Latest news with #Karanth
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
‘One frame, four Namma Metro trains' footage goes viral
Bengaluru: While Namma Metro Yellow Line is in the spotlight for linking city's tech corridor, one video has stolen the show by racking up lakhs of views and occupying the centre stage of Metro train-related discussion. Shot by entrepreneur and Jayanagar resident Srihari Karanth, the aerial drone footage captures a breathtaking scene at the RV Road Interchange station, where two Yellow Line and two Green Line trains appear in the same frame, traversing two intersecting Metro corridors simultaneously. This rare and synchronised moment, captured by him after a two-hour wait, evoked positive comments from citizens and corporate honchos too. Speaking to TOI, Karanth, who is also a drone content creator, said: "When I posted an aerial shot capturing the movement of four trains at the end of RV Road, I did not expect it to receive such a huge response. The video was widely appreciated by users across social media. I am truly delighted. " You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru | Gold Rates Today in Bengaluru | Silver Rates Today in Bengaluru When asked how he managed to spot the four trains for the perfect shot, Karanth said: "I reside two blocks away from the end of RV Road and have been closely observing the trains' movements for some time. In the run-up to the Yellow Line's opening, BMRCL was operating pre-commissioning trial runs, and I filmed this before the launch. Spotting two trains on the Green Line is common, catching three — one from Yellow Line and two from Green Line — was rare. Five days before the line opened, for two hours in the evening, I had drone in the air. Two batteries drained, but with the third, we finally captured the movement of four trains heading in different directions. I feel I was lucky." A Metro enthusiast, Karanth said the timing of posting the video also played a key role as Bengalureans were eagerly anticipating the opening of the Yellow Line. RV Road Interchange is surrounded by lush green parks on either side of the road, and Yellow Line Metro traverses over Green Line Metro at the end of the road towards Ragigudda. Biocon executive chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, reacting to the video footage on 'X', said: "Isn't that a beautiful shot dotting Bengaluru's urban mobility landscape with sustainable and green alternatives." Karanth said: "During my free time, I spend time capturing aerial videos using drone. In the past, I documented the progress of Yellow Line work and also the trial run. Barring this, aerial shots of tech parks, Metro line operations on Green Line, and others received a good response from people." In the past, stunning aerial shots of Shivanasamudra, tourist places in Tamil Nadu, and districts of Karnataka such as Chikkamagaluru and Udupi also went viral. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Happy Independence Day wishes , messages , and quotes !
Indian Express
04-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘Someone remarked I looked like a buffalo': How this former Mrs India finalist lost 30kg weight and rebuilt her relationship with food after a serious injury
Hong Kong-based stand-up comedian Maitreyi Karanth, who is also a former Mrs India finalist, has inspired many with her dramatic weight loss transformation in just a year. According to a report by the South China Morning Post, this journey started two decades ago. While playing squash with a friend, Karanth ran to get a shot and slammed into a wall, experiencing severe bleeding and bruising deep in her chest muscles. The injury took months to heal and dramatically affected her mobility. A physically active person, she turned to food for comfort and ended up gaining 25kg. 'I still felt very pretty and continued to post pictures of myself on social media without feeling like I needed to hide any part of my body,' said Karanth, now 52. But as she returned to activities like squash and hiking, she noticed the toll the extra weight was taking. 'I realised how heavy I'd become.' Over the years, she endured painful comments: 'I really admire you — if I were you, I would not even go out,' someone told her. 'Another friend asked to look at my meal, because she wanted to know what I was eating 'to look like this'. And someone else remarked that I looked like a buffalo,' she recalled. But instead of retreating, she used these moments to reflect. 'I'd heard about intermittent fasting, and opted to eat just one meal a day. Initially, my daily meal wasn't particularly healthy, but as the extra weight came off, I felt a greater desire to prepare healthier meals. A typical meal consisted of a small amount of rice, some protein, like a hard-boiled egg, plenty of vegetables, some fruit and a bite-sized treat,' she told SCMP. After she began adjusting to her new eating routine and started to lose weight, she got back to enjoying her favourite physical activities. Within a year of following a one-meal-a-day plan and giving up alcohol completely, Karanth shed 30kg, bringing her weight down to 62kg. However, this came with its challenges and led her to switch to a more sustainable diet plan. 'It was hard not being able to snack between lunch and dinner, and I struggled with introducing alcohol back into my weekends without going overboard. I realised that I didn't have a good relationship with food. I was afraid to eat, and when I did eat, I didn't know my limits.' She added, 'I gained 7kg during this time, but then I went back to eating one meal a day and lost the extra weight in two months. Since then, I've tried to develop a healthier relationship with food. Now, I eat two meals a day and allow myself to have a little bit of everything,' she revealed. A post shared by Maitreyi Karanth (@maitreyi_karanth) Ashlesha Joshi, senior nutritionist at Tone 30 Pilates, tells 'Eating just one meal a day, also known as OMAD, can lead to short-term weight loss for some individuals due to a significant calorie deficit. However, for women over 50, it may not be the most sustainable or supportive approach for long-term health. At this stage of life, hormonal changes can impact metabolism, bone density, and muscle mass. Relying on just one meal a day might result in inadequate intake of essential nutrients like protein, calcium, and fiber, which are crucial during and after menopause. Instead of extreme restriction, a more balanced approach that includes small, nutrient-dense meals across the day tends to be more effective in the long run. ' 'This type of emotional relationship with food is more common than we often realise, especially among individuals who have been through years of dieting or societal pressure around body image,' says Joshi. To break this cycle, she suggests that it is essential to first rebuild trust with food. Practicing mindful eating is a powerful strategy. Working with a trained nutritionist or therapist can help unpack the emotional triggers behind food choices. It is also important to move away from labelling foods as good or bad, and instead focus on nourishment, satisfaction, and body awareness. DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.
