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After 5 years, India to issue visas to Chinese tourists
After 5 years, India to issue visas to Chinese tourists

The Hindu

time6 days ago

  • Business
  • The Hindu

After 5 years, India to issue visas to Chinese tourists

India will start issuing tourist visas to Chinese nationals after a gap of five years, the Indian Embassy in Beijing announced on Wednesday. The announcement, that was called 'positive' by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, marks another step in normalising India-China ties ruptured by the military standoff at the Line of Actual Control and Galwan clashes in 2020. According to an official notice posted online and on Chinese social media, the visas can be applied for online beginning from Thursday and obtained after an appointment at the Indian Embassy in Beijing and consulates in Shanghai and Guangzhou. Amidst the bonhomie, Beijing rejected concerns in Delhi and Dhaka about China's latest dam project on the Yarlung Sangpo or Brahmaputra River in Tibet and said it had communicated with both the governments. Responding to a question about the visa issuance on Wednesday, a Chinese MFA spokesperson said that Beijing had taken note of the 'positive move'. 'Easing cross-border travel is widely beneficial. China will maintain communication and consultation with India to further facilitate travel between the two countries,' said spokesperson Guo Jiakun in Beijing. After the Covid pandemic and then violence between the two militaries after China amassed troops at the LAC, both countries had cancelled all flights and most visa services between them. China restored visa applications for Indian students in 2022 and for business and tourism purposes subsequently. It issued an estimated 85,000 visas between January and June 2025. India had issued visas in business and student categories, but not for tourism until now. According to the Ministry of Tourism figures in 2019, before the lockdown, more than 3,00,000 Chinese tourists had visited India and about 8,69,000 Indian tourists had gone to China. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Kazan last October and agreed to restore ties, a series of high-level meetings discussed the next steps, including the start of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra. Most recently, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar travelled to China on July 14-16, and met with his counterpart Wang Yi, and also called on Chinese President Xi Jinping and Vice-President Hang Zheng, before attending the SCO Council for Foreign Ministers. In an interview to The Hindu, Chinese Ambassaor Xu Feihong said that resuming the Kailash pilgrimage was 'an important initiative taken by China to improve relations between the two countries', indicating that it was India's turn to take the next positive step. Both sides are also working on resuming direct flights between the two countries soon, understood to be announced before PM Modi's visit to China for the SCO summit, which is expected on August 31-September 1, officials said. When asked by reporters about the hydropower project being constructed on the Yarlung Sangpo, Mr. Guo said that it was 'fully within China's sovereignty'. 'China is engaged in cooperation with downstream countries on sharing hydrological data, flood prevention and disaster reduction,' he said, adding that Beijing has had the 'necessary communication' with India and Bangladesh. Construction for the massive 60,000 MW Medog Hydropower station, set to be the world's largest, began last week, and was flagged off by Chinese Premier Li Qiang. In a response in Parliament, the government had said that India had 'registered its concerns' with China over the ecological and disaster risks of the project in December 2024, while the Bangladesh's Ministry of Water Resources had also requested Beijing's response on its concerns in March this year.

Case filed against electricity dept officials after farmer dies of electrocution
Case filed against electricity dept officials after farmer dies of electrocution

News18

time02-07-2025

  • News18

Case filed against electricity dept officials after farmer dies of electrocution

Agency: PTI Noida, Jul 2 (PTI) A case was filed against electricity department officials at the Dankaur police station after a farmer died due to electrocution in Gautam Buddh Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh, officials said on Wednesday. Munendra Kumar Singh, Inspector-in-Charge of the Dankaur police station, said that a person named Kailash lodged stating that his uncle Satish died on Tuesday after receiving an electric shock from a transformer installed near their field in Daula Rajapur village. He added that his cousin sisters were also seriously injured in the incident. Kailash said that the electricity department had installed a transformer on the edge of Satish's field despite objections from the family. Based on the complaint, a case has been registered against the Executive Engineer, Sub-Divisional Officer and other electricity workers of Mandi Shyam Nagar Electricity Sub-Station under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including death due to negligence. Singh said that the police are investigating the matter. PTI CORR GRS GRS

Two arrested for staging robbery of Rs 9.7L in Ratlam
Two arrested for staging robbery of Rs 9.7L in Ratlam

