Latest news with #JCBs
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
Narmada: A team of 60 rescues leopard 12 days after attacks on woman, child
It took a team of 60, comprising forest officers and volunteers, several hours of gruelling search and a nearly 12-day combing operation to rescue a wild leopard that is believed to be behind two back-to-back attacks on humans in Sagbara taluka of Narmada district. The said attacks include a fatal one involving a nine-year-old. On Saturday night, forest officials managed to tranquilise the animal after two near-miss hits earlier during the week, after trapping it inside a net in a sugarcane field in Beda Pani village of Sagbara taluka. Forest officials believe that the wild leopard, a four-year-old adult male, had lived in the sugarcane field for a brief period owing to easy access to prey in nearby villages. Range Forest Officer (RFO) Sagbara Abhay Singh told this newspaper, 'We managed to rescue the leopard after tranquilising it on Saturday night in a sugarcane field in Beda Pani village, which is within a three kilometre periphery of Kolvan, where the nine-year-old had been dragged and killed by the leopard. Our analysis, so far, based on the pug marks and other indications, says that the same leopard has been involved in both the attacks.' It was in Beda Pani that a 40-year-old woman was attacked in her sleep with the big cat biting off a part of her ear. Singh said that the forest department teams, comprising experts from Banaskantha, Devgadh Baria and Chhota Udepur, camped in the periphery of the two villages where the forest department had also set up multiple trap cages for over a week, but did not find succeed. Singh said, 'We waited for weeks to see if the leopard walked into the cage but he did not… Therefore, four days ago, we began combing the sugarcane fields as we had analysed the movement and concluded that it was hiding in the fields. We used our tractors and JCBs to comb the fields, causing the leopard to move. On two occasions, the tranquilisation teams also hit successful darts but the leopard managed to escape. On Saturday, it was cornered in a spot where we were able to trap it in a net and then tranquilise it.' Singh added that the leopard has now been taken to the Forest Rescue Centre in Timbi village of Rajpipla in the district while directions will be sought from the Chief Wildlife Warden (CWW) of Gujarat to decide the further action. Singh said, 'We will submit the report to the CWW as per protocol. The CWW will decide if the leopard should be released in a core forest area with a prey base or be sent to a centre earmarked for leopards involved in human conflict resulting in death. Since this leopard has been involved in at least two human attacks within a week, we will await appropriate directions…' Meanwhile, the forest officials will continue night patrolling in the villages in Sagbara to ascertain if more big cats have been moving in the revenue area. Singh said that with villagers having shifted to growing sugarcane in the area, leopards have made their way into the revenue areas in search of prey. 'The villagers in this area have transitioned to growing sugarcane in the last few years… It has given the big cats a reasonable place to hide and attempt to prey on domestic animals and hens in the villages. Leopards are good at adapting and therefore, they can survive well in revenue areas outside the forest area too.'
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
PMC forms quick response teams for monsoon emergencies
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has constituted Quick Response Teams (QRTs) in all ward offices to tackle waterlogging and drain blockages during the monsoon. The teams will be on standby to respond urgently to rain-related emergencies across the city. Each team will work under the supervision of the assistant municipal commissioner and will include officers from the sewerage, road, motor vehicles, building and engineering departments at the ward level. The main task of the team will be to prevent waterlogging on roads and take immediate action in the event drains or sewers get blocked during heavy rain. On Tuesday, additional municipal commissioner B P Prithviraj issued an order to that effect and deputed QRTs to each ward office. Ganesh Sonune, head of the disaster management department of the PMC, said, 'We form QRTs every year but this time, we have made them more comprehensive. Officials from all key departments, along with ward-level officers, have been included in the teams. The teams now include engineers from the road, building permissions, drainage, and motor vehicles departments so that decisions can be taken on the spot with the help of the concerned officials.' PMC officials said that special machines like jetting, suction, grabbers, and JCBs will be available round-the-clock to support these teams. The teams will operate in both day- and night- shifts to ensure quick relief and smooth drainage during the rainy season. The remaining 20% of cleaning work is expected to be completed by June 7, officials said. 'The cleaning work is being carried out across the city in both day- and night- shifts using available machinery like jetting machines, suction recyclers, grab machines, and JCBs,' a senior official said. However, authorities acknowledged that despite pre-monsoon preparations, emergency blockages can occur during heavy rain leading to waterlogging or sewer overflow in certain areas. The QRTs are being formed to address such situations, they said.
