Latest news with #JaswinderSingh
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Climate
- Indian Express
Mock drills, blackouts to be held in Punjab today; here are the timings
The second statewide civil defence exercise, codenamed Operation Shield, will be held across Punjab on Saturday, with mock drills from 6 pm and blackouts between 8 pm and 10 pm, varying by district. The administration has urged residents to remain calm, clarifying that this is a routine preparedness drill in compliance with the Ministry of Home Affairs' mandate following the Pahalgam terror attack. This is the second such drill in Punjab, following the one held on May 7. Here are the district-wise timings and details: 1. Gurdaspur Mock drill: 6 pm at Gurdaspur bus stand Blackout: 8 pm to 8.30 pm Apart from civil defence teams, home guards, NCC, health department, fire brigade, and police teams will participate. Jaswinder Singh, the Dinanagar sub-divisional magistrate, is the nodal officer. Villagers have been advised to observe a voluntary blackout. 2. Ferozepur Sirens: 6:00 – 6:30 PM in city and cantonment areas Blackout: 9 pm to 9.30 pm Residents advised to turn off lights, stay indoors, and remain calm. 3. Amritsar Blackout: 8 pm to 8.30 pm Major Amit Sareen, additional deputy commissioner (urban development), has advised residents to stay in ground-floor safe rooms. Fans on inverters allowed; rooftop movement discouraged. 4. Tarn Taran Mock drill: 6 pm Blackout: 8.30 pm to 9 pm 5. Barnala Mock drill: 6 pm at Government Senior Secondary School (Sandhu Patti), Trident Factory, and Air Force Station (Bhadalwad) Blackout: 8.30 pm to 9 pm 6. Sangrur Mock drill: 6 pm Blackout: 8 pm to 9 pm 7. Pathankot Blackout: 8 pm to 10 pm (Exact timing yet to be confirmed) 8. Fazilka Mock drill: 6 pm Blackout: Timing yet to be finalised 9. Jalandhar Mock drill: 6 pm Blackout: 9.30 pm to 10 pm 10. Patiala Mock drill: 5 pm to 8 pm at Raja Bhalindra Singh Sports Stadium (Polo Ground) Blackout: 8 pm to 8.10 pm at Lal Bagh Colony Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Isha Singhal emphasised the importance of preparedness. 11. Ludhiana Blackout: 8 pm to 8.15 pm Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd will cut power supply to 18 villages and Rajguru Nagar just before the drill and restore it after 15 minutes. Areas affected: Bhanohar, Hasanpur, Baddowal, Rurka, Jamgpur, Khadoor, Haveli, Adda City Dakha, Ajitsar, Issewal, Gahour, Detwal, Kailpur, Baraich, Madiani, MorKarima, Boothgarh, and Baddowal Cantonment area. 12. Bathinda Mock drill: 6 pm in Army area and Ganpati Colony Blackout: 8.30 pm to 8.40 pm Deputy Commissioner Shaukat Ahmad Parray said sirens will be sounded, and compliance is mandatory. 13. Malerkotla Mock drill: 1 pm at DC office Blackout: Not specified 14. Muktsar Mock drill: 6 pm at DC office Blackout: Not specified 15. Fatehgarh Sahib Mock drill: 6 pm at DC office Blackout: Not specified 16. Faridkot Mock drill: 6 pm at Kotkapura (Venue TBD) Blackout: Not specified 17. Moga Mock drill and blackout: 8 pm near Nestlé plant Additional Deputy Commissioner Charumita emphasised safety preparedness. 18. Mansa Not a part of civil defence districts. No mock drills or blackouts planned at the time of filing this report. 19. Mohali Mock drill: 6 pm at BPCL Lalru (Derabassi) Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal said an air raid siren will precede a rescue simulation. Traffic lights and vehicle headlights will be turned off in the area. 20. Rupnagar Mock drill: 5 pm at NFL Nangal Blackout: 8 pm to 8.15 pm Deputy Commissioner Varjeet Walia urged residents not to panic. 21. Hoshiarpur Mock drill: 6 pm Blackout: 8 pm to 8.15 pm Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain has issued detailed instructions for total darkness, including external lights, inverters, CCTV lights, and signage. Essential lighting must be covered if it cannot be turned off. 22. Nawanshahr Mock drill: 6 pm Blackout: 8 pm to 8.15 pm 23. Kapurthala Blackout: 9.30 pm to 10 pm. Only in Kapurthala and Phagwara
The Advertiser
7 days ago
- General
- The Advertiser
Sikhs are back in town: warming tummies and hearts during flood crisis
