Fire and Rescue Services Director reviews monsoon preparedness
Seema Agrawal, Director General of Police and Director of Fire and Rescue Services, on Wednesday reviewed the operational preparedness of the force in the western region in handling emergencies during the southwest monsoon.
She held a review meeting with district officers from five districts of the western region, namely Coimbatore, the Nilgiris, Tiruppur, Erode and Dindigul at the District Fire Office on State Bank Road in the city.
Ms. Agrawal, on her maiden visit to the western region after assuming the post, reviewed the availability of firefighting equipment, fire tenders, rescue vehicles, aerial ladder platform (ALP) vehicles, power tools, etc., as the region is receiving southwest monsoon rain.
Officers reported that all the five districts are equipped and fully prepared to deal with rain-related emergencies.
An officer, who attended the meeting, said that Ms. Agrawal also enquired about the requirements for each district, including new vehicles, equipment and funds for repairs.
An ALP vehicle of the Coimbatore south station, which can reach up to an 18-floor building for fire-fighting and rescues, was operated for demonstration on the District Fire Office premises.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Gazette
a day ago
- India Gazette
"Always been our priority": CMO Ramban on preparations for Amarnath Yatra
Ramban (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], June 29 (ANI): The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Ramban district, Kamal Jee Zadoo, shared details about the preparations for the Amarnath Yatra, which is scheduled to begin on July 3, stating that the Yatra remains a top priority for the administration. The CMO confirmed that 17 medical camps will be established en route to the Amarnath Yatra in Ramban, which will have a 'mini hospital' similar to those hospitals that will offer medical and diagnostic facilities. 'Amarnath yatra has always been our priority. We will have 17 medical camps (en route to the Amarnath Yatra in Ramban district)... We will also have a mini-hospital, similar to those hospitals, which will offer beds and diagnostic facilities', CMO Ramban told ANI. Furthermore, the Ramban CMO highlighted that the 'mini hospital' will be equipped with cardiac monitoring systems. Ambulance services will also be available for devotees, supported by a mobile medical team. 'We will also have a cardiac monitoring system... Ambulance facilities will also be provided during the Yatra with a mobile team - it's a new initiative that we are taking during this year's Yatra,' he said. On June 28, Director General of Police, Jammu and Kashmir, Nalin Prabhat, held a joint security review meeting in Udhampur for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, scheduled to take place from July 1 to August 9, a release stated. The meeting was held to check preparations and boost coordination among all agencies involved. It was attended by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Udhampur-Resai range, Sarah Rizvi, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Udhampur Amod Nagpure, Additional SP Udhampur, other senior Officers of the District Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and traffic police. Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha will flag off the first batch of the Amarnath Yatra from Jammu base camp on July 2, Jammu Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar said on Friday. (ANI)
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
From aloo to avocado: How India's eating choices are changing
Live Events BACK TO THE OLD SOCIAL INFLUENCE WITH A PINCH OF SALT CONFUSION ON THE PLATE (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel In Raipur, 22-year-old Shubh Agrawal says his family has gone pro-protein since his father had a health scare last year. The doctors advised him to increase protein intake. The diagnosis triggered a shift in the family's eating habits , leading to the inclusion of more protein-rich foods and, more recently, whey isolate—a preferred option to whey protein concentrate—into their daily two years, Agrawal, an avid listener of neuroscientist and podcaster Andrew Huberman's Huberman Lab Podcast, tried to convince his family to adopt healthier habits, but with little success. It took a doctor's warning and the entry of household brand Amul into the high-protein product space to finally get them to listen. He says, 'Earlier, I would be the one setting reminders to restock protein. Now, my mom has taken over.'Across urban India, food conversations are undergoing a shift. Health, convenience and nutrition are taking centrestage in kitchens, driven by a mix of growing awareness fuelled by wellness influencers and social media, aggressive marketing by health-focused brands and a post-pandemic focus on wellbeing. A new vocabulary—quinoa, kale, avocados, nut butters—has entered households as more consumers become conscious of protein intake and superfoods. Once reserved for elite homes in metros, these items are now finding space in upper-middle and middleclass kitchens across India, even in tier-2 cities, thanks to increased availability and food retailers confirm that nutrient-rich products are gaining in popularity beyond premium circles.'There has been a noticeable shift in the buying patterns of upper-middle and middle-class consumers,' says P Venkatesalu, CEO of Trent, which owns the Star Bazaar hypermarket chain. 