Latest news with #Rupa
Time of India
3 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
‘We tried to help, but police told us to go back': Workers on tragic Bengaluru stampede
Eleven people lost their lives on Wednesday evening outside Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium , as a celebration for Royal Challengers Bengaluru's IPL victory turned into chaos. Over 3 lakh fans swarmed the area for a glimpse of their cricketing heroes. With barricades broken and people forcing entry from every direction, emergency services were crippled. Footwear littered the ground — from fancy sandals to a child's tiny slippers. Some were stained with dried blood. A cleaning crew collected 150 garbage bags worth of items, offering a grim picture of what had happened the night before, as reported by TOI. 'What if it were my child?' The human cost became clear the next morning. Rupa, 25, who was cleaning near Gate No. 7 — one of the worst-hit areas — said: 'We found just about every kind of shoe — expensive ones, glittering women's chappals and even a five-year-old's slippers. What's the point of being rich or well-dressed if you end up getting crushed to death in a crowd? All I could think of was the agony the victims must have gone through.' Subuli, 40, a mother of two, said: 'When we came in the morning, it was like a war zone. I came across a small child's slippers, and all I could think was, 'what if it were my child?' How would I feel if I were in that situation?' Live Events The physical damage — broken doors, smashed staircases, damaged fencing — may be repaired. But the memories for those who witnessed the carnage will remain. Broken barricades, broken systems From the compound walls to nearby Cubbon Park, signs of desperation were everywhere. People had climbed fences and trees, torn their clothes on barbed wire, and trampled the park's greenery. Torn shirts, lost caps, broken glasses — all scattered. Shashi S, a stadium staffer for 18 years, recalled the panic: 'We were here yesterday but were asked to serve guests inside. Around 4.45pm, the crowd outside began to grow. It was terrifying. We were scared since people were barging in any which way.' Security personnel, overwhelmed and outnumbered, could only watch as order broke down. 'We saw people falling, limping, screaming in pain,' said a security guard, as reported by TOI. 'All my life, I'll probably carry the guilt of not doing enough to help them.' Emergency services delayed Doctors and medical staff confirmed delays and confusion. As reported by TOI, Dr Humera at Vydehi Super Speciality Hospital said, 'The first injured arrived at 3.45pm, followed by others at 4.10pm, 4.45pm, and 5.30pm. Unfortunately, all those brought in during that time were declared dead on arrival.' Her hospital received seven patients — four were already dead, and two were under treatment. One person was treated as an outpatient. A nurse at Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital said, 'Six of the deceased were brought dead. Of the remaining, 10 have been discharged, and four are still being treated.' Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who visited the injured at Bowring, said: 'I was really pained after hearing from a deceased's mother. The state government stands with the victims and will ensure proper medical care for the injured.' Medical booth overrun Even the medics weren't spared. Ambulances positioned in advance struggled to move amid the choking crowd. At a booth outside Gate No. 10, staff attempted to bring in stretchers. But the crowd turned on them. A medical worker said: 'When we were taking the stretchers in, some 20 people used that as a ploy, grabbed one of the stretchers and tried to barge into the stadium. They delayed us from reaching the injured.' Jagannath B R, a hotel employee, described a similar scene: 'Many, including police, called ambulances from different hospitals, but the large crowd outside gates affected movement of ambulances.' The Karnataka High Court noted that only two ambulances had been officially deployed for an event that drew lakhs. Judges observed that timely CPR could have saved lives. 'We were told to go back inside' Some workers who tried to help were pushed away. Begum (name changed), a 22-year-old cleaning staffer, said: 'I tried to step out and was shocked to see a woman lying dead right there. Police told us to go back inside. We had no choice. Not being able to do anything was heartbreaking.' Abhigayle (name changed), 18, said: 'It was heartbreaking seeing so many young fans in distress. The victims' families were crying and carrying their loved ones from the main gate. I didn't sleep until early morning after seeing all that.' Fans speak: 'It was heartless' Eyewitnesses painted a chilling picture of crowd frenzy. Niranjan Gowda, a software engineer, said, 'There was absolutely no crowd control. People were just pouring in without even showing passes. The barricades had been trampled, people were climbing onto trees, and the area was littered with abandoned footwear.' He saw a police officer try to save two people gasping for air. But around them, no one helped. 'Everyone was fixated on getting inside and recording videos. It was heartless.' The M Chinnaswamy Stadium, normally a site of celebration and unity, has now become a symbol of tragedy. Behind the red and gold of RCB's success lies the story of lives lost, warnings unheeded, and systems that cracked under pressure. The aftermath is not just broken glass and torn fences. It's in the eyes of those who saw it all and can't forget.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Rupa becomes second matriculate from Ramgarh's PVTG community
