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India Gazette
4 hours ago
- General
- India Gazette
Chennai Airport conducts mock drill to test emergency response
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], June 28 (ANI): The Airports Authority of India (AAI) conducted a mock drill at Chennai International Airport on Saturday to assess emergency preparedness for a potential plane crash. The exercise followed the recent Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad. 'This mock exercise drill is a standard practice that airports undertake as part of their Airport Emergency Plan. Usually, we do it at the airport. This is the first time we are doing it outside, as we wanted to assess the preparedness of state authorities following what happened in Ahmedabad,' Airport Director of Airports Authority of India, Chennai International Airport, CV Deepak, told ANI. 'We will now hear from independent observers and fill the gaps accordingly... Approximately 300 people participated. Around 55 people participated as passengers onboard the aircraft,' he added. On June 12, a London-bound Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed into a hostel complex of BJ Medical College in the Meghani Nagar area of Gujarat's Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. All 241 people on board, except one, were killed in the crash. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) Lab in New Delhi is currently working intensively to examine data retrieved from the black boxes of the flight. According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Crash Protection Module (CPM) from the front black box was safely retrieved, and on June 25, 2025, the memory module was successfully accessed and its data downloaded at the AAIB Lab. Sources familiar with the process told ANI that an identical black box, referred to as a 'golden chassis,' was used to confirm whether data could be accurately recovered from the black boxes. One black box was recovered from the rooftop of a building at the crash site on June 13, and the other from the debris on June 16. The investigation is being led by AAIB officials and includes technical members from the Indian Air Force, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) from the United States, which is the official investigative agency of the country of the aircraft's design and manufacture. The Director General of AAIB is heading the probe. An aviation medicine expert and an Air Traffic Control officer have also been included in the investigation team. Sources confirmed that the NTSB team is currently stationed in Delhi and working closely with Indian authorities at the AAIB Lab. Officials from Boeing and GE are also present in the national capital to assist with the technical process. (ANI)
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Zumba row: Don't bring religious orthodoxy into education field, says CPM's MA Baby
Kozhikode: CPM general secretary M A Baby appealed to the people not to bring religious orthodoxy into the field of education. He was speaking on the controversy over implementing Zumba dance sessions in schools. Zumba dance form is practised in more than 180 countries and many individuals, both young and older generations, follow this dance form for overall physical well-being, said Baby. "There is a saying, 'sound mind in a sound body'. You have to be physically fit when you want to be mentally and intellectually fit. So, this criticism that when Zumba dance is being practised, boys and girls are found scantily dressed is an absolute untruth. I have seen the videos of these performances, and they are fully dressed. So, this initiative should not be subjected to criticism due to these unfounded allegations," Baby told the media. Comments like boys and girls shouldn't participate in events together are not suitable for the modern age, he said. It is time to discuss how to live in the 22nd century and those opposing it should introspect, Baby added.
India Gazette
16 hours ago
- India Gazette
AAIB Chief GVG Yugandhar gets CRPF's X category security cover
New Delhi [India], June 28 (ANI): The Centre has granted Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) X category security cover to Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) chief GVG Yugandhar, as per sources. According to sources, the X category security was extended to AAIB Director General GVG Yugandhar, effective from June 16. This move comes as the AAIB is spearheading the investigation into the Air India plane crash that claimed the lives of 241 passengers and crew members. On June 12, a London-bound Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed into a hostel complex of BJ Medical College, Gujarat's Ahmedabad, shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The tragedy claimed 241 lives out of 242 onboard, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) Lab in New Delhi is currently working intensively on analysing data retrieved from the black boxes of Air India Flight AI-171, which crashed in Ahmedabad. According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Crash Protection Module (CPM) from the front black box was safely retrieved. On June 25, 2025, the memory module was successfully accessed, and its data was downloaded at the AAIB Lab. Sources familiar with the process told ANI that an identical black box, referred to as a 'golden chassis,' was used to confirm whether data could be accurately recovered from the black boxes. One black box was recovered from the rooftop of a building at the crash site on June 13, and the other from the debris on June 16. The investigation is being led by AAIB officials and includes technical members from the Indian Air Force (IAF), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) of the United States--the official investigative agency of the country where the aircraft was designed and manufactured. The Director General of AAIB is heading the probe. An aviation medicine expert and an Air Traffic Control officer have also been included in the investigation team. Sources confirmed that the NTSB team is currently stationed in Delhi and working closely with Indian authorities at the AAIB Lab. Officials from Boeing and GE are also present in the national capital to assist with the technical process. (ANI)
India.com
17 hours ago
- India.com
AAIB Chief GVG Yugandhar Gets CRPFs X Category Security Cover
The Centre has granted Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) X category security cover to Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) chief GVG Yugandhar, as per sources. According to sources, the X category security was extended to AAIB Director General GVG Yugandhar, effective from June 16. This move comes as the AAIB is spearheading the investigation into the Air India plane crash that claimed the lives of 241 passengers and crew members. On June 12, a London-bound Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed into a hostel complex of BJ Medical College, Gujarat's Ahmedabad, shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The tragedy claimed 241 lives out of 242 onboard, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) Lab in New Delhi is currently working intensively on analysing data retrieved from the black boxes of Air India Flight AI-171, which crashed in Ahmedabad. According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Crash Protection Module (CPM) from the front black box was safely retrieved. On June 25, 2025, the memory module was successfully accessed, and its data was downloaded at the AAIB Lab. Sources familiar with the process told ANI that an identical black box, referred to as a "golden chassis," was used to confirm whether data could be accurately recovered from the black boxes. One black box was recovered from the rooftop of a building at the crash site on June 13, and the other from the debris on June 16. The investigation is being led by AAIB officials and includes technical members from the Indian Air Force (IAF), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) of the United States--the official investigative agency of the country where the aircraft was designed and manufactured. The Director General of AAIB is heading the probe. An aviation medicine expert and an Air Traffic Control officer have also been included in the investigation team. Sources confirmed that the NTSB team is currently stationed in Delhi and working closely with Indian authorities at the AAIB Lab. Officials from Boeing and GE are also present in the national capital to assist with the technical process.
