National

Olive Ridley Turtles Return to Enchanting Odisha Beach for Mass Nesting After 33-Year Hiatus

Published

11 months ago

March 8, 2025

In a remarkable development for turtle conservation, the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles have made a resurgence at Eakakulanasi Island within the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary for mass nesting after a 33-year absence.
“The serene beach on the island had previously faced sea erosion, resulting in a diminished beach profile. However, since 2020, the beach has been expanding due to natural accretion, creating an ideal environment for female turtles to gather in large numbers to lay their eggs. The turtles last nested here in 1992, when approximately 300,000 turtles flocked to the site. This is a highly encouraging sign for the ongoing turtle protection efforts led by the Odisha Forest Department,” stated Manas Das, Assistant Conservator of Forests.

The Ekakulanasi Island beach, which previously measured around 4 kilometers, has now extended to 8 kilometers thanks to natural accretion. The nesting beach is in excellent condition and has recently hosted 170,000 turtles in just the past 48 hours.

Additionally, Nasi-2 beach, also known as Outer Wheeler Island beach, has emerged as a popular nesting location, with 263,000 turtles arriving on the sandy shore to dig nests and lay eggs, according to officials.

Each year, Olive Ridley turtles gather in the millions along the Odisha coast for mass nesting. Gahirmatha beach, situated off the Bay of Bengal in Kendrapara district, is celebrated as the world’s largest known nesting site for these turtles. Beyond Gahirmatha, they also converge at the mouths of the Rushikulya and Devi rivers, a phenomenon termed ‘arribada.’

Only female turtles descend on nesting beaches, typically under the cover of night, to lay their eggs—this event is referred to as ‘arribada’ in Spanish. After instinctively depositing their eggs, these turtles return to the ocean, leaving their offspring to emerge from the eggs after 45-60 days. This is a unique natural event during which the hatchlings grow independently of their mothers, officials explained.

National

Three Burned Alive as Car Falls from Bridge in Gujarat’s Rajkot

Published

2 weeks ago

January 31, 2026

Namma Kudla

Gujarat: A tragic accident claimed the lives of three people in Gujarat’s Rajkot district on Monday.A car fell from a bridge and caught fire, killing all occupants on the spot.

The incident occurred on the Gondal–Atkot highway.The car was travelling from Chhota Udepur towards Gondal.

According to reports, the vehicle hit the bridge’s safety barrier.After the collision, the car fell nearly eight feet into a small stream below the bridge.

Soon after the fall, the car caught fire.The occupants were trapped inside the vehicle and were unable to escape.All three were burned alive and died at the scene.

Police and fire personnel rushed to the spot after receiving information.The fire was later brought under control.The bodies were recovered and sent for post-mortem examination.

The exact cause of the accident is under investigation. Further details are awaited.

National

Girl Records Reels Inside Jail, Video Sparks Debate

Published

2 weeks ago

January 30, 2026

Namma Kudla

Bhopal: A young woman has come under public attention after recording reels inside a jail while meeting her boyfriend.

The incident happened at Raipur Central Jail in Chhattisgarh, which is known for high security. Mobile phones are strictly not allowed inside the jail. Despite this rule, the woman carried her phone into the visitor room.

She recorded videos while talking to her boyfriend during the meeting. In the video, she speaks emotionally about visiting him on his birthday. She says she feels sad because she cannot stay with him on his special day.

After the meeting, she uploaded the video on her social media account. The video quickly went viral on different platforms. The inmate seen in the video is identified as Tarakeshwar.

He is currently lodged in Raipur Central Jail. He is an accused in a case under the NDPS Act. The incident has raised serious questions about jail security.

People on social media are criticising jail staff and officials. Many users are asking how a mobile phone was allowed inside the jail.

They are also questioning the checking process at the jail entrance. So far, jail authorities have not given any official reaction.

National

MBBS Student Alleges She Was Drugged, Raped by Friend in Delhi Hotel

Published

4 months ago

October 6, 2025

Namma Kudla

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.