National
Heli Services Unable to Resume Despite Suspension Lifting; Crowds Increasing at Kedarnath
Despite claims from the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) that services would resume, the grounded helicopters of the nine service providers remained inactive. UCADA CEO Sonika had informed the media on Monday that heli services would restart in Kedarnath Valley and other areas of the state on Tuesday, as the government’s decision to halt operations was set to expire on June 16. This suspension followed an accident involving an Aryan Aviation Ltd helicopter in the Gaurikund area, which resulted in the tragic deaths of all seven passengers, including a 23-month-old girl from Maharashtra.
With the helicopters still grounded, passengers who had booked flights from Dehradun and other helipads to Kedarnath found themselves stranded. Some opted for pedestrian routes and mule rides to reach their destination. However, the situation was more dire for pilgrims waiting to return from the shrine to Guptakashi or Dehradun. These devotees had been waiting since the afternoon of June 15, the day of the crash, enduring harsh weather conditions and inadequate means of transportation.
The Kedarnath shrine area is now facing overcrowding due to an increase in pilgrims, including those traveling on foot or via mules and horses. The influx, combined with passengers seeking to resume heli services from the Shri Kedarnath Ji Helipad, has led to significant congestion. Local priests have expressed concerns that crowd control may become problematic without timely measures to assist pilgrims in exiting the temple area. Multiple attempts to contact UCADA officials were unsuccessful.
Following the helicopter crash, the Pushkar Singh Dhami government mandated an immediate cessation of heli services statewide and issued strict orders against operations until at least June 16. The Chief Minister has called for the establishment of rigorous standard operating procedures (SOPs) for heli services in the Himalayan region, emphasizing the need for stringent technical standards and accurate weather information prior to flights.
Helipad services for Chardham are set to resume on Tuesday. UCADA CEO Sonika has confirmed that operations will begin following the suspension instituted after the June 15 helicopter accident.
New Delhi: An 18-year-old MBBS student has accused a 20-year-old male friend of drugging and sexually assaulting her at a hotel in Delhi’s Adarsh Nagar area. The alleged incident took place on September 9, police officials said.
According to the complaint, the accused, who is also a medical student, invited the woman to “Hotel Apple” on the pretext of spending time together. Once there, he allegedly gave her a drink laced with drugs and then raped her.
The survivor told police that the accused recorded obscene videos and took pictures during the assault. He later threatened to make the content viral if she reported the incident.
The woman, a native of Jind in Haryana, is currently staying at the hostel of Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College in Rohini, Delhi.
Based on her complaint, police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. A search is underway to locate and arrest the accused, officials added.
In a separate case earlier this month, a school manager in Uttar Pradesh was arrested for allegedly raping a Class 8 student. In February, a tuition teacher in Delhi’s CR Park area was accused of repeatedly raping a 15-year-old student over three years and threatening her with blackmail.
Jaipur: Eight patients died after a fire broke out at the trauma centre of the state-run Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur late Sunday night.
Officials said the blaze started in the storage area of the Neuro ICU, possibly due to a short circuit. There were 11 patients in the ICU at the time. Smoke quickly spread, causing panic among patients and staff.
Hospital workers and attendants tried to rescue patients, even moving them out on their beds. Firefighters controlled the blaze in about two hours.
Families of the victims alleged that hospital staff ignored early warnings about smoke and fled during the fire.
Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and other ministers visited the hospital to review the situation and assured a detailed probe into the incident.
Uttar Pradesh: A 75-year-old man who remarried in search of companionship died barely hours after his wedding, sparking shock and speculation in his village.
The deceased, identified as Sangruram, a resident of Kuchhmuchh village in Jaunpur district, had been living alone after losing his first wife a year ago. With no children, he supported himself through farming. Despite advice from relatives against remarriage, Sangruram wed 35-year-old Manbhavati, a resident of Jalalpur area, on Monday, September 29.
The marriage was first registered in court, followed by traditional rituals at a local temple. According to Manbhavati, the couple spent most of the wedding night conversing, as Sangruram assured her that she would take responsibility for the household while he would “take care of the children.”
However, by the next morning, his health deteriorated suddenly. He was rushed to hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
The unexpected death has triggered varied reactions in the village. While some residents believe it to be a natural occurrence given his age, others have expressed suspicion about the circumstances.
Relatives, including nephews residing in Delhi, have halted funeral rites until their arrival. They have also raised questions about whether a police inquiry or post-mortem examination will be conducted before the cremation.
Authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding further investigation.
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