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Hindustan Times
15 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Rakshabandhan: Software upgrade in Lko to hit services, rakhis may get delayed
Postal services, including Speed Post and registered post, are set to be suspended for two days - from 10pm on Aug 1 to Aug 3 - across the state as the General Post Office (GPO) undergoes a major software upgrade. A notice pasted at speed post counter about the service hit for few days at Lucknow GPO, on Thursday. (Mushtaq Ali/HT) The disruption is expected to impact the timely delivery of rakhis and festival parcels, causing concern among families relying on the service for long-distance festive exchanges. According to a notice issued by the office of chief postmaster, Lucknow, the service will remain suspended for two days. 'All esteemed customers are hereby informed that the Advanced Postal Technology 2.0 (IT 2.0) will be implemented at the Lucknow G.P.O. As a result, from 10:00 PM on August 1, 2025 to Aug 3, 2025, all financial services (Speed Post, registry, parcel, Aadhaar, savings bank, etc.) will remain suspended.' The move comes as part of India Post's efforts to modernise its operations and improve service efficiency in the long run. 'A temporary disruption is unavoidable to ensure seamless migration to the digital platform,' said deputy chief postmaster general Rajesh Kumar. 'Notices have been circulated in GPO branches across Lucknow to inform the public in advance and minimise inconvenience.' However, with Rakshabandhan falling on August 9, the timing has raised concerns among customers hoping to send rakhis and gifts to siblings in other cities. 'This is the only time of the year I send something by post. I always trusted Speed Post for rakhis, but now I may have to switch to private couriers,' said Rekha Sinha, a resident of Mahanagar. Postal staff, too, expect a backlog to accumulate once services resume, potentially delaying deliveries further. Deepak Soni, a postman at GPO said, 'While services will technically resume from Monday morning, it could take a day or two for operations to normalise fully. However, we will ensure all the rakhis get delivered on time. We will even deliver it on the Rakshabandhan day' Sachin Choubey, a senior post office staff said that keeping in view Rakshabandhan the software upgrade was done so that we have a few days left to ensure no rakhi is left undelivered.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Promised relocation, but dozens of trees go missing from Lucknow's ‘Green' route
Over 150 fully grown trees between Hanuman Setu and Nishatganj were suspected to have been axed by authorities despite Lucknow Development Authority's (LDA's) assurances of relocating them. People seen removing logs from axed trees on Hanuman Setu-Nishatganj stretch on Friday (Mushtaq Ali/HT) The said stretch is a part of the under-construction Green Corridor project. On July 19, LDA had said that over 150 trees obstructing the upcoming corridor's path would be uprooted and relocated with expert assistance. The corridor, spanning 28 km from IIM Road to Kisan Path, is being developed to ease traffic flow and reduce travel time. The incident has sparked public anger with environmentalists, activists and others concerned stating that LDA misled the public by claiming no trees would be felled. Sources stated that several trees were cut because they were obstructing the ongoing construction. When this reporter visited the spot on Friday evening, multiple trees were found missing, and a vehicle was seen transporting logs, believed to be from uprooted trees, away from the site. 'Instead of relocating, the trees have simply been axed. The area now looks cleaned up as if there were never any trees here,' said Rishi Sonker, who regularly commutes on the stretch and was at the spot. He added that he had earlier seen tree roots being dug out, but the Friday's incident didn't look like it involved any scientific relocation. Some demanded that an independent inquiry be launched and action be taken against officials involved in the alleged cover-up. 'This is not the first time that LDA has made tall claims about environmental responsibility. But its actions repeatedly contradict the promises,' said environmentalist Amit Srivastava. An LDA official, requesting anonymity, said while the forest department had permitted the felling of some trees that couldn't be relocated, the authority planned to plant five saplings for every tree cut down. 'We considered environmental concerns seriously, but older trees often don't survive translocation,' the official said. Despite attempts, LDA secretary Vivek Srivastava did not respond to calls seeking clarification on the authority's move. Activists also argued that compensatory plantation cannot substitute for decades-old green cover. 'You cannot replicate a 40-year-old tree with a sapling. These decisions must be transparent and accountable,' said Shalini Yadav, an urban ecology researcher. Earlier, LDA had claimed to have relocated 21 fully grown native trees, which included peepal, neem, pilkhan, and jamun, from the Hanuman Setu area to Gomti Riverfront. Divisional commissioner Roshan Jacob had inaugurated the drive. LDA vice-chairman Prathamesh Kumar had stated that 166 trees on the 4-km stretch would be shifted without felling.
