Latest news with #Mahawar
Indian Express
21-07-2025
- Indian Express
Why so many ‘snake rescuers' across India get bitten on the job
Deepak Mahawar was a popular snake rescuer from Madhya Pradesh's Guna district who on July 14 was seen riding a bike with a cobra slung around his neck. Although his video went viral on the Internet, the 42-year-old was bitten by the venomous snake. He died that night. Mahawar's is not an isolated case. Nobody is keeping a count, and only a fraction of stunts gone wrong make it to the media. But with daring acts of irresponsible snake handling in the garb of 'snake rescue' becoming a social media rage over the last decade, hundreds of 'rescuers' have suffered bites, many fatally. On July 6, 'sarp mitra' J P Yadav died of a cobra bite during a rescue attempt in Bihar's Vaishali. In May, another cobra rescue went wrong in Bihar when 'snake man' Jai Kumar Sahni died in Samastipur. In March, Santosh Kumar met the same fate in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, close to where another snake rescuer, K Murali, was fatally bitten by a Russel's viper last August. In 2023, Karnataka's 'snake' Naresh was carrying in his scooter's trunk a rescued cobra that killed him. In this long list of casualties, one of the most telling is the death of 'snake expert' Manish Vaishnav in Rajasthan's Pali in 2021. The 19-year-old died en route to a Jaipur hospital hours after being bitten by a cobra while addressing 'fans' on Facebook Live. Shortcut to fame, riches The irrational loathing for snakes — ophidiophobia — common among the masses is matched only by their reverence for snake rescuers (read handlers). 'I am a botanist by training and have worked on tigers for over two decades. But people are most impressed when I turn up for an occasional snake rescue,' said Dharmendra Khandal who runs TigerWatch, a non-profit in Ranthambore. Unsurprisingly, 'snake stunts' provide a path to instant visibility on social media, enabling influencers to rack up follower counts and as a result, enjoy big payouts. The biggest such snake influencer in India, Murliwale Hausla from Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, has a whopping 16 million subscribers on YouTube and 3.6 million followers on Instagram. The mid-range of the spectrum spans from Chhattisgarh's Kamal Choudhary (12 lakh YouTube subscribers) to Karnataka's Snake Hariha (2 lakh YouTube subscribers). Then there are many aspirants vying for the 1-lakh mark. Jose Louies, chief executive of non-profit Wildlife Trust of India, is censorious of snake rescuers who go to great lengths for financial gains. 'They tease snakes for viewership, even stage rescues. One video, for example, shows cobras (predator) and rat snakes (prey) together in a well. Shifting wild animals like that amounts to hunting under the Wildlife Act,' he told The Indian Express. Free for all industry Few states have specific regulations for snake rescue, that is, relocating a snake from a place where it poses a risk to people. Fewer are in a position to enforce those rules since forest officers often rely on volunteers to answer frequent rescue calls. 'There are just too many cases to attend to, particularly during the rainy season. Given our staff strength and the shortage of trained hands, we are forced to rope in private rescuers, knowing very well how some of them would milk those situations,' said a senior forest official in Madhya Pradesh. In 2018, Maharashtra issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for snake rescues, mandating training and documentation. Kerala made certification mandatory for snake rescuers in 2020, followed by Gujarat in 2021, Karnataka in 2022, and Odisha in 2023. So far, however, only Kerala with its technology-enabled, real-time response system — the SARPA App — has succeeded in keeping a tab on certified rescuers and blacklisting some of the unethical ones. Elsewhere, these rules have made little impact on the ground where self-styled 'rescuers' keep playing with fire. A high risk job Even while playing by the book, snake rescue is a high risk job. Of the four most venomous snakes of India, collectively referred to as the Big Four and responsible for a majority of snakebite deaths in the country, the krait (Bungarus caeruleus) is probably the easiest to handle. Known for its deadly neurotoxins, it can spring the occasional surprise but is usually docile, particularly in the daytime. The cobra (Naja naja) tends to follow the rescuer's movement, giving a fair indication of where it is headed. Not aggressive unless hassled, the roaring snake is capable of striking from a considerable distance. It usually contracts its hood — a visual cue — before lunging to strike. Vipers, on the other hand, are often