1 2 Ramgarh: After Birhor girl Rashmi Birhor, who became the first graduate of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) settled in Birhor Tola of Basantpur panchayat under Mandu block of Ramgarh district, another Birhor girl from the same village, Rupa Birhor, passed the matriculation examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC) in the first division. After becoming the first graduate of the endangered community, Rashmi has been playing a vital role in motivating her community towards education. Rupa, daughter of Meena Devi and Buchan Birhor, sat for the JAC exam at St Robert School in Hazaribag and secured 322 marks in the JAC results declared a few days ago. Talking to TOI, Rupa said she wants to continue with her higher education. Rupa also expressed happiness that her community is slowly becoming aware of the importance of education. She received support and encouragement from her family, community and district administration, which helped her studies. Her father Buchan, the first entrepreneur from the community in Ramgarh, said, "I and my wife started a small business by opening a general store on the highway with a bank loan. I want to bring the nomadic Birhor community into the mainstream social life by providing better education for all of our children." Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Birhor Tola is located far from the main market and to help Birhor families, who usually have to travel long distances to buy necessary items, Buchan decided to provide necessary groceries and general items to the residents through his general store. The hamlet has seen significant changes and development after President Droupadi Murmu, who was the Jharkhand governor then, visited Birhor Tola in 2019, said Kaithreen Devi, an anganwadi sevika.
BBC News
20-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Community hubs in Leicester fear for future amid consultation
Groups that use council-run community centres across Leicester have voiced their fears as a consultation into their future is under City Council, which currently operates 13 community centres and 16 libraries across the city, is asking for the public's views on a new "service model" operating from 12 multi-service centres and the Central comes as the authority is looking to reduce their budget by up to £2.1m over the next three years following "a decade and a half of central government cuts in funding".But the suggestion the centres could be transferred to community organisations to run has sparked concern among users. Rupa Soni organises weekly social events for women at Rushey Mead Recreation Centre where members meet, talk and take part in activities to celebrate their Hindu faith. They are calling on the city council to retain control of the centre. Rupa says her group members are concerned they may be priced out of the centre if new owners take over and increase charges to rent out the rooms. She also does not know anyone who would be able to operate the centre Makhwana, who regularly attends the socials, said: "I don't go anywhere, I'm alone."She said her son had died, and for her "there's no other place to go". On the Mowmacre estate, residents have exactly the same concerns. Many are worried that the only nearby community building they have access to - the Tudor Centre - may suffer the same Barnes has run Stay and Play children activities for 32 years at the centre. Now working as a volunteer, she says: "If I couldn't do it, I don't know what I'd do. It's my life."Her concerns are backed by local Labour councillor Annette Byrne, who says there is unlikely to be anyone on the estate with the time, skills and resources needed to run Tudor Centre themselves."This is one of the poorest estates in Leicester. You've got liability insurance, gas, electric, water. "Who's going to take responsibility if anything goes wrong? No, we're not having that." Consultation continues The Tudor Centre and Rushey Mead Recreation Centre are two of the eleven council-run centres and libraries being considered for transfer to communities to city mayor for libraries and community centres, councillor Vi Dempster, does not deny the changes are about saving she says it "doesn't have to be a negative thing, if you do it the right way"."We are doing it in a way that is listening to and responding to people in this city," she confirms no decisions have yet been made, adding she will participate in meetings at the venues affected where she will answer people's community centres in Leicester have already been handed over to community groups to run including the Highfields Centre in 2010 and African-Caribbean Centre in consultation on these latest proposals will finish on 29 June.