They were there for the community during the Black Summer bushfires in 2019 and again in the March 2021 floods. And the Sikhs are back again to help a flood-stricken NSW region recover from the worst flooding disaster in its history - even though they hail from cities far away. On hearing about the flooding crisis in the Manning Valley on the mid-north coast, head of Sikh Volunteers Australia Jaswinder Singh, mobilised a team of volunteers and a fleet of vehicles, including a very big food truck and one small campervan, to drive the nearly 1200 kilometres from Melbourne to Taree. They've been here more than a week already and say they will stay until they aren't needed anymore. Every day, the crew has been providing up to 2000 vegetarian meals a day. Some of those meals they give out at their base at the Bunnings Car Park in Taree. The rest they distribute to outlying flood affected areas: Wingham, Croki, Cundletown, Manning Point, Oxley Island and even Kempsey with two vans. "On our Facebook page every morning at around 7.30am or 8am, we put our schedule of where we will be," Jaswinder said. As if that is enough time spent driving, most of the volunteers are staying in Newcastle with a family that is giving them free accommodation. They drive up every morning, and back every evening. "They are looking after us very well with a very loving and caring attitude and they are a very nice family," Jaswinder said. Sikh Volunteers Australia is not the only Sikh volunteer organisation up here helping our communities. Khalsa Aid Australia has been working with the Taree Lions Club. They have brought multiple trucks up from Sydney with pallets of water, cleaning and sanitation supplies, and essential supplies. Yet another Sikh volunteer organisation, Turbans 4 Australia, is also in the area, helping out with organising pantry items for the Lions Club, pallets of water, fodder supplies for farmers, tools, generators and all manner of items. For Sikhs, giving generously to the community, 'langar' (Punjabi language), is deeply ingrained in their spiritual life. It is probably best explained by the words on the Sikh Volunteers Australia food truck. "The concept of 'langar' was initiated by the first Sikh Guru Sri Guru Nanak Dev Guru Amardass Ji, the third Sikh Guru, institutionalised this concept of sharing and caring. "It is a process where everyone shares their honest earnings to provide food for everyone - it was designed to uphold the principle of equality between all people regardless of religion, caste, colour, creed age, gender or social status. "In addition to the ideals of equality, the tradition of langar expresses the ethics of sharing, community inclusiveness and oneness of all humankind." They were there for the community during the Black Summer bushfires in 2019 and again in the March 2021 floods. And the Sikhs are back again to help a flood-stricken NSW region recover from the worst flooding disaster in its history - even though they hail from cities far away. On hearing about the flooding crisis in the Manning Valley on the mid-north coast, head of Sikh Volunteers Australia Jaswinder Singh, mobilised a team of volunteers and a fleet of vehicles, including a very big food truck and one small campervan, to drive the nearly 1200 kilometres from Melbourne to Taree. They've been here more than a week already and say they will stay until they aren't needed anymore. Every day, the crew has been providing up to 2000 vegetarian meals a day. Some of those meals they give out at their base at the Bunnings Car Park in Taree. The rest they distribute to outlying flood affected areas: Wingham, Croki, Cundletown, Manning Point, Oxley Island and even Kempsey with two vans. "On our Facebook page every morning at around 7.30am or 8am, we put our schedule of where we will be," Jaswinder said. As if that is enough time spent driving, most of the volunteers are staying in Newcastle with a family that is giving them free accommodation. They drive up every morning, and back every evening. "They are looking after us very well with a very loving and caring attitude and they are a very nice family," Jaswinder said. Sikh Volunteers Australia is not the only Sikh volunteer organisation up here helping our communities. Khalsa Aid Australia has been working with the Taree Lions Club. They have brought multiple trucks up from Sydney with pallets of water, cleaning and sanitation supplies, and