India.com
20-07-2025
- Sport
- India.com
Not Virat Kohli Or MS Dhoni; ‘THESE' 8 Indian Icons Scored Century In Old Trafford, Manchester
photoDetails english 2934305 Updated:Jul 20, 2025, 01:35 PM IST Mushtaq Ali - 1936 1 / 8 The trailblazer. Mushtaq Ali became the first Indian to score a Test century at Old Trafford. His iconic knock laid the foundation for the Indian batting legacy in England during the pre-independence era. Vijay Merchant - 1936 2 / 8 In the same match as Mushtaq Ali, Vijay Merchant showcased his class and consistency by also registering a century. The duo's performance stood as a landmark for early Indian Test success overseas. Polly Umrigar - 1959 3 / 8 One of India's earliest cricketing legends, Polly Umrigar, scored a fighting century against England in tough conditions. His innings was one of determination and skill during an otherwise challenging tour. Abbas Ali Baig - 1959 4 / 8 Joining Umrigar in the same 1959 tour, Abbas Ali Baig made headlines not just for his century but also for becoming the youngest Indian at the time to achieve the feat at Old Trafford. Sunil Gavaskar - 1974 5 / 8 The 'Little Master' delivered a masterclass at Manchester in 1974. Despite the overall struggles of the team during that series, Gavaskar's century was a bright spot, reinforcing his reputation as India's most dependable batter of the time. Sandeep Patil - 1982 6 / 8 Known for his aggressive style, Patil's century came in a spirited counter-attacking innings. His knock remains one of the most memorable by an Indian middle-order batter in England. Mohammad Azharuddin - 1990 7 / 8 Azhar's elegant stroke play was on full display as he crafted a memorable century at Old Trafford. His innings was both stylish and technically solid against a quality English attack. Sachin Tendulkar - 1990 8 / 8 This was Sachin's first-ever Test century, making it extra special. At just 17 years of age, Tendulkar displayed maturity beyond his years, helping India draw the Test and announcing his arrival on the global stage.
Hindustan Times
08-07-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Floating invaders continue to haunt Gomti
Water hyacinth and solid waste have found a way to pollute large stretches of the Gomti seemingly after every clean-up drive. Even on Monday, thick clusters of the invasive plant covered the river's surface near Hanuman Setu. (Mushtaq Ali/HT) 'The river's natural flow is restricted by temporary dams and earth embankments, turning it into a stagnant water body. Combined with untreated sewage, this accelerates hyacinth growth,' said environmental expert Dr. Venkatesh Dutta. Amid concerns over the river's deteriorating health, divisional commissioner Roshan Jacob has directed officials concerned to take urgent measures to revive the Gomti. Top officials, including LDA vice chairman Prathamesh Kumar and municipal commissioner Gaurav Kumar, attended Monday's meeting. In the meeting, Jal Nigam officials said out of 32 drains that discharge their waste into the Gomti, 26 had been tapped. Of the 730 MLD (million litres per day) of wastewater flowing into the river, 600 MLD was treated, they said. Jacob instructed them to ensure that even the remaining drains were tapped and that only treated water was released into the river. She also directed the Municipal Corporation to install grills at all drain outfalls to prevent solid waste from entering the river. Jacob instructed LMC to ensure regular clean-up of floating waste and take steps to collect cow dung from Kaithal Colony and deliver it to the biogas plant under construction in Vasant Kunj Yojana. Reviewing the progress on the Kukrail River, she noted that dredging on five km had been completed. She directed LMC and LDA to conduct plantation drives along the cleaned stretch under the Pavitra Dhara programme. To this, the municipal commissioner said LMC currently had limited manpower and machinery to tackle the issue effectively. 'We are working on a revised action plan as instructed by the divisional commissioner,' he said. About the recurring hyacinth problem, LMC chief mechanical engineer Manoj Prabhat acknowledged that the shortage of manpower was hindering the civic body's efforts. 'In some areas, only two workers manage every two kilometres, which is inadequate against the fast-spreading hyacinth.' Another LMC official said, 'Despite spending lakhs on cleaning, the results are negligible because polluted drains remain untapped.' The Gomti covers a stretch of 30 km in Lucknow.