Scotsman
19-05-2025
- Health
- Scotsman
Scotsman Obituaries: Rupasree Tewari, doctor who championed women and children's health, and Indian music
Dr Rupasree Tewari, doctor. Born: 21 April 1948 in Kolkata, India. Died: 16 April 2025, aged 76 Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Dr Rupasree (Rupa) Tewari, a community doctor in Fife and advocate for women, children, and South Asian culture in Scotland, died unexpectedly on 16 April 2025 in Nottingham. She was 76 years old. Rupa Tewari: 'She had music not just in her voice, but in her soul' (Picture: David Bull) Described by colleagues as 'a breath of spring – always smiling, caring and putting others before herself,' Rupa spent more than two decades serving the communities of Fife through her work in sexual and reproductive health, child protection, and school medicine, before relocating to South Yorkshire, where she continued her work as Clinical Lead in NHS Rotherham's Contraceptive and Sexual Health Services. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'She was a first-class doctor, all her staff, and patients loved her,' one colleague said. Rupa was born in 1948 in Kolkata, West Bengal – the youngest of four children in a large, joint family household. She was adored by her much older siblings and cousins, and early on showed promise in both science and the arts. Though often asked to sit at the back of the classroom because of her height, she excelled in her studies and began training in Hindustani classical singing, a passion that would remain with her throughout her life. Her decision to pursue medicine was influenced by her father, a physician who had served in the Indian Medical Service, a military division of the British Army during colonial rule. He later practised privately in Kolkata. She trained at RG Kar Medical College, commuting daily on the buses of Kolkata with a long plait, a shy smile, and a steely determination. In 1977, Rupa married her classmate and fellow physician, Dr Sisir Kumar Tewari. The couple began their careers together in Giridih, in what is now the state of Jharkhand, working in a rural hospital with limited resources. If a patient needed a transfusion, a runner would alert local villagers to donate blood on the spot. The Tewaris were known for delivering babies safely at a time when maternal deaths were common and resources scarce. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In 1981, with their older daughter in tow, the Tewaris emigrated to the UK, seeking postgraduate training and a better future. Arriving in freezing London with only £50 and a suitcase, Rupa would go on to rebuild her career from scratch – retraining, requalifying, and eventually rising to Clinical Lead of the NHS Fife Sexual and Reproductive Health Services. She and her husband both settled in Kirkcaldy, where they raised their two daughters, Nilanjana and Suranjana. Sisir was an Associate Specialist Gynaecologist and Obstetrician at Forth Park Hospital. Throughout the 90s and 00s, Rupa became a tireless advocate for equal access to contraception, women's health, and the wellbeing of under-served communities. She led clinics for contraception, menopause counselling, and provided pre-termination counselling with sensitivity and discretion. She found the working culture and attitudes toward immigrant doctors in the UK challenging at times, but she persevered – earning the respect and praise of colleagues, including senior clinicians. In the 1990s, when few Indian families had settled in Scotland, Rupa held firmly to her heritage. She wore a sari to work every day of her professional life, describing it as her version of a business suit. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As well as her work in Family Planning, she served as a Senior Clinical Medical Officer in Community Child Health. She oversaw the care of approximately 5000 children as school doctor of institutions across Kirkcaldy, including Balwearie High school, Dunnikier Primary school, and Kirkcaldy High school. A local headmistress credited her with securing SeaView Primary school's first dedicated school nurse. Her work ranged from developmental assessments, to safeguarding children with special needs. She participated in multidisciplinary teams that brought together education, health and social care professionals, and was trained in video colposcopy for the medical examination of sexual abuse victims. Rupa tutored medical students, GP trainees, and nurses in conjunction with the Universities of Dundee, Edinburgh, St Andrews and Sheffield. She was a practical and compassionate mentor who specialised in contraceptive counselling, IUD and implant fittings, menopause care, and youth advisory services. She regularly ran Saturday morning drop-in clinics for teenagers. After the sudden death of her husband in 2002, Rupa rebuilt her life again—this time in South Yorkshire, where she was appointed Associate Specialist and Clinical Lead of the NHS Rotherham Trust Sexual Health Services. She again established herself as incredibly successful and popular in her workplace and was involved in the development of strategy around drop-in clinics, teenage pregnancy, cervical screening, menopause clinics and education on sex and relationships in schools. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad She continued her training and upskilling and achieved membership of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, where she also served as an examiner. In the later phase of her career, Rupa began work to address the rising needs of Rotherham's asylum seeker population, and the lack of dedicated services for those experiencing domestic violence and sexual exploitation – especially where cultural stigma and shame created barriers to seeking help. She advocated for the creation of a forensic gynaecology service that would provide support for survivors of alleged abuse. While structural changes and funding limitations meant this service was never formally realised, her work brought attention to a deeply underserved population. Rupa's legacy reached far beyond medicine. Her husband, Sisir was heavily involved in establishing the Scottish Bengali Cultural Association, East of Scotland and Rupa hosted musical performances, taught singing, and was known for helping to organise joyful picnics, road trips, and community dinners. She was proud to represent the Hindu community in Scotland when the Dalai Lama visited in 2004 and was also invited to the Queen's Garden Party at Holyrood House. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Even in retirement, Rupa continued to promote Indian music and culture. She was active in her community of Yoga friends, Bengali Women's Support Group and the Rotherham Sangeet Choir of which she was the co-chair and founder member of – a project that aimed to bring people together through music. Beyond medicine and music, Rupa was a talented cook, loved to travel, and was a passionate sewer, knitter and patch work quilter. She was an active member of sewing groups in South Yorkshire and Nottingham, and often gifted family and friends handmade treasures. A simple Hindu funeral was held shortly after her passing, with a sitar processional by Partha Bose – one of her favourite musicians – who said of her: 'She had music not just in her voice, but in her soul.' She is survived by her daughters, Nilanjana and Suranjana; her sons-in-law, David and Aditya; her three grandchildren; and her extended family across India, the UK, and the US. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Rupa's older daughter, Nilanjana, went on to study medicine at Aberdeen University and is now a consultant Upper GI surgeon at the Royal Derby Hospital. Her younger daughter, Suranjana, is a journalist for the BBC currently based in Singapore. Rupa Tewari will be remembered as an accomplished and principled doctor who courageously built a full and successful life many times over, and in the process touched lives by embodying resilience, deep care, and love for others. Obituaries
Scotsman
14-05-2025
- Health
- Scotsman
Scotsman Obituaries: Community doctor who championed women and children's health, and Indian music
Dr Rupasree Tewari, doctor. Born: 21 April 1948 in Kolkata, India. Died: 16 April 2025, aged 76 Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Dr Rupasree (Rupa) Tewari, a community doctor in Fife and advocate for women, children, and South Asian culture in Scotland, died unexpectedly on 16 April 2025 in Nottingham. She was 76 years old. Rupa Tewari: 'She had music not just in her voice, but in her soul' (Picture: David Bull) Described by colleagues as 'a breath of spring – always smiling, caring and putting others before herself,' Rupa spent more than two decades serving the communities of Fife through her work in sexual and reproductive health, child protection, and school medicine, before relocating to South Yorkshire, where she continued her work as Clinical Lead in NHS Rotherham's Contraceptive and Sexual Health Services. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'She was a first-class doctor, all her staff, and patients loved her,' one colleague said. Rupa was born in 1948 in Kolkata, West Bengal – the youngest of four children in a large, joint family household. She was adored by her much older siblings and cousins, and early on showed promise in both science and the arts. Though often asked to sit at the back of the classroom because of her height, she excelled in her studies and began training in Hindustani classical singing, a passion that would remain with her throughout her life. Her decision to pursue medicine was influenced by her father, a physician who had served in the Indian Medical Service, a military division of the British Army during colonial rule. He later practised privately in Kolkata. She trained at RG Kar Medical College, commuting daily on the buses of Kolkata with a long plait, a shy smile, and a steely determination. In 1977, Rupa married her classmate and fellow physician, Dr Sisir Kumar Tewari. The couple began their careers together in Giridih, in what is now the state of Jharkhand, working in a rural hospital with limited resources. If a patient needed a transfusion, a runner would alert local villagers to donate blood on the spot. The Tewaris were known for delivering babies safely at a time when maternal deaths were common and resources scarce. