Thursday, July 23, 2026
Home Blog Page 885

Air India ‘urinating’ case: DGCA slaps Rs 30 lakh penalty on airline; suspends pilot’s license

Himalayan Express
-
0
Air India ‘urinating’ case: DGCA slaps Rs 30 lakh penalty on airline; suspends pilot’s license

NEW DELHI, Jan 20: Air India ‘urinating’ case, Directorate General of Civil Aviation on Friday imposed a penalty of Rs 30 lakh on Air India in relation to an incident of a person allegedly urinating on a female co-passenger in an inebriated state. Along with this, the license of the pilot-in-command of a New York-Delhi flight where the incident took place.

In addition to this, the watchdog has also slapped a fine of Rs 3 lakh on Air India’s Director of in-flight services for failing to discharge her duties, according to a statement on Friday.

DGCA also issued show cause notices to the accountable manager of Air India, the Director of in-flight Services of Air India as well as all the pilots and cabin crew members of that flight as to why enforcement action should not be taken against them for dereliction of their regulatory obligations. 

The incident came to the notice of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) only on January 4 and the latest actions are for violations of various norms.

IkKJutt Jammu Party launches “Alag Jammu Rajya Sthapna Sankalp Yatra” from Katra:

Himalayan Express
-
0
IkKJutt Jammu Party launches “Alag Jammu Rajya Sthapna Sankalp Yatra” from Katra:

IkkJutt Jammu Party: 20 B/B Gandhi Nagar Jammu. Yatra to cover all 10 Districts of Jammu Province. IkKJutt Jammu Party President Ankur Sharma while addressing a Press Conference at party Headquarters Gandhinagar formally announced the launch of party’s “Alag Jammu Rajya Sthapna Sankalp Yatra” aimed at Jammu’s political liberation, empowerment and meant for putting an end to Kashmir based bigoted communal hegemony. Ankur Sharma categorically said that Statehood for Jammu is our motto, our battle-cry, our watchword, the Word of Jammu’s political redemption.

Office bearers of the party, workers and supporters will cross cross all 10 Districts of Jammu Province by and galvanising people to prepare themselves for fighting the war of separating Jammu Province from Kashmir in the form of a new independent state.

Further elaborating, Ankur Sharma; President IJP said that the Yatra will start from Katra on 21st of January, 2023 and after making one to one contact with general population of Katra town and paying obeisance at all major temples within Katra will proceed towards Mata Vaishno Devi Ji Bhawan on 22nd of January.

The Yatra shall thereafter cover all the Blocks, majors towns, panchayats of District Reasi till 24th of January following which it will move towards District Rajouri followed District Jammu; District Samba; District Kathua; District Udhampur, Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar and Poonch. Yatra will conclude in Jammu city.

Separation of Jammu from Kashmir is critical for the security of the nation and will result in empowerment of Nationalist constituency in North India by putting an end to Jammu’s second order status in the current political equation.

Secretary IkKJutt Jammu.

Cricket bat industry in Kashmir stares into oblivion amid growing willow cleft shortage

Himalayan Express
-
0
Cricket bat industry in Kashmir stares into oblivion amid growing willow cleft shortage

Srinagar, Jan 20 : The 102-year-old cricket bat industry in Kashmir has upped its standards over the years to compete with manufacturers that work with the fabled English willow. But ba-makers fear a shortage of clefts might force closure of the Rs 300-crore enterprise that provides livelihood to over 100,000 people.

“We have been manufacturing cricket bats for the past 102 years. The quality of our bats is good and approved by the International Cricket Council (ICC). So quality-wise, we are not lacking. We are at par with (manufacturers that use) English willow, if not better,” Fawzul Kabir, spokesperson for Cricket Bats Manufacturing Association of Kashmir.

“This was evident from the fact that the longest six in the recent ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia was hit using a Kashmir willow bat,” Kabir told PTI.

The UAE’s Junaid Siddique hit the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup’s longest six against Sri Lanka using a bat manufactured by Anantnag-based GR8 Sports. However, the 400-odd bat manufacturing units are staring at an uncertain future as they fear a shortage of willow clefts might force their factories to close within five years. “Willow produce is dwindling fast and we fear that it might become extinct within the next five years. We have been requesting the government to go for a willow plantation drive to ensure a sustainable supply,” Kabir said, pointing to the afforestation drives in Canada and Pakistan to underline his point. He said more than one lakh people, not only from Jammu and Kashmir but from Jalandhar in Punjab and Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, relied on the industry for their livelihoods. “In a scenario where an industry is on the verge of collapse, the government needs to work on a war footing,” he said.

Kabir said while the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology provided them 1,500 willow saplings last year for replacement, each unit needs a supply of around 15,000 clefts a year. “As cricket is growing fast, the demand for bats will also increase. We had a dozen countries playing cricket two decades ago. Today, that number has gone up to around 160.