essential supplies. Yet another Sikh volunteer organisation, Turbans 4 Australia, is also in the area, helping out with organising pantry items for the Lions Club, pallets of water, fodder supplies for farmers, tools, generators and all manner of items. For Sikhs, giving generously to the community, 'langar' (Punjabi language), is deeply ingrained in their spiritual life. It is probably best explained by the words on the Sikh Volunteers Australia food truck. "The concept of 'langar' was initiated by the first Sikh Guru Sri Guru Nanak Dev Guru Amardass Ji, the third Sikh Guru, institutionalised this concept of sharing and caring. "It is a process where everyone shares their honest earnings to provide food for everyone - it was designed to uphold the principle of equality between all people regardless of religion, caste, colour, creed age, gender or social status. "In addition to the ideals of equality, the tradition of langar expresses the ethics of sharing, community inclusiveness and oneness of all humankind." They were there for the community during the Black Summer bushfires in 2019 and again in the March 2021 floods. And the Sikhs are back again to help a flood-stricken NSW region recover from the worst flooding disaster in its history - even though they hail from cities far away. On hearing about the flooding crisis in the Manning Valley on the mid-north coast, head of Sikh Volunteers Australia Jaswinder Singh, mobilised a team of volunteers and a fleet of vehicles, including a very big food truck and one small campervan, to drive the nearly 1200 kilometres from Melbourne to Taree. They've been here more than a week already and say they will stay until they aren't needed anymore. Every day, the crew has been providing up to 2000 vegetarian meals a day. Some of those meals they give out at their base at the Bunnings Car Park in Taree. The rest they distribute to outlying flood affected areas: Wingham, Croki, Cundletown, Manning Point, Oxley Island and even Kempsey with two vans. "On our Facebook page every morning at around 7.30am or 8am, we put our schedule of where we will be," Jaswinder said. As if that is enough time spent driving, most of the volunteers are staying in Newcastle with a family that is giving them free accommodation. They drive up every morning, and back every evening. "They are looking after us very well with a very loving and caring attitude and they are a very nice family," Jaswinder said. Sikh Volunteers Australia is not the only Sikh volunteer organisation up here helping our communities. Khalsa Aid Australia has been working with the Taree Lions Club. They have brought multiple trucks up from Sydney with pallets of water, cleaning and sanitation supplies, and essential supplies. Yet another Sikh volunteer organisation, Turbans 4 Australia, is also in the area, helping out with organising pantry items for the Lions Club, pallets of water, fodder supplies for farmers, tools, generators and all manner of items. For Sikhs, giving generously to the community, 'langar' (Punjabi language), is deeply ingrained in their spiritual life. It is probably best explained by the words on the Sikh Volunteers Australia food truck. "The concept of 'langar' was initiated by the first Sikh Guru Sri Guru Nanak Dev Guru Amardass Ji, the third Sikh Guru, institutionalised this concept of sharing and caring. "It is a process where everyone shares their honest earnings to provide food for everyone - it was designed to uphold the principle of equality between all people regardless of religion, caste, colour, creed age, gender or social status. "In addition to the ideals of equality, the tradition of langar expresses the ethics of sharing, community inclusiveness and oneness of all humankind." They were there for the community during the Black Summer bushfires in 2019 and again in the March 2021 floods. And the Sikhs are back again to help a flood-stricken NSW region recover from the worst flooding disaster in its history - even though they hail from cities far away. On hearing about the flooding crisis in the Manning Valley on the mid-north coast, head of Sikh Volunteers Australia Jaswinder Singh, mobilised a team of volunteers and a fleet of vehicles, including a very big food truck and one small campervan, to drive the nearly 1200 kilometres