Four 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 correspondentThe Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has granted a 28-day furlough to gangster-turned-politician Arun Gawli, reported the PTI. Arun Gawli is currently serving a life sentence here for the 2007 murder of a Mumbai Shiv Sena corporator Kamlakar Jamsandekar and has been lodged in Nagpur jail in Maharashtra. A division bench of Justices Nitin Sambre and Vrushali Joshi on Tuesday allowed the petition filed by Arun Gawli, seeking his release on furlough, according to the PTI. Gawli's lawyer Mir Nagman Ali said that Arun Gawli approached the Nagpur bench of the high court, praying for his release as his application was earlier rejected by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Prisons, (East division) Nagpur. The DIG Prisons had rejected Arun Gawli's petition stating the gangster's release may create a law and order situation. However, Gawli's counsel told the court that his release on furlough on earlier occasions had not created any law and order situation. Gawli's application also mentioned that the Maharashtra Assembly Elections held last year were already over. It said that as far as amendment to parole and furlough rules were concerned, it had come into force after rejection of his furlough application and hence would not be applicable to him. After the high court heard Arun Gawli's side, it allowed his application and ordered his release from the Nagpur central jail for a period of 28 days in accordance with law after imposing reasonable conditions. Arun Gawli is the founder of the Akhil Bharatiya Sena and was an MLA from 2004-2009 from Chinchpokli seat of Mumbai and has shot into prominence from Dagdi Chawl, a neighbourhood of Byculla area of central Mumbai. Gawli was arrested by the police in the year 2006. He was tried and convicted for the murder of Shiv Sena leader Jamsandekar in 2012. He was arrested for the 2007 murder of Shiv Sena corporator Kamlakar Jamsandekar and in August 2012, a sessions court in Mumbai had sentenced him to life imprisonment in the murder case and had imposed a fine of Rs 17 lakh on him, the news agency reported. (with PTI inputs)
08 January,2025 07:43 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondentTwo women Maoists surrendered before the Gadchiroli Police and CRPF in Maharashtra, the officials said on Wednesday. The surrender of the duo, under the Maharashtra Government's Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy, comes days after 11 Naxalites, including a woman Maoist who had been active for last 38 years had surrendered before Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis in Gadchiroli on January 1. The two women Maoists who surrendered were identified as Shamala Zuru Pudo alias Leela, 36, a Section Commander in the Maoist's Company No. 10 and Kajal Mangaru Vadde alias Limmi, 24, a Party Member from the Bhamaragad LOS. Both of them were involved in various Maoist activities, including violent encounters, arson, and other crimes, the officials said. It said that their decision to surrender is a result of frustration with the internal conditions of the Maoist group and the continuous anti-Maoist operations by Gadchiroli Police. According to the officials, Shamala Zuru Pudo alias Leela had joined the Maoist group in 2002 and rose through the ranks. She became a Section Commander in 2008 and served in various capacities. A total of 45 crimes are registered against her, including 21 encounters, 6 instances of arson, and 18 other offenses. Whereas Kajal Mangaru Vadde alias Limmi joined the Maoist group in 2018 and worked with the Bhamaragad LOS and as many as 8 crimes, including 4 encounters, 1 case of arson, and 3 other offenses are registered against her. The police said that both women Maoists shared their reasons for leaving the group as there were difficulties due to continuous police patrolling, moving in the forests, Senior Maoist cadres did not take care of the medical needs of the party members, women members were often left behind during encounters and were vulnerable to being killed and senior Maoists also exploited poor tribal youth for their own benefit, collecting funds in the name of the movement but using it for personal gain. They said that the innocent tribals were killed on mere suspicion of being informers for the police. The police said that Leela had a reward of Rs 8 lakh announced by the Maharashtra Government for her arrest or encounter. After surrendering, she will receive Rs 5.5 lakh as part of the rehabilitation package offered by both the Central and Maharashtra Governments. Limmi had a reward of Rs 2 lakh on her. She will receive Rs 4.5 lakh after surrendering. The surrender of these two women Maoists is part of a broader trend in Gadchiroli, where more Maoists are choosing to leave the violent path. Since 2022, 46 Maoists have surrendered, with 13 surrendering in just the first week of 2025, the police said. Neelotpal, SP of Gadchiroli, assured that all necessary support would be provided to those who wish to surrender and reintegrate into society. He urged active Maoists to renounce violence and join the path of peace and development.
