India

Mumbai, Dec 18 (IANS) In a gruesome maritime disaster, at least 13 persons drowned, including three Indian Navy sailors plus another 99 were rescued from the Arabian Sea when a naval speedboat on engine-trials lost control and abruptly rammed into a chockful passenger ferry, near the Raigad Coast, off Gateway of India, here on Wednesday evening, officials said.

The passenger boat, reported to be a private catamaran named ‘Neelkamal’, was ferrying around 110 tourists plus five crew members to the world-famous UNESCO Heritage Elephanta Islands, and the disaster occurred around 5.15 p.m., said the BMC Disaster Control.

Official sources said that an Indian Navy’s rigid inflatable boat undergoing engine trials crashed into the ‘Neelkamal’ at high speed, overturning it and throwing most of the tourists into the Arabian Sea near Uran, Karanja on the Raigad coast, around 10 km from Gateway of India.

The sources said that the ferry, ‘Neelkamal’, may have broken down with the sudden hit, overturned and started sinking with the passengers thrown into the sea.

Videos of the tragedy, clicked by aghast passengers from other ferries in the vicinity showed gruesome shots of people screaming for help, flailing their arms and legs to remain afloat or attempting to hold their near and dear ones from sinking in chilly sea waters.

On receiving the SOS from multiple sources on the disaster, a massive rescue operation was launched by the Indian Navy’s four helicopters and 15 other vessels including the Marine Police, Indian Coast Guard, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, along with local fishers and other ferry boats to save the victims.

By 9 p.m., the authorities confirmed 13 deaths comprising three Indian Navy sailors and 10 civilians, several ‘critical’ in different hospitals, and over 100 other tourists whose condition is reported to be ‘stable’ in various hospitals, while search continues for another five still suspected ‘missing’ as darkness fell.

It was not immediately clear whether the ill-fated ‘Neelkamal’ was carrying passengers as per the stipulated norms for load and other safety measures.

The owner of the vessel, Rajendra Padte, said that the ‘Neelkamal’ had departed on its regular tourism voyage to Elephanta Islands around 3.15 p.m. and barely a couple of hours later the tragedy was reported, “but it was not our fault”.

“An Indian Navy speedboat first encircled my boat, then zoomed off, and returned again at high speed and banged into ‘Neelkamal’. All the tourists were wearing life jackets which are now compulsory. More than a dozen other boats are engaged in the rescue operations,” a shaken Padte told mediapersons.

A livid Peasants & Workers Party of India (PWP) General Secretary and ex-legislator Jayant P. Patil, who was present at the spot slammed the concerned authorities that resulted in the tragedy and the ‘Neelkamal sunk into the water soon thereafter.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis made a brief statement in the Legislative Assembly in Nagpur, while Deputy CM Eknath Shinde spoke to Mumbai City Collector Sanjay Yadav and Raigad Collector Kisan Jawale, plus Deputy Commissioner of Police (Ports Zone) Sudhakar Pathare, to expedite the rescue operations.

A civic official said that 56 are admitted to the JNPA Hospital, 32 in the Naval Dockyard medical facility, one in INHS Ashvini Hospital, nine in St. George Hospital, and 12 are admitted at a hospital on the mainland at Karanja.

Meanwhile, anxious relatives of many of the victims rushed from different parts of Mumbai and other places to the hospitals where their kin were admitted to get details of their welfare, and the Yellowgate Police Station officials, who are handling the case, had a tough time controlling them.

Indian Navy is likely to order a probe into the deadly collision that left behind many casualties including 13 fatalities, amid fears that the death toll could go up further.

The Elephanta Isles, housing the world-famous group of temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and other Hindu gods and goddesses, that are said to have been cut in rocks between 1,500-2,200 years ago, are one of the must-see tourist destinations of Maharashtra.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: qnajmi@gmail.com)

--IANS

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Kolkata, Dec 18 (IANS) Recording of statements of a total of 50 witnesses has been completed at a special Kolkata court during the ongoing trial of the ghastly rape and murder of a junior woman doctor of state-run R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital within the hospital premises in August this year.

Since the trial process is being conducted in camera within closed doors of the courtroom, nothing has transpired on the developments so far. The trial process is being conducted on a fast-track and daily basis.

It is learnt that the statement of civic volunteer Sanjay Roy, the sole "prime accused" in the crime of rape and murder in the first and only charge sheet by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), might be recorded on Friday.

Sources aware of the development said that during that process, new witnesses, if suggested by Roy’s counsel, might be included in the list whose statements will be recorded.