aggressive without much provocation: there is no telling how they might behave. Lightning fast, the saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus) is under 3 feet, and has a way of warning an adversary by rubbing parts of its body together, creating a 'sawing' sound. The muscular Russel's viper (Daboia russelii) can grow to double the length of the saw-scaled viper, and poses the biggest challenge for rescuers. It resembles a mighty helix poised to explode, and can reach up to 1.5 metres in a flash. Doing it right A simple snake hook and a pipe-necked sack are the best tools for rescuing a snake. These enable rescuers to lead the creature to a burrow-like opening, relying on its natural tendency to enter a dark space. Ideally, rescuers should not need to touch the animal at any stage. Teasing, displays and stunts with snakes are punishable under the Wildlife Act. While the availability of anti-venoms have improved, many rescuers bitten by snakes die during treatment. 'Typically, a snake is agitated during a rescue and likely to deliver a higher quantity of venom if it gets an opportunity to bite,' Louise said. Vivek Sharma, a Jabalpur-based herpetologist, underlined the human cost of recklessness. 'Most of these rescuers are under 40, with limited education, and from a modest background. Many of them are the sole earners in the family, some have young kids. They fail to appreciate the risk they take,' he said. Given that it is impractical to police thousands of snake rescuers in the field, Khandal has a radical solution: 'A stiff penalty for filming and posting rescue videos will disincentivise the stuntmen and leave only the serious rescuers to do the job. This is a vital service in a country where 40-50,000 people die of snakebite every year.' Jay Mazoomdaar is an investigative reporter focused on offshore finance, equitable growth, natural resources management and biodiversity conservation. Over two decades, his work has been recognised by the International Press Institute, the Ramnath Goenka Foundation, the Commonwealth Press Union, the Prem Bhatia Memorial Trust, the Asian College of Journalism etc. Mazoomdaar's major investigations include the extirpation of tigers in Sariska, global offshore probes such as Panama Papers, Robert Vadra's land deals in Rajasthan, India's dubious forest cover data, Vyapam deaths in Madhya Pradesh, mega projects flouting clearance conditions, Nitin Gadkari's link to e-rickshaws, India shifting stand on ivory ban to fly in African cheetahs, the loss of indigenous cow breeds, the hydel rush in Arunachal Pradesh, land mafias inside Corbett, the JDY financial inclusion scheme, an iron ore heist in Odisha, highways expansion through the Kanha-Pench landscape etc. ... Read More
Time Business News
05-07-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
Indo-Nepal Relations Ever-Expanding, Says Senior Indian Official
Kathmandu- The relationship between India and Nepal continues to grow stronger and more dynamic, described as 'ever-expanding' Additional Secretary (Northern Division) of India's Ministry of External Affairs. Addressing Nepali and Bhutanese journalists in New Delhi, Mahawar emphasized the special nature of Indo-Nepal ties, which are rooted in shared history, culture, and deep people-to-people connections. Highlighting the enduring friendship, Mahawar noted that the two nations have maintained frequent high-level engagements, with 17 exchanges at the head-of-state or head-of-government level since May 2014. These diplomatic interactions underscore the commitment of both countries to nurturing closer cooperation in every sphere, from infrastructure to energy to people-centric development. One of the key pillars of this ever-growing relationship is the remarkable progress in connectivity infrastructure. Projects such as the Motihari–Amlekhgunj petroleum pipeline, new railway links like Jayanagar–Bijalpura–Bardibas, and multiple Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) at Birgunj, Nepalgunj, and Bhairahawa are transforming the physical connectivity between the two countries. These developments are fostering trade, tourism, and cross-border mobility, bringing direct benefits to the people of Nepal. Another significant area of cooperation is energy collaboration, where Nepal has made notable strides in hydropower development. Mahawar highlighted India's support in hydropower projects like the 480 MW Phukot Karnali and 669 MW Lower Arun, which will enhance Nepal's energy capacity while promoting clean energy trade in the region. India has also facilitated Nepal's electricity exports to Bangladesh, reflecting trilateral cooperation. In addition to physical and energy connectivity, digital financial integration has emerged as a new frontier