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The Hindu
09-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Over 2,000 security personnel, veterans join solidarity rally for Indian armed forces
Standing under the statue of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on the fringes of the Hussainsagar as patriotic songs rent the air and slogans of 'Jai Hind' and 'Vande Mataram' echoed through NTR Marg. It wasn't just another evening on the city's busiest lakeside road — Hyderabad was on its feet, in solidarity with the Indian armed forces. More than 2,300 personnel from Telangana's Fire Department, Disaster Response Force, Police, Special Protection Force (SPF), elite counter-terror unit Organisation for Counter Terrorists Operations (OCTOPUS) and police officials from the tri-commissionerates lined up outside the Secretariat complex on Thursday, for the 1 kilometre-odd solidarity rally. Among them marched 70 to 80 veterans of the Indian Army, Air Force, and paramilitary forces — many in uniform, some in civil, all wearing emotion on their sleeves. Joining them were top officials from the State administration and a contingent of 150 women officers from various wings of the Telangana Police. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, IT Minister D. Sridhar Babu and Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar along with other senior political representatives also joined the rally. The national flag flew high across the 250-metre-long stretch of people, carried by participants and spectators alike. As dusk fell, the rally route, bordered by the shimmering waters of Tank Bund, glowed under floodlights, turning the evening into a visual tribute to patriotism. The rally came against the backdrop of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the terrorist strike in Pahalgam, Kashmir, on April 22. Organised by the Telangana government, the event aimed to send a message of unity and support to the armed forces deployed along the border. 'The solidarity rally was our way of standing firmly behind the army at the border — a message that they are not alone,' said Rajender Sohni, a retired Indian Air Force officer. 'It's also a clear signal that India will not let those responsible go unpunished. The attack on innocent people in Pahalgam cannot be ignored. The Defence Ministry has made it clear: justice will be served, and until that happens, we will not rest.' For Captain Bandi Venu, an ex-serviceman, the day stirred memories of his time in uniform. 'I felt the same spirit today that I carried during my years in the Army,' he said. Veteran G.K. Rao, recipient of the National Seva Ratna, said, 'We may be veterans, but we are still soldiers at heart — young in spirit and fierce in purpose. To the terrorists infiltrating our motherland: we challenge you. We have struck nine times already, and we will find every corner you hide in. We are ready to serve until our last breath — for the safety and future of our youth.' Retired Flying Officer M.A.R. Hussain praised the young Indian Air Force pilots who took part in Operation Sindoor for their excellence in flying capabilities. 'The precision and bravery they have shown in destroying the terrorist camps is commendable,' he said. Over 600 Hyderabad Commissionerate officials were deployed for security and crowd management during the rally, which passed peacefully.
Indian Express
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
From evacuation to creating bunkers, what followed air raid siren during Bengaluru mock drill
A couple of minutes before 4 pm on Wednesday, a shrill siren pierced the air for nearly a minute at the Home Guards and Civil Defence Academy near the Ulsoor lake in Bengaluru, signaling the start of Karnataka's Operation Abhyaas, a week-long mock drill. As the siren was sounded, civil defence, fire and health department officials got on with their jobs on a war footing. Operation Abhyaas came following the orders of the Union home ministry in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. Incidentally, the mock drill also came hours after India carried out retaliatory strikes on nine terrorist targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. During the mock drill, the Disaster Response Force showed how it would respond if there were civilian injuries, evacuating people, creating bunkers, and building temporary hospitals. At the same time, firefighters demonstrated rescue techniques using ropes, stretchers, and nets to evacuate people from multi-storey buildings, simulating bomb-hit structures. Around 6.40 pm, a mock blackout drill was conducted turning off all lights to simulate steps to prevent enemy aircraft from detecting targets. All the mock drills were restricted to the fire department's headquarters. The mock drill is likely to be carried out for a week in various districts of Karnataka in coordination with the district administration and fire services. Home Minister G Parameshwara, who was present during the event, praised the Operation Sindoor military action against terrorists. A senior police officer said the mock drills were conducted for fire department and civil defence officials, keeping natural calamities and fires in mind, especially in the South. Such a large-scale mock drill has been conducted in the country for the first time since 1971, he added.
