National

Olive Ridley Turtles Return to Odisha’s Gahirmatha Beach for Mass Nesting

Published

11 months ago

March 6, 2025

Following the remarkable increase in Olive Ridley turtle nesting at Odisha’s Rushikulya river mouth, these endangered marine creatures have now gathered at Gahirmatha beach, the world’s largest known rookery for mass nesting, a phenomenon referred to as ‘arribada’ (a Spanish term) over the past 24 hours.
“The Olive Ridley arribada has commenced at Gahirmatha, the world’s largest rookery, building on an impressive record of 6.37 lakh mass nesting at Rushikulya. This marks yet another significant achievement in Odisha’s marine conservation efforts,” announced Prem Kumar Jha, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) via the ‘X’ social media platform.

It is encouraging to see the turtles returning annually to the peaceful Nasi-2 islands beach within the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary for egg-laying, commented an official from the Ranjagar Forest (mangrove) Division.

—

This natural event, which began last night, is anticipated to last for at least a week. The beach’s ideal topography and absence of sea erosion provide a perfect environment for the turtles to come ashore in large numbers. Officials expect a significant gathering of female turtles to lay their eggs on the sandy shore this time.

The Nasi-II beach falls under the jurisdiction of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which conducts missile tests from the adjacent Wheeler Island, resulting in it being a restricted area for outsiders. Only forest personnel are permitted to patrol the area.

The forest personnel had the exclusive opportunity to observe the rare spectacle of turtles making their way across the beach, accompanied by the sounds of hissing and a gentle cacophony. No wildlife researchers were able to witness this phenomenon due to the restrictions in place.

“The presence of forest personnel did not disturb the turtles, as there was a respectful distance maintained from the animals. We emphasize the importance of ensuring privacy for the marine species during their egg-laying period. The turtles swam past the forest guards, often just a hand’s length away,” recounted the officials who observed the arribada.

Typically, only female turtles venture onto the nesting beaches at night to lay their eggs, a behavior known as ‘arribada.’ After laying their eggs instinctively, the turtles return to the open sea, and the hatchlings will emerge in about 45-60 days, developing independently without their mothers.

An Olive Ridley typically lays around 120 to 150 eggs, which take 45 to 50 days to hatch. However, not all eggs survive; they are vulnerable to predators and can be washed away by high tides. The eggs incubate in their nests and develop autonomously until they emerge as hatchlings.

—

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.