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Time of India
14-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Potholes and unscientific speed breakers ruin fun: Highs and lows of owning supercar in Bengaluru
Image Credit: TOI/Mini Thomas Potholes and unscientific speed breakers ruin the fun of driving supercars in Bengaluru. BENGALURU: Vrooming in a supercar in Bengaluru could turn into an unpleasant experience within seconds. 'Potholes, oversized speedbreakers, and poorly designed dividers lacking reflectors present significant challenges. These become particularly problematic for supercars which typically have low ground clearance,' says Rajath KK, 23, who owns a BMW M6. Many Bengalureans today can afford high-performance supercars and have the passion to drive them, but the limitations are many. Night drives are safer, says Rajath, who lives in Abbigere in Jalahalli and runs an interior design company. Image Credit: TOI/Mini Thomas 'Navigating the city requires careful planning. I drive during early morning hours or late at night for several reasons – heavy traffic congestion in the city, local residents' reactions, and unpredictable lane changes by other motorists,' he says. Waterlogging is another big concern, especially during the monsoon season. 'We invest considerable resources in purchasing and modifying these vehicles, and any damage would result in substantial repair costs,' Rajath says. Zubair Ali Jung, who drives around Bengaluru in his Audi 8, notes that supercar owners pay premium road taxes, but have to settle for potholes and uneven surfaces that severely impact the driving experience. Rajath pleads that supercar and bike owners are a misunder stood lot. 'High-performance exhausts in our vehicles are not merely aesthetic additions but crucial components that enhance vehicle performance and functionality,' he says. The turn on For all their complaints, supercar owners also have their many moments of joy. 'The roar of my supercar's V-10 engine gives me a high, with the intake and exhaust notes turning me on,' says A R Shabbir, businessman and racer who owns a Lamborghini. Rajath looks forward to car enthusiast gatherings, which are gaining popularity. Team Clutches, a group founded by him, hosts meetups and car shows. He is a regular at events organized by 6th Gear and Htrz Modz too. The events, he says, foster a sense of community amongst fellow enthusiasts. Zubair also loves meeting new people. The 36-year-old, nicknamed Spiderman by his friends, says owning a supercar can broaden one's social connections. 'It feels great to be part of a community of enthusiasts. When we glide into these beauties and cruise together, it creates wonderful moments of happiness and camaraderie,' smiles Jung, who is part of groups like Team1 Racing and Team Clutches. At these gatherings, participants share knowledge and collaborate on shared objectives. The supercar market in India is unorganised. Interactions with other car enthusiasts helps one gain valuable insights on what needs to be sold or bought. Aditya Arora, founder of Boit Club and who has been a supercar owner for the last 14 years, says they regularly coordinate social gatherings and facilitate new vehicle unveiling ceremonies. A specialised 3D animation facility that he offers helps create detailed visualisations of supercar modifications prior to actual implementation. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
JN.1 is more contagious than previous variants but there's no need for school closures or WFH
Byline: Mini Thomas A sudden surge of Covid-19 cases across India has prompted various states to strengthen their monitoring systems. While most new cases are owing to Omicron sub-variant JN.1, other strains such as NB 1.8.1 and LF.7 are also under observation. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Dr T Jacob John, an expert in virology, vaccines, and public health, talks to Mini Thomas about the factors that might be driving the current spike, and whether vulnerable groups should get a booster shot When exactly did the current outbreak begin in India? It's difficult to pinpoint at that owing to lack of testing. The current attention to Covid stems from testing initiatives in Hong Kong and Singapore. India initiated testing after a substantial increase in Covid cases that were reported internationally. In India, many may have got infected in the last one month and a lot of them would have mistaken it for the common cold. One way to distinguish between both is that while common cold usually manifests as nasal discharge, Covid typically presents with a dry cough. What would you attribute the spike in cases to? Does it indicate waning immunity from vaccines and seasonal factors? The pandemic ended in 2022 after the Omicron wave. Thereafter, SARS-CoV-2 is endemic globally, just like the H1N1 swine flu infection. Fortunately, the Omicron version alone has survived as endemic, not the Delta variant of 2021. Endemic respiratory diseases tend to show fluctuations in incidence, like endemic flu which shows up as seasonal flu. We haven't observed the post pandemic scene long enough to learn about seasonal factors. Upsurges are surely due to new birth cohorts without immunity joining the population, as well as waning immunity in those previously infected or vaccinated. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now What makes JN.1 so contagious? What about its mutations? The reason why Omicron first became an epidemic and then endemic, replacing all earlier variants, is because it's more easily transmitted. Same goes for JN.1, which became the only surviving variant among all Omicron strains. It's more contagious than previous variants because it affects the upper respiratory tract (nose, throat). Oral secretions that come out as droplets contain a good viral load, further spreading the infection. When more of the virus comes out in aerosols (tiny solid particles and droplets in the air), more people get infected. As for JN.1 mutations, their genes vary a bit but properties are the same. It's basically the same virus. Schools are reopening after the summer break but parents are worried about sending their wards amid Covid concerns. Should schools be shut? Certainly not. No purpose is served by school closures. There's no evidence that schools amplify coronavirus infections. Besides, schoolchildren are not any more vulnerable to the infection than others. Even corporates don't need to allow their employees to work from home. There's a surge in cases no doubt, but it's not an epidemic. There is no serious morbidity or significant mortality yet. While there's no need for social distancing, vulnerable individuals should continue wearing masks in crowded places. People can attend social events freely but must maintain proper hand hygiene practices. What other safety protocols would you suggest? A booster dose of the Covid vaccine is a good idea for those who are at high risk. There is a JN.1 specific mRNA vaccine available in India and physicians must consider its use in people under immunosuppression. Injected adenovirus vector-based vaccines are no longer permitted. Masking is certainly recommended as long as the infection is on the rise. No vulnerable person must mingle in crowds when there is a seasonal outbreak of Omicron or flu. Which are the groups at higher risk for serious symptoms? The elderly (those above 65-70), those with chronic lung disease, and cancer, people undergoing post-organ transplant and immunosuppressive therapies, those with uncontrolled diabetes, high blood pressure and its complications, chronic liver or kidney diseases and so on may have severe disease both with flu and with SARS-CoV-2 infection. How long will the outbreak last? Is India prepared to manage it? India can manage even large epidemics. The current outbreak will not become one. Only a few states are going to face significant challenges. Hopefully, it will die out in a couple of months. What does our healthcare system still lack? Had there been a systematic approach of diagnosis before treatment, this outbreak could have been detected a month earlier. In India, healthcare providers often prescribe antibiotics without proper testing for diseases, including viral infections where antibiotics are ineffective. It ultimately leads to increased healthcare expenses. Poor coordination between public and private healthcare sectors remains a significant challenge. Both central and state governments should have official periodic bulletins published with authentic data. Will Covid ever be eradicated? Do we need better vaccines? Covid-19, even in its Omicron version, is not eradicable, just like influenza. But Omicron did eradicate the Delta variant. Better vaccines are always a good idea but once the pandemic is over, vaccines will not be widely used.
