Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed deep sorrow over the demise of the individuals who lost their lives in a tragic stampede that occurred near Vishnu Nivasam in Andhra Pradesh's Tirupati. PM Modi stated that the state government is providing all possible assistance to the victims of the incident. In a social media post on X (formerly Twitter), the Prime Minister's Office wrote, "Pained by the stampede in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. My thoughts are with those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover soon. The AP Government is providing all possible assistance to those affected: PM @narendramodi." Union Home Minister Amit Shah also expressed his shock and offered condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the Tirupati stampede. Shah also prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured. "Pained by the unfortunate incident of the stampede in the Tirupati temple. My sincere condolences to the families of the deceased. May the injured recover at the earliest. I am deeply shocked by the stampede incident at the Tirupati Vishnu Niwasam ticket counter. I pray for the souls of the devotees who lost their lives in this unfortunate incident to rest in peace. I wish the injured a speedy recovery," Amit Shah posted on X. As many as six people lost their lives and several others were injured after a stampede broke out near Vishnu Nivasam in Andhra Pradesh's Tirupati on Wednesday evening, according to officials from Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). The incident occurred near Vishnu Niwasam close to the Tirumala Srivari Vaikuntha Dwara ticketing counter, during the distribution of 'darshan' tokens. As per the statement from the office of TTD Chairman BR Naidu, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is closely monitoring the incident and will meet the families of the victims of the stampede on Thursday morning. The statement reads, "It is an unfortunate event, 6 pilgrims lost their lives. So far, only one pilgrim has been identified, while the others are yet to be identified. N Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is very serious about the incident and has expressed dissatisfaction with the officials' management during a teleconference. The Chief Minister will visit the families of the deceased tomorrow at 11:45 am. CM has warned that such incidents should not be repeated and is closely monitoring updates on the issue" This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
09 January,2025 08:37 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIThe body of one of the nine workers trapped inside a coal mine in Assam’s Dima Hasao district was recovered by army divers on Wednesday on the third day of the rescue operations, officials said. The chances of the survival of the eight others appear grim, though a team of navy, army, NDRF and SDRF personnel intensified their efforts to rescue the trapped miners, they said. The labourers were on Monday trapped inside the Assam Coal Quarry situated in the 3 Kilo area of Umrangso, after a sudden gush of water flooded the site. A diver claimed that the body was spotted about 85 feet below the surface, and that the visibility was poor inside with water all around. “21 Para divers have just recovered a lifeless body from the bottom of the well. Our thoughts and prayers are with the grieving family,” CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said. Additionally, the ONGC dewatering pump has been loaded onto an MI-17 helicopter at Kumbhigram, he said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
09 January,2025 08:33 AM IST | Guwahati | AgenciesA drama unfolded Wednesday outside the 6, Flagstaff Road bungalow, which was once occupied by former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, as AAP leaders attempted to enter it but were stopped by the police. The party workers later tried to reach the Prime Minister’s official residence on Lok Kalyan Marg, but were stopped by police again, following which they staged a “dharna”. AAP leaders Sanjay Singh and Saurabh Bhardawaj staged a sit-in outside the Flagstaff bungalow after they were not allowed to enter it, which they had invited the media to tour with them in a bid to counter the BJP’s ‘Sheesh Mahal’ jibes. The party leaders accused the BJP-led central government of running away from the challenged inspection of the PM residence, which they alleged had been renovated at an inordinate cost. Police had set up barricades and deployed personnel in front of the bungalow, preventing the AAP leaders from entering the premises. BJP slams AAP leaders The BJP’s took a dig at Singh and Bharadwaj, saying they were trying to “forcibly” enter the premises of the CM which was an example of “irresponsible, insane and anarchic behaviour”. Their conduct was also an example of “political etiquette and ethics” being demolished, BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said. Kejriwal’s ‘Sheesh Mahal’ has become a “monument of his extravagance” and the AAP cannot hide from this truth, he said. Trivedi claimed the people of Delhi are feeling cheated with the “disgusting display of corruption” in Kejriwal’s “Sheesh Mahal” and they will give a “befitting and appropriate” reply to the AAP in the assembly elections. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
09 January,2025 08:32 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesA local court has fixed March 5 as the next date of hearing in a case connected to the Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid and its survey at Chandausi. “The Supreme Court has directed all the lower courts not to entertain new suits seeking surveys of any place of worship until further orders. We have filed a copy of the said order in the court, which fixed March 5 as the next date of hearing,” said Shakil Ahmad Wari, advocate representing the Muslim side. When told about the Hindu side’s claims that the mosque was built over an ancient Harihar temple, Wari said it is for the court to decide on the matter. Tensions escalated in Sambhal since November 19 last year, when a court-mandated survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid began following claims that a Harihar temple once stood on the site. The situation turned violent on November 24 during the second survey when protesters clashed with security forces. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
