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Port Blair: Namita Roy was just 26 years old when she gave birth to her son, 'Tsunami', in a snake-infested jungle where she and her family took shelter after deadly waves triggered by a massive earthquake devoured her home in Hut Bay Island in Andaman and Nicobar on this day in 2004. Twenty years later, she remembers the day with a shudder. "I don't want to recall that dark day. I was pregnant and busy with daily chores. Suddenly, I noticed an eerie silence and was shocked to witness the sea receding miles from our shore. We also noticed zugunruhe in birds," she told PTI. "Seconds later, there was a scary susurration sound and we saw a huge wall of sea waves gushing towards Hut Bay Island followed by strong tremors. I saw people screaming and running towards a hillock. I had a panic attack and fainted. "Hours later, I regained consciousness and saw myself among thousands of locals deep inside a hilly jungle. I was relieved to see my husband and my elder son. Most parts of our island were devoured by the monstrous waves. Almost all the properties were damaged," a teary-eyed Roy said. She now lives in West Bengal's Hooghly district with her two sons Saurabh and Tsunami after her husband Laxminarayan died during the COVID-19 pandemic. "At 11.49 pm, I had labour pain but there was no doctor around. I lay on a boulder and cried for help. My husband tried his best but could not get any medical help. Then he pleaded with some women who had also taken shelter inside the jungle. With their help, I gave birth to Tsunami amid an extremely challenging situation... the jungle was infested with snakes," Roy said. "There was no food and I didn't have the courage to come out of the jungle, fearing the sea. In the meantime, my condition started deteriorating due to excessive blood loss. Somehow, I fed my newborn baby to keep him alive because he was premature. The other victims survived on coconut water. We spent four nights at Lal Tikri Hills in Hut Bay and were later rescued by the defence personnel. I was taken to GB Pant Hospital in Port Blair (on a ship) for further treatment," she recalled. Hut Bay is about 117 km from Port Blair and the journey takes around eight hours by ship. Roy's elder son Saurabh works in a private shipping company, while Tsunami wants to become an oceanographer to serve the Andaman and Nicobar administration. "My mother is everything to me. She is the strongest person I have ever seen. After my father passed away, she struggled hard to feed us and ran her food delivery service, which she proudly named 'Tsunami Kitchen'. I want to become an oceanographer," Tsunami Roy said. In 2004, large-scale devastation and loss of lives could have been averted as there was no effective warning system, officials said. "At present, there are more than 1,400 warning stations around the world and we are fully prepared to handle such a situation," a senior official of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands administration said.
Rameswaram, Feb 10 (PTI) The new 2.05 kilometre Pamban Bridge will allow trains to cross the sea between mainland India and Rameswaram Island in Tamil Nadu in less than 5 minutes, significantly less than the previous 25-30 minutes on the old structure, railway officials said on Monday. The bridge is ready to be dedicated to the nation and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate it within the next few weeks, though a date is yet to be decided, he added. "Trains used to take 25-30 minutes to cross the old colonial-era Pamban Bridge between Mandapam and Rameswaram Islands due to ...Read More >
Guwahati, Jun 5 (PTI) The Assam Congress on Thursday demanded a CBI inquiry into alleged illegal stone mining in Karbi Anglong district in violation of a Supreme Court order. Addressing a press conference here, former Rajya Sabha member Ripun Bora also alleged that Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council Chief Executive Member Tuliram Ronghang was allowing illegal activities in the district in nexus with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. "Large-scale illegal stone mining is taking place in the hills of Karbi Anglong in violation of the Supreme Court order. The SC had banned mining in and around K ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday carried out searches at 15 places in Mumbai and Kochi in connection with the Mithi River desilting scam that caused a wrongful loss of more than Rs 65 crore to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), official sources said. The massive crackdown is underway at the premises across Mumbai and Kochi linked to the accused and suspects as part of an ongoing probe into alleged financial irregularities. According to the sources, the searches are being carried out under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) at locat ...Read More >