'But the core of the Indian kitchen remains the same—dal, rice, wheat and pulses still dominate. The new foods are additions, not replacements,' he Mall, CEO, grocery retail, Reliance Retail , agrees: 'Food conversations in Indian households are undergoing a quiet transformation—nudged by aspiration, convenience, curiosity and social influence. From grocery baskets to dinner tables, choices today reflect a shift not just in taste, but in mindset.'Produce like avocados, dragon fruit and kiwis—once found only in upscale supermarkets—are now being sold from local pushcarts. These items, once linked with gourmet kitchens or international travel, are part of middle-class grocery trends are also reviving old ingredients in new formats. Millets like ragi and jowar are being added to regular meals, aided by a flood of social media content—from influencer videos to 'superfood' hacks. This information ecosystem, while overwhelming at times, is keeping food conversations aspirational and dynamic.'Underlying this change is a deep cultural shift,' says Mall. 'Modern Indian home cooks—often young women and men—are reinventing tradition. It's not a rejection, but a reinvention of heritage.' Mall is talking about ready-to-eat rotis and packaged chaas, among others. He says, 'Rituals like setting the curd at home are being replaced by branded alternatives. Packaged curd, branded chaas, ready-to-eat rotis and millet mixes are becoming staples in households seeking convenience. These are tools for managing fast-paced lives.'The Indian consumer is evolving— not just in what they eat, but in how they think about food. New brands and established players are taking like ITC, Zydus, Marico and Parle have doubled down on the healthy snacking category to include baked chips and millet-based cookies, while Amul has a growing portfolio of protein-rich products. According to Reliance Industries ' FY25 results, 'there was a growing demand for niche and premium products as consumers looked for aspirational choices'. Products like premium coffee and healthy snacks in Reliance Retail had a 30% y-o-y younger generation is acting as the influencer at home. Prakhar Agrawal, a 24-year-old marketing executive in Gorakhpur, has persuaded his parents to switch to ragi chips and quinoa puffs. He says, 'When it comes to food, I prefer snacks that are free from palm oil. I get a lot of my information from social media ads, which often show newer and 'cleaner' brands. But I don't just rely on them. I always check the list of ingredients to make informed decisions.'Adarsh Menon, partner at Fireside Ventures, a venture capital firm that backs consumer brands in the wellness space, among others, says Indian consumers are doubling down on everyday wellness. He says, 'According to our research, about 63% now actively seek healthier snacks. Products with health claims are growing 1.2x faster than conventional ones. The ayurvedic-herbal market has already crossed Rs 87,600 crore.'Digital grocery platforms and quick-commerce delivery in over 500 smaller towns, combined with Rs 10-30 trial packs, are expanding this trend beyond metros. A recent survey by Fireside Ventures of over 1,000 shoppers found that more than half of tier-2 consumers include healthy grains, millets and dry fruits in their diets, while over 30% consume ayurvedic herbs like giloy or ashwagandha. Even traditionally vegetarian homes are becoming 'flexi-veg,' adding eggs or soy a few times a week for adds, 'This appetite is fuelling fast-growing categories: smart snacks like protein bars and roasted mixes, breakfast grains such as millet noodles and multigrain atta, and alternatives like cold-pressed oils and natural sweeteners. People are replacing refined sugar with jaggery or stevia, maida with multigrain, and industrial oils with cold-pressed ones—when the price premium is within 25%.'This trend is not without critics. Nutritionists warn against blindly following food fads without understanding dietary needs. While some consumers see these changes as upgrades, others question whether they are Pavan Dhoble, consultant gastroenterologist, PD Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai, urges caution. 'People are blindly following diet trends without understanding their own body's needs.' Dhoble, who co-authored a study on self-reported food intolerances, says, 'Even milk intolerance was seen in only a quarter of participants despite the belief that most Indians are lactose intolerant.' His key takeaway? 'Individualisation is essential. What works for one gut might harm another.'Dr Ajay Jhaveri, a gastroenterologist at Jaslok Hospital, Mumbai, echoes the concern. 