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
From protest to performance?
While Vedan's raw, politically charged rap resonates with a disaffected generation, his rise has been shadowed by allegations, contradictions, and persistent doubts about whether his rebellion is more aesthetic than ideological. As his popularity soars, deeper questions surface: Is he an authentic voice of resistance channelling marginalised realities, or a commercially packaged rebel crafted for audiences more interested in vibe than message? As crowds pack his shows and songs go viral, Vedan's ascent is entangled in questions of authenticity and ethics. What began as a raw cultural rupture now risks becoming a spectacle, one whose energy might ultimately undermine the very politics it emerged from. As his music, image, and voice become increasingly marketable, Vedan and those around him must now confront a critical question: Is the rapper still defending the vulnerable, or has he become a curated mask—a performance that dilutes the politics he once embodied? This tension is sharpened by serious allegations of sexual harassment that surfaced against him. These claims shook the cultural space that had celebrated Vedan as a symbol of resistance. While no legal resolution has followed, the number and nature of the testimonies have forced many to reconsider their engagement with his work. Feminist scholar Dr J Devika is unequivocal: The allegations must be addressed seriously and without delay. 'We can support him when he speaks for the marginalised, but we must also confront the complaints against him; these two tasks are not contradictory. Ignoring them only risks fresh offences,' she said. She also criticized the society's long-standing reluctance to face the darker sides of its celebrated cultural figures. 'Since the era of poet Changampuzha, we have often refused to believe uncomfortable truths. Facing these realities—and holding even our icons accountable—will protect many women,' Devika said. Critics like writer and actor Joy Mathew argue that Vedan's interventions remain largely symbolic. 'I don't see his rap as a movement for the upliftment of the oppressed,' Mathew says. 'If he were socially engaged and committed, he would speak about pressing issues such as the ASHA workers' protests or the tribal 'Kudil Ketti' agitation. Only interventions like those can be called political.' According to Mathew, most young people are drawn to Vedan's shows not for the depth of political content, but for the musical format and spectacle. In his view, Vedan lacks a meaningful understanding of the real struggles faced by Dalits and other marginalised communities, and his songs reflect neither a clear political vision nor a coherent philosophy. 'Political parties are now backing him for their own electoral gains,' he said. 'It wouldn't be surprising if CPM fields him as a candidate in future elections — but that would mark the end of his journey as a musician.' There is also growing unease about Vedan's approach to caste in his music. While he has said he doesn't want to 'sell caste for money,' critics point to the monetisation of his identity—his stage persona, his branding, and his imagery. With merchandise, ticketed shows, and curated social media campaigns, many fear that Vedan's politics have been swallowed by the logic of the spectacle. Yet Dalit thinkers like Sunny M Kappikkadu offer a more layered reading. 'If upper-caste actors and writers have long gained commercially from their social capital, why not Vedan?' he asks. However, Kappikkadu acknowledges that the sexual harassment allegations can't be ignored. For him, the real issue is not whether Vedan profits, but whether he reflects and refines himself. 'He bears responsibility—as an artist shaping social discourse. Flaws are human. But learning is necessary.' At the same time, he urges listeners to consider the global scope of Vedan's artistic references—ranging from Ambedkar and Ayyankali to Jaffna, Gaza, and the plight of children in Somalia. To truly understand Vedan, he says, one must first understand the pain of his personal history—a life marked by exile, orphanhood, and systemic exclusion. Despite his polarising image, Vedan's cultural traction is undeniable. His work cuts across caste, class, and religious boundaries. Political parties are increasingly eager to harness that appeal. But this popularity brings its own risks. As his voice becomes a tool for electoral mobilisation, the possibility of dilution—of becoming a 'brand' rather than a boundary-pusher—grows more real. Activists like Geethanandan of the Adivasi Gothra Mahasabha, however, take a more forgiving stance. For him, Vedan's music itself is a form of service. 'He sings of liberation. That's enough,' he says. Yet even this generous view raises larger questions: What happens when rebellion becomes routine? When protest becomes programmed? Vedan stands at a critical juncture—not just as an artist, but as an idea. His persona may have begun as a rejection of insult, a defiant claim to selfhood. But symbols have lifespans. Vedan—and his fans—must now confront the possibility that his image is becoming a hollow echo, a false representation that no longer protects but distracts. In doing so, they must ask: Is this still resistance, or has it become its own trap? Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