Ahmedabad, June 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) The MSC IRINA, recognised as the world's largest container ship by TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) capacity, is set to dock at the Adani Group's Vizhinjam International Seaport on Monday and will be berthed till Tuesday. The monumental arrival marks a significant milestone for the seaport, which was dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 2. The MSC IRINA boasts an impressive capacity of 24,346 TEUs, making it a formidable player in global shipping. With a length of 399.9 metres and a width of 61.3 metres, the vessel is approximate ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jun 27 (PTI) No COVID-19 case was reported in Mumbai on Friday, the feat achieved for the first time in about two months, the metropolis' civic body said. In a release, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation also said no new or concerning variant of the virus has been detected in the city as per the Whole Genome Sequencing Report. Mumbai recorded six COVID-19 cases between January and April this year, before a surge in May saw the detection of 435 cases, while the figure for June stood at 539, the release informed. As on Friday, there are 62 active COVID-19 cases in the city, though ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 4 (PTI) The Centre has notified the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Rules, 2025 that deal with issues such as the portal and database of Waqf properties, the manner of their registration, conduct of audit and maintenance of accounts. The rules were notified on Thursday in exercise of powers under Section 108B of the 1995 Act, which was inserted through the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025, which came into effect from April 8, 2025. Also Read | 'Seeking Clarity Is Not Misinformation': CM Siddaramaiah Responds to Biocon Chief Kiran Mazumdar Shaw on COVI ...Read More >
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has charged five individuals, including goldy Brar, in relation to the 2024 Gurugram club bombing plot, as revealed in a recently filed chargesheet. This case involves a conspiracy to bomb two clubs, aiming to disrupt communal harmony in Haryana, with the banned terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) implicated. The NIA's investigation highlights the severity of the plot. Those charged include satinderjit Singh (Goldy Brar), Sachin Talian, Ankit, Bhavish, and Randeep Singh. News Directory 3 provides crucial updates on sensitive cases such ...Read More >
Chandigarh: Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday said the state govt was consistently working to provide better resources to the doctors and quality healthcare services to the citizens.He mentioned that medical colleges were being established in every district.While there were only six medical colleges in 2014, the number has now increased to 15, and nine new colleges are under construction. As a result, MBBS seats in the state increased from 700 in 2014 to 2,185, at present. The state govt aims to increase the MBBS seats to over 3,400 by 2029, said Saini.The CM was addressing a ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jul 5 (PTI) Five Maharashtra Navnirman Sena supporters were arrested on Saturday for the attack on investor Sushil Kedia's office in Worli here over the latter's social media post about not learning Marathi and his "kya karna hai bol" dare to Raj Thackeray. Hours after the attack, Kedia apologised for the social post claiming he had overreacted and also professed admiration for Thackeray. Kedia said he had uploaded the post in a wrong state of mind under duress and stress and wished to correct it unequivocally after realising his mistake. "Having come under pressure mentally from th ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jun 26 (PTI) Maharashtra recorded 24 new COVID-19 cases, taking the tally in the latest round of outbreak to 2,449, while no fresh death linked to the viral infection was reported in the state, the health department said on Thursday. Of the new cases, seven were registered in Mumbai, followed by civic limits of Pune (6), Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (3), Pimpri-Chinchwad, Panvel, Nagpur, Navi Mumbai (1 each), and districts of Satara (2), Raigad and Kolhapur (1 each), a department statement said. The department said it has conducted 27,963 COVID-19 tests across the state since January 1 ...Read More >
Srinagar- Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said foreign countries were told clearly during the post-Operation Sindoor diplomatic outreach that in case of a fresh provocation, India would repeat its action. Speaking at a discussion at the Ahmedabad Management Association, Tharoor said Indian delegations which visited foreign countries in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor managed to convey that India acted with restraint and responsibility. "In other places, we actually were able to get some very high-placed people to say not only that they respected and supported India's right of self- ...Read More >
Srinagar, Jun 7 (PTI) Authorities on Saturday barred Eid prayers from taking place at the Eidgah ground and the Jama Masjid in the old city here, while Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq claimed that he was put under house arrest. "Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid Srinagar deeply regrets to inform that the authorities have once again disallowed Eid-ul-Adha prayers at the Eidgah as well as at the historic Jama Masjid in Srinagar by closing the gates of the mosque and deploying police personnel outside," the management of the historic mosque said in a statement. ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 7 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday outlined five key global priorities for him to build disaster-resilient infrastructure, including a skilled workforce, a global digital repository to document best practices and innovative financing. In a video address to the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure 2025, Modi said strengthening early-warning systems and coordination is another crucial aspect. He noted that India has established a tsunami-warning system benefitting 29 countries and that it recognises the Small Island Developing States (SIDA) ...Read More >
