Latest news with #Bhavika
News18
17-07-2025
- General
- News18
Pune Girl Survived A Plane Crash At 1,000 Feet. Now She's A Licensed Commercial Pilot
Last Updated: Two years after a mid-air engine failure, Bhavika Rathod is now a certified commercial aviator, showcasing her resilience and determination from trainee to licensed pilot Two years ago, a terrifying mid-air engine failure nearly ended 24-year-old Bhavika Rathod's dream of becoming a pilot. Today, she's a certified commercial aviator, proof that grit can sometimes be stronger than gravity. On July 25, 2022, Bhavika, then a trainee at Carver Aviation Flying School in Baramati, Pune, took off on what was supposed to be a routine cross-country flight. It was a milestone she had long awaited. Having logged 150 hours out of the 200 required to earn her Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL), the finish line was in sight. But just 15 nautical miles into the flight, flying at an altitude of 1,000 feet in a Cessna 152, the aircraft's engine suddenly cut out. 'I heard the sputter, and then there was silence…" Bhavika recalled, adding that her heart had 'stopped for a second", but her training didn't. With no chance to return to the airstrip and precious seconds slipping away, Bhavika scanned the landscape and spotted a patch of wet land near Kadbanwadi village in Indapur. Remembering her instructors' guidance that such terrain reduced friction and improved crash-landing outcomes, she maneuvered the powerless aircraft and brought it down safely. The plane landed just 100 feet from a residential area; miraculously, no one on the ground was hurt. Bhavika escaped with only minor injuries. But what followed wasn't just a physical recovery but psychological too. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) launched an enquiry during which Bhavika was subjected to intense questioning for three days before being placed on a mandatory 'cooling-off" period, temporarily grounding her from further flying. She almost did. For two months, Bhavika contemplated giving up aviation altogether and enrolling in a BBA course to join her family's business. But her family had other plans. 'They refused to let me quit," she said, adding that her parents and friends practically staged an intervention which reminded her why she started. In December 2022, five months after the crash, Bhavika received a no-objection certificate for corrective training. The following month, she returned to Carver Aviation. 'The first takeoff after returning was the hardest," she said. 'It was the same runway. Same aircraft. Same sky. But this time, I had more fear… and more determination," she explained. By September 2023, Bhavika's comeback was complete after she received her official Commercial Pilot Licence. Since then, she's completed a 45-day type rating course for the Airbus A320 in Spain. Now, she's eyeing the skies again; this time as a first officer for a major airline, with dreams of eventually commanding the mighty Airbus A380. Raised in the working-class neighbourhood of Swargate in Pune, Bhavika studied at Muktangan English School. Her passion for aviation was ignited by a visiting pilot during a school lecture. After finishing Class 12 in 2019, she enrolled in flight school despite pandemic-related setbacks. view comments First Published: July 03, 2025, 18:11 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Time of India
Social media star turned drug courier: Influencer held with 152g MD
1 2 Jaipur/Jaisalmer: A 27-year-old Instagrammer and social media influencer from Barmer with over 89,000 followers was arrested from Jalore Sunday for allegedly transporting a consignment of synthetic drug, Mephedrone, commonly known as MD, worth Rs 5 lakh. SP (Jalore) Gyan Chandra Yadav said the accused, identified as Bhanwari Devi alias Bhavika, was caught with 152 grams of MD in two packets during a joint operation by Barmer and Sanchore police. Acting on a tip-off from intelligence agencies, a special Jalore police team set up a checkpoint near Siwara on National Highway-68 and intercepted the bus in which the woman was travelling. She was taken into custody around 9pm Sunday. According to Yadav, the accused boarded a bus from Barmer to Mehsana district in Gujarat via Jaisalmer around noon Sunday. During the search, police recovered two packets of the banned substance concealed in her luggage. The seized MD drugs are estimated to be worth Rs 5 lakh in the local market. Yadav said the accused hails from the Mahabar area of Barmer and had allegedly been working as a drug courier for nearly a year, earning Rs 10,000 per trip. She reportedly received the consignment from another woman known for running a similar drug smuggling racket. "Bhanwari, who goes by the name 'Bhavika' on social media, tried contacting several relatives and acquaintances after her arrest, but none responded," said an official. During interrogation, she initially claimed ignorance of the contents and said she was only told to deliver the packet upon reaching Gujarat, where she would receive handover instructions. However, police said preliminary investigation revealed she had been delivering drugs for the past one year and had earned significantly from multiple trips. "She used her social media fame as a cover, telling others she was travelling for a shoot or to make reels, but was actually transporting drugs," the official added. Sources said MD is a highly addictive synthetic drug with significant risk of overdose. Western Rajasthan has seen a surge in MD trafficking, prompting police to set up special units to track down suspects and dismantle trafficking networks.