Time of India
31-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Panna was different': Ullas Karanth questions Cambodia's readiness for tigers
Representative Image India is preparing to send wild tigers to Cambodia in what would be the world's first international tiger reintroduction, nearly 15 years after the successful Panna reintroduction. While Panna is often cited as a model, senior conservation scientist Dr. Ullas Karanth warns that Cambodia faces far greater challenges. Based in Karnataka, Karanth is a globally respected authority on tiger ecology, known for pioneering camera-trap studies and advising governments across Asia. In an interview with P. Naveen, he explains why Cambodia must first restore its prey base, strengthen protection, and avoid political shortcuts before moving a single tiger. Q: India has signed an MoU with Cambodia to translocate tigers for reintroduction. What is your overall assessment of this plan? Karanth: Tigers in Cambodia went extinct from lack of prey and direct poaching 25 years ago. I was involved in advising the Wildlife Conservation Society's camera trap surveys there. As I expected, tigers soon went extinct. If large protected areas with abundant wild prey are not available—which is my worry—any reintroduced tigers will also meet with the same fate. Q: You have expressed skepticism about Cambodia's ability to support a thriving tiger population. What specific ecological or management factors make the project risky? Karanth: Although extensive suitable deciduous forests are there in the northern plains and Mondulkiri and other provinces of Cambodia, the prey base has been hunted out. Mere presence of prey species is not a useful yardstick. Prey densities of at least 10–15 large ungulates over extensive areas are needed to support even a handful of tigers, let alone a viable tiger population. Second, Cambodia has a deep-rooted hunting culture, like we have in the northeastern hill states. Wild animals are snared, trapped, or shot and then eaten or sold all over the country. Strong anti-poaching efforts exist in at least some areas of India and Thailand, which has led to tiger recovery. These are not typical of Cambodia. These are the risks. Q: The Cambodian government claims to have restored prey populations and secured habitats for the reintroduced tigers. Do you think these efforts are adequate? Karanth: I have not been to the forests of Cambodia in decades. I am skeptical of such claims based on history. My former colleague Colin Poole will have better knowledge of the current status of prey animals and conservation there. Q: What lessons can be drawn from previous tiger reintroduction efforts in India, such as those in Sariska and Panna, and how do they apply to Cambodia? Karanth: Tiger reintroduction efforts have mostly failed and caused serious human–tiger conflicts in India if you look at the overall track record. Undoubtedly, the Panna effort worked because a large protected area with wild prey (and domestic prey left at site by relocated villagers) existed even after all tigers had been selectively hunted and gone extinct by 2009. Protection was improved, and tigers which were already experienced in hunting (and I think a pregnant tigress too) were introduced and reestablished the population in Panna successfully. The Sariska experiment is an ego trip driven by local tourism interests. Crores have been spent in establishing a small unviable population amidst a sea of humanity. That is hardly the model for Cambodia. Hyping a few successes while hushing up far more failed reintroductions is not a scientific approach to the issue. Q: Are there alternative strategies you would recommend to Cambodia to rebuild its tiger population, rather than relying on translocation from India? Karanth: Thailand has a large 20,000 sq km forest in the Western Forest Complex, which had lost most of its tigers by 1990. After 2000 they set up effective patrols as well as rigorous scientific monitoring of prey and tigers under my guidance, and today after two decades tigers have recovered. These include tigers moving in to recolonize the better-protected areas. Cambodia should patiently restore prey in extensive habitats in a scientifically provable manner first. Once that is done, tigers can naturally move in from Thailand or even be brought in carefully controlled experiments. Q: Some conservationists argue that such international projects enhance global collaboration and bring funding for habitat protection. Do you see any positive aspects in India's decision to export tigers? Karanth: No, only grandstanding by officials on both sides. Cambodians have to do the hard work first. Q: What safeguards should be in place—in terms of habitat management, prey base, and protection against poaching—before a single tiger is released in Cambodia? Karanth: I have covered all this above. Q: Finally, what message would you like to give policymakers in India and Cambodia regarding this ambitious reintroduction plan? Karanth: Who cares about my messages? Indian policymakers should focus on the problems that they face at home first before trying to preach to other countries about tigers. They should start by totally revamping the current non-transparent tiger-prey monitoring system that is poorly designed and unscientific. Raw data generated are hidden from public view and tiger numbers appear to be changed according to political needs. It all started with setting the absurdly low number of 1,400 tigers in 2006, down from 3,600 in 2002, to serve political needs after extinctions in Sariska. India can have at least 10,000 tigers spread more evenly over 400,000 sq km of potential habitats we have in the country