09 January,2025 08:32 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesThe Congress on Wednesday promised a “Jeevan Raksha Yojana” for free health insurance of up to Rs 25 lakh if it is voted to power in Delhi. Senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot, present at the launch ceremony, said the proposed scheme would be a game-changer. Gehlot highlighted that the proposed scheme reflected the party's commitment to addressing Delhi residents' healthcare needs. The party's campaign slogan “Hogi Har Zarurat Puri, Congress Hai Zaroori” was prominently displayed during the announcement, highlighting the Congress' "promise" of ensuring essential services for all. Gehlot said the proposed scheme aims to provide comprehensive health coverage to families, covering medical expenses for critical illnesses, hospitalisations, and treatments. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
09 January,2025 08:31 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesThe parliamentary panel constituted to scrutinise the two bills on simultaneous elections held its first meeting on Wednesday, with BJP members lauding the concept, and opposition MPs questioning it. Officials of the Ministry of Law and Justice made a presentation on the provisions of the proposed laws during the meeting, citing support to the idea of simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls by various bodies, including the Law Commission of India, sources said. BJP members batted for the ‘one nation, one election’ proposal, saying it is in the interest of the country, they said. A Congress member said the idea is against the basic fabric of the Constitution, while a Trinamool Congress MP said it negates people’s democratic rights, they added. JPC head PP Chaudhary. Pics/PTI Headed by BJP MP PP Chaudhary, the 39-member joint committee of Parliament comprises members from all major parties, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra from Congress, Sanjay Jha from JD(U), Shiv Sena’s Shrikant Shinde, AAP’s Sanjay Singh, and Kalyan Banerjee from Trinamool Congress. Chaudhary is a former minister of state for law. The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill were introduced in the Lok Sabha during the recent Winter Session and referred to the committee. The government decided to increase the committee’s strength from 31 to 39, as more political parties expressed their desire to be part of the exercise to examine the two draft legislations on simultaneous elections. Former Union ministers Anurag Thakur, Parshottam Rupala and Manish Tewari, along with several other lawmakers, including Anil Baluni, Bansuri Swaraj and Sambit Patra, are also members of the committee. The panel has 27 members from the Lok Sabha, and 12 from the Rajya Sabha. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
09 January,2025 08:30 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesFour devotees were killed and some others were injured in a stampede at three places during the sale of Tirumala temple darshan tickets in Andhra Pradesh's Tirupati on Wednesday night. The incident occurred at three places where Vaikunta Dwara Darshan tickets were to be issued on Thursday morning. A large number of devotees had gathered to stand in queues for special darshan tickets, leading to the stampede. Three women were among four devotees killed in the incident. One of the deceased women was from Tamil Nadu. Some others fell unconscious and they were shifted to Ruia Hospital. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), which manages the affairs of the famous Tirumala temple, had announced that special darshan tickets will be issued at 94 counters at nine places in Tirupati from 5 a.m. on Thursday. However, a large number of devotees started gathering since Wednesday morning. There was chaos when devotees were allowed at the counters. They pushed each other to surge forward, resulting in the stampede. According to officials, there was a stampede at Srinivasam, Bairagipatteda, and Satyanarayanapuram. Police and TTD officials rushed to the spot and launched rescue and relief operations. The TTD was planning to issue 1.20 lakh tokens on Thursday morning for Vaikunta Dwara Darshan on January 10, 11, and 12. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has expressed shock over the death of four devotees in the stampede. In a statement. he said that he was pained over the incident. The Chief Minister spoke to officials over the phone and directed them to ensure the best treatment to those injured. He asked senior officials to visit the scene and undertake relief operations. He was in touch with the district officials and TTD authorities to monitor the situation. YSR Congress Party President and former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has also expressed shock over the death of four devotees in the stampede. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
08 January,2025 11:29 PM IST | Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh) | IANSFour devotees, including three women died and several more were injured in a stampede on Wednesday night as hundreds of them jostled for tickets for Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam at Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple on Tirumala Hills, a police official said. Hundreds of devotees turned up from across the country for the 10-day Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam commencing from January 10. "Three women and a man died in the stampede," the official confirmed to PTI. Meanwhile, videos of police administering CPR on a couple of woman devotees and injured persons being shifted in ambulances went viral. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
08 January,2025 11:26 PM IST | Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh) | PTIThe Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of the ruling Congress in Telangana on Wednesday decided to hold protests against Union Home Minister Amit Shah's alleged disrespectful comments on Babasaheb Ambedkar and year-long 'save constitution' programmes. Speaking to reporters after the meeting Wednesday night, Congress leader and government adviser Mohd Shabbir Ali said the PAC requested AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi to attend the 'save constitution' rally in the last week of January. The meeting was attended by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal, AICC incharge of party affairs in Telangana Deepa Dasmunsi and other leaders. Venugopal appreciated the Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy-led government implementing loan waiver and other election guarantees in spite of financial difficulties, Shabbir Ali said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