Hindustan Times
02-07-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Afternoon showers bring civic nightmare to Lucknow
LUCKNOW A spell of rain on Tuesday afternoon (1.6 mm) poured perennial problems on Lucknow in the form of waterlogged streets, traffic slowdown, power outages, fallen trees and overflowing drains, exposing the city's fragile infrastructure once again. The recurring issues left citizens fuming, raising questions over civic preparedness and the city's ability to manage even the early phases of the monsoon. A rickshaw overturned in a waterlogged lane in Maqboolganj, near Bhanumati crossing, in Lucknow on Tuesday. (Mushtaq Ali/HT Photo) From Saadatganj to Gomti Nagar and from Amausi to Charbagh, streets resembled water bodies, trapping vehicles and leaving daily commuters stranded. Park Road, Hazratganj crossing, Matiyari, Polytechnic crossing, Maulviganj, Chowk, Sarojini Nagar, and other densely populated areas saw traffic snarls. In Ramnagar Colony, under Tilak Nagar ward, an overflowing drain swallowed a car, which was later pulled out by locals. A particularly alarming incident occurred in Rustam Nagar, where a JCB, engaged in drain-cleaning work, accidentally damaged an 11,000-volt power line, plunging nearby areas into darkness. In Maulviganj, the collapse of a transformer platform during the downpour led to the death of a cattle, underlining the dangers posed by exposed infrastructure. The city is likely to receive one or two spells of rain/thundershowers while thunderstorm accompanied with lightning is very likely at isolated places over the next 24 hours. The maximum and minimum temperatures will be around 35 and 25 degrees, respectively. Lucknow recorded maximum and minimum temperatures of 32.9 and 25.2 degrees Celsius, respectively. Sarojini Nagar-II corporator Ram Naresh Rawat flagged the condition of the road near Amausi Metro Station. It was submerged under a foot of water after rain. He warned that over 20,000 residents and schoolchildren are at daily risk due to the deteriorating 800-meter road stretch, now riddled with deep potholes and lacking drainage. He demanded immediate elevation of the road and construction of a proper drain, sharing videos of the flooding with municipal authorities. Another corporator Rajeev Bajpai also slammed the administration, saying that repeated appeals to address waterlogging and drain maintenance have gone unanswered. 'We have raised these issues in the House, but there's been no action,' he said. In Aminabad, a massive tree fell near the medicine market, disrupting traffic and knocking out power supply. In Saadatganj's Mansoor Nagar, a vacant, dilapidated house collapsed due to the rain. Luckily, no casualties were reported. Municipal commissioner Gaurav Kumar conducted a late-evening inspection of flood-prone areas. Beginning in Gomti Nagar, he visited pumping stations and issued directives for urgent drainage operations. At the flooded underpass near gate no. 2 of Janeshwar Mishra Park, Kumar instructed engineers to install a permanent pump to prevent future flooding. He also inspected a mini-stadium area in Chinhat and reviewed pump house performance at Sapna Sweets crossing, calling for equipment upgrades where needed. Kumar emphasised zero tolerance for negligence and ordered officials to map all flood-prone areas and ensure pumps are installed before more rainfall. Power outages were reported from Indira Nagar Sector 14, Chinhat, Jankipuram, Ahibaranpur, Balaganj, Ashiana Sector J , Utrethia , Eldeco, Yaseenganj, Kesari Khera. Most of these areas suffered power cuts of more than four hours. Forecast for next 24-48 hours *The intensity of rainfall in the northern part of the state is likely to decrease while the monsoon activity in the southern part is likely to increase. Due to this, there is a possibility of heavy rainfall at some places in UP and very heavy rainfall at 1-2 places in the southern part during the next 24-48 hours, weatherman said. *Under the influence of active to very active monsoon conditions, light to moderate rainfall with heavy, very heavy and extremely heavy rainfall was recorded at most places in the state during the last 48 to 60 hours. *Churk got 25.6mm rainfall, Lakhimpur Kheri 24mm, Orai 18.2mm, Barabanki 18mm and Hardoi 10.4 mm.
