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Time of India
5 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
'Saved by the school bell': Dharali students, teacher left 40 minutes before flash flood; headmistress remains untraceable
DEHRADUN: Sushil Kishor Nautiyal, one of the two primary school teachers at Dharali, cannot believe the series of coincidences that kept him safe from Tuesday's disaster. "I had a family commitment on Wednesday for which I left for Uttarkashi on the same afternoon as the disaster. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now We dispersed the students at 1 pm as usual. Of the 17 students enrolled in this school, two come from Dharali village. They were a no-show on Tuesday, most probably due to the Hardoodh festival. We can only hope that they are safe, though there has been no contact with them because of poor network connectivity in the entire region," said Nautiyal, who has been a teacher at the school since 2016. The other 15 students are children of Nepali immigrants and travel from Sattal, which remained relatively safe from the floods, he said. Even the headmistress, Babita Panwar, has not been reachable since Tuesday's disaster, but Nautiyal is hopeful that she too is safe. "I locked the school around 1.10 pm and by 1.20 pm I was hailing a shared cab for Harsil. Barely half an hour later, the whole landscape changed. The school is almost 1.5 km away from the old Dharali village that was hit. If not for my trip to Uttarkashi, I would have been in my school quarters," he said. He also told TOI that while the Nepali origin students are safe, some of them have been unable to get in touch with their parents, many of whom are employed at apple orchards in the area and are missing or out of connectivity. Another 'coincidence' that Nautiyal spoke of was the safety of a class 6 student, Rajat Kumar, who actually goes to the secondary school in Mukhba. "Rajat's sister studies at our school in class 5 and he drops her here every day and then goes to his school. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now That day, he was without an umbrella and it was raining heavily. I convinced him to stay back at the primary school. Both siblings left together at 1 pm. Had he gone to his school, he might have been caught in the floods," said the teacher. It was yet another coincidence that kept the lone teacher from Dharali, who teaches at the Mukhba secondary school, away from the disaster-hit area on Tuesday. "We had an audit in Muneri. The teacher went there for it. While he was lucky, he lost his house and all his belongings. We also have four students from Dharali who come to our school, but because of the Hardoodh festival, we ended classes at noon that day. Most students were safely back home before the disaster hit. We were able to get in touch with them once on Tuesday afternoon. They were being taken to a makeshift ITBP shelter nearby. Had we followed the usual 1 pm time for dispersal, we might have lost our students and teacher," said Saroj Negi, headmistress of the govt school in Mukhba. In light of the bad weather and the disaster, schools in the area are closed for now.
Time of India
02-08-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
21k killed in 34k road accidents in U'khand since 2000; 25% in Doon, highest fatalities in US Nagar
1 2 Dehradun: Since its formation in 2000, Uttarakhand has recorded 34,014 road accidents, according to data obtained by TOI through an RTI query filed by Dehradun-based social activist Anoop Nautiyal. Dehradun accounts for nearly 25% of these mishaps, with 8,314 incidents, while Udham Singh Nagar has reported the highest fatalities, followed by Haridwar. In 2023, Dehradun registered around 28% of all road accidents in the state (481 out of 1,691), a share that rose to 29% in 2024 (511 out of 1,747). The capital also leads in accident-related injuries. In 2024, 431 people were injured in Dehradun, representing 28% of the state's total (1,547). The figures for 2023 and 2022 stood at 27% and 23%, respectively. "There is a flurry of action from authorities only after events of casualties. Road engineering should be an integral element of a city, but that is severely lacking in Dehradun. In 2024, nearly 30% of the state's 1,747 accidents occurred in Dehradun alone — almost five every day. These rash driving accidents should not be seen in isolation. While many are caused by human error, others stem from lack of red lights, potholes, or poor road engineering. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like I thought my dad was 'boring'. Now, I'm learning that boring stuff is often what matters most CNA Read More Undo Hardly ever is the action-taken report made public," said Nautiyal. The recent death of a woman on a two-wheeler after being hit by a speeding bus near ISBT has once again highlighted the menace of rash driving. Residents blame increasing vehicle numbers on the road, limited infrastructure and lack of enforcement for the growing chaos. "For us, getting onto the main Rajpur road is a struggle. Drivers refuse to slow down or give way. Over-tourism has worsened the problem, with infrastructure lagging behind vehicle growth. Everyone is in a rush," said Bharti Jain, an architect from the Rajpur area. Residents also said that social media trends have contributed to the spike in speeding and rash driving. According to data shared by the Dehradun traffic police, 1,867 challans were issued for rash driving in 2023, 1,564 in 2024, and 1,460 till June this year. SP (Traffic) Lokjeet Singh said enforcement is a priority. "We have formed a dedicated team patrolling the city in civil dress. In July alone, we identified 21 offenders and will soon issue challans. We will continue such exercises to ensure safe driving in the city," he said. However, the increasing numbers in recent years present a worrisome trend when it comes to road safety in the capital. Out of 21,625 road deaths since 2001, almost 25% (5,334) have occurred in Udham Singh Nagar, followed by Haridwar (4,783). The fatality number for the capital remains slightly lower at 3,766. Sushil Gava, a social activist, told TOI that the reasons for these fatalities are alarming — blatant flouting of traffic rules, overspeeding, drunk driving, and overloading are rampant, especially among commercial vehicles. "Most accidents occur on isolated highways or rural stretches where there's no CCTV surveillance, and poor lighting, delaying critical first aid. The absence of trauma centres, ill-equipped ambulances, and lack of trained emergency responders further exacerbates the situation. Pothole-ridden roads, encroachments, and unregulated auto and e-rickshaw movement in urban pockets only add to the chaos. Without systemic reforms and accountability, this crisis will only deepen," he said. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Hindustan Times
01-08-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Uttarakhand accounts for majority of chopper crashes in India in last 5 years, says activist
Dehradun, Uttarakhand accounted for a majority of the helicopter crashes and fatalities reported in the country over the last five years, a social activist said on Friday quoting official data. Uttarakhand accounts for majority of chopper crashes in India in last 5 years, says activist Helicopter crashes and emergency landings are occurring at an alarming frequency on the Char Dham Yatra route in the state, with five of them reported between May and June this year, he said. Quoting Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol's recent statement in Rajya Sabha, social activist Anoop Nautiyal said, "In the last five years, Uttarakhand has accounted for nearly two-thirds of all helicopter accidents and fatalities in India. Of the 12 major chopper crashes reported nationwide, seven occurred in Uttarakhand. Of the 30 tragic deaths in these crashes, 21 were in Uttarakhand alone." Nautiyal, who expressed deep concern over the aero safety scene in the hill state, appealed to authorities to put human lives above all else. "The data presented in Rajya Sabha is a clear and troubling signal that something is fundamentally wrong about how we manage our helicopter operations, especially during the Char Dham Yatra. If Uttarakhand ever needed a confirmation that we are the most vulnerable and helicopter accident-prone state in the country, the minister's statement in Rajya Sabha leaves no room for doubt," he said. Nautiyal alleged that authorities concerned are well aware of the loopholes but do not pay attention to plug them, as their prime objective is to set new records in tourist arrivals. Directorate General of Civil Aviation India, Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority, the state government and other stakeholders in the state's aviation sector know the problems and have enough ideas on how to work towards aero safety, he claimed. "What is happening is that with scant regard for carrying capacity and safety protocols, and in a blind pursuit to establish new records in footfalls during Char Dham Yatra and other religious festivals, the entire system bends over backwards to accommodate far larger numbers than it can safely manage," Nautiyal said. Calling for a solution-oriented approach, he said that the first step should be a 360 degree state-level audit of all helipads and air operations, a serious relook at the carrying capacity, better coordination between aviation operators and district administrations, and above all, a commitment to putting lives before numbers and records. He urged Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority and other stakeholders to treat this not only as a crisis but a call for action. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Time of India
20-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Doon's marginal rise in cleanliness rankings fails to impress residents, activists