Hans India
28-04-2025
- Hans India
Spl drive: 1,062 caught for drunk driving
Hyderabad: As many as 77 offenders were convicted and jailed by the city police for drunk driving. The police had caught 1,062 for driving vehicles under influence of alcohol. The Cyberabad police nabbed 300 persons at the week-end during a special drive. According to the Cyberabad traffic police, of total 300, two-wheeler drivers were 231, three-wheelers 8, 58 four-wheelers and three heavy vehicles. The police said 22 offenders were found with blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) ranging between 200 mg/100 ml and 550 mg/100 ml. All apprehended will be presented before the court. Meanwhile, the Hyderabad police drive against drunk driving reported hundreds of offenders between April 19 and April 25 during a drive. Of the 1,062 offenders, 918 were two-wheelers, 45 three-wheelers, 98 cars and one heavy vehicle. The police said 65 offenders were found with BAC of 200 mg/100 ml and above. Thirty-two were in the 18-20 age group. The highest offenders were aged between 21-33 with 420 followed by 350 in 31-40 year age groups; 164 were 41-50 years old. In a special drive the police found persons were engaged in both underage drinking and drunk driving. While the traffic police booked cases against them for drunk driving, the law and order police follow up and find where they bought liquor. The police warned that people indulging in drunk driving and causing fatal accidents will be arrested and charged under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), which carries a maximum prison term up to 10 years along with a fine. Meanwhile, a Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency (HYDRA) Disaster Response Force truck removing unauthorised hoardings and banners at Kukatpally was hit by a vehicle attempting to evade a drunk driving check-post around midnight on Saturday. While the DRF staff was clearing hoardings near a location where traffic police were conducting checks, a vehicle driver, trying to avoid the inspection, swerved left and crashed into the stationary truck before fleeing. No injuries were reported, but the vehicle's front portion was damaged.
The Independent
20-02-2025
- The Independent
British tourist dies after fall during Himalayan trek
A British tourist died after falling during a trek in the Dhauladhar mountains of the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh in India. The 27-year-old man, who is still to be named pending formal identification, suffered serious injuries after falling down a cliff during the descent and was declared dead upon arrival at hospital. The victim had been hiking with a fellow British tourist near the village of Thathri on the outskirts of Dharamshala when the accident occurred. The Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Response Force launched a rescue operation on Sunday evening after it was alerted to the accident at 6pm local time. A team of 10 rescue workers navigated 'extremely difficult terrain' to reach the hikers and found them at 10.30pm. One of the men was found critically injured and secured onto a stretcher for evacuation. Progress was slow due to the rugged landscape, prompting additional rescue teams to be deployed. The Disaster Response Force said rescuers took nearly two hours to cover just 100m due to repeated crossings of a rivulet and the mountain's steep incline. The evacuation continued through the night and into Monday, with the combined efforts of all teams enabling them to bring the injured man and his friend down at 5.08pm. The injured hiker was taken to the Zonal Hospital in Dharamshala, where he was pronounced dead. Reports said the man likely sustained rib injuries from the fall. His companion was unharmed. Authorities said the British tourists were likely unaware of a ban on high-altitude trekking in Himachal Pradesh during the winter season. According to local officials, the men had arrived in Dharamshala on Friday and set off on Sunday for a trek from Dharamkot to Triund, a popular trail that reaches nearly 3,000m in altitude. The UK Foreign Office confirmed the fatality, with a spokesperson stating: "We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in India and are in contact with the local authorities." The Dhauladhar range is part of the Himalayas, which stretch across India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Pakistan. While the Triund trek is generally considered suitable for fit beginners, winter conditions significantly increase the risks.
Saudi Gazette
16-02-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Death toll from New Delhi railway station stampede rises to 18
NEW DELHI — The death toll from a stampede at New Delhi Railway Station has risen to 18, officials confirmed on police stated that the incident occurred late Saturday night due to an "unexpected rush" of passengers. An investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of the tragedy, railway officials spokesman Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay told reporters that the stampede was triggered when a man slipped and fell on the stairs, causing several others standing behind him to topple Disaster Response Force official Daulat Ram Chaudhary confirmed that the situation at the station has returned to normal and that all injured passengers have been Railways has announced financial compensation of approximately $11,500 for the families of the deceased and around $2,884 for those seriously attributed the heavy crowd to an influx of devotees traveling to board trains for Maha Kumbh Mela, India's largest Hindu festival, currently underway in the neighboring state of Uttar Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to the victims' families, while opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticized the government, stating that the tragedy "once again highlights the failure of the railways and the insensitivity of the government."'Considering the large number of devotees traveling to Prayagraj, better arrangements should have been made at the station,' Gandhi wrote on told local media that there was no crowd control at the time of the stampede comes just weeks after another tragic incident at the Maha Kumbh Mela festival. On Jan. 29, at least 30 people were killed in a stampede at the festival, which is held every 12 years on the riverbanks of Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh. Prayagraj, formerly known as Allahabad, is a sacred site for Hindus, home to the Triveni Sangam—the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers. The festival, which began on Jan. 13, is scheduled to continue until Feb. 26. — Agencies
