Latest news with #Visakhapatnam-based
The Hindu
28-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
International Fleet Review and MILAN to be conducted in Visakhapatnam in February 2026
An International Fleet Review will be organised in Visakhapatnam in the third week of February 2026 under the auspices of the Indian Navy. The IFR is described as an international maritime exercise conducted to improve relations with the navies of different countries. In this regard, Chief of Staff of the Visakhapatnam-based Eastern Naval Command (ENC) Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena met Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary K. Vijayanand to discuss about the IFR and the conduct of MILAN-2026. Visakhapatnam district Collector Harendhira Prasad and officials of the VMRDA and Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) participated in the meeting virtually. Mr. Vijayanand assured that the government would provide all support to make the event a grand success. 'The conduct of IFR will not only benefit India internationally but also Andhra Pradesh in particular. Visakhapatnam will get good recognition. Similarly, it will get international recognition in terms of tourism,' the Chief Secretary observed. He said since the President, the Prime Minister, and other dignitaries would be attending the fleet review, appropriate arrangements should be made accordingly. 'In view of the IFR, there is a need to take steps to beautify Visakhapatnam in all respects, especially in terms of improving roads, beautification, and installation of lights,' he advised the Visakhapatnam Collector, the VMRDA, the VPA, the NHAI, and the ENC officials. The Chief Secretary further called for speedy completion of various civil works that were in progress. He advised Mr. Harendhira Prasad to take steps to improve beautification and other infrastructure. Mr. Sameer Saxena said the IFR and MILAN-2026 would be held in Visakhapatnam from February 14 to 24. He said the President, the Prime Minister and other dignitaries would attend. He further said that 145 countries had been invited, and naval chiefs and representatives of these countries would participate. Principal Secretary (GAD) Mukesh Kumar Meena, Municipal Administration Principal Secretary S. Suresh Kumar, IFR Commodore Aby Mathew, AP Naval Officer-in-Charge Commodore Rajnish Sharma, Civil Military Liaison Officer Y.K. Krishna Rao participated in the meeting.
New Indian Express
22-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Basavaraju: From BTech graduate to top Maoist functionary
SRIKAKULAM: Known as the mastermind behind major attacks on security forces in Chhattisgarh, CPI (Maoist) general secretary Namballa Keshava Rao, alias Basavaraju, had joined the movement in the 1970s and elevated to the top post in the banned outfit seven years ago, when Maoist activities in their stronghold Bastar region were appearing to be wearing out. Born in 1955 in Jiyyannapeta of Kotabommali mandal near NH-16, Keshava Rao was the second son of Vasudeva Rao, a late government teacher, and Lakshmi Narayanamma. He is survived by his elder brother, Dhilleswara Rao, a former kabaddi player and retired Port Blair sea port chairman, and younger brother, Ram Prasad, a Visakhapatnam-based real estate businessman, and one of his two sisters. Keshava Rao, a skilled kabaddi and volleyball player, completed his BTech at the Regional Engineering College, Warangal. While pursuing his M Tech, he joined the People's War Group (PWG) in 1976 at the age of 21, drawn to the ideologies of leaders like Kondapalli Seetharamayya and KG Satyamurthy, and influenced by Srikakulam's anti-landlord movement. After joining the PWG, which later became the Maoist party, he cut ties with his village and family, and remained unmarried. Known for expertise in IED explosions, Keshava Rao, who carried a bounty of Rs1.5 crore, was named in the 2003 attack on Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu at Alipiri in Tirupati, as well as the 2010 Dantewada attack, which killed 76 CRPF jawans. His uncle, retired teacher Namballa Satyannarayana, recalled his academic brilliance, while cousin Namballa Raja Sekhar noted his dedication to the Maoist cause.
New Indian Express
22-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Andhra's Jiyyannapeta mourns death of techie-turned-Maoist leader Kesava Rao
SRIKAKULAM: A pall of gloom descended over Jiyyannapeta village in Kotabommali mandal, Srikakulam, the hometown of Maoist leader Namballa Kesava Rao, alias Basava Raju, after he died in a firefight with security forces in an encounter in the dense forests of Abhujmad on the tri-junction of Narayanpur-Bijapur-Dantewada districts, Chhattisgarh. Srikakulam SP K V Maheswara Reddy confirmed the Maoist party general secretary's demise to TNIE, citing official reports from security forces on Wednesday. Born in 1955 in Jiyyannapeta near NH-16, Kesava Rao was the second son of Vasudeva Rao, a late government teacher, and Lakshmi Narayanamma. He is survived by his elder brother, Dhilleswara Rao, a former kabaddi player and retired Port Blair sea port chairman, and younger brother, Ram Prasad, a Visakhapatnam-based real estate businessman, and one of his two sisters. Kesava Rao, a skilled kabaddi and volleyball player, completed his B Tech at the Regional Engineering College, Warangal. While pursuing his M Tech, he joined the People's War Group (PWG) in 1976 at the age of 21, drawn to the ideologies of leaders like Kondapalli Seetharamayya and K G Satyamurthy, and influenced by Srikakulam's anti-landlord movement. After joining the PWG, which later became the Maoist party, Kesava Rao cut ties with his village and family, and remained unmarried. He carried Rs 1.5 cr bounty on his head Known for expertise in IED explosions, Kesava Rao, who carried a bounty of Rs 1.5 crore, was implicated in the 2003 attack on CM N Chandrababu Naidu at Alipiri in Tirupati, as well as the 2010 Dantewada attack, which killed 76 CRPF jawans. His uncle, retired teacher Namballa Satyanarayana, recalled his academic brilliance, while cousin Namballa Raja Sekhar noted his dedication to the Maoist cause.
