National

Indian Army Finalizes Procurement Agreement with Ashok Leyland Defence Systems for Heavy Recovery Vehicles

Published

11 months ago

March 28, 2025

In a pivotal move to bolster the Indian Army’s combat force regeneration capabilities, the Ministry of Defence has finalized a contract valued at Rs 168.09 crore with M/s Ashok Leyland Defence Systems Ltd for the acquisition of 54 Heavy Recovery Vehicles (HRVs).

These cutting-edge HRVs are essential for retrieving disabled, stranded, and damaged military vehicles in diverse and challenging terrains, including high-altitude areas and desert regions.

The newly acquired HRVs feature advanced lifting and winching systems and are built for high endurance to fulfill the stringent operational demands of the Indian Army. Their deployment is anticipated to significantly improve recovery capabilities, leading to increased mission success rates and enhanced operational readiness.

These specialized vehicles, designed and developed domestically, support the Government of India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative, which emphasizes indigenous manufacturing and aims to decrease reliance on foreign defence imports. This procurement not only strengthens India’s self-sufficiency in defence technology but also supports the growth of the local defence manufacturing industry.

The incorporation of these modern HRVs underscores the Indian Army’s dedication to modernization and operational effectiveness, ensuring that logistical and recovery support remains strong in even the most challenging operational scenarios.

National

Pickup Vehicle Crashes Into Divider, Two Killed Including Child

Published

1 hour ago

March 5, 2026

Namma Kudla

Uttar Pradesh: A tragic road accident took place in Uttar Pradesh when a pickup vehicle lost control and crashed into a road divider.

The driver and a three-year-old girl died on the spot due to the impact of the crash. Nine passengers who were travelling in the vehicle sustained injuries. They were rushed to the district hospital for treatment.

Reports said the victims were travelling to their native village to celebrate the Holi festival. A video showing the horrifying scene of the accident has gone viral on social media.

Preliminary reports suggest that overspeeding may have led to the accident. Police have started an investigation into the incident.

National

Five from Karnataka Killed in Car–Container Collision in Andhra Pradesh

Published

24 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Namma Kudla

Andhra Pradesh: Five people from Karnataka were killed on the spot after the car they were travelling in rammed into a container truck from behind in Andhra Pradesh’s Chittoor district on Tuesday.

The accident occurred near Gangavaram in Palamaneru while the victims were on their way to Tirupati temple from Bengaluru. According to police, the car crashed into the rear of a container vehicle with great force, leaving the vehicle completely mangled.

The deceased have been identified as Mohandas (71), Nagaraj (61), Kusuma (61), Jayanti (59), and Pooja (33). All of them were residents of Rajajinagar in Bengaluru.

Preliminary reports suggest that the impact of the collision was so severe that all five occupants died at the scene. Police have registered a case at the Palamaneru police station and further investigation is underway.

More details are awaited.

National

Woman Kills Ex-Lover Over Blackmail in Ballia

Published

3 days ago

March 2, 2026

Namma Kudla

Uttar Pradesh: A married woman allegedly killed her former lover in Ballia after he blackmailed her with private videos, police said.

According to police, the victim was identified as Pankaj Gupta, a resident of Azamgarh. He was reportedly in a relationship with the woman from a nearby village.

Police said the woman wanted to end the relationship. However, Gupta allegedly began blackmailing her using obscene videos and harassed her repeatedly.

Unable to bear the threats, the woman informed her brother and sister-in-law. The trio allegedly planned the murder during a wedding function on February 5.

On February 7, they allegedly called Gupta to the village on a pretext. He was strangled to death, police said. The accused then poured acid on his face to hide his identity and tried to destroy evidence.

An unidentified body with a disfigured face was found on February 10. The crime was later solved during the investigation.

Police have arrested three accused, including the woman, and sent them to judicial custody. Efforts are on to arrest other suspects involved in the case.