Latest news with #Mahashivratri
The Hindu
an hour ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Former India kabaddi skipper falls into river, rescued by Uttarakhand Police in Haridwar
Arjuna awardee and former Indian kabaddi team captain Deepak Hooda was dramatically rescued on Wednesday after being swept away by the powerful currents of the River Ganga in Haridwar. Members of the 40th Battalion of the Uttarakhand Police were in the vicinity and quickly launched a courageous rescue operation. Speaking with Sportstar, Hooda recounted a frightening experience: 'I was observing a fast for Mahashivratri and went to pray in the Ganga when I lost my footing and fell into the swiftly flowing river. Despite the intense current pulling their boat off course, battalion officers bravely jumped in and pulled me to safety.' The Uttarakhand Police shared a video of the rescue on their official X (formerly Twitter) account. Hooda also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the officers who saved his life, acknowledging their heroic efforts in the 'life-threatening situation.' He also confirmed that he's safe and sound at home after a routine hospital check-up. Hooda was part of the Indian team that won a gold medal at the 2016 South Asian Games and a bronze at the 2018 Asian Games. He is regarded as one of the most influential all-rounders to grace the mat in the Pro Kabaddi league (PKL). Related Topics Deepak Hooda
The Print
an hour ago
- Sport
- The Print
Uttarakhand cops post video of kabaddi star's dramatic rescue; he denies it was him, then says it was
When he returned from Haridwar to Rohtak late Wednesday evening, local media were waiting for him. In front of media persons, Deepak Hooda finally admitted that the police rescue team helped him board the boat. As the video shared by Uttarakhand Police went viral, people who know him closely identified the man rescued as none other than Hooda. Gurugram: Hours after claiming that he was not the man seen struggling in the Ganga river waters in a viral video before a police team helped him board a boat at Haridwar Wednesday, Deepak Hooda, the ex-captain of the national kabaddi team, has taken a U-turn, with a new statement on the incident. Contacted by The Print a second time late Wednesday evening, Hooda said he was taking a bath in the Ganga at 10.30 am when he slipped into the river. 'I had gone to Haridwar to take a bath in the Ganga on the occasion of Mahashivratri. I was on a fast, and suddenly, I slipped, and soon one of my knees touched the bed of the river. The Ganga was not much deeper at that spot. However, the rescue team, which was nearby, noticed me and pulled me into the boat,' he said. When asked why he lied when asked the same question earlier, Deepak Hooda said he was not in the right frame of mind after the incident, and he did not know that the Uttarakhand Police had posted the rescue video on social media. 'This was not a drowning incident by any stretch of imagination. If you carefully watch the video, you will see that I jumped from inside the not-so-deep water to the boat. So, earlier, whoever called me to confirm the incident, I [did not confirm but] denied it,' said Hooda. What Hooda had said The Uttarakhand Police uploaded the video of Hooda's dramatic rescue from the fast-flowing Ganga River by a Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) squad on social media at 4.20 pm Wednesday. 'Star kabaddi player… and a star rescue by #UttarakhandPolice! Arjuna awardee and former captain of the Indian team, Deepak Hooda, got trapped in the strong current of the Ganga in Haridwar. The 40th Battalion present at the spot immediately carried out the rescue and brought him out safely. Deepak Hooda also wholeheartedly thanked the team for their efforts,' the Uttarakhand Police wrote in an X post. Deepak Hooda, a resident of Mohra village in Rohtak, Haryana, and now, a BJP leader, who also contested the state polls from Haryana's Meham assembly seat in October 2024, initially ruled out the police information, claiming he was never in Haridwar. Contacted by The Print earlier on Wednesday, he said, 'I am in Rohtak for a BJP mandal president meeting in Mohra village—along with district president Ranveer Dhaka. I am not there in the video circulating in my name, and I have no link to the incident.' Earlier, Deepak Hooda further said that he had approached the Uttarakhand Police about the misinformation, and they confessed to a lapse. 'Some other person uploaded this video, incorrectly identifying the person who was rescued as me,' he told ThePrint. 'The police thought it was a notable rescue and shared it, but they have assured me they will delete it soon, considering the number of calls I have been receiving.' ThePrint reached Haridwar Police via a phone call to the SSP, but the person who responded advised contacting Public Relations Officer (PRO) Inspector Digpal Kohli on his mobile phone. On the videos of the rescue mission, PRO Kohli told The Print that those had been posted from the end of Haridwar police from the state police headquarters at Dehradun. 