08 January,2025 07:17 PM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentA man visited his niece's wedding reception in Kolhapur district of Maharashtra and allegedly mixed poison in the food prepared for guests as he was against her marriage, the police said on Wednesday, reported the PTI. The man had allegedly gate-crashed at the wedding, police said. No person, however, consumed that food and its samples have been sent for testing, the officials said, adding that the accused was absconding, according to the PTI. The incident took place in Utre village under Panhala tehsil in Kolhapur district on Tuesday afternoon during the wedding function following which some people caught hold of the suspect, but he managed to flee from the spot, they said. The Panhala police in Kolhapur have registered a case against the man. He was identified as Mahesh Patil, resident of Utre village and maternal uncle of the woman, on charges of endangering the lives of people, Panhala police station's sub-inspector Mahesh Kondubhairi said, as per the PTI. The woman had been brought up at the suspect's family, according to police. "The woman had recently eloped with a man in the village and got married to him. Since, it was not acceptable to Patil, he allegedly gate-crashed the wedding reception ceremony at a marriage hall on Tuesday and mixed a poisonous substance in the food items which were being prepared for the guests," Mahesh Kondubhairi said, the news agency reported. While the man was mixing the poisonous substance in the food, people around him spotted it and tried to stop him from doing so. When he did not stop, the people around him overpowered him and caught hold of him, the official said. "He then fled from the spot. We have registered an offence against him under sections 286 (negligent conduct with respect to poisonous substance), 125 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) and other relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)," the official said. "Efforts are on to nab him," he said. No one consumed the food in which the poisonous substance was mixed and its samples have been sent to a forensic lab, the police added. (with PTI inputs)
08 January,2025 05:50 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar on Wednesday targeted the BJP after the Public Works Department (PWD) withdrew the offer to Delhi CM Atishi to provide bungalow number 6, Flagstaff Road, Civil Lines as she "did not occupy the property within the required time frame," ANI reported. "Atishi is being removed from the residence for the second time in three months - it shows their (BJP) hatred towards women and an elected Chief Minister," Kakkar told ANI. "BJP has no issue and hence they just want to create hurdles for us," she added. She also alleged that the BSP and AIMIM are contesting as the BJP's 'B teams in the upcoming Delhi assembly elections, ANI reported. "I think that in Delhi - the election is between BJP and AAP. BJP will do every negative politics to win - they will distribute cash, will bring their 'B teams' - that's the reason BSP and AIMIM are contesting in Delhi," she said. Elections for the 70-member Delhi assembly are scheduled to be held on February 5, in a single phase, the Election Commission announced on Tuesday. The vote counting will take place on February 8, ANI reported. AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday came in to support CM Atishi amid a row on the CM's official residence, claiming that the BJP is losing the Delhi elections and that is why they have restored to such "dirty politics", ANI cited. In a post on X, Kejriwal said, "Within three months, BJP again expelled Chief Minister Atishi ji from the Chief Minister's residence. These people are showing their frustration by abusing Atishi ji and throwing her out of the house. BJP is losing the Delhi elections badly and hence these people have resorted to such dirty politics." Earlier, while addressing a press conference, Atishi claimed that the Centre had "thrown" her out of the CM's residence for the second time in three months. "Today, the dates for the upcoming assembly elections have been announced...The BJP-led central government has thrown me out of the Chief Minister's residence for the second time in three months...The BJP thinks that they will stop us from working by snatching our houses, abusing us and speaking ill about my family. They can snatch our houses, and stop our work but cannot stop our passion for working for the people of Delhi," she said. The PWD stated that Atishi did not take physical possession of 6-Flagstaff Road (CM residence) despite multiple requests, ANI cited. In the letter, the PWD further said that they had made the offer of two new residences to the Delhi CM, one at Raj Niwas Lane and the other at Daryaganj. (With ANI inputs)
