National

30 Tribal MLAs Declare ‘Dead’ in Protest Over Flyover Ramp in Ranchi

Published

1 year ago

March 18, 2025

Ranchi recently witnessed a distinct form of protest as various tribal organizations conducted a symbolic funeral procession honoring 30 MLAs in response to their grievances against the government. The issue at hand is the proposed construction of a ramp for the Siramtoli flyover, a site that holds significant religious importance for the tribal community.

The Sarna site located in Siramtoli is a revered religious center for the tribal population, yet the government’s plan to build a flyover ramp there has ignited strong opposition. In defiance, tribal organizations have taken to the streets to protest, expressing their discontent over what they perceive as government disregard for their religious beliefs and demands.

During this protest, tribal organizations showcased their dissent through a symbolic funeral procession for Chief Minister Hemant Soren, along with 29 tribal MLAs, Ranchi MLA CP Singh, and Lok Sabha MP and Union Minister Sanjay Seth. Following traditional customs, the procession, which culminated at Albert Ekka Chowk, featured protesters sprinkling marigold flowers and ritual grains, culminating in the burning of symbolic effigies as part of a ceremonial cremation.

To convey the seriousness of their cause, social leader Baha Linda shaved his head, proclaiming, “If the government fails to heed our demands, this movement will only grow stronger. We will take every measure necessary to protect our Sarna sites.” Tribal leaders delivered a fierce critique of Chief Minister Hemant Soren and other tribal MLAs, branding them “dead” to the tribal community for their inaction in advocating for their own. Protesters cautioned the government that unless the flyover ramp is scrapped, their agitation will escalate.

In a bid to underscore their resolve, the protesters announced future demonstrations, including a torch rally in the city on March 21 and a total shutdown of Ranchi on March 22.

The protest saw participation from a range of tribal organizations hailing from various districts in Jharkhand. Among them were the All India Tribal Development Council, Chadri Sarna Committee, Central Sarna Committee, Adivasi Jan Parishad, Adivasi Mulvasi Manch, Jai Adivasi Central Council, Raji Padha Sarna Prayer Sabha, and several more.

In addressing the assembly, Chief Minister Hemant Soren acknowledged that the state’s largest tribal festival, Sarhul, would be celebrated with traditional zeal. However, he refrained from directly commenting on the ongoing protest against the flyover ramp.

With tribal organizations standing resolute, pressure is mounting on the government. Will the authorities find a solution to this conflict, or will the protests intensify? The coming days will reveal the outcome. One thing is certain—the flame of dissent on the streets of Ranchi is on the brink of igniting a larger confrontation.

National

Delhi Techie Found Dead During Honeymoon Trip

Published

1 day ago

June 17, 2026

Namma Kudla

National: A 27-year-old IT professional from Delhi was found dead at a homestay in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand. The woman, P Radha Gayatri, had gone on a honeymoon trip with her husband.

According to police, the couple checked into a homestay on June 14. Her husband said they had consumed alcohol and went to sleep late at night.

The next morning, he found Gayatri unconscious on the floor. Police said she was lying in a pool of urine, and blood was coming from her nose. She was declared dead at the scene.

The body has been sent for a post-mortem examination. Police are investigating the case and waiting for the autopsy report to determine the cause of death.

National

Pakistan Ranked World’s Most Polluted Country in 2025

Published

5 days ago

June 13, 2026

Namma Kudla

Islamabad: Pakistan has been ranked as the most polluted country in the world in 2025, according to a new report released by Swiss air quality monitoring company IQ Air.

The report found that Pakistan’s average PM2.5 pollution level was 13 times higher than the safe limit recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). PM2.5 refers to tiny harmful particles in the air that can enter the lungs and cause serious health problems.

IQ Air said that only 13 countries and territories met the WHO air quality guideline of less than 5 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic meter of air in 2025. This was an improvement from seven countries in 2024.

The report also revealed that 130 out of 143 monitored countries and territories failed to meet the WHO standard.

Bangladesh was ranked as the second most polluted country, while Tajikistan secured the third position. Chad, which was the most polluted country in 2024, ranked fourth in 2025.

Experts said that Chad’s lower ranking may be linked to missing pollution data. In March 2025, the United States ended a global air quality monitoring program due to budget cuts. The program had collected pollution data from US embassies and consulates around the world.

Christi Chester Schroeder, the lead author of the report, said that the loss of data makes it difficult to know the true pollution levels in some countries.

Because of data shortages, Burundi, Turkmenistan and Togo were not included in the 2025 report.

The report also identified Loni in India as the world’s most polluted city. The city recorded an average PM2.5 level of 112.5 micrograms per cubic meter. Hotan in China ranked second with 109.6 micrograms.

According to the report, the 25 most polluted cities in the world were all located in India, Pakistan and China.

Only 14 percent of cities worldwide met the WHO air quality standard in 2025. This was lower than the 17 percent recorded in the previous year.

The report noted that large wildfires in Canada increased air pollution levels across the United States and even affected parts of Europe.

Countries that met the WHO air quality guideline in 2025 included Australia, Iceland, Estonia and Panama.

Meanwhile, Laos, Cambodia and Indonesia reported significant improvements in air quality. Experts said wetter and windier La Niña weather conditions helped reduce pollution levels in these countries.

Mongolia also recorded a 31 percent drop in average PM2.5 levels during the year.

Overall, 75 countries reported lower pollution levels in 2025, while 54 countries experienced an increase in air pollution, according to the IQ Air report

National

Indian Air Force AN-32 Transport Aircraft Crashes

Published

5 days ago

June 13, 2026

Namma Kudla

Dispur: An Indian Air Force (IAF) AN-32 transport aircraft crashed at the Air Force Station in Jorhat, Assam, on Saturday. The aircraft caught fire after the crash.

According to reports, the AN-32 aircraft went down within the premises of the air base. A fire broke out immediately after the accident.

Rescue and firefighting teams rushed to the spot and launched an operation to control the flames. The fire was brought under control after their prompt response.

The exact cause of the crash is not known yet. Authorities are investigating the incident.

So far, there have been no reports of any deaths or injuries. The Indian Air Force has confirmed the accident and said that more details will be shared after a complete assessment of the situation.

Further information is awaited.