Full clearance for Dhruv helicopter fleet pending amid ongoing review
A source told India Today that not all helicopters have received flying clearance as HAL continues its review and is approving aircraft in a phased manner. The Army resumed operations of its cleared helicopters in response to heightened security requirements following the deadly attack in Pahalgam.The entire fleet was grounded after a Dhruv helicopter of the Coast Guard crashed in Porbandar, marking the latest in a series of incidents that have plagued the platform in recent years.At Aero India in February, HAL Chairman and Managing Director Dr DK Sunil shared details from the initial crash investigation, revealing that a crack in the swash plate-a critical component controlling the rotor blades-had been identified.The defect investigation team is still probing the cause of the crack, and HAL awaits the final report to determine whether further inspections or changes are needed across the fleet.While ruling out a design flaw in the helicopter itself, Dr Sunil pointed to possible gaps in training and maintenance. He said that over the past 25 years, 28 Dhruv helicopters have crashed.Of these, 13 were due to technical issues, 13 to human error, and two remain unexplained. Despite the accidents, the Dhruv fleet has collectively logged significant flying hours, underlining its central role in military aviation.The extended grounding of the fleet was a serious setback for the armed forces and Coast Guard. Similar suspensions occurred in 2023 after a series of crashes across multiple service branches.In October 2024, an Indian Air Force Dhruv crashed into water during relief efforts in Bihar due to engine failure. In September that year, a Coast Guard helicopter went down in the Arabian Sea.Other incidents have taken place near Mumbai, Kochi, Jammu, and Pathankot. One of the most tragic crashes occurred in Arunachal Pradesh in October 2022, where a Rudra variant crash claimed the lives of two officers and three soldiers.With the investigation still underway, the Dhruv fleet remains only partially operational. The outcome of the final report will be key to determining whether systemic changes in maintenance protocols or pilot training are required to restore full confidence in the platform and prevent future accidents.- EndsMust Watch
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Indian migrant helps rescue woman from massive sinkhole in Singapore, earns praise
An Indian migrant worker has earned praise for his quick-thinking after he helped rescue a woman who fell into a sinkhole in Singapore. The sinkhole, filled with water, suddenly opened up a section of Tanjong Katong Road South on Saturday evening and swallowed a car. A car plunged into a large, water-filled sinkhole in Singapore on July 26. Singapore's National Water Agency, known as PUB (Public Utilities Board), said the road collapse happened near one of its active worksites. (Also read: Giant, water-filled sinkhole swallows car in Singapore, woman pulled out alive in dramatic rescue) Indian migrant worker saves a life Site foreman Pitchai Udaiyappan Subbiah was among the first to notice that a car had plunged into the sinkhole. He immediately rushed to help the car's occupant. Subbiah, a 46-year-old site foreman with Ohin Construction, said he heard a sudden sound and saw the sinkhole forming. Realising that a car had gone down the hole, he instructed three of his workers to toss down a nylon rope. The woman opened the door of her car and reached for the rope. Workers then pulled her up until she was close enough to the edge to be lifted out. She was immediately rushed to Raffles Hospital. According to a Channel News Asia report, Subbiah is from India and has worked in Singapore for the last 22 years. Asked how he felt during the rescue, the 46-year-old said, 'I was scared, but every feeling was that this woman must be rescued first. (At the end of everything), I felt thankful that we had saved a life.' 'To me, the fact that someone had fallen in - no matter what happened, we had to rescue her as quickly as possible. That was our thinking, and that was the determination and urgency with which we rescued her,' he explained. Rescue earns applause Subbiah has earned plaudits for his presence of mind that potentially helped save a woman's life. 'Not sure if he qualifies for Permanent Residence but Pitchai surely deserves to be offered,' wrote one person on Reddit. 'Should get a medal and an honorary citizenship that allows him to dual-wield with presumably-existing Republic of India citizenship. He has done more for this country's people than anybody working in CBP and MBFC,' another said. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) has also said it will be reaching out to the workers who helped in the rescue to 'commend them for their bravery and prompt action in saving a life.'