The Hindu
17-05-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Visakhapatnam cricketer Nitish Kumar Reddy selected for India A squad to tour England
Visakhapatnam-based cricketer Nitish Kumar Reddy has been picked up for the India A squad which will tour England next week. Team India A will play two tests against England A, starting May 30. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the list of players to tour England on May 16th evening. The squad, led by Abhimanyu Easwaran, includes Yashasvi Jaiswal, Karun Nair, Dhruv Jurel, Shardul Thakur, Ishan Kishan, Harshit Rana, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sarfaraz Khan and a few others. Post the two test matches against England A, India will face five tests against England starting June 21. The series will kickstart the 2025-27 cycle of the World Test Championship (WTC) for India. A native of Tunglam in Gajuwaka and resident of PM Palem, Nitish Kumar Reddy has impressed the selectors last year by winning emerging player of the IPL season award. First he had made his debut in the T20 team. His all-round performances have rewarded him a place in India's Test team. Nitish Kumar Reddy made his red-ball debut during the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, where he delivered an impressive performance. He amassed 298 runs and claimed five wickets over the series, with a highlight being his maiden Test century at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). However, his form has dipped in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), sparking some concerns. In response, Nitish has intensified his training and placed a strong emphasis on fitness during the last few weeks. His recent selection in the India A squad has been well-received by cricket experts, who believe it presents a valuable opportunity. They say that a strong show against England A could pave the way for his inclusion in the playing XI for the upcoming Test series against England.
The Hindu
15-05-2025
- The Hindu
Andhra Pradesh's Baruva, a new diving hotspot with British-era shipwreck and marine adventure
The coastal village of Baruva in Andhra Pradesh's Srikakulam district is waking up to a tide of transformation. Once known only to a few off-the-grid travellers, this town is in the spotlight with the recent visit of Union Minister of Civil Aviation K Rammohan Naidu who unveiled plans to turn it in to a tourism hub. During the recently-concluded Baruva Beach Festival, Naidu announced a slew of initiatives that promise to reshape the region's identity and open up new horizons for tourism and livelihood. 'We are working towards making Baruva a mini Goa,' the Minister says. 'Youth will be trained in scuba diving, guiding and event management, creating local employment opportunities rooted in this region's natural strengths.' The announcement has infused hope in the fishing village, which is located near Sompeta and cradles centuries of untapped stories. Among its intriguing features is a British-era wreck of ship SS Chilka, lying on the sea floor, a relic that could soon draw scuba diving enthusiasts from across the country. Forgotten history The shipwreck was first discovered by a team of scuba divers from Livein Adventures, a Visakhapatnam-based scuba diving institute, in 2020. The SS Chilka, said to be operated by the British India Steam Navigation Company, was en route to Rangoon (now Yangon) when that sank in 1917, reportedly after a devastating fire. At that time, the ship was carrying 1,600 passengers on board. Around 80 crew and passengers perished, making this a tragic footnote of World War I-era maritime history. Baruva has an interesting maritime history. Once a minor port town under the British, it was used for exporting commodities like rice and coconut. The presence of a lighthouse stands testament to its navigational importance during colonial times. Old news clippings of the SS Chilka incident were shared by John Castellas, a fifth generation Anglo-Indian who was born and brought up in Visakhapatnam and is currently based in Australia. John has been doing extensive research on the region's history and heritage. According to him, as there were no harbours with berths during the time, it was fishermen who used their masula boats to ferry cargo and passengers to steamers. They also carried out the dramatic rescue of the 1600 passengers onboard the SS Chilka at Baruva on that fateful day. Though largely forgotten, the ship has lived on in local lore, resurfacing now in the conversations of marine enthusiasts, heritage conservationists and adventure tourism operators. The recent buzz around Baruva has brought the spotlight back on this region, which adventure tourism organisations feel has the potential to become Andhra Pradesh's first dedicated wreck diving destination. The 150-metre-long ship rests just six metres below the surface, making it perfect for beginner divers. 'Wreck diving is one of the most thrilling underwater experiences. It blends exploration, history, and the unexpected,' says Balaram Naidu, founder of Livein Adventures, one of Andhra Pradesh's leading scuba diving organisations. 'Baruva's shipwreck site is a gem. It's got everything; a compelling backstory, accessible depths and thriving marine life. With the right support, it can put Baruva on the national diving map.' The shallow shipwrecks act as natural artificial reefs, fostering biodiversity and offering opportunities for marine photography. Divers and snorkellers frequently encounter lionfish, groupers and bannerfish weaving through the beams, while moray eels, nudibranchs and octopuses tuck themselves into hidden crevices. Brightly coloured parrotfish and spiny sea urchins can also be spotted in this underwater landscape. Permanent dive base Livein Adventures is setting up a permanent dive base at Baruva to promote marine heritage, including access to shallow shipwreck located just five to seven metres below the surface. 'Its location makes it ideal even for non-swimmers and first-time divers to explore,' adds Balaram, a retired Indian Navy submariner and certified scuba diving instructor. Livein Adventures is organising guided underwater discovery trails of the shipwrecks, short 'Try Dive' programmes with underwater photos and videos, training of local youth as certified dive guides and lifeguards, community-led marine clean-ups and underwater awareness drives. At present, Baruva beach is equipped with six operational kayaks and two all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) for visitor use. The best time to experience Baruva's marine beauty is from October to April, when ocean visibility improves and wave conditions are calm. Getting There Baruva is located in Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, around 120 km from Visakhapatnam. By road: Well connected by NH-16; private taxis and buses ply regularly from Visakhapatnam. By train: The nearest railway station is Palasa (about 20 km away). Best Time to Dive October to April offer the calmest sea conditions and the best visibility. Avoid monsoon months (June–September) due to rough seas and poor visibility.