Srinagar, June 7: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, on Saturday, congratulated the University of Kashmir for getting an A++ grade in the NAAC inspection. The Lt Governor extended his heartiest congratulations to the Vice Chancellor, faculty, staff, and students of the University of Kashmir for attaining the prestigious A++ Grade by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), and securing an outstanding Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.68 on a seven-point scale. Calling it a proud moment for J&K UT, the Lt Governor said, "The A++ Grade places the Un ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 1 (PTI) Air freight forwarding and logistics company Skyways Air Services Ltd has filed preliminary papers with markets regulator Sebi to raise funds through an initial public offering (IPO). The city-based company's IPO is a mix of fresh issue of 32.92 million equity shares and an offer for sale (OFS) of 13.33 million equity shares by promoters and other selling shareholders, according to the draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) filed on Monday. Proceeds from fresh issuance to the extent of Rs 216.79 crore for payment of debt, Rs 130 crore for funding incremental working capit ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 2 (PTI) What began last month as an emergency landing by a British Royal Navy F-35B Lightning fighter jet at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport has unexpectedly turned into a marketing gift for Kerala Tourism. The jet, part of the UK's most advanced stealth fleet, is awaiting repairs. Now, that brief military issue is being reimagined -- not in air bases or defence circles, but in the world of travel and tourism. A new poster posted by Kerala Tourism on its 'X' handle is making the rounds online. It features a stylised image of the fighter jet parked against a ...Read More >
Agartala (Tripura) [India], June 5 (ANI): Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said that the state government is prioritising quality education for students, and quality teachers are being recruited through the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET). Saha also informed that more recruitments will be made in the future. Also Read | Centre Notifies Waqf Management Rules 2025; Portal, Database, Audit of Waqf Properties. "Textbook education can never be the standard of life. One can become morally strong through education. Along with education, children should also be engaged in social work," he said. CM ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 5 (PTI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah has made it clear on several occasions that in the delimitation exercise, concerns of the southern states will be taken care of and discussed with all concerned at appropriate time. A spokesperson of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said this on Thursday, a day after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin expressed concern over the Census-linked delimitation exercise. "The Honourable Home Minister has made it clear on several occasions that in the delimitation exercise, concerns of southern states will be taken care of and discussed with a ...Read More >
NEW DELHI, Jun 6: Delhi recorded 30 new COVID-19 infections taking the count of active cases to 592, according to Union Health Ministry data released on Friday. The number of fatalities since January 1 stands at seven, with no fresh deaths recorded since Thursday. Active cases across India stand at 5,364, with four deaths reported in the past 24 hours. Kerala continues to be the most affected state, followed by Gujarat, West Bengal and Delhi, ministry data shows. (PTI) ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jun 27 (PTI) Maharashtra on Friday recorded 13 new cases of COVID-19, which took the tally of infections to 2,462, and one death, the health department said. A 65-year-old woman suffering from comorbidities, including rheumatoid arthritis, died in Kolhapur, an official said. Also Read | Ahmedabad Plane Crash Probe: Parliamentary Committee To Grill Boeing and Air India Executives, DGCA Officials; Sources Say 'Multiple Shortcomings' Matter of Concern. Since January 1, the state has recorded 2,462 COVID-19 cases and 37 deaths, the department said. Also Read | Did 21-Year-Old Muslim Ma ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 3 (PTI) Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance on Thursday asserted that COVID-19 vaccines have been well-documented and rigorously tested according to regulatory standards, playing a crucial role in combating the pandemic. Without naming Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who linked COVID-19 vaccines with a spate of heart attack deaths in the state's Hassan district, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) said, "Misinformation and distortion of facts endanger public health and undermine the trust built on science and patient care globally". "During the COVID pandemic, vaccines play ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jun 5 (PTI) Maharashtra on Thursday reported 98 COVID-19 cases, taking the tally in the state since January 1 this year to 1,162, the health department said. Of these cases, 48 are from Pune district, 34 from Mumbai and six from Thane, an official said. Since January 1, a total of 14,565 COVID-19 tests have been carried out, with 1,162 returning positive. A total of 597 persons have recovered during this period, while 17 have succumbed, including 16 with co-morbidities, he said. There has been no death reported from the ailment in the state since Wednesday, he added. The total num ...Read More >