08 January,2025 11:11 PM IST | Hyderabad | PTIA suspected case of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infection has been reported in the Himatnagar city of Sabarkantha district of Gujarat, officials said Wednesday. The blood sample of an eight-year-old boy, who is currently on a ventilator in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a private hospital, has been sent to a government hospital for confirmation after he tested positive for the virus in a private laboratory, they informed. "The case is under screening. A sample has been sent to a government lab for confirmation, and the result is awaited," Sabarkantha District Collector Ratankanvar Gadhavicharan said. "The patient, who was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday morning, showed signs of severe pneumonia after which his blood sample was sent for examination to a private laboratory which confirmed that he was infected with HMPV," Dr Imtiaz Memon of Baby Care Hospital said. After he tested positive, the district health authorities were informed and they sent another sample to a government hospital for cross checking, he said. The child is on a ventilator in the hospital's ICU, he added. HMPV outbreak: First case in Gujarat was reported two days ago On Monday, Gujarat reported its first confirmed case of HMPV infection after a two-month-old was tested positive for the virus. The baby's report came positive from a private laboratory on December 26 but the case was reported late to the health department, news agency PTI reported. Isolation wards have been created in the civil hospitals of Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad and Rajkot as a precautionary measure after the first case came to light in the state, officials said. To deal with any health emergency, isolation wards having 15 beds each (total 45) have been created in three major civil hospitals of Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad and Rajkot, a statement by the health department said. Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel informed that the state's Health and Family Welfare Department was on an alert mode with all arrangements in place to tackle the situation, PTI reported. All these wards are currently vacant as no new cases of suspected HMPV infection have been detected, the statement said. On Monday, the health department issued a circular asking all government hospitals to take necessary steps to handle HMPV cases. Additional testing kits will be procured and distributed to these hospitals in the coming days to speed up detection of the cases of HMPV, a respiratory illness with flu-like symptoms. Patel said that his department held a meeting on January 4 and instructed chief district health officers, civil surgeons, superintendents of sub-district hospitals in the state to pay full attention to the matters related to the virus. Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry has emphasised that HMPV is already in circulation globally, including in India, and cases of respiratory illnesses associated with it have been reported in various countries, PTI reported. Furthermore, based on the current data from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) network, there has been no unusual surge in Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) or Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases in the country, it said. (With PTI inputs)
08 January,2025 10:10 PM IST | Himatnagar | mid-day online correspondentThe launch of train services in the Kashmir Valley and the inauguration of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramula Rail Link (USBRL) marks a historic milestone for Indian Railways, ushering in a new era of connectivity, progress, and inclusivity. This breakthrough is further underscored by the introduction of the state-of-the-art Vande Bharat Express between Katra and Srinagar, specifically designed to tackle the region's harsh winter conditions while offering a seamless and comfortable travel experience. Manufactured under the 'Make in India' initiative by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), the Vande Bharat Express is a marvel of modern engineering. Equipped with cutting-edge technology and advanced features, the train is built to operate reliably in the extreme climatic conditions of the Kashmir Valley. This innovation reflects Indian Railways' dedication to regional integration, economic development, and passenger comfort. Special features for Jammu and Kashmir operations The Vande Bharat Express comes with a range of features designed specifically to address the unique challenges posed by the region’s frigid winters. Some of these features include: Advanced heating systems The silicon heating pads prevent freezing of water and bio-toilet tanks, with overheat protection sensors ensuring reliability and safety while the heated plumbing pipelines can self-regulate heating cables to prevent freezing of water and ensure smooth operations even in sub-zero temperatures. To provide warm air to vacuum systems and lavatories, the train will also have heaters in toilets. Enhanced driver comfort and safetyThe embedded heating elements in the driver's front lookout glass ensure clear visibility by preventing fogging or freezing while the anti-spall layers protect the driver from potential impacts during adverse weather or unforeseen events. The train is also equipped with an air dryer system heating that will ensures that the air brake system functions optimally in freezing conditions. Apart from these features, the Vande Bharat Express offers an array of passenger-centric features that combine modern convenience with comfort. The train has fully air-conditioned coaches with semi-high-speed capabilities, capable of reaching speeds of up to 160 km/hour. The wide gangways, automatic plug doors, mobile charging sockets, infotainment systems, and CCTV cameras will provide enhanced safety and convenience and a streamlined and aesthetic design prioritises passenger ease and safety. The railways said that the train will provide seamless all-weather connectivity in the region. "Designed to overcome the challenges posed by snow, freezing temperatures, and severe conditions, the Vande Bharat Express ensures uninterrupted rail services throughout the year," the railways said in a press release. To provide enhanced passenger comfort, the train has been equipped with modern amenities and climate-specific adaptations which offer a world-class travel experience for travellers in a region where extreme weather often hampers transportation. The new rail link connects the Kashmir Valley more effectively to the national railway network, helping bridge geographical and economic gaps and driving regional development, the railways said, adding that the train will transform rail travel for the people of the Kashmir Valley and open up new possibilities for growth, tourism, and greater integration with the rest of India.
08 January,2025 08:23 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