08 January,2025 12:26 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentDense fog enveloped Delhi with visibility dropping to zero early Wednesday, as the minimum temperature dropped sharply to 7.4 degrees Celsius, the weather office said. "Palam's visibility dropped to 50 metres at 12 midnight. It improved to 500 metres by 2.30 am, before dropping to zero at 5.30 am. Winds remained westerly at 5-7 kmph throughout the night," the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. The minimum temperature in Delhi dropped to 7.4 degrees Celsius, 0.5 notch above normal, from 10.5 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, according to the IMD. The maximum temperature in Delhi is expected to settle around 16 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, the weather office said. The capital's Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 334 at 9 am, dropping to the 'very poor' category from the 'poor' AQI recorded on Tuesday, Central Pollution Control Board data showed. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'. Visuals from the Sarai Kale Khan area, Ram Leela Maidan area and Nigam Bodh Ghat area showed a significant number of people taking refuge at night homes with all their beds occupied. The Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) has also set up 235 pagoda tents to provide shelter to homeless people. Night shelters have been set up in several areas of the national capital, including AIIMS, Lodhi Road, and Nizamuddin flyover. To battle this chilly weather, residents of the capital were seen gathering around bonfires as temperatures continued to drop. On Sunday, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) revoked the Stage-III actions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi-NCR following a significant improvement in the air quality index (AQI). Stage-I and Stage-II measures, however, will remain in effect, officials said on Sunday. The dense fog, chilly winds, and dropping temperatures are expected to continue for the next few days, with residents advised to stay warm and minimize outdoor activities, especially during the early morning and evening hours. (With inputs from Agencies)
08 January,2025 12:11 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentAmid detection of the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases in parts of the country, the Pune district administration in Maharashtra on Tuesday said necessary arrangements were being made to tackle the infection. However, it also assured citizens that there was nothing to be concerned about, news agency PTI reported. HMPV is one of the many respiratory viruses that can cause infections in people of all ages, particularly during the winter and early spring months. The infection is usually mild and self-limiting, and most patients recover on their own. India reported its first HMPV cases on Monday after five children tested positive in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat. On Tuesday, two suspected cases of the virus were reported from Maharashtra's Nagpur. Pune district collector Jitendra Dudi said, "We are going to hold meetings with medical and revenue officials. Necessary arrangements and SOPs received from the government will be put in place. However, I would like to tell everyone that there is nothing to be alarmed about." The district administration has taken necessary precautions in terms of medical preparedness. So if any case is reported, the patient can be treated as early as possible, he said. Asked about the health facilities in government hospitals in the district, the collector said that after the Covid-19 pandemic, the medical facilities in the district are already in place, be it from primary to tertiary health care. "We have become very robust in terms of health infrastructure. We are very well-prepared," he said. HMPV outbreak: States asked to ramp up surveillance for respiratory diseases The Centre has advised states to step up surveillance for respiratory illnesses and spread awareness about the prevention of transmission of HMPV. Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava on Monday chaired a virtual meeting with states and Union Territories to take stock of respiratory illnesses and HMPV cases in the country and public health measures for their management, a health ministry statement said. The meeting was held amid reports of a surge in HMPV cases in China and on a day when India reported five cases, PTI reported. During the meeting, it was reiterated that the data from Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) of the health ministry does not indicate any unusual rise in influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory illnesses (SARI) cases anywhere in the country, the statement said. Srivastava emphasised that there is no cause for concern for the public as HMPV has been present globally since 2001, the statement said. She advised states to strengthen and review the ILI/SARI surveillance. (With PTI inputs)
08 January,2025 11:44 AM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
