Char Dham yatra resumes after 24-hr ban
Garhwal division commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey said, "The 24-hour ban on the Char Dham yatra has been lifted.
However, district officials along the travel route have been instructed to halt vehicles in their respective districts based on weather conditions.
"
Meanwhile, public works department (PWD) secretary Pankaj Pandey wrote to employees of the department, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and Border Roads Organisation (BRO), asking them to follow certain guidelines during the monsoon season. He instructed the authorities concerned to identify landslide-prone areas and make necessary arrangements such as earthmovers and deploy manpower at these locations to promptly clear roads blocked by landslides.
"All executing agency officials/employees will coordinate with the local administration and leave for personnel will be approved only after the district magistrate's approval in emergency situations. All executing agency officials/employees will be technically available (via satellite phone, mobile, etc.) and will share relief work through email, WhatsApp groups, departmental portals, etc.," the letter stated.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025
Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List
Undo
The letter also mentioned that narrow roads and weak bridges should be identified, and measures for their safety or repair should be taken in advance by the competent authority.
"It has come to notice that all engineers/personnel remain in their offices/divisional offices, whereas it is necessary to be in the field during the monsoon period. Therefore, during the monsoon period, all officers and employees will remain in their respective work areas, i.e., assistant engineers/additional assistant engineers/junior engineers will stay in their allocated area routes," the letter stated.
This year over 35 lakh pilgrims have undertaken the annual pilgrimage so far. Out of these, 13 lakh pilgrims have gone to Kedarnath, 10.8 lakh to Badrinath, 5.6 lakh to Gangotri and 5.5 lakh to the Yamunotri shrine.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
36 minutes ago
- Time of India
Maize seeds fail to sprout; agri dept invites experts to probe
Hubballi: Farmers in Dharwad district are reporting poor germination of maize seeds supplied by some private firms. It is said around 50% of the sown seeds did not sprout. Responding to farmers in Kalghatgi taluk, the agriculture department is inviting experts to investigate the reason. Some farmers believe heavy rains may have affected the sprouting process. Many farmers in Hullambi, Begur, and Muttagi in Kalghatgi taluk told TOI they sowed seeds procured from Rait Sampark Kendra in Tabakada Honnalli and Dhummavad. Even after about 20 days of sowing, they haven't sprouted. We spent thousands of rupees on seeds, fertiliser, and ploughing, they shared. Shrishail Hongal, a farmer in Devar Hubballi, Dharwad taluk, noted that only about 15% of farmers sow maize in his and surrounding villages since his area is meant for the cultivation of sugar cane. "As we are very few in number, our concerns go unaddressed. I sowed seeds 15 days ago and I'm waiting to see the germination of seeds," he asserted. Ramappa Radder, a progressive farmer in Kubihal village, Kundagol taluk, said he also faced the same issue and re-sowed seeds a fortnight ago. "We thought it was because of heavy rains and the soil became harder. After we re-sowed seeds of the same company, now they are sprouting well," he shared. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like One of the Most Successful Investors of All Time, Warren Buffett, Recommends: 5 Books for Turning... Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Click Here Undo When contacted, Channappa Angadi, assistant director, agriculture, Kalghatgi, denied that there is a 50% failure in the taluk. "It happened in certain pockets. As we received a complaint from Begur farmers, our officials and seed company officials visited there. Since the issue is too technical and we are not satisfied with the clarification given by the seed company, we sent a requisition to the Director of Extension, University of Agricultural Sciences Dharwad (UASD) to send experts. This is an agronomic or cultivation issue," he added. Manjunath Antaravalli, joint director, agriculture, Dharwad, stated he received nine complaints from farmers in Kalghatgi taluk. "An experts' panel from UASD will visit the field in 3-4 days. Once we receive their report, we will decide the next course of action," he assured.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
ADGP instructs Koppal SP to ensure safety of foreign tourists