Time of India

time25-06-2025

  • Time of India

Two arrested for staging robbery of Rs 9.7L in Ratlam

Indore: An employee and his accomplice were arrested for faking a robbery to make away with over Rs 9 lakh in Ratlam district on Wednesday. On Friday Kailash Nagar, an accountant from Pania village in Rajgarh district, reported a robbery to Bajna police. He said he was travelling by bus from Bajna to Ratlam carrying Rs 9.73 lakh cash collected on behalf of traders — Anil and Sunil Gupta from Pachore. According to his complaint, a fellow passenger sprayed a liquid on his face, causing him to lose consciousness and then fled with the bag containing the money. However, during the investigation led by SP Amit Kumar, discrepancies in Kailash's statements began to surface. The repeated inconsistencies raised suspicion. During interrogation, Kailash broke down and confessed to staging the entire episode with his accomplice, Mukesh Saxena, also a resident of Pania. The duo plotted to mislead the traders and the police by faking a robbery and making away with the cash. Police said Kailash Nagar (40) and Mukesh Saxena (35), both residents of Rajgarh, were arrested under relevant sections. Police recovered cash amounting to Rs 9.50 lakh along with the bag. Further investigation is underway. Kailash had worked for the Gupta brothers for the past 20 years.

Pahalwan Lassi & Chachi ki Kachori gets a new address after demolition: Check where you can enjoy the Varanasi's famous food
Pahalwan Lassi & Chachi ki Kachori gets a new address after demolition: Check where you can enjoy the Varanasi's famous food

Time of India

time22-06-2025

  • Business
  • Time of India

Pahalwan Lassi & Chachi ki Kachori gets a new address after demolition: Check where you can enjoy the Varanasi's famous food

Along the ghats of Banaras, it's hard for people to resist the tempting street food that defines India's oldest city. Among the most loved local flavours, lassi and kachori hold a special place. Two iconic shops in the Lanka area—Pahalwan Lassi and Chachi Ki Kachori—have long been known for serving these famous treats. Recently, the Uttar Pradesh Public Works Department demolished around 30 shops near Lanka Chauraha, including these two favourites, to make way for a new four-lane road connecting Lahartara to Bhikhari Pur Tiraaha. The news stirred a wave of chatter across social media platforms, especially among local food enthusiasts. However, food lovers in Banaras can now breathe a sigh of relief, as both Pahalwan Lassi and Chachi Ki Kachori have now opened shops at a new location. Pahalwan Lassi Relocates, Continues Its 75-Year Legacy Pahalwan Lassi, once a staple at the Lanka-Ravidas crossing, has now reopened on the road from Lanka towards Assi Ghat, in Katra near the HDFC Bank . Shopkeeper Manoj Yadav shared that they resumed operations to ensure loyal customers wouldn't be disappointed. 'We've seen overwhelming support since reopening. Our shop has a 75-year-old legacy, and over time, many notable figures—including Union Ministers like Dharmendra Pradhan, Arun Jaitley, Smriti Irani, Keshav Maurya, and Brajesh Pathak—have visited us,' he said. He also mentioned that Bollywood stars Akshay Kumar and Mithun Chakraborty have enjoyed their signature lassi. Yadav emphasized that the traditional method of preparation remains unchanged. Their lassi, known as "Rabri Wali Lassi," is crafted using curd, malai (cream), rabri (a sweet condensed milk dish), saffron, and rose water, and is served in eco-friendly kulhads (earthen cups). It's so rich and thick that customers often eat it with a spoon rather than drink it. Live Events Responding to customer preferences, the shop has added new flavours to its menu, such as fruit lassi, chocolate lassi, saffron lassi, banana lassi, and masala lassi. Prices range from ₹30 to ₹500. Chachi Ki Kachori: Spicy Flavours with a Side of Scoldings Chachi Ki Kachori, a legendary eatery with a 110-year-old legacy, has reopened just across from its original location in Lanka. The iconic shop continues to serve its beloved kachoris, now from a spot directly opposite the previous one. Shopkeeper Kailash shared that his mother was the original founder of the outlet. Known not just for her delicious food but also for her sharp tongue, she would famously serve up playful 'gaaliyan' (scoldings) along with the kachoris — something regular customers began to consider a special kind of blessing. Kailash proudly recalled that several well-known personalities, including Bollywood superstar Rajesh Khanna and Union Minister Smriti Irani, had visited their shop to enjoy the signature dish. 'People used to tell Chachi they wouldn't leave until she gave them a dose of her gaaliyan,' he laughed. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )

Widow's act of love, adventure lover's high — first batch ready as Kailash yatra resumes
Widow's act of love, adventure lover's high — first batch ready as Kailash yatra resumes

Time of India

time11-06-2025

  • Time of India

Widow's act of love, adventure lover's high — first batch ready as Kailash yatra resumes

Ghaziabad: Tara Kshatriya always travelled with her husband. This year, the 66-year-old will undertake the most daunting travel of her life, and alone. Among the first batch of travellers to Kailash Mansarovar, the Gujarat resident decided to undertake the pilgrimage — resuming after a pause of five years as India-China relations went through turbulence — in memory of her husband, who passed away in 2020 during Covid. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "We went on every yatra together, and Kailash was our shared dream," she said. The couple visited Char Dham, Rameshwaram, Vaishno Devi and eight Jyotirlingams together. Also part of the first batch is a couple from Maharashtra, 61-year-old Deviprasad Chandrakant Ketkar and his wife Pradnya. For Deviprasad, a retired aviation engineer and adventure enthusiast who has biked across Ladakh, the is another high-altitude challenge. Pradnya, however, sees it differently. A devout follower of Shiva, this is the ultimate spiritual journey for her. "It's the ultimate trek. I have been yearning to visit Tibet for the last 15 years and could never put together enough money for an expedition. This pilgrimage gives me a chance to go to the other side and experience adventure in divinity," Deviprasad said. A total 750 travellers are to take the yatra in batches of 50 till Aug 25 via two different routes. Ten batches will proceed via the Sikkim route through Nathu La Pass, and five through Uttarakhand's Lipulekh Pass. On Wednesday, marigolds, bhajans and a video montage of previous yatras welcomed the first batch of 50 pilgrims as they arrived at Kailash Mansarovar Bhavan here, the centre from where the yatra officially begins for Indian pilgrims. After completing visa paperwork and medical tests over the next four days, one group of travellers will leave for Gangtok on June 15, by air from T3 at IGI Airport. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now After a journey of 10 days via Nathu La Pass, they will reach Kailash Mansarovar base Darchen, following which they will embark on a 12 km trek via Yamdwar, and a 19 km circumambulating trek via Dolma La Pass. On Day 12, they will be taken via bus to Mansarovar lake, 80 km from their halting place at Darchen, the base of Mount Kailash. On Day 13, the group will start its return journey. Pilgrims who are to take the Uttarakhand route will depart for Tanakpur by bus later this month. Over the next week, they will ascend through the Himalayas, reaching Taklakot in Tibet via the high-altitude Lipulekh pass on Day 7. By Day 9, they arrive at Darchen and begin the circumambulation from Yamdwar on Day 10. On Day 12, pilgrims visit Mansarovar Lake at Qugu. The descent to Taklakot begins on Day 14. Rajindra Kumar Gupta (68) and his wife Rani (63), who finally began their Kailash yatra, boarding an overnight train from Chitrakoot to reach Ghaziabad, said they have waited to undertake the journey for a decade. "Since 2020, we have been getting anxious as we are getting older. Now, it feels like I can finally tick it off my bucket list," Rajindra said. Among the youngest pilgrims is 21-year-old gemologist Utkarsh Bhujia from Lucknow, accompanying his mother Megha. "My father did the yatra in 2017, and ever since, it's been a dream," Utkarsh said. "When I asked my son to come with me, he agreed instantly," Megha added. A 66-year-old astrologer from Jamnagar said he spent years saving for the pilgrimage. "The energy at Kailash is transformative," he said. "I believe it gives you a new life." The Kailash Mansarovar Bhawan, which was completed in 2020, is being used for the first time to provide accommodation to pilgrims as the complete formalities before the yatra. "Before this, Delhi govt would rent Gujarat Bhawan for pilgrims," said Uday Kaushik of Kailash Mansarovar Nishkam Seva Samiti, a voluntary organisation that is helping with arrangements at the Indirapuram facility.

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