Latest news with #SweetyKumari
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
Sikkim: One dead, 8 missing after tourist vehicle plunges 1,000 ft into Teesta river
One person was killed, two injured, and eight others were reported missing after a vehicle carrying 11 tourists plunged into the Teesta River in North Sikkim's Mangan district on Thursday evening, the police said on Friday. According to the police, the tourists, who are from Odisha and West Bengal were travelling from Lachen to Lachung. Sonam Detchu Bhutia, Superintendent of Police, Mangan, told The Indian Express that efforts are underway to retrieve the body and find the missing tourists. 'Two tourists were rescued with critical injuries and have been referred to a hospital in Gangtok,' Bhutia said. Taking to Facebook, Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, expressed sorrow at the accident. 'My heartfelt prayers are with the victims and their families during this extremely difficult time.' He confirmed that 'two individuals have been rescued and are receiving medical care'. The CM said, 'rescue operations began immediately under the supervision of SP Mangan, with the dedicated efforts of the police, ITBP, fire and medical teams, and local volunteers'. He said that National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have joined the rescue efforts. According to police, the vehicle the tourists were travelling in is yet to be recovered. The police have filed a negligence case against the absconding driver. While the cause of the accident is under investigation, police are looking into bad weather and overspeeding as potential reasons. Sweety Kumari reports from West Bengal for The Indian Express. She is a journalist with over a decade of experience in the media industry. Covers Crime, Defence, Health , Politics etc and writes on trending topics. With a keen eye for investigative and human-interest stories. She has honed her craft across diverse beats including aviation, health, incidents etc. Sweety delivers impactful journalism that informs and engages audiences. Sweety Kumari is a graduate of Calcutta University with an Honors degree in Journalism from Jaipuria College and a PG in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University. Originally from Bihar, she is brought up in Kolkata and completed her education from Kendriya Vidyalaya SaltLake. Multilingual, Sweety is fluent in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili. She started her career as an Entertainment and lifestyle journalist with a newsportal in Kolkata. She is working with The Indian Express for 8 years now. ... Read More
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Bengal: Governor resumes duties at Raj Bhavan, outlines new outreach initiatives
Governor CV Ananda Bose resumed his duties at Raj Bhavan on Thursday after a brief hospitalisation in April and May, having been declared fit by doctors. He's now refocusing on public outreach. Notably, Governor Bose ensured administrative efficiency during his medical leave, by clearing pending files and also continued his public interaction programme — 'Aamne Samne', through which he directly engages with citizens. He also engaged in extensive discussions with senior officials, emphasising on strengthening the people-centric initiatives that Raj Bhavan has spearheaded over the past two years. Additionally, the Governor issued a series of immediate directives aimed at enhancing public engagement and administrative responsiveness. The Governor reiterated his commitment to revamping and streamlining the Raj Bhavan machinery with a 'people-centric approach' to ensure its accessibility and neutral stance for the public good. His directives outline a robust plan for Raj Bhavan, prioritising intensified public engagement through village visits, to sensitise people against violence and promote social harmony, overnight stays, and district-level outreach. In order to improve accessibility, the OSDs and senior officers will be stationed in districts, facilitating direct citizen interaction and enabling the Governor to address concerns and provide instructions. In addition, the 'File to Field' progamme initiative will involve Raj Bhavan teams revisiting villages previously covered under 'AAMAR GRAM', to assess follow-up actions and track progress. Culturally, the Raj Bhavan will spearhead the Darjeeling Hill Festival, enhance its cultural programmes, and also launch a special scheme for financial aid to heart patients. Additionally, it will host a Sanskrit Colloquium in partnership with Calcutta University. According to Raj Bhavan sources, an interactive Jan Bhagidari Portal will be launched to boost public participation. Sweety Kumari reports from West Bengal for The Indian Express. She is a journalist with over a decade of experience in the media industry. Covers Crime, Defence, Health , Politics etc and writes on trending topics. With a keen eye for investigative and human-interest stories. She has honed her craft across diverse beats including aviation, health, incidents etc. Sweety delivers impactful journalism that informs and engages audiences. Sweety Kumari is a graduate of Calcutta University with an Honors degree in Journalism from Jaipuria College and a PG in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University. Originally from Bihar, she is brought up in Kolkata and completed her education from Kendriya Vidyalaya SaltLake. Multilingual, Sweety is fluent in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili. She started her career as an Entertainment and lifestyle journalist with a newsportal in Kolkata. She is working with The Indian Express for 8 years now. ... Read More