from Melbourne to Taree. They've been here more than a week already and say they will stay until they aren't needed anymore. Every day, the crew has been providing up to 2000 vegetarian meals a day. Some of those meals they give out at their base at the Bunnings Car Park in Taree. The rest they distribute to outlying flood affected areas: Wingham, Croki, Cundletown, Manning Point, Oxley Island and even Kempsey with two vans. "On our Facebook page every morning at around 7.30am or 8am, we put our schedule of where we will be," Jaswinder said. As if that is enough time spent driving, most of the volunteers are staying in Newcastle with a family that is giving them free accommodation. They drive up every morning, and back every evening. "They are looking after us very well with a very loving and caring attitude and they are a very nice family," Jaswinder said. Sikh Volunteers Australia is not the only Sikh volunteer organisation up here helping our communities. Khalsa Aid Australia has been working with the Taree Lions Club. They have brought multiple trucks up from Sydney with pallets of water, cleaning and sanitation supplies, and essential supplies. Yet another Sikh volunteer organisation, Turbans 4 Australia, is also in the area, helping out with organising pantry items for the Lions Club, pallets of water, fodder supplies for farmers, tools, generators and all manner of items. For Sikhs, giving generously to the community, 'langar' (Punjabi language), is deeply ingrained in their spiritual life. It is probably best explained by the words on the Sikh Volunteers Australia food truck. "The concept of 'langar' was initiated by the first Sikh Guru Sri Guru Nanak Dev Guru Amardass Ji, the third Sikh Guru, institutionalised this concept of sharing and caring. "It is a process where everyone shares their honest earnings to provide food for everyone - it was designed to uphold the principle of equality between all people regardless of religion, caste, colour, creed age, gender or social status. "In addition to the ideals of equality, the tradition of langar expresses the ethics of sharing, community inclusiveness and oneness of all humankind."
India Gazette
27-05-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
Lakshay Sheoran, Neeru Dhanda finish on top in second Shotgun National Trials
New Delhi [India], May 27 (ANI): Lakshay Sheoran and Neeru Dhanda finished on top in the men's and women's category respectively in the trap finals of the Second Shotgun National Trails, held at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range. Lakshay, who qualified for the finals with a score of 120 in qualification, shot 43 in the finals, a two shot difference over Jaswinder Singh who finished second with a score of 41. In the Women's finals, Nationals Games gold medalist Neeru edged Aashima Ahlawat 40-39 to secure the top spot. Olympian Rajeshwari Kumari secured third place with a score of 31 while Bhowneesh Mendiratta finished third in the men's category with a score of 33, a release said. Earlier, in the qualification round, Jungsher S. Virk shot 119 to qualify for the finals behind Lakshay. National Champion Shardul Vihan, Jaswinder Singh, Bhowneesh and Rayyan Rizvi completed the top six with scores of 118, 117, 116 and 116 respectively. Olympians Kynan Chenai (114) and Prithviraj Tondaiman (112) and World Cup finals Silver medalist Vivaan Kapoor (113) failed to reach the finals. In the women's category, Neeru topped the qualification also with a score of 115 followed by Preeti Rajak with 114, Aashima Ahlawat with 113, Rajeshwari Kumari with 110, Pragati Dubey with 109 and Addya Katyal finished in the top six places. A separate selection trial was not conducted for junior athletes; as a result, Bakhtyaruddin Malek who shot 114 and Addya Katyal with 108 were placed first in the junior men's and women's category respectively. Tarvez Singh Sandhu who shot 111 and Udhav Singh Rathore with 110 were placed second and third while Ananya Yaduvanshi with 101 and Tanisska Senthilkumar with 98 took the second and third sports in the junior women's, the release said. The Selection Committee will consider the scores from the recently concluded ISSF Junior World Cup in Suhl, Germany, for junior athletes who participated in that event, as Selection Trials 2 coincided with it. Scores of such shooters will not be marked as 'zero.'(ANI)