Recently, the special court granted bail to two accused of tampering with evidence in the case since the CBI failed to file the supplementary charge sheet, including the names of the duo, within 90 days from the date of their arrest.

These two are the former and controversial principal of R.G. Kar Sandip Ghosh and the former SHO of Tala Police Station Abhijit Mondal. Both were accused of misleading the investigation and tampering with the evidence while the initial investigation in the matter was being carried out by Kolkata Police.

While Ghosh is still in judicial custody because of the ongoing parallel probe against him by the CBI in the case of financial irregularities at R.G. Kar, Mondal is out on bail.

The development has evoked strong protests from the common people in general and the representatives from the medical fraternity in particular. The West Bengal Junior Doctor’s Front, the umbrella body of junior doctors in the state, has already threatened to resume their cease work protests which they withdrew earlier keeping the larger public interest in mind.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Dec 18 (IANS) In a horrific tragedy, at least two persons drowned, and another 108 were rescued from the Arabian Sea when an Indian Navy’s speedboat abruptly on sea trials rammed into a passenger ferry, near the Raigad Coast, off Gateway of India, here on Wednesday evening, officials said.

The passenger boat, reported to be a private catamaran named ‘Neelkamal’, was ferrying around 110 tourists plus five crew members to the world-famous UNESCO Heritage Elephanta Islands, and the disaster occurred around 5.15 p.m., said the BMC Disaster Control.

Official sources said that an Indian Navy’s rigid inflatable boat undergoing engine trials crashed into the ‘Neelkamal’ at high speed, overturning it and throwing most of the tourists into the Arabian Sea near Uran, Karanja on the Raigad coast, around 10 kms from Gateway of India.

The sources said that the ferry, ‘Neelkamal’, may have broken down with the sudden hit, overturned and started sinking with the passengers thrown into the sea.

Videos of the tragedy, clicked by aghast passengers from other ferries in the vicinity showed gruesome shots of people screaming for help, flailing their arms and legs to remain afloat or attempting to hold their near and dear ones from sinking in chilly sea waters.

On receiving the SOS from multiple sources on the disaster, a massive rescue operation was launched by the Indian Navy’s four helicopters and a dozen vessels, the Marine Police, Indian Coast Guard, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, along with local fishers and other ferry boats to save the victims.

By 7 p.m., the authorities confirmed two deaths, four ‘critical’ in different hospitals, and 104 tourists whose condition is reported to be ‘stable’ in various hospitals, and the search continues for another five still suspected ‘missing’ as darkness fell.

Among the fatalities are reported to be one civilian and another naval sailor on the speedboat with six sailors, but the Indian Navy had not commented on the mishap.

It was not immediately clear whether the ill-fated ‘Neelkamal’ was carrying passengers as per the stipulated norms for load and other safety measures.

The owner of the vessel, Rajendra Padte, said that the ‘Neelkamal’ had departed on its regular tourism voyage to Elephanta Islands around 3.15 p.m. and barely a couple of hours later the tragedy was reported, “but it was not our fault”.

“An Indian Navy speedboat first encircled my boat, then zoomed off, and returned again at high speed and banged into ‘Neelkamal’. All the tourists were wearing life jackets which are now compulsory. More than a dozen other boats are engaged in the rescue operations,” a shaken Padte told mediapersons.

A livid Peasants & Workers Party of India (PWP) General Secretary and ex-legislator Jayant P. Patil, who was present at the spot slammed the concerned authorities resulted in the tragedy and the ‘Neelkamal sunk into the water soon thereafter.

Indian Navy sources hinted that a probe is likely to be ordered into the deadly collision that left behind many casualties including two fatalities, amid fears that the death toll could go up later.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis made a brief statement in the Legislative Assembly in Nagpur, while Deputy CM Eknath Shinde spoke to Mumbai City Collector Sanjay Yadav and Raigad Collector Kisan Jawale, plus Deputy Commissioner of Police (Ports Zone) Sudhakar Pathare, to expedite the rescue operations.

A civic official said that 56 are admitted at the JNPA Hospital, 32 are in the Naval Dockyard medical facility, one in INHS Ashvini Hospital, nine in St. George Hospital, and 12 are admitted to a hospital on the mainland at Karanja.

Meanwhile, anxious relatives of many of the victims rushed from different parts of Mumbai and other places to the hospitals where their kin were admitted to get details of their welfare, and the Yellowgate Police Station officials, who are handling the case, had a tough time controlling them.