“Ten years ago, 2.5 lakh to 3 lakh bats were manufactured in Kashmir. These days, 30 lakh bats are made every year,” he said, adding that the industry’s annual turnover was over Rs 300 crore. Kabir suggested that the government should consider allowing sapling plantations in the wetlands and on the riverbanks where willow trees used to be grown earlier.

“If willow trees are planted in these places again, the bat industry can survive,” he said.

GR8 Sports Production Manager Mohammad Niyaz said the government had taken steps for plantation of willow saplings but it was not at the scale required to support the industry.

“More and more cricket leagues are coming up around the world and the demand for bats is only going to increase. While the industry can provide employment to artisans, finished bats can keep youngsters involved in sports and away from evils such as drug abuse,” he added. An Industries and Commerce department official said while there was no dearth of willow in Kashmir, the main issue facing the units was a lack of modern seasoning technology and smuggling of clefts to factories outside Kashmir. “In Kashmir, seasoning of clefts is still done in the traditional way and it can take anywhere between six months to a year. It blocks precious capital of the unit holder and puts strain on his financial situation. This has, in some cases, led to the closure of a unit,” the official, who is not authorised to speak to the media, said on the condition of anonymity. The official said a proposal to set up a seasoning plant was approved a few years ago but was shelved due to the outbreak of COVID-19. “A new proposal to set up an electric or solar plant that will reduce the seasoning time to just 15 days is under consideration of senior officials,” he added. Steps had to be taken to curb cleft smuggling from the Valley to factories in other parts of country, mainly in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, the official said.

He said land measuring 20 hectares had been earmarked to growing willow trees that have been developed by scientists at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology. PTI

Investigation Underway In IED Recovery Case In Rajouri

Himalayan Express
-
0
Investigation Underway In IED Recovery Case In Rajouri

Security agencies have launched a probe into the recovery of an IED in Rajouri town early this week and issued an advisory to the general public asking them to remain vigilant.

Official sources said on Friday that teams of different intelligence agencies visited the site in Kheora area of Rajouri town, where an IED was recovered and defused on Tuesday evening.

Investigation into the matter has started and different aspects are being looked into, they said.

Additional SP, Rajouri, Vivek Shekhar Sharma said, “We have advised people especially shopkeepers and street vendors to stay extra cautious and to inform the police control room in case they see any suspicious object.”

Wrestlers meeting with Sports Minister Anurag Thakur to continue today

Himalayan Express
-
0
Wrestlers meeting with Sports Minister Anurag Thakur to continue today

Meeting of wrestlers with Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur at his residence continued for hours, but still ended on an undecisive note on Friday morning.

The sportspersons have alleged Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Chief Brij Bhushan Sharan of sexual misconduct and harassment, and thus have been demanding his resignation and action against him. The Sports Minister, however, has assured that the issue will be resolved soon. The Wrestling sportspersons–Sakshee Malikkh, Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Ravi Dahiya and other wrestlers left Thakur’s residence after meeting him for three hours.
According to the sources, the meeting remained fruitful, but there were many points that remained undiscussed. Hence, the meeting will continue at the Sports minister’s residence this morning.

They met the minister in connection with their protest and allegations against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief.

Thakur arrived at his Delhi residence from Chandigarh after many [protesting] wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat and Sakshee Mallikkh, levelled charges of sexual harassment of women wrestlers by the president and coaches of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and of mismanagement in the functioning of the federation.

Earlier in the day, champion wrestler and BJP leader Babita Phogat arrived at the protest site at Jantar Mantar in Delhi where they continued their sit-in protest for the second day demanding action against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and other officials against alleged sexual exploitation of several athletes and “harassment of wrestlers by the WFI through its arbitrary rules and regulations”.

“I have assured them that the government is with them. I will try that their issues are resolved today,” Babita Phogat said after addressing the gathering.
Babita, who is a deputy director in the Haryana Sports and Youth Affairs Department, and a former wrestler had earlier tweeted, “I stand with all my fellow players in this matter of wrestling. I assure all of you that I will work to raise this issue with the government at every level, and the future will be decided the way players feel right.”

Vinesh Phogat had previously alleged that coaches who are favourites of the WFI misbehave with women and harass them. She also accused the wrestling federation chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexually harassing girls and calling her a ‘khota sikka’ after her defeat at the Tokyo Olympics 2020.
On Wednesday, taking cognizance of the protest staged by wrestlers, including Olympic and Commonwealth Games (CWG) medalists, the Sports Ministry has sought an explanation from WFI and directed it to furnish a reply within the next 72 hours on the allegations made.