The Print
13-07-2025
- The Print
Rajasthan: Social media influencer held with 150 gm of mephedrone
A search of her belongings led to the seizure of over 150 grams of MD (mephedrone), a synthetic drug banned under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. Bhavari alias Bhavika was detained Sunday at the Siwada outpost after police received a tip-off about a woman carrying narcotics in a Barmer-to-Gujarat roadways bus. Jalore, Jul 13 (PTI) An influencer with more than 83,000 followers on Instagram was arrested on Sunday for alleged possession of synthetic MD drug in Chitalwana area of Jalore, police said. Police said the woman was allegedly en route to Gujarat to supply the drugs. Authorities suspect the involvement of a broader trafficking network, and the Forensic Science Laboratory has been roped in to examine the seized substances. Superintendent of Police Gyanchandra Yadav said the woman is being interrogated to determine the extent of her involvement in the smuggling and the spread of her network. 'We are treating this as part of a larger operation. The campaign against narcotics will be intensified,' said DSP Kamble Sharan Gopinath. PTI COR AG VN VN This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Indian Express
02-07-2025
- General
- Indian Express
‘At 1,000 feet above ground, the aircraft engines suddenly lost power': how a Pune pilot survived a crash, learnt to fly again
Written by Shubham Kurale, The morning of July 25, 2022, started like any other training day for Bhavika Rathod. The 24-year-old pilot trainee from Pune's Swargate had already completed 150 flying hours towards her commercial pilot licence. She was confident, attentive, and just 50 hours away from achieving her childhood dream. But at 11.30 am that day, everything changed in an instant. A talk that ignited a desire Bhavika studied in Pune's Muktangan English School, where a guest lecture by a pilot planted the first seeds of her aviation dreams. 'That lecture stayed with me throughout school,' Bhavika recalls. 'I kept thinking about what it would feel like to be up there, responsible for taking people safely to their destinations.' 'After completing Class 12 in 2019, I took my dream of becoming a pilot seriously and started searching for flying schools. The process got delayed due to the COVID-induced lockdown, and finally, in October 2021, I got into Carver Aviation flying school in Baramati,' she says. To obtain a commercial pilot licence, one needs to complete 200 flying hours and clear six theory papers, which usually takes around two years. 'After completing 150 flying hours, it was a normal day for me. I took off from Baramati in a Cessna-152 aircraft for a routine cross-country flight,' Bhavika remembers. 'Just 15 nautical miles into the journey, at about 1,000 feet above ground, the aircraft engines suddenly lost power.' With no option to return to the departure point, Bhavika's training kicked in. 'I spotted a slightly moist patch of farmland in Kadbanwadi village in Indapur, exactly what my instructors had taught me to look for to reduce landing drag,' she said. In those terrifying moments between engine failure and ground contact, Bhavika managed to safely crash-land the aircraft. She survived with only minor scratches on her chin. No one on the ground was hurt, despite the plane crashing less than 100 feet from the nearest house. 'I was completely in shock,' she says. 'This is the worst thing that could happen in the flying sector. But by God's grace, I was alive.' The crash led to a mandatory investigation by the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). After three intense days of questioning, Bhavika was put on a cooling period – a mandatory break from flying that follows any aircraft accident. 'It was traumatising. I gradually lost confidence, hope, and courage to fly again,' she says. 'I started self-doubting and slowly faced depression. After two months, I decided to quit and pursue a BBA instead to join my family business.' Bhavika's near and dear ones, however, had other plans. 'My family and friends counselled me to help recover my self-belief. They helped me scrap my thoughts about ending my flying career,' she says. Five months after the accident, in December 2022, Bhavika received a no-objection certificate for corrective training, a period in which trainee pilots fly with instructors until they regain confidence to fly solo. In January 2023, Bhavika walked back into Carver Aviation – saw the same corridors, the same runway where her dreams had once crashed. 'My colleagues and staff at the academy, particularly my instructor Captain Madhav Raj Singh, instilled confidence back in me,' she says. The journey back was not easy. Every take-off brought back memories of that fateful day. In September 2023, Bhavika secured her official Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL). 'Social media became helpful for me,' she reveals. 'After getting my CPL, candidates who faced similar crashes contacted me asking how to tackle negative thoughts. I was able to help them because I had been through the same experience.' 'My message to all those who feel dejected in their life would be to remain courageous and never lose hope. This will definitely help them achieve their dreams,' she says. Last year, Bhavika completed her type rating course, a specialised 45-day training programme on the Airbus 320 in Spain. Currently, she is preparing to join an aircraft carrier and has set her sights on an even bigger dream: flying an Airbus A380 someday. Shubham Kurale is an intern with The Indian Express.
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Bhavika Sharma and Param Singh starrer Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin to go off-air soon?
The long-running television show Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin has been entertaining fans for over give years now. However, according to the reports, it is set to bid farewell in July 2025. Sources close to the production have revealed that the emotional final episode is expected to air in the first week of the month, bringing an end to a nearly five-year journey that began in October 2020. Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin initially starred Ayesha Singh, Neil Bhatt, and Aishwarya Sharma in lead roles and quickly became a fan favorite for its intense drama and powerful storytelling. Over the years, the narrative evolved significantly, including a major generational leap that introduced a brand-new cast and storyline. In early 2024, a fresh track was launched featuring Param Singh, Vaibhavi Hankare, and Sanam Johar in pivotal roles. However, the new phase of the show struggled to resonate with audiences. Viewers found it difficult to connect with the revamped storyline and the newly introduced characters. Notably, popular characters like Savi (played by Bhavika Sharma) and Rajat (played by Hitesh Bharadwaj) were written off during the transition. Although Bhavika later made a return, and Param Singh was brought in as a lead, the pairing failed to generate the excitement the makers had hoped for. Despite several efforts—including dramatic plot twists and a change in time slot—the show's viewership continued to decline. The second-generation cast had also included Shakti Arora and Sumit Singh alongside Bhavika and Hitesh, but even their popularity couldn't revive the show's former glory.