Koppal: Additional director general of police (law and order) R Hithendra instructed Koppal SP Ram L Arasiddi, via a letter dated June 30, to promptly implement measures to ensure the safety of foreign tourists. This action follows a memo from DG & IGP MA Saleem, concerning the Sanapur incident from the previous year. On March 6 this year, assailants sexually assaulted and robbed a 27-year-old Israeli tourist and her homestay host, while an Odia tourist drowned, and two others — an American and a local — were attacked. The attacks took place during night hours near Sanapur Lake in Gangavathi taluk, 25km from the Unesco World Heritage site of Hampi. Police subsequently arrested two individuals: Mallesh alias Handi Mallesh, 22, and Kameshwar Rao, 21, from Gangavathi taluk. A third suspect, Sai Ram, 23, was later apprehended in Tamil Nadu. Situated 25km from Hampi and 350km from Bengaluru, Sanapur village, nestled among hills along the Tungabhadra River, attracts tourists, including those from the US, Europe, and the Middle East, seeking peace near Hampi. However, the area's serene appearance belies serious criminal activities affecting tourists and residents alike. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More The ADGP noted Koppal district's significant increase in foreign visitors over six years. In 2024, 53,405 foreign tourists visited, making it Karnataka's third most-visited district by foreigners, after Mysuru and Udupi. The proximity to the Hampi Unesco World Heritage site likely contributes to this increase. The official communication stresses the need for enhanced tourist safety measures. The area's isolation has attracted criminal elements as well. A former district police officer, on condition of anonymity, stated, "This region attracts anti-social individuals, minor offenders, gamblers, and drug users who often prey on individuals who are alone or in small groups. Numerous incidents either go unreported or are only revealed after considerable delays. Nonetheless, the recent rape case has been particularly shocking. " Limited police presence and vast isolated terrain hamper security efforts. Poor infrastructure, including substandard accommodation and roads, compounds these issues. After nightfall, the uninhabited area becomes vulnerable to criminal activities. Moreover, the region hosts over 100 unregistered resorts of varying sizes. Their connections to local politicians and business people complicate enforcement actions. Gangavathi Rural police acknowledge these issues, particularly drug-related ones. Annual records show over 50 drug-related cases and seven to eight suicides, some later reclassified as homicides. The ADGP's letter asked the Koppal SP to address these security issues. Responding to a query by TOI, SP Ram L Arasiddi acknowledged receiving the communication, stating, "We will compile a report on the actions taken to ensure tourist safety. We still have a week to file the report." He withheld specific details but assured the report's availability post-submission.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Window panel found loose mid-air on Goa-Pune SpiceJet; airline says no safety risk
Pune: Passengers on board a Goa to Pune SpiceJet flight (SG-1080) had a scare on Tuesday evening when a window panel was found dislodged while the plane was mid-air. The airline played down the incident, saying the window part that had come off was "a non-structural trim component, fitted onto the window for the purpose of shade". But a person on board the plane — a Bombardier Q400 — told TOI the incident triggered anxiety among the passengers. "Two to three layers of the window panel just came off," said Aatish Mishra, the passenger. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune "There was no depressurization, but this shouldn't have happened. There has to be focus on proper maintenance of interiors too, just like other technical aspects. We've just had a tragic plane crash," Mishra added. The airline in a statement said: "A cosmetic window frame on one of SpiceJet's Q400 aircraft became loose during flight and was found dislodged. It is important to note that this was a non-structural trim component, fitted onto the window for the purpose of shade, and did not compromise the safety or integrity of the aircraft in any way. Cabin pressurisation remained normal throughout the flight, and there was no impact on passenger safety. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo " Mishra said he was in row 8 of the plane when he heard commotion from the back. The Q400 can seat around 80 passengers. "The flight's scheduled departure time was 5.20pm, but it took off from Goa's Mopa around 7pm. We were mid-air when I heard noises. A mother and child just stood up from their seats. I then saw the window frame, which had come off," he told TOI. Mishra said the plane landed nearly 30 minutes later, with the broken window part. A SpiceJet spokesperson said the frame was fixed after landing, "in accordance with standard maintenance procedures". In its statement following the incident, the airline said: "The Q400 aircraft is equipped with multiple layers of window panes, including a robust, pressure-bearing outer pane, ensuring that passenger safety is never at risk, even in the unlikely event of a superficial or cosmetic component coming loose." Sources from the airline said the plane landed in Pune around 7.53pm and then took off for Jaipur at 8.58pm, where it landed at 11.08 pm. "The aircraft was checked thoroughly and repairs were done before the next take-off," an airline source said.