'I will get it checked from Dehradun,' Kohli said. The now-retired kabaddi hero, Deepak Niwas Hooda, started his sports career in 2009. As captain, he led India to a gold medal win later at the 2019 Asian Games. Later, Hooda joined the BJP on 12 February last year, in the company of his now estranged wife, Saweety Boora, a boxing player who won gold at the IBA World Boxing 2023 in the middle-weight category. Contesting the Meham seat in the 2024 assembly polls, Deepak Hooda lost to Congress candidate Balram Dangi. This is an updated version of the report (Edited by Madhurita Goswami) Also Read: Congress Raj Babbar leads by 2000+ votes against BJP heavyweight Rao Inderjit in Gurgaon
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
Kanwar Yatra: 200 complaints linked to noise, traffic received over weekend; Delhi Police step up arrangements ahead of Shivratri
More than 200 calls about noise-related complaints and traffic grievances were received by the Delhi Police between Friday and Sunday due to the ongoing Kanwar Yatra, officers said. With the onset of Dak Kanwar, which refers to a fast-paced form of the annual pilgrimage, on Monday, police are now gearing up to tackle similar complaints in bigger volumes, officers added. The East district, according to officers, received four to five noise-related complaints every day between Friday and Sunday. Most of these were from Pandav Nagar, Mayur Vihar, and Laxmi Nagar, among other areas. In view of the Dak Kanwar Yatra, 26 pickets will be in place in the East District to oversee security. 'Our dedicated personnel are deployed round-the-clock, working tirelessly to safeguard the Yatra and ensure smooth movement for all,' DCP (EAST) Abhishek Dhania said. Similarly in the Southeast district, 650 personnel in over three shifts will conduct round-the-clock patrolling till July 23, when Mahashivratri is set to be celebrated, to manage the Kanwar camps and other security arrangements, DCP (South East) Hemant Tiwari said. However, no calls of violence, fights or hooliganism were received over the weekend, a senior police officer said. According to an advisory by the Delhi Police, multiple roads would be closed till July 23. Sharing a traffic advisory on X, the Delhi Traffic Police wrote, 'Due to Kanwar Yatra arrangements, the following roads will be closed from July 21, 2025, 8:00 AM to July 23, 2025, 8:00 AM: 1. GT Road from Apsara Border to Shahdara 2. Seemapuri to Apsara Border 3. Anand Vihar to Apsara Border 4. GT Road to Vivek Vihar Underpass 5. Traffic from Swami Dayanand Marg to Keshav Chowk (towards GT Road) 6. Traffic from Pusta Road to Shastri Park.' Suggesting alternative routes, the traffic police added, 'For traffic from Seemapuri to Apsara Border, use the underpass towards Road No. 56. For traffic from Anand Vihar to Apsara Border, use the underpass towards Seemapuri. For traffic on GT Road to Vivek Vihar, use the Apsara Border route and then Road No. 56. For traffic on Swami Dayanand Marg, use Vikas Marg or NH-9. For traffic on Pusta Road, use NH-9 or Ring Road.' 'Precautions Please plan your route accordingly and follow traffic guidelines to ensure a smooth journey,' the post read. As per another advisory by Delhi Traffic Police, GT Road from Keshav Chowk Roundabout to Yudhistir Setu, ISBT (left carriageway) will remain closed from till 8 AM on July 23. In the advisory, Delhi Traffic Police further underlined, 'Due to Kanwar Yatra Route arrangement, the following roads shall remain closed from 8 AM on 21.07.25 to 8 AM on 23.07.25. 1. G.T. Road from Keshav Chowk Roundabout to Yudhistir Setu, ISBT (left carriageway).' 'Alternative Routes – For traffic from SDN Marg towards ISBT, Keshav Chowk underpass may be used towards Moujpur or take U – turn from Shyam Chowk towards Swami Dayanand Marg, Vikas Marg or Master Plan Road for ISBT. For traffic from Seelampur, T- Point, Road No 66 may be used towards Wazirabad Road. For Traffic from Dharampura T-Point, traffic may take Road No. 66 up to Wazirabad Road or Keshav Chowk underpass towards Vikas Marg,' the X post added. 'For Traffic from Old Iron Bridge towards GT road, Pusta road towards Kailash Nagar, Gandhi Nagar may be taken. For Traffic from Shastri Park Pusta Road, GT Road from Shastri Park to Road No. 66 or up to Keshav Chowk Underpass towards Vikas Marg may be taken. Traffic shall be controlled towards GT road from Khajoori Chowk and diverted on Wazirabad road for ISBT,' the advisory further read. The officials urged the public to follow the guidelines.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Time of India