The Elephanta Isles, housing the world-famous group of temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and other Hindu gods and goddesses, that are said to have been cut in rocks between 1,500-2,200 years ago, are one of the must-see tourist destinations of Maharashtra.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: qnajmi@gmail.com)

--IANS

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Belagavi (Karnataka), Dec 18 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday warned the BJP that if the 100 years of historic AICC session in Belagavi is obstructed, legal action would be taken.

Speaking to reporters in the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi, CM Siddaramaiah commenting on BJP’s Waqf protest coinciding with the AICC session, said, “If they attempt to obstruct the AICC session inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, legal action will be taken.”

The Congress is organising a massive national-level programme on December 26 and 27 to commemorate the event of Mahatma Gandhi becoming the AICC President and assuming the leadership role in the Independence struggle during the Belagavi Session in 1924. The BJP is planning to stage a massive protest in Belagavi in connection with the Waqf row on the same days.

“If Mahatma Gandhi had not led the freedom struggle, would we have achieved Independence? The rights we exercise today are possible only after the Constitution was enacted,” CM Siddaramaiah questioned.

He slammed, “Leaders like Golwalkar, Hedgewar and Savarkar had anti-Constitution stands. The BJP does not believe in Indian values and instead upholds the Manusmriti.”

Responding to BJP’s alleged repeated disruptions during the Belagavi session, CM Siddaramaiah said, “As the Opposition, the BJP should discuss the state's development and government shortcomings. However, they are using the session for political purposes.”

Responding to BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra's demand to hand over the Rs 150 crore bribery case against him and Waqf cases to the CBI, Siddaramaiah asked, “From 2008 to 2013 and 2018 to 2023, did the BJP hand over any cases to the CBI? They lack the moral ground to make such demands.”

Siddaramaiah further declared that there is no question of stopping the Gruha Lakshmi scheme, which empowers women both economically and socially. He also met and interacted with Gruha Lakshmi beneficiaries who had gathered at the Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi on Wednesday.

“I interacted with more than 25 beneficiaries who have used the funds from the Gruha Lakshmi scheme to create various opportunities for their lives. The beneficiaries detailed the benefits brought by the scheme. They expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister, concerned ministers, and the government for implementing this initiative that has brought new energy to their lives,” CM Siddaramaiah said.

He dismissed BJP's allegation that the scheme has created disputes between daughters-in-law and mothers-in-law within households. “Today, mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law attended the programme together in large numbers and spoke positively about the benefits they received from the scheme.”

“It is heartening to see women becoming economically and socially empowered through this initiative. Therefore, we will continue this scheme to strengthen women,” the Chief Minister added.

Responding to the media regarding BJP MLAs meeting him, Siddaramaiah said they had requested for the development of roads in Bengaluru city.

--IANS

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Chennai, Dec 18 (IANS) The Tamil Nadu government has reconstituted the State Bird Authority by including Tamil Nadu Wetland Authority and Advanced Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC).

Originally formed in 2023, the State Bird Authority is tasked with monitoring and improving bird sanctuaries, enhancing nesting conditions for birds, and developing ecotourism facilities.

As per the government’s latest amendment to its order dated June 21, 2023, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Director of AIWC, along with the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Member Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Wetland Authority, have been inducted as members of the Authority.

The Authority, chaired by the Secretary of Environment, Climate Change, and Forests, now comprises 11 members, including representatives from departments such as Revenue and Disaster Management, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Public Works, and the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation.

Earlier this year, the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) was also added as a member.

Tamil Nadu, which is home to 18 bird sanctuaries—including 14 Ramsar sites—has seen an increase in migratory bird arrivals this year due to heavy rains during the northeast monsoon.

Migratory species such as little stints, flamingos, painted storks, pelicans, crab plovers, Heuglin’s gulls, marsh sandpipers, curlew sandpipers, great knots, red knots, and little egrets have been spotted. Most of these are water birds, particularly waders.

In Vedaranyam taluk, which has received moderate rainfall over the past few weeks, the arrival of migratory birds has improved compared to last year, when lower rainfall led to fewer bird sightings during the annual census.

Rajesh Kannan, an avid bird watcher, told IANS, “The increasing number of migratory birds arriving over the past few weeks is a good sign of a healthy migration season. The rainfall near the sanctuary is still moderate, which is encouraging.”

Researchers suggest that bird visits could further improve by reducing human intervention in waterbodies near sanctuaries.

Measures like limiting backwater fishing during the migration season, along with compensating the livelihoods of local communities, are being considered.

Meanwhile, the Forest Department has intensified patrolling in villages near sanctuaries to curb poaching, which poses a threat to migratory birds.