Gurgaon: A chemist and a lab operator have been arrested for allegedly selling medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) kits illegally. Two separate FIRs were lodged against the accused at Sector 10 and Sector 9A police stations, police said on Friday.The pharmacy was sealed and medical officials have initiated proceedings to cancel its licence. District drugs control officer Suresh Verma said the department received information about illegal sales of MTP kits - also called abortion kits - from Juneja Chemist, located near Civil Hospital. A pregnant woman, who was deployed as a decoy customer, v ...Read More >
Jaisalmer, Jun 7 (PTI) To honour the armed forces following Operation Sindoor, a special tribute is taking shape in the border state of Rajasthan - rare Great Indian Bustard (GIB) chicks born under a conservation project in Jaisalmer have been named after key officers and significant milestones linked to the operation. Names like 'Sindoor', 'Atom', 'Mishri', 'Vyom', and 'Sophia' now resonate through the conservation centres at Sudasari and Sam, where science, strategy and national pride are working together to revive one of India's most endangered bird species. "By giving these chicks these ...Read More >
Haridwar: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Sakshi Maharaj on Sunday demanded that hotel, dhaba and eatery owners on the Kanwar Yatra routes should display their names and identities on boards outside their business establishments. The owners, who hide their identities under fake names, on the Kanwar Yatra routes should not be spared, he told reporters here. "Tampering with faith of the Hindu devotees during the Kanwar Yatra will not be tolerated," said the Unnao MP. The food shops on the Kanwar Yatra routes should have a board outside with the names of their owners clearly written on them, h ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 1 (ANI): The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Government of India, has been actively enhancing mobile-enabled disaster communication systems across the country to provide timely information to citizens. NDMA has successfully operationalised the Integrated Alert System (SACHET), developed by the Centre of Development of Telematics (C-DOT), which is based on the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) recommended by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). This syst ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 4 (PTI) The Centre has notified the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Rules, 2025 that deal with issues such as the portal and database of Waqf properties, the manner of their registration, conduct of audit and maintenance of accounts. The rules were notified on Thursday in exercise of powers under Section 108B of the 1995 Act, which was inserted through the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025, which came into effect from April 8, 2025. Also Read | Centre Notifies Waqf Management Rules 2025; Portal, Database, Audit of Waqf Properties. According to the rul ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jun 6 (PTI) The RBI on Friday cut repo rate by a higher-than-expected 50 basis points to prop up growth, which has slowed to a four-year low of 6.5 per cent in FY25. Following the rate cut, the key policy rate eased to a three-year low of 5.5 per cent, providing relief to home, auto and corporate loans borrowers. This is the lowest repo rate in three years. The repo rate -- the rate at which banks borrow funds from the RBI -- had last stood at 5.40 per cent on August 5, 2022. After a detailed assessment of the evolving macroeconomic and financial development, as well as the economi ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jun 8 (PTI) Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Sunday said his party is ready to come together with anyone who will work to protect the interests of Maharashtra and Marathi manoos, his statement coming amid the rapprochement buzz between the Uddhav Thackeray-led party and Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). Talking to reporters here, Thackeray accused the BJP of "swallowing" Mumbai and Maharashtra. He said injustice is being meted out to Maharashtra by the BJP. "We have been saying this consistently. We are ready to work with anyone, any party that is ready to ...Read More >
Belagavi (Karnataka), Jun 30 (PTI) Four people have been arrested for allegedly "assaulting" five members of the Sri Ram Sene by tying them to a tree in Ingali village, police said on Monday. A video of the incident, which took place in Hukkeri taluk on June 28, has gone viral on social media, prompting police to register a case on their own. The video shows five men tied to a coconut tree and being "thrashed" by a group of villagers. Sri Ram Sene members claimed they were attacked for stopping the illegal transportation of cattle. However, villagers alleged the assault was unrelated to cat ...Read More >