'Locally sourced foods often suit our bodies better. While egg whites are excellent protein sources, many gym-goers are overdoing it with protein powders that contain harmful preservatives. It's not just about what people eat—it's about why and how.'Fitness expert Leena Mogre adds another layer: aspiration. 'There is a rush to be seen as elite. The middle class wants to align with what looks premium, even if it is not healthier,' she highlights the overlooked nutritional power of traditional Indian superfoods like amaranth, which surpasses quinoa nutritionally, and millets like jowar and bajra, which are only now being appreciated. 'These were once seen as poor man's food. Now people are waking up to their true value,' she Mogre warns against turning fitness into a fashion statement. 'Health is a lifestyle, not a trend. In smaller cities like Pune or Nashik, people are still eating simple, home-cooked meals—and often, those are far more nourishing than the so-called urban health diets.'The real key to health, experts suggest, may not lie in imported superfoods, but in listening to one's body—and perhaps rediscovering the quiet wisdom of the grandmother's avalanche of information and marketing has also instilled confusion in the minds of customers with influencers and de-influencers (accounts that discourage people from doing certain things) cluttering social media Agarwal, a 32-year-old baker from Ahmedabad who runs the cloud kitchen bakery Dough Culture, says the most frequent request she gets is for gluten-free bread.'With the current gluten-free fad, people constantly seek such options without fully understanding what it really means,' she says. She recalls a customer asking her to replicate a ragi loaf from a rival brand. But after reading the label, she discovered that it contained just 5% ragi; the rest was atta, gluten powder and chemical bread improvers. 'People don't pay close attention to what they are consuming. They are just following online trends,' she Pooja Makhija agrees. 'Social media has raised awareness, but it has also created confusion. There's a flood of information, but a lack of true knowledge,' she says. With influencers and unqualified voices offering advice, many of her clients are overwhelmed. She has started a more economical version of her nutrition programme to cater to the growing demand from non-metro cities. Her guiding principle: 'Eat more of what god made, and less of what man made.'She advocates filtering trends through cultural wisdom. 'Would your grandparents have eaten this?' is a question she believes more people should ask.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
RRB ALP 2025 aptitude test on July 15; schedule released at rrbapply.gov.in
The Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) have officially announced the exam date for the Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) 2025 recruitment. Registered candidates can now visit their respective regional RRB websites to check the detailed exam schedule. The Computer-Based Aptitude Test (CBAT) is scheduled to take place on July 15, 2025. It is mandatory for all candidates to undergo Aadhaar-based biometric verification at the exam center before entering the examination hall. Candidates must carry either their original Aadhaar card or an e-verified Aadhaar printout. To ensure a smooth verification process on exam day, candidates are also encouraged to pre-authenticate their Aadhaar through the official portal — . Candidates belonging to the SC/ST categories will be able to view their exam city and date, as well as download their travel pass, from the official RRB websites 10 days before the test. Additionally, E-call letters will be made available for download 4 days prior to the scheduled test date, as indicated in the exam city and date intimation. Read official notice here Stages in the RRB ALP 2025 recruitment process The selection process for RRB ALP 2025 includes the following stages: Stage-1 Computer-Based Test (CBT-1) Stage-2 Computer-Based Test (CBT-2) Stage-3 Computer-Based Aptitude Test (CBAT) Stage-4 Document Verification (DV) Stage-5 Medical Examination (ME) RRB ALP 2025: Steps to download exam city details and admit card Once released, candidates can follow the steps below to download their exam city slip or admit card: Step-1 Go to the official website of your regional RRB. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This 2025 RAV4 Might Be Toyota's Best Yet TheFactualist Undo Step-2 On the homepage, click on the relevant link for ALP exam city slip or admit card. Step-3 Enter your login details and submit. Step-4 Your exam city slip or admit card will appear on the screen. Step-5 Download the document and take a printout for future use. This year's recruitment drive aims to fill 9,970 vacancies for the post of Assistant Loco Pilot. For more information, candidates are advised to refer to the official RRB websites. Is your child ready for the careers of tomorrow? Enroll now and take advantage of our early bird offer! Spaces are limited.