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Science
- Indian Express
Built on 2-acre plot: Living plant library set to bloom in Shibpur
In a major boost to botanical research and education, the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanical Garden in Shibpur, in Howrah, is set to unveil the country's first dedicated Plant Taxonomy Section; an unique living encyclopaedia of India's plant diversity. This space, built over two acres, is set to function as a living library of plants. It is designed to be accessible to anyone who wants to learn more about how important the planet's biodiversity is and how plants are related and classified. What sets it apart is its public accessibility and interactive design; each plant will feature a QR code, allowing visitors to instantly access information on its lineage, origin, and conservation status. This will improve plant record-keeping and enhance both research and public education, allowing visitors to instantly access detailed information about its taxonomy, origin, and conservation status. It is set to be inaugurated in the next few months and will serve as a singular hub for researchers and academicians to delve into the vast world of plant classification and its vital role in biodiversity conservation. The new section will showcase 175 families of flowering plants (Phanerogams) including 143 Dicotyledons, 3 Gymnosperms, and 29 Monocotyledons, along with five special blocks of Cryptogams such as Algae, Fungi, Lichens, Bryophytes, and Pteridophytes. The display will follow the 'Natural System of Classification' developed by George Bentham and J.D. Hooker. 'This Plant Taxonomy Section is a monumental step forward for botanical research and education in India,' stated Dr Devendra Singh, joint director of Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden. He added that by leveraging new tools and technologies, they are set to make important contributions to plant conservation, research, and education. 'It's the first of its kind in the country, providing a centralized location where researchers can gain a clear understanding of living plant representatives, including numerous rare, endemic, and threatened species, all organized according to the Classification System. We believe it will significantly advance our knowledge and conservation efforts,' an official explained. The botanical gardens play a vital global role in plant conservation, education, and research. Officials at the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden emphasized that ' 'accurate taxonomy is the backbone of plant management', helping label species correctly, inform visitors, and support long-term conservation. Sweety Kumari reports from West Bengal for The Indian Express. She is a journalist with over a decade of experience in the media industry. Covers Crime, Defence, Health , Politics etc and writes on trending topics. With a keen eye for investigative and human-interest stories. She has honed her craft across diverse beats including aviation, health, incidents etc. Sweety delivers impactful journalism that informs and engages audiences. Sweety Kumari is a graduate of Calcutta University with an Honors degree in Journalism from Jaipuria College and a PG in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University. Originally from Bihar, she is brought up in Kolkata and completed her education from Kendriya Vidyalaya SaltLake. Multilingual, Sweety is fluent in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili. She started her career as an Entertainment and lifestyle journalist with a newsportal in Kolkata. She is working with The Indian Express for 8 years now. ... Read More
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Climate
- Indian Express
Deep depression triggers heavy rain & rough seas; control room on alert
A day after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the state is likely to recieve widespread rainfall, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and issued a yellow alert for some districts in the state, rains lashed south Bengal, on Thursday under the influence of a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal, officials said. The system made landfall between Sagar Island and Khepupara (Bangladesh), close to Raidighi (West Bengal). The deep depression over coastal Bengal and adjoining Bangladesh moved slowly northeastwards with a speed of 5 kmph on Thursday, the Met Department said, adding that it is very likely to move nearly north-northeastwards and weaken into a depression in the next 12 hours and into a well-marked low pressure area during the subsequent 24 hours, it said. The weather department said on Friday, South Bengal will continue to experience light to moderate rain/thundershowers at most places. Heavy rainfall (7-11 cm) accompanied by squally wind speeds upto 60 kmph is very likely over North and South 24 Parganas, Nadia, and Murshidabad districts. Additionally, Kolkata is likely to experience light to moderate rains and thundershower. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has directed district officials to prepare relief camps for low-lying areas as well as ordered for the activation of a round-the-clock disaster control room and directed district officials to prepare relief camps for low-lying areas. 'Due to bad weather conditions, Mumbai and Delhi have been suffering. Mumbai had submerged. As per information with us for the next 48 hours, we have a forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall,' the CM said. The Southwest Monsoon has set in over parts of North Bengal, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim. The north Bay of Bengal will remain rough to very rough, with gusts up to 70 km/h until Friday morning. Accodring to the weather office, 'Sea conditions are expected to be rough to very rough over the north and adjoining central Bay of Bengal and along & off Odisha, West Bengal, and Bangladesh coasts during May 29-30.' Fishermen have been advised to stay ashore until May 31and cautionary signal No. 3 has also been hoisted at Kolkata and Haldia ports, and signal No. 1 at Sagar Island. The authorities also warn of uprooted trees, crop damage, waterlogging and urban traffic disruption. Low visibility and landslide risks persist in the hilly districts, and residents are urged to follow official advisories and avoid flooded areas. Sweety Kumari reports from West Bengal for The Indian Express. She is a journalist with over a decade of experience in the media industry. Covers Crime, Defence, Health , Politics etc and writes on trending topics. With a keen eye for investigative and human-interest stories. She has honed her craft across diverse beats including aviation, health, incidents etc. Sweety delivers impactful journalism that informs and engages audiences. Sweety Kumari is a graduate of Calcutta University with an Honors degree in Journalism from Jaipuria College and a PG in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University. Originally from Bihar, she is brought up in Kolkata and completed her education from Kendriya Vidyalaya SaltLake. Multilingual, Sweety is fluent in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili. She started her career as an Entertainment and lifestyle journalist with a newsportal in Kolkata. She is working with The Indian Express for 8 years now. ... Read More
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Indian Express
Cab driver, aide held for ‘threatening' US tourist at Kolkata airport
THE BIDHANNAGAR police on Thursday arrested a taxi driver and his accomplice for allegedly threatening a US tourist after he landed at the Kolkata airport. The police action came after the tourist, Dustin, uploaded a video of a purported conversation with the two persons on his YouTube channel that soon surfaced on other social media platforms. The police identified the arrested as Manoj Roy (52) and Alamgir Molla (34), a taxi driver. A suo motu case has been registered at the NSCBI Airport Police Station, police said. According to Dustin, his 'unsettling experience' began shortly after landing in Kolkata when he booked a local taxi to his hotel on Park Street. Despite clear instructions, the driver intentionally drove him nearly 15 km in the wrong direction towards a different hotel in Rajarhat, claimed Dustin. When Dustin confronted the driver about the incorrect destination and refused to pay the inflated fare, the situation escalated. Another man entered the vehicle on the pretext of mediation and soon threatened Dustin with physical harm. Eventually, Dustin claimed, he was compelled to switch to another taxi. However, before he could leave, the second man demanded an additional Rs 100 for 'parking and petrol,' forcing Dustin to pay a total of Rs 800 for a trip that would have cost Rs 500-600 via an app-based cab. The video uploaded by Dustin surfaced on other social media platforms as well and action was taken, police said. Sweety Kumari reports from West Bengal for The Indian Express. She is a journalist with over a decade of experience in the media industry. Covers Crime, Defence, Health , Politics etc and writes on trending topics. With a keen eye for investigative and human-interest stories. She has honed her craft across diverse beats including aviation, health, incidents etc. Sweety delivers impactful journalism that informs and engages audiences. Sweety Kumari is a graduate of Calcutta University with an Honors degree in Journalism from Jaipuria College and a PG in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University. Originally from Bihar, she is brought up in Kolkata and completed her education from Kendriya Vidyalaya SaltLake. Multilingual, Sweety is fluent in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili. She started her career as an Entertainment and lifestyle journalist with a newsportal in Kolkata. She is working with The Indian Express for 8 years now. ... Read More