Officials confirmed that patrols are being conducted regularly in high-sighting areas to deter hunting.

--IANS

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Gurugram, Dec 18 (IANS) The Gurugram Police have arrested six shop owners from Sector 56 market for selling fake accessories and parts of Apple products.

The arrested include Rahul, resident of Sarai Daud district Mathura Uttar Pradesh; Sanjeev Kumar, resident of NIT Faridabad; Rahul Kadam, Devender Tiwari and Ishant Nasa, all resident of Gurugram.

The police said on Wednesday that they received a complaint on Tuesday in which the complainant told the police that Apple Inc. has authorised him to take legal action against those selling fake products of Apple company.

When they conducted a survey, it was found that some shopkeepers in Sector 56 market in Gurugram were selling fake products in the name of Apple company.

A police team then went to the market and checked the shops mentioned. During this, six shop operators were found selling fake Apple products.

Later the police team registered a case against the accused shop owners under the Copyright Act at Sector 56 police station.

The police team recovered 4,677 fake back covers of mobile phones, 557 fake back panels of mobile phones, 74 fake cables and 53 fake adapters from the possession of the accused.

“On checking, the police found that the mobile shop owners are indulging in illegally procuring and selling fake mobile accessories of Apple brand by printing and affixing the logos and images by violating Copyright Act. They sell it to the customers as genuine products and earn easy money illegally,” Sandeep Kumar, spokesperson of the Gurugram police said.

Police suspect the involvement of a larger group in the sale of fake products. They are trying to find out whether the fake products were manufactured in the country or imported.

The police team is taking further action in the case as per the rules. The case is under investigation, he said.

--IANS

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Kolkata, Dec 18 (IANS) Tension grew in a village near the Indi-Bangladesh border at Dinhata subdivision in West Bengal's Cooch Behar district on Wednesday after some construction workers recovered a Pakistani mortar shell while digging.

When one of the construction workers first noticed the shell, he mistook it as some ordinary explosive and panicked.

The local police and Border Security Force (BSF) were informed.

A BSF team rushed to the spot and after examining the item, confirmed that it was a Pakistani mortar shell. The BSF personnel immediately deactivated it, bringing relief to the local people.

Dinhata Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Dhiman Mitra said that the construction workers came across the shell while undertaking some digging work for some construction purposes.

"Later the BSF personnel deactivated it. There is nothing to panic about," he said.

However, police sources said that while recovery of mortar shells is nothing unnatural in that area which is close to the international border and a BSF unit is posted there, "the question is how a Pakistani mortar shell was brought to that place and subsequently buried under the soil".

"It is yet to be clear who had brought the shell there and with what intention,” a state police official said.

Already intelligence and security agencies have enhanced the surveillance and other related security measures at the villages adjacent to the state’s international borders, both land and coastal, apprehending a rise of illegal infiltration from the neighbouring country amid the ongoing crisis situation there.

Intelligence and security agencies are on special alert following inputs that of late, there has been a rise in the number of outsiders residing at many villages adjacent to the borders after hiring rooms there. There are intelligence inputs of activists of Bangladesh-based fundamentalist group Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HUT) trying to be active in the bordering villages and making attempts to open sleeper cells there.

--IANS

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Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 18 (IANS) With another person turning positive for Mpox on Wednesday, the total number of such cases in Kerala have reached two, forcing state health authorities onto a high alert.

State Health Minister Veena George said all those who have come into direct contact with the two positive cases and are having symptoms have to get in touch with the nearest health authorities.

The first case was reported last week when a Wayanad resident, coming from the UAE, turned positive and health authorities went on a high alert.

The second case is of a Kannur resident, also arriving from the UAE.

Both these people are now in isolation at the state-run Medical College hospital in Kannur.

Under instructions from George, the emergency meeting of the Rapid Response Team decided to prepare a route map of the two people who turned positive.

"All those who have had direct contact have to be under observation for 21 days. An alert has been sent to airports to ensure that people who arrive have to inform authorities, if they have any health issues, so adequate checks can be done,” said George.

The WHO has classified Mpox as a public health emergency of international concern due to its widespread prevalence, particularly in parts of Africa.

Unlike airborne diseases like Covid or H1N1, Mpox is mainly transmitted through direct physical contact with an infected individual, including touch and sexual activity.

To prevent spread, it is crucial to avoid close contact with infected individuals and to follow appropriate safety measures. While transporting a patient, caregivers should wear gowns, N95 masks, gloves, and goggles. The patient should also wear a triple-layer mask. Any wounds should be covered. Ambulances and equipment must be disinfected after use, and items related to the patient should be disposed of as per guidelines.