Malay Mail
27-05-2025
- Climate
- Malay Mail
Hope in a curry box: Sikh volunteers drive 1,200km to feed flood-hit Australians
GHINNI GHINNI (Australia), May 27 — Farmer Mark Kappa was enjoying his first hot drink in three days as he waited patiently for his meal in front of a food truck run by a Sikh charity, after incessant rain in Australia's southeast cut off towns and forced thousands to evacuate their homes. Melbourne-based Sikh Volunteers Australia travelled nearly 1,200 kilometres to the rural town of Taree in New South Wales, one of the worst-hit from last week's floods in Australia's most populous state, to set up their mobile kitchen in the parking area of a hardware store. 'They said about 20 minutes or so, I'll tuck in then,' Kappa said as the volunteers prepared pasta, rice and vegetarian curry. More than 50,000 people in the Hunter and Mid North Coast regions of New South Wales, around 300 kilometres north of Sydney, were isolated last week after fast-rising waters burst river banks, destroyed homes and washed away roads. Five deaths have been linked to the floods. 'We've had no power for three days out at the farm. We lost our milk. We lost everything,' Kappa said. After serving almost 3,000 fresh meals over the last three days, Sikh Volunteers Australia head Jaswinder Singh said: 'In times of disasters, I've seen the spirit of the Australians come even better, closer to each other ... so that's a good thing. That has a very positive impact.' Despite the small space available, the charity has been distributing food neatly packed in small boxes. 'To be able to know that you can turn up and just get some food is – it's just heart-warming,' said Ashari Hudson, who was picking up food for a friend hit by floods. The Sikh volunteers have provided free food since 2017 during several crises, including bush fires and floods. Australia has been hit with increasing extreme weather events that some experts say are the result of climate change. Following droughts and devastating bushfires at the end of last decade, frequent floods have wreaked havoc since early 2021. — Reuters
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Sikh food charity serves up free hot meals for flood-hit Australians
By Jill Gralow GHINNI GHINNI, Australia (Reuters) -Farmer Mark Kappa was enjoying his first hot drink in three days as he waited patiently for his meal in front of a food truck run by a Sikh charity, after incessant rain in Australia's southeast cut off towns and forced thousands to evacuate their homes. Melbourne-based Sikh Volunteers Australia travelled nearly 1,200 km (746 miles) to the rural town of Taree in New South Wales, one of the worst-hit from last week's floods in Australia's most populous state, to set up their mobile kitchen in the parking area of a hardware store. "They said about 20 minutes or so, I'll tuck in then," Kappa said as the volunteers prepared pasta, rice and vegetarian curry. More than 50,000 people in the Hunter and Mid North coast regions of New South Wales, around 300 km (186 miles) north of Sydney, were isolated last week after fast-rising waters burst river banks, destroyed homes and washed away roads. Five deaths have been linked to the floods. "We've had no power for three days out at the farm. We lost our milk. We lost everything," Kappa said. After serving almost 3,000 fresh meals over the last three days, Sikh Volunteers Australia head Jaswinder Singh said: "In times of disasters, I've seen the spirit of the Australians come even better, closer to each other ... so that's a good thing. That has a very positive impact." Despite the small space available, the charity has been distributing food neatly packed in small boxes. "To be able to know that you can turn up and just get some food is - it's just heart-warming," said Ashari Hudson, who was picking up food for a friend hit by floods. The Sikh volunteers have provided free food since 2017 during several crises, including bush fires and floods. Australia has been hit with increasing extreme weather events that some experts say are the result of climate change. Following droughts and devastating bushfires at the end of last decade, frequent floods have wreaked havoc since early 2021.