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Madeleine McCann search officially ENDS: Agony as JCB, radar & fingertip trawl of Brueckner's ‘rat run' turns up nothing
MADDIE SEARCH WOE Madeleine McCann search officially ENDS: Agony as JCB, radar & fingertip trawl of Brueckner's 'rat run' turns up nothing THE last-gasp search for Madeleine McCann has been called off at the end of the third day - dashing hopes of nailing Christian Brueckner to the case with DNA evidence. Scores of cops painstakingly combed scrubland near Praia da Luz with JCBs, radar and fingertip searches, believing the tot or her pyjamas could have been buried there. 5 Around 60 cops scoured the area but found nothing Credit: Dan Charity 5 The search was focused on a handful of derelict buildings Credit: Dan Charity 5 Madeleine McCann went missing while on holiday with her family in 2007 Credit: PA 5 Christian Brueckner appears in court in Germany last month Credit: Dan Charity 5 There was an option to extend the search until tomorrow if any clues had been found - but cops turned up "nothing of consequence". Despite initial suggestions samples collected during the search would be sent to Germany for analysis, Portuguese sources this afternoon confirmed that would not happen. Animal bones and adult clothing were unearthed, but no traces linked to Madeleine McCann, so there is no cause for further inspection. A Portuguese police officer told The Sun: 'We have found nothing. There is nothing worth being sent to Germany for testing. We are finishing today." A group of 30 officers was seen searching scrubland on foot before dismantling the cordon tape around 4pm. Attention now turns to prime suspect Brueckner's impending release from jail, when he is expected to flee from Germany and slip away for good. Prosecutors have until September to rustle up an extension to his sentence to guarantee the opportunity to bring him to justice in the event of conclusive evidence. At least five abandoned stone farmhouses and barns were scoured in the area, where Brueckner is known to have lived in a 'wild camp'. Particular attention was paid to a farmhouse where 2007 satellite images showed what appeared to be a white tent. A trench was dug out with an excavator and officers returned today to conduct a close fingertip search. This week's search - the first since May 2023 - deployed special radar technology which can scan the ground and detect buried objects. Plans to scour the whole area were scrapped yesterday - and cops focused all their efforts on at least five abandoned buildings. The Sun revealed that this search was ordered after key figures in the case were flown back to Germany to again give statements on the claims Brueckner kidnapped and killed the toddler in 2007. He has never been formally charged over Madeleine's disappearance and denies any involvement - but German cops are convinced he is guilty. The Sun revealed in a documentary last month that German police uncovered a cache of disturbing evidence revealing Brueckner's obsession with young kids. There was also a hard-drive of pictures, which German investigators continue to keep secret, that is believed to indicate why they are sure Madeleine is dead. After a similar search of the nearby Arade Dam two years ago, soil and other samples were sent to Germany for checks but found to have no evidential value. Follow our live blog, below, for the latest news and updates...
Hans India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Protest Turns Violent: Protesters torch ethanol factory's vehicles
Jogulamba Gadwal (Mahabubnagar): A large-scale protest by villagers against the construction of an ethanol factory at Pedda Dhanwada in Rajoli mandal of Jogulamba Gadwal district turned violent on Wednesday. The factory, being set up by Gayatri Renewable Fuels Private Limited with an investment of Rs 190 crore on 30 acres near the banks of the Tungabhadra river, has drawn sharp opposition from residents of 12 surrounding villages who fear it will destroy their agricultural lands and pollute the environment. Tensions flared after police placed several farmers under house arrest the night before and deployed heavy security near the construction site. This was seen as an attempt to suppress the protest, leading to widespread public anger. Early in the morning, hundreds of villagers, including women and elderly, stormed the site upon noticing renewed construction activities. They were enraged to see JCBs operating, tents erected, and a large container installed on the site. In the chaos that followed, the protesters set fire to a container, overturned vehicles, smashed windows of earthmovers, and dismantled temporary structures. The police, caught off guard, struggled to contain the crowd. Meanwhile, Gadwal DSP Mogulayya visited the site and appealed for calm, stating that no one should take the law into their hands and that legal action would be taken if any violations were found. Villagers, however, remain determined to continue their agitation, declaring that they will not allow any polluting industry to destroy their livelihoods. For the past two years, locals have been raising objections through peaceful protests and appeals to the authorities, demanding that the project be halted due to environmental concerns. However, they allege that neither public hearings nor proper consultations were held before granting permission for the factory. Farmers said they were inspired to act after learning about pollution and health hazards caused by similar ethanol factories in Chittalur of Narayanpet district and Parlapalli in Karimnagar. They believe their fertile fields, which produce green crops, will be turned barren if the factory is allowed. Several leaders, including Congress's Sampath Kumar, MLC Challa Venkata Ram Reddy, and local MLA Vijayudu, had earlier extended support to the protest. Officials had suspended the work and promised that construction would not resume without public consent, but recent developments showed otherwise.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
PMC to depute junior engineer to irrigation department's flood control room
After last year's flood-like situation on Sinhgad Road near Ektanagari, triggered by additional discharge from Khadakwasla dam, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has decided to depute a junior engineer to irrigation department's flood control room for improved coordination. Additional municipal commissioner Prithviraj BP said the decision was taken during a pre-monsoon review meeting held on Tuesday by Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram. 'Last year, there was a communication gap between the PMC and the irrigation department. The city received an additional discharge from the dam without prior intimation, which led to flooding on Sinhgad Road. To avoid such situations this year, an officer from the PMC will now be stationed at the irrigation department's flood control room to ensure timely updates and better coordination,' he said. The municipal commissioner also directed ward offices to hire essential equipment such as JCBs during the rainy season without waiting for approvals from the head office.
