are awaiting the School Education Department's notification on Right to Education (RTE) admissions in private schools, for the 2025-26 academic year. Parents said that the admission process through the single-window portal usually commences in April and the notification is released in March. A parent, P Devaraj from Thondamuthur in Coimbatore, told TNIE that currently, admissions have started at private and government schools since March, for the next academic year. He said that he has been waiting to admit his four-year-old son to the kindergarten section in a private school under the RTE Act. 'As the government is delaying the release of RTE notification for admissions, I am confused if I should admit my son to a government school instead,' he said. Many other parents share Devaraj's plight. V Eswaran, Founder of Marumalarchi Makkal Iyakkam, told TNIE that under the RTE Act, over one lakh students from economically weaker backgrounds get admitted to 25% of seats in the lower classes at private schools in the state. 'As the government has not released the notification, people are left in the lurch,' he said. 'Last year, parents submitted admission applications from April 22, and educational officers scrutinised them in May. Eligible students were admitted on June 3. Now, even though the School Education Minister announced that schools would reopen on June 2, ground work for RTE admissions is yet to commence. This delay will affect admissions,' he said. He pointed out that the central and state governments together cover their education fees and suspects that the state government plans to drop RTE admissions, citing the central government's failure to release grants. Eswaran warned that if the state government does not release the notification in five days, they would hold a protest on May 8. KR Nandakumar, general secretary, TN Nursery, Matriculation and CBSE Schools Association, told TNIE that several parents have been enquiring about RTE admissions since April. 'Even when we enquired with the Directorate of Matriculation Schools (DMS), officials did not give a reason for delay,' he said. A top official from DMS told TNIE that RTE admission notification would be released in five days.