The Ministry stated that if WFI fails to furnish the reply within the next 72 hours, the Ministry will proceed to initiate action against the federation in terms of the provisions of the National Sports Development Code, 2011.
Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Wednesday said that wrestlers, who made allegations of sexual harassment against coaches, should have approached the Federation with their names earlier.

The WFI president claimed that 97 per cent of wrestlers are with the BFI and those protesting were pressured into it.

He denied any incident of sexual harassment.

“There has been no incident of sexual harassment. If such a thing has happened, then I will hang myself,” said the WFI president during a press conference.

He also said that he is ready for an investigation.

“Sexual harassment is a big allegation. How can I take action when my own name has been dragged into this? I am ready for an investigation,” he added.
To this, Bajrang Punia on Thursday said that the wrestlers have “proof” of the allegations levelled against the Wrestling Federation of India and its chief and demanded that the body should be dissolved.

“The WFI president stated that he will hang himself if the sexual harassment allegations are found to be true. Earlier there were just two girls who had come forward but now 5-6 girls have raised their voices and that too along with the proof. We are not making bogus claims,” Punia said.

“Our aim is to revive wrestling in India. If actions are not taken promptly we will take the help of the police and judiciary,” he added.

Punia alleged that WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has influence not just in the organisation but in state wrestling associations as well.

“We want the Federation to be dissolved and not just the resignation of the WFI President as he will ensure that another close aide of his takes the seat and then act on his muse. This also holds true for state wrestling associations as the current WFI president has linkups there too. We want the WFI to be dissolved and that is our demand from the government,” the Arjuna awardee said.

Clarifying that the wrestlers are not staging the protest against the government, he said, “Our fight is with the WFI and not the government as they have always supported us be it either the Haryana government or the central government”.

Olympic medalist Sakshee Malikkh also voiced her concerns and said “only assurances have been given but no concrete actions have been confirmed”.
“We want a fresh start for the WFI and state associations. No satisfactory response has been received by us.”

Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Ravi Dahiya was also present at the protest. “We have not received any satisfactory response and are waiting for it. If we don’t get any concrete resolution we will take legal way,” he said

Three siblings- Two daughters & one son of Sh Muneer Ahmed Wani from village Trankhal Tehsil Khara Bhalessa qualified JKAS. Congratulations

Himalayan Express
-
0
Three siblings- Two daughters & one son of Sh Muneer Ahmed Wani from village Trankhal Tehsil Khara Bhalessa qualified JKAS. Congratulations

Three siblings- Two daughters & one son of Sh Muneer Ahmed Wani from village Trankhal Tehsil Khara Bhalessa qualified JKAS. Congratulations

Jammu and Kashmir-leg of Cong’s Bharat Jodo Yatra begins, Sanjay Raut among several leaders in attendance

Himalayan Express
-
0
Jammu and Kashmir-leg of Cong’s Bharat Jodo Yatra begins, Sanjay Raut among several leaders in attendance

Kathua (J-K), Jan 20: Braving winter rains, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi started his Bharat Jodo Yatra from Hatli Morh in this border district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday with several prominent leaders, including Shiv Sena (UBT’s) Sanjay Raut also joining the foot march.

Gandhi donned a black raincoat over a white T-shirt. The yatra was scheduled to start at 7 am but was delayed by an hour and fifteen minutes apparently due to the inclement weather.

The march, which started from Kanyakumari on September 7, entered Jammu and Kashmir from Punjab on Thursday evening and is scheduled to end in Srinagar on January 30.

Several Congress leaders, including the party’s Jammu and Kashmir unit president Vikar Rasool Wani and his predecessor G A Mir, accompanied Gandhi during the final leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said, “I have come to join the Yatra on behalf of my party. The atmosphere in the country is changing fast and I am seeing Gandhi as a leader who is raising his voice on real issues.” “The way people are connecting with this yatra is heartwarming. He is a leader and that is why he is on the roads. The people will choose (who would be their leader), he added.

The march entered Jammu and Kashmir through Lakhanpur on Thursday and halted there for the night following the flag handover ceremony which was attended by a galaxy of prominent leaders including National Conference president Farooq Abdullah.

A tight security ring, comprising of police and CRPF personnel, was thrown around Gandhi as he started walking along with his supporters despite the rains which lashed wide parts of Jammu and Kashmir since early on Friday morning.

Many Congress activists and supporters carrying tricolours turned up a couple of hours before the start of the yatra which will cover 25 km before halting at Chadwal in the Kathua district for the night. There will be no march on Saturday.

Youngsters carrying placards and garlands were seen waiting at different places along the Jammu-Pathankot National highway where the yatra is scheduled to pass. PTI

Srinagar-Jammu Highway Shut Due To Snowfall, Shooting Stones

Himalayan Express
-
0
Srinagar-Jammu Highway Shut Due To Snowfall, Shooting Stones

Srinagar, Jan 20 : Most parts of Kashmir received fresh snowfall on Friday leading to the closure of the Srinagar-Jammu national highway and impacting flight operations to and from the Valley, officials said here.