in Indo-Nepal ties. Since March 2024, UPI payments have been accepted in Nepal through interoperability with FonePay, making transactions seamless for Indian visitors. Further agreements are being pursued to simplify cross-border remittances, benefitting Nepali workers in India. Mahawar also stressed the institutional depth of the relationship, noting that more than 40 bilateral mechanisms are operational between India and Nepal. These cover a wide range of issues including border management, economic cooperation, cultural exchange, and development projects. While the long-pending Eminent Persons' Group (EPG) Report awaits formal acceptance, the overall diplomatic engagement remains vibrant and constructive. Concluding his remarks, Mahawar reaffirmed India's strong support for Nepal's development journey through financial assistance, infrastructure development, and cultural partnerships. As both nations continue to build on their historical ties with renewed cooperation in emerging sectors, Indo-Nepal relations are poised to reach new heights in the years ahead. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Business Insider
01-06-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Cummins India Limited (CUMMINSIND) Gets a Sell from UBS
UBS analyst Amit Mahawar maintained a Sell rating on Cummins India Limited (CUMMINSIND – Research Report) on May 29 and set a price target of INR2,740.00. The company's shares closed last Friday at INR3,268.10. Confident Investing Starts Here: Easily unpack a company's performance with TipRanks' new KPI Data for smart investment decisions Receive undervalued, market resilient stocks right to your inbox with TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter According to TipRanks, Mahawar is a 2-star analyst with an average return of 8.2% and a 75.00% success rate. Currently, the analyst consensus on Cummins India Limited is a Moderate Sell with an average price target of INR2,510.00, a -23.20% downside from current levels. In a report released yesterday, Jefferies also maintained a Sell rating on the stock with a INR2,405.00 price target. Based on Cummins India Limited's latest earnings release for the quarter ending June 30, the company reported a quarterly revenue of INR23.16 billion and a net profit of INR4.63 billion. In comparison, last year the company earned a revenue of INR21.85 billion and had a net profit of INR3.54 billion
The Hindu
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Creating chaos may lead to removal from House panel hearings: Speaker
Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta on Tuesday said that any member indulging in violent or disruptive behaviour aimed at derailing the proceedings of House committees could be removed from that sitting. The statement came in response to a letter from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Ajay Mahawar, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), who accused members of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of disrupting a committee meeting where the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports were under discussion. The CAG reports tabled in the Assembly have been referred to the PAC for examination. The controversy follows the tabling of eight of the 14 pending CAG reports, some critical of the previous AAP government. Mr. Mahawar's letter, dated May 26, alleged that during the PAC's introductory sitting on May 22, Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Atishi, along with two other AAP MLAs — Kuldeep Kumar and Virender Singh — 'vociferously objected' to the committee's authority to 'examine the CAG reports'. He claimed Ms. Atishi cited the Government of NCT of Delhi (Amendment) (GNCTD) Act, 2021, asserting that it stripped the Assembly and its committees of powers to 'examine matters of day-to-day administration'. Despite repeated requests to allow the proceedings, the AAP MLAs continued to object, Mr. Mahawar claimed, adding that the proceedings resumed only after assuring the Opposition party members that their concerns would be conveyed to the Speaker. PAC power upheld Responding to AAP leaders' claim, Speaker Gupta clarified that PAC's role in examining CAG reports remains unaffected by the 2021 amendment to the GNCTD Act. He affirmed that committee chairpersons have inherent powers to maintain order and can direct disruptive members to withdraw from the proceedings. 'Any members indulging in violent or disruptive behaviour and creating utter chaos may be asked to withdraw [from the proceedings]. If the member refuses to do so, he may be removed from that sitting,' the Speaker said. 'This is outrageous. We are now being told that if we raise questions in a committee, we'll be thrown out,' the LoP said.