1 2 3 Dehradun: Dehradun's modest climb in the Swachh Survekshan 2024 rankings -- from 68th to 62nd -- has been welcomed by civic authorities, but residents and environmentalists remain unconvinced, arguing that the numbers fail to reflect the city's on-ground realities. This year, the city scored 7,614 out of 12,500 points, placing it 62nd among 95 cities in the 3-10 lakh population category. However, social activist Anoop Nautiyal said that despite the higher marks, the overall score proportion has actually declined. "In 2023, Dehradun secured 6,579 out of 9,500 marks -- roughly 69% -- and was ranked 68th out of 446 cities in the 1-10 lakh population category. This year, it's about 61%. While the marking scheme has changed, the proportion tells a different story. There's immense scope for improvement, but that needs an honest and objective assessment of our current situation. Cleanliness must be prioritised across cities, villages, rivers, forests and hills alike," said Nautiyal. Environmentalists echoed similar concerns. "Dehradun has all the prerequisites to be among the top 10 -- limited landscape, technology and a relatively educated population. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo Yet, we continue to fall short," said eco-activist Ashish Garg. He added, "Cosmetic changes aren't enough. Several areas still lack door-to-door waste collection, and garbage-vulnerable points remain eyesores despite official claims. Setting up decentralised waste processing units could improve collection efficiency and reduce the burden on the municipal corporation." Garg also emphasised the need for stricter enforcement and penalties. "Dehradun can't be called clean until it looks clean. We're far from that goal," he said. Experts also flagged Dehradun's continuing challenges with waste segregation at the source. "The successful Harrawala segregation model has yet to be scaled to other wards. Source segregation is key to effective waste management. The Nagar Nigam must focus on awareness campaigns and enforcement across households and businesses," said environmentalist Naveen Kumar Sadana. Sadana also advocated for decentralised dry waste collection centres and mobile drop-off vehicles, while urging better management of hazardous waste, which he said remains largely ignored. Civic authorities attributed some of the shortcomings to timing. This year's Swachh Survekshan inspections took place in Feb, during a sanitation workers' strike. The delay in forming a new municipal board also affected performance. Mayor Saurabh Thapliyal said, "Door-to-door collection has significantly improved since the Dehradun Municipal Corporation took over. Source segregation is now a major priority, and we're bringing in new policies to implement it across the city. We will begin with a few wards and scale up. Our target is to break into the top 50, and we're confident we'll achieve it."
Hindustan Times
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Jubin Nautiyal says he is shifting from sad songs to uplifting romantic numbers
Mumbai, Jubin Nautiyal, best known for tracks such as 'Raataan Lambiyaan', 'Lut Gaye', 'Humnava Mere', 'Tujhe Kitne Chahne Lage Hum', and 'Tum Hi Aana', said he is transitioning from sad songs to more celebratory and uplifting romantic music. Jubin Nautiyal says he is shifting from sad songs to uplifting romantic numbers 'Genres have been hard back in the day. In 10 years of singing regularly, I've figured out that whenever I'm recording a song, I only think about whether I'll be able to do it or not. I always went and tried no matter if it worked or fails,' the singer told PTI in an interview. Nautiyal, whose voice has often defined heartbreak for a generation, said he is now discovering new dimensions in his singing. 'I'm able to sing genres which I never thought I could sing. I'm realising that people have started loving the romantic side of me, and I'm getting to do a lot of more fresh romantic sound. "There was a time when I was getting associated with the sad voice. To do 'Ishq Mera' and to get to sing 'Barbaad', which is a passionate romantic song, is a great thing,' he added. "Barbaad" is a track from filmmaker Mohit Suri's latest movie "Saiyaara", which marks the acting debut of Ahaan Panday, the cousin of actor Ananya Panday. It features Aneet Padda, known for her roles in 'Big Girls Don't Cry' and 'Salaam Venky', as the female lead. The 36-year-old singer expressed his gratitude to Suri for entrusting him with the song and believes it was tailor-made for his voice. 'Mohit knew how the song would sound in my voice before he even approached me. He was very confident. He's like, 'There's a song and I want you to do it'. 'Barbaad' can come across as a sad song, but it's not. I sang it like a sad song but then Mohit said that it's a falling in love song. This is one of those songs that people are listening to on loop and are making covers for it. When a song is good, that's what happens,' Nautiyal said. Nautiyal said it's a 'dream' for any musician to work with Suri, calling the filmmaker a 'cool guy', who provides clear creative direction. 'I like the way he puts music in his films, how he shoots music, and how he presents it,' the singer said, adding that Suri's talent lies in creating compelling soundscapes that resonate with audiences of all ages,' he said. 'Saiyaara' is produced by YRF's CEO Akshaye Widhani, and is set to release on July 18 worldwide. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