Kalindi Kunj sees heavy snarls as kanwar yatra curbs kick in
Noida: Commuters travelling from Delhi to Noida were caught in a gridlock at Kalindi Kunj crossing on Tuesday morning, after traffic police shut two of the four lanes of the Noida-bound carriageway between the Okhla Barrage and Okhla Bird Sanctuary to facilitate the movement of kanwar pilgrims. Tailbacks stretched all the way to Shaheen Bagh during peak rush hour, with many officegoers reporting delays of over 30 minutes. Rajeev Sharma, a private firm employee who commutes from Sarita Vihar to Noida Sector 63, said the journey took him double the usual time. You Can Also Check: Noida AQI | Weather in Noida | Bank Holidays in Noida | Public Holidays in Noida "I was stuck near Kalindi Kunj for 30 minutes. Closing lanes during peak hours without proper diversion plans is just poor planning," he said. Another commuter, Nitin Kumar, said the authorities must find a balance. "Religious processions are important, but what about the needs of daily commuters? For a week, we'll all suffer," he said. Delhi traffic police officials said the restrictions, which will remain in place till Mahashivratri on July 23, are aimed at ensuring safe passage of pilgrims headed towards Delhi, Gurgaon and Faridabad. Pilgrims returning from Haridwar typically travel from Mayur Vihar to Kalindi Kunj via Shani Temple and the bird sanctuary. "We have deployed additional personnel to regulate traffic movement. Commuters are advised to use the DND Flyway or the metro instead for commuting during the period to avoid snarls," a traffic officer in Noida told TOI. Kalindi Kunj is one of the busiest routes linking southeast Delhi and Noida. With two lanes towards Noida barricaded, traffic has been squeezed onto the remaining two lanes in the opposite direction, leading to bottlenecks at the Kalindi Kunj intersection and Okhla Bird Sanctuary stretch. DCP (traffic), Noida, Lakhan Singh Yadav said that traffic police personnel have been stationed at all key junctions along the kanwar route. "The number of pilgrims using this stretch is expected to rise from Wednesday. Nearly 1,000 kanwar pilgrims pass through Okhla Bird Sanctuary daily," the DCP said.
Hindustan Times
12-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Carried in palki by grandsons, 70-year-old Haryana woman's Kanwar Yatra wish fulfilled
Thousands of Kanwariyas have begun their journey of faith with the start of the sacred month of Shravan. Among them are two brothers from Bahadurgarh in Haryana's Jhajjar caught who've caught many eyes with their extraordinary display of love and devotion–for their grandmother. The brothers and their elderly grandmother while passing through the Bhadal village on the Baraut-Budhana Kanwar route in Meerut division (Sourced) Vishal and Jatin, both in their 20s, were seen carrying their 70-year-old grandmother Rajbala in a specially prepared 'palki' or palanquin as they continued their Kanwar Yatra. Rajbala was seen seated on one side of the palki. A container of Ganga water of equivalent weight also acted as a counterbalance. The three were seen passing through Bhadal village on the Baraut-Budhana Kanwar route in Meerut division, where onlookers were moved by their dedication. The brothers said that they began their journey from Haridwar on June 21. The elderly woman had accompanied them to Haridwar for a sacred bath at Har Ki Pauri and 'darshan' at several pilgrimage sites. They said Rajbala had expressed her desire to undertake the Yatra last year as well, and they had fulfilled her wish then too. 'We decided to make this Yatra memorable for her,' said Vishal. 'Wherever we go, people welcome us warmly. Their blessings and words of appreciation motivate us to keep going.' Rajbala, visibly content in the palki, said, 'I feel proud to be a part of this journey with my grandsons. They are fulfilling my wish and taking me on this long path with so much care. When people appreciate them, it makes me feel incredibly happy.' Vishal added that their father Anil Kumar lived and worked in Ayodhya. Vishal, after finishing his Class 10, has been running a small clothing business. Becoming self-reliant, he said, enabled him to take better care of his grandmother. 'She raised me and made me who I am. Now it's my duty to fulfil her wishes,' he said. He also issued a humble appeal to fellow Kanwariyas: 'Be mindful while walking on the roads. Accidents can happen, so stay alert. And avoid intoxication of any kind. Lord Bholenath (Shiva) blesses those who walk this path with a pure heart.' His younger brother Jatin recalled their journey last year and said that this time too, they were on the pilgrimage with the same enthusiasm and faith. 'With Lord Shiva's blessings, we will reach Bahadurgarh on July 23 and perform Jalabhishek on Mahashivratri at the Shiva temple there.'