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Why is the Moon affectionately called Chanda Mama in India
Throughout the ages, the moon has always captivated human beings with its mysterious charm and glow in the night sky, serving as a symbol of hope, rebirth, and rhythm. The Moon has been a part of it all, be it myths, legends, rituals or calendars, ever since the childhood of a baby by influencing how we pray, and how we dream. In India, the moon isn't just a celestial body, but a deity, a symbol of royalty, and a storyteller in the sky. Children still call it Chanda-mama, the maternal uncle who visits often but never stays long. But have you ever thought about why it is called by this name? What is the legendary story of the Moon The moon has long been a symbol of resurrection in Indian mythology. As per legend, Chandra, the moon-god, was cursed with a wasting disease because he favoured only one of his 27 wives, the lunar constellations or nakshatras. According to another legendary version, he eloped with Tara, the wife of Brihaspati (Jupiter), causing a divine outrage. In both tales, Chandra began to wane and feared he would vanish forever. In desperation, he turned to Lord Shiva for help. It is explained in a Puranic lore that Shiva holds the Ganga in his matted hair and Ganga is the river believed to grant rebirth. 'If Shiva can give the dead another chance at life, he surely can resurrect the waning moon,' writes mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik in one of his essays. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas Prices In Dubai Might Be More Affordable Than You Think Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Quote Undo Shiva appeared before Chandra at Somnath, Gujarat, and placed him in his hair-knot, enabling him to wax again. Since then, the moon has been called Soma, symbolizing regeneration and hope. The Moon has long been associated with empires The symbolism of the Moon also has a place among the warriors. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the 17th-century Maratha king, wore the crescent moon, or chandra-kor, on his forehead. It served as a visual reminder of freedom and resilience. 'It was meant to inspire people never to give up on the idea of freedom (swarajya), to remind all that after the dark night of the new moon, the waxing begins,' writes Pattanaik. The crescent moon is also associated with Islam, seen on the flags of Pakistan and Turkey. But it was not originally a religious symbol but an imperial one, used by the Ottomans after they conquered Byzantium in the 15th century. The crescent represented the founder, Osman's dream of an empire stretching across the world. Moon symbolism goes deeper in Indian lore. Chandragupta Maurya's name, according to Jain tradition, comes from his mother's desire to drink moonlight-infused water. Chanakya fulfilled it by offering the water bathed in moonlight. Why is the Moon called ' Chanda Mama ' Indian kings often traced their lineage to the moon or Soma-vamsa and the sun or Surya-vamsa. The Ramayana is the tale of the solar dynasty, while the Mahabharata follows the lunar. Interestingly, Lord Ram, who belonged to the Solar lineage, is called 'Ram-chandra'. It is that he was fond of the moon. According to Pattanaik, he would not sleep until his mother showed him the reflection of the moon in a pot of water and saw the moon as his mother's brother. That's why, just like Ram, even today we lovingly call the moon Chanda-mama—the dear uncle who visits his sister often, but never stays too long. The name 'maas' is also associated with the Moon Linguists believe the word maas (month) doesn't come from Sanskrit but from the Munda tribes, whose women called the moon maa. So a full moon became poorna-maa, and a new moon, a-maa. Art also immortalizes the moon-god riding a chariot pulled by deer or geese, holding a rabbit or Shasha. As per the Jataka tales, that rabbit was the Buddha in a previous life, who sacrificed himself for a hungry man. The gods rewarded him with a place on the moon, making him Shashank, the rabbit-marked moon.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
How a Kerala village beat alcoholism with the game of chess
Marottichal, Kerala – Half a century ago, this forest-fringed village in northern Kerala was best known for something far less noble than strategy and sportsmanship: bootleg liquor and backdoor gambling dens. Today, it holds an Asian record for the highest number of people playing chess simultaneously. The transformation wasn't driven by policy, policing, or public shame—but by a quiet revolution on a chequered board, started by a teenager with a fascination for Bobby Fischer. Back in the 1970s, C. Unnikrishnan, now fondly known as 'Chess Maaman,' was just 16 when he discovered the American grandmaster. Hooked instantly, he travelled to nearby towns to learn the Indian precursor chaturanga and modern chess. Years later, he returned to his hometown, which was then drowning in alcoholism, to open a modest teashop. But it wasn't just cups of chai that Unnikrishnan was serving. He brought with him the board and the game he had grown to love. And as illicit brewing threatened to crush families, he began teaching his customers chess—offering them not just entertainment, but a distraction, a discipline, and ultimately, a lifeline. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Read more: Crime index 2025: 10 least safe countries in the world; check full list There was little space to play outdoor sports, as there were rubber plantations all around, Unnikrishnan once explained. But since a chessboard fits anywhere, that became our playground, he added. At the time, the villagers had also formed the Madhya Nirodhana Samiti, a grassroots anti-alcohol movement. With women of the village secretly informing on brewers and gamblers, and Unnikrishnan introducing chess as a replacement high, the change came swiftly and deeply. Today, chess boards form an integral part of this place. The village bus stop isn't bustling with commuters, but spectators watching roadside matches. Drivers play against conductors before their shifts. Shopkeepers challenge customers between sales. On Sunday evenings, Unnikrishnan's home is filled to the brim with neighbours, shoulders brushing, eyes locked on boards scattered across benches, verandas, and floors. Read more: Old-school India: 6 places that are pure vintage vibes A recent local survey revealed that two-thirds of Marottichal's 6,000 residents play chess daily. This renaissance isn't limited to adults. At the local primary school, rows of children huddle over chessboards during recess. Many of them learned the game in under a week and insisted on bringing boards from home to practice. The local association is now pushing for chess to be introduced into the official school curriculum. Despite Kerala's progressive but often contentious liquor policy, villagers here believe they've found their own solution. The village's commitment has even caught the eye of international visitors, from Germany to the United States, keen to experience this grassroots model of reform. If there is any doubt that technology might erase this culture, you will easily get to see a group of teens absorbed in their devices, only to reveal they're locked in online chess battles. In Marottichal, the game isn't over. In fact, it's just getting started.