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In 1981, with their older daughter in tow, the Tewaris emigrated to the UK, seeking postgraduate training and a better future. Arriving in freezing London with only £50 and a suitcase, Rupa would go on to rebuild her career from scratch – retraining, requalifying, and eventually rising to Clinical Lead of the NHS Fife Sexual and Reproductive Health Services. She and her husband both settled in Kirkcaldy, where they raised their two daughters, Nilanjana and Suranjana. Sisir was an Associate Specialist Gynaecologist and Obstetrician at Forth Park Hospital. Throughout the 90s and 00s, Rupa became a tireless advocate for equal access to contraception, women's health, and the wellbeing of under-served communities. She led clinics for contraception, menopause counselling, and provided pre-termination counselling with sensitivity and discretion. She found the working culture and attitudes toward immigrant doctors in the UK challenging at times, but she persevered – earning the respect and praise of colleagues, including senior clinicians. In the 1990s, when few Indian families had settled in Scotland, Rupa held firmly to her heritage. She wore a sari to work every day of her professional life, describing it as her version of a business suit. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As well as her work in Family Planning, she served as a Senior Clinical Medical Officer in Community Child Health. She oversaw the care of approximately 5000 children as school doctor of institutions across Kirkcaldy, including Balwearie High school, Dunnikier Primary school, and Kirkcaldy High school. A local headmistress credited her with securing SeaView Primary school's first dedicated school nurse. Her work ranged from developmental assessments, to safeguarding children with special needs. She participated in multidisciplinary teams that brought together education, health and social care professionals, and was trained in video colposcopy for the medical examination of sexual abuse victims. Rupa tutored medical students, GP trainees, and nurses in conjunction with the Universities of Dundee, Edinburgh, St Andrews and Sheffield. She was a practical and compassionate mentor who specialised in contraceptive counselling, IUD and implant fittings, menopause care, and youth advisory services. She regularly ran Saturday morning drop-in clinics for teenagers. After the sudden death of her husband in 2002, Rupa rebuilt her life again—this time in South Yorkshire, where she was appointed Associate Specialist and Clinical Lead of the NHS Rotherham Trust Sexual Health Services. She again established herself as incredibly successful and popular in her workplace and was involved in the development of strategy around drop-in clinics, teenage pregnancy, cervical screening, menopause clinics and education on sex and relationships in schools. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad She continued her training and upskilling and achieved membership of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, where she also served as an examiner. In the later phase of her career, Rupa began work to address the rising needs of Rotherham's asylum seeker population, and the lack of dedicated services for those experiencing domestic violence and sexual exploitation – especially where cultural stigma and shame created barriers to seeking help. She advocated for the creation of a forensic gynaecology service that would provide support for survivors of alleged abuse. While structural changes and funding limitations meant this service was never formally realised, her work brought attention to a deeply underserved population. Rupa's legacy reached far beyond medicine. Her husband, Sisir was heavily involved in establishing the Scottish Bengali Cultural Association, East of Scotland and Rupa hosted musical performances, taught singing, and was known for helping to organise joyful picnics, road trips, and community dinners. She was proud to represent the Hindu community in Scotland when the Dalai Lama visited in 2004 and was also invited to the Queen's Garden Party at Holyrood House. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Even in retirement, Rupa continued to promote Indian music and culture. She was active in her community of Yoga friends, Bengali Women's Support Group and the Rotherham Sangeet Choir of which she was the co-chair and founder member of – a project that aimed to bring people together through music. Beyond medicine and music, Rupa was a talented cook, loved to travel, and was a passionate sewer, knitter and patch work quilter. She was an active member of sewing groups in South Yorkshire and Nottingham, and often gifted family and friends handmade treasures. A simple Hindu funeral was held shortly after her passing, with a sitar processional by Partha Bose – one of her favourite musicians – who said of her: 'She had music not just in her voice, but in her soul.' She is survived by her daughters, Nilanjana and Suranjana; her sons-in-law, David and Aditya; her three grandchildren; and her extended family across India, the UK, and the US. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Rupa's older daughter, Nilanjana, went on to study medicine at Aberdeen University and is now a consultant Upper GI surgeon at the Royal Derby Hospital. Her younger daughter, Suranjana, is a journalist for the BBC currently based in Singapore. Rupa Tewari will be remembered as an accomplished and principled doctor who courageously built a full and successful life many times over, and in the process touched lives by embodying resilience, deep care, and love for others. Obituaries