Incidentally, this is the second time in two years that Kerala has reported Mpox. The previous case was in 2022

--IANS

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Belagavi (Karnataka), Dec 18 (IANS) Karnataka BJP launched an attack on the state's Congress-led government on Wednesday over maternal deaths reported across the state. Leader of the Opposition, R. Ashoka, raised the issue in the Legislative Assembly, stating that the situation in the state has become so dire that women fear setting foot in government-run hospitals.

“It is extremely painful to see women dying after giving birth. Women in the state are openly saying that they should avoid government-run hospitals due to the recent series of maternal deaths. Fifty per cent of women do not dare to visit government hospitals and instead seek admission to private hospitals,” Ashoka charged.

Objecting to this statement, Congress MLA N. H. Konareddy questioned Ashoka: “As the Leader of the Opposition, are you trying to tell the people of the state to not go to government hospitals? What kind of message does this send to the public if such statements are made?”

He further urged Ashoka to convey a positive message to society. “The government has improved the conditions in government hospitals. You should speak responsibly and avoid making statements that cast aspersions on government doctors and hospitals,” Konareddy said.

Ashoka continued by charging that hospitals were using outdated medicines that expired six months ago. He pointed out that the Drugs Control Board had issued a directive to avoid using such medicines, even if they were supplied. “Despite this directive, how is it acceptable to continue using those medicines?” he asked.

Minister for Health, Dinesh Gundu Rao, responded by stating that the state government had stopped the use of the medicine in question and blacklisted the company. However, the company went to court and obtained a stay order. He added that a Central agency had given a report declaring the IV fluid fit for administration. “What are we supposed to do in this situation?” Minister Rao expressed his frustration.

Ashoka demanded that a strong message be sent to pharmaceutical companies that supply fake and substandard medicines. He also called for an investigation into the maternal deaths by a commission headed by a sitting judge.

The series of maternal deaths has shocked the state. These incidents were not confined to Ballari but were also reported in Raichur, Belagavi, and Chitradurga districts. Ashoka criticised the health department: “The health department itself has become sick. Ministers only visited the hospitals six days after the incidents.”

He further alleged that doctors were not admitting their mistakes. “The Drug Controller, who was suspended in connection with the case, has been made a scapegoat. The state is facing the menace of fake doctors, and the health department is functioning poorly,” Ashoka charged.

Ashoka also criticised the state government for its compensation policies. “The state government announced a compensation of Rs 15 lakh for the victim of an elephant attack in Wayanad, Kerala. However, they initially announced only Rs 2 lakh for the families of deceased mothers,” he slammed.

Earlier, talking about maternal deaths in the Legislative Council, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao had appealed for stronger regulation of the powerful pharmaceutical lobby in the country. “I want to convey that drug-related laws are not strong. There is no history of action being taken against pharmaceutical companies.”

--IANS

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Nagpur, Dec 18 (IANS) Taking a serious note of the collision between the Navy boat and the tourist boat heading towards Elephanta islands from Gateway of India on Wednesday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told the state Assembly in Nagpur that the government will provide all assistance to those who drowned and died in the mishap.

The issue was raised by Shiv Sena legislator Aaditya Thackrey and BJP MLA Mahesh Baldi in the state assembly drawing the chief minister’s attention.

“We have received reports of an accident involving the boat Nilkamal, which was heading towards Elephanta islands. Boats from the Navy, Coast Guard, Port, and Police teams have been immediately dispatched for assistance. We are in constant touch with the district and police administration and fortunately, most of the citizens have been rescued. However, rescue operations are still underway. Orders have been given to the district administration to deploy all the necessary machinery for the rescue operation,” said Fadnavis.

He added that the government is ascertaining how many passengers have drowned due to the accident. He told the House that he had also watched the video of the mishap.

Fadnavis also said that it is being ascertained how many passengers drowned and after that, the government will provide assistance to them.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has instructed the Mumbai and Raigad district collectors to expedite the rescue operations.

So far one person has been reported drowned and another 66 rescued among 80 tourists aboard a private ferry boat in a suspected collision with another vessel near the Gateway of India.

The maritime disaster happened around 5.15 p.m. when the launch with tourist passengers was sailing from the iconic Gateway of India to the UNESCO Heritage Elephanta Islands.

The Elephanta Isles, housing the world-famous group of temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and other Hindu gods and goddesses, that are said to have been cut in rocks between 1,500-2,200 years ago, are one of the must-see tourist destinations of Maharashtra.

--IANS

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