Snowfall was recorded at tourist towns of Pahalgam and Gulmarg, as well as in Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian, Pulwama, Budgam, and the upper areas of Kupwara, Ganderbal and Srinagar.

Traffic movement on both sides of the Srinagar-Jammu national highway — the all-weather road connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country — was stopped due to snowfall and shooting stones between Ramban and Banihal, officials said.

Moreover, flight operations at the Srinagar airport were affected due to snowfall and low visibility, the officials said.

Minimum temperatures rose in Kashmir but still settled below the freezing point across the Valley. Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 0.1 degrees Celsius on Thursday night — up from minus 1.4 degrees Celsius the night before. Qazigund, the gateway to the Valley, registered a low of minus 0.6 degrees Celsius.

Kokernag in south Kashmir recorded a low of minus 1.4 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature in Kupwara settled at minus 1.5 degrees Celsius. The mercury in Pahalgam, in the Anantnag district, which serves as a base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra, settled at minus 2.9 degrees Celsius.

The minimum temperature at Gulmarg in Baramulla district was minus 7.6 degrees Celsius.

The meteorological office had forecast wet weather in Jammu and Kashmir from January 19 to 25 due to western disturbances. It said there were chances of light to moderate rain or snow in parts of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday and Saturday.

It predicted a much higher intensity of precipitation from January 23 to 25, with a possibility of moderate snow in the plains of Kashmir, moderate to heavy snow over middle and higher reaches and rains in Jammu.

Kashmir is currently under the grip of ‘Chillai Kalan’, the 40-day harshest weather period when chances of snowfall are maximum and most frequent. Chillai Kalan begins on December 21 and ends on January 30. The cold wave continues even after that with a 20-day-long ‘Chillai Khurd’ and a 10-day-long ‘Chillai Bachha’ following it. PTI

JKPSC JKAS Mains Result 2023 Declared

Himalayan Express
-
0
JKPSC JKAS Mains Result 2023 Declared

The Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission has declared final result of the Combined Competitive Examination for the Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS).

Notification of this exam was issued on February 26, 2001, while preliminary exams were conducted on October 10 of the same year, the mains were conducted between April 8 and 18 2022.While 20790 candidates had appeared for the preliminary test, 4642 of them qualified for the mains. Following personality test, between December 5, 2022 and January 19, 2023, the JKPSC has declared 187 candidates selected for the Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service.

PM Modi gifts Rs 39,000 Cr worth projects to Mumbai

Himalayan Express
-
0
PM Modi gifts Rs 39,000 Cr worth projects to Mumbai

Mumbai: Ahead of the Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday lavished projects worth nearly Rs 39,000 crore, including the second phase of two Metro lines, with a promise of more and speedier development for the future.

He dedicated the Mumbai Metro’s Line 2A and Line 7, bought a ticket and took a ride from Gundavali station to Airport station amidst cheers from the people.

The PM also laid the foundation stone for the redevelopment of the UNESCO World Heritage site, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus. Modi inaugurated 20 of the chain of nearly 150 HinduHridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray neighbourhood dispensaries, and the road concretisation project of 400 km worth Rs 6,100 crore for the country’s commercial capital to make it pothole-free in next 2-3 years.

Of Mumbai’s total roads network of around 2,050 km, more than 1,200 km are either concretised or are in the process of being concretised, but the remaining 850 km pose severe problems for smooth transportation, and the entire scheme will help overcome this hurdle.

He also laid the foundation stone for two 360-bed multispeciality hospitals each coming up at Bhandup and Goregaon, and a 152-bed maternity hospital in Oshiwara.

Modi laid the foundation stone for 7 sewage treatment plants which will be constructed in Malad, Bhandup, Versova, Ghatkopar, Bandra, Dharavi and Worli with a combined capacity to treat 2,460 MLD and will come up at a cost of around Rs 17,200 crore.

On the occasion the PM initiated the transfer of approved collateral-free loans to over one lakh beneficiaries, mostly small traders, under the PM SVAnidhi Yojana, terming it as much-delayed due to political reasons, but has benefitted over half-a-million street vendors in the state.

He lauded the beneficiaries who have embraced the digital era and effected online transactions worth Rs 50,000 crore in a short period.

Present on the occasion were Governor Bhagat Singh Kohsyari, Chief Minister Eknath Shine, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, Union Ministers Piyush Goyal, Narayan Rane, Union MoS, MPs , MLAs, state Ministers and others.

1...884885886...1,135Page 885 of 1,135

Travel

Upsc

POPULAR CATEGORY

ABOUT US

Contact us: info@himalayanexpress.in

FOLLOW US

© Himalayan Express Designed And Developed By TR Technology Solutions.