PM Modi expresses grief over seven deaths in Jharkhand road accident

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

New Delhi, Nov 6 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed grief over the loss of seven lives in a road accident in Jharkhand’s Khunti district and extended condolences to the bereaved families.

“Deeply pained by the loss of lives in a mishap in Khunti, Jharkhand. I extend my condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured,” the Prime Minister said in a post on X, shared by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

The accident occurred around 10 p.m. on Thursday near the Jone-Ludru turn on the Karra-Torpa main road. A scooter had met with an accident, following which local residents gathered along the roadside to help the rider.

During this time, an 18-wheeler trailer truck, reportedly speeding from the Torpa side, allegedly ran over the people who had gathered at the spot.

Six people died on the spot, while a 12-year-old boy succumbed to his injuries during treatment at Khunti Sadar Hospital. A young girl was also injured in the accident.

Anger erupted among villagers in Khunti district on Friday morning following the accident.

Enraged residents blocked the main road near the Karra railway crossing by burning tyres, bringing vehicular movement in the area to a complete halt.

The protesters demanded the immediate arrest of the trailer truck driver allegedly responsible for the accident, government jobs for the families of the deceased and adequate compensation for the victims’ kin.

The protesters claimed that poor visibility and the condition of the road at the Jone-Ludru turn significantly increase the risk of accidents. They also alleged that despite the stretch being accident-prone, heavy vehicles frequently pass through the area at high speeds.

The villagers demanded stronger road safety measures at the accident-prone stretch to prevent such incidents in the future.

Following information about the road blockade, police and administrative officials reached the spot and held talks with the demonstrators in an effort to restore normalcy. Authorities assured the protesters that all possible assistance and compensation would be provided to the affected families in accordance with government provisions.

Additional police personnel were deployed in the area as a precautionary measure amid rising tensions.

–IANS

rs/

Related Posts

Kolkata Port registers cargo growth; starts importing lime through Haldia Dock

Kolkata, Nov 3 (IANS) The Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (SMP), Kolkata, handled 40.527 million metric tonnes (MMT) of cargo between April and October 2026. This is a 5.10% increase over the 38.562 MMT handled during the corresponding period of the previous financial year.

Both the Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) and the Kolkata Dock System (KDS) contributed positively to this growth, Rathendra Raman, chairperson, SMP, Kolkata, said.

HDC handled 29.752 MMT, compared to 28.259 MMT between April and October 2025. This was a growth of 5.28%. KDS grew by 4.58% and handled 10,775 MMT in the first seven months of the current fiscal year, as compared to 10.303 MMT in 2025-26.

SMP, Kolkata, also recorded an impressive growth in container traffic, handling 5,87,399 TEUs during April–October 2026, compared to 5,43,982 TEUs in the corresponding period of the previous year, registering an overall growth of 7.98%.

While KDS handled 4,54,310 TEUs, registering a growth of 7.51%, HDC handled 1,33,089 TEUs, recording a higher growth of 9.64% over the corresponding period of the previous year.

October turned out to be a significant month for container handling by KDS. The port facility registered a growth of 15.83% in container traffic during the month, handling 64,224 TEUs against 55,449 TEUs in October 2025.

“This performance underscores the continued momentum in containerised cargo movement through SMP, Kolkata. This has been possible due to the induction of more cranes for vessel operations in the dock by both private berth operators and the port. The deployment of a floating crane for container handling at the Diamond Harbour anchorage has also helped bring in more cargo and reduce dead freight on vessels,” Raman said.

The port authority has also started importing a new cargo at HDC. For the first time, Haldia received a consignment of quick lime.

The MV ASIAN HONOR arrived on November 1, 2026, from Dibba, United Arab Emirates, with 8,133 tonnes of quick lime and hydrated lime in bags. Quick Lime is a very important raw material for the steel industry.

It is used to clean steel, remove impurities and make slag. This new cargo will help the port attract more industrial cargo and support industries in eastern India.

According to the chairman, this shows the Port’s focus on better operations, better infrastructure and better service to customers.

The port is ready to achieve even higher targets in the coming years, he said. SMP, Kolkata, is the oldest operational riverine major port in the country.

It faces constraints due to the paucity of draught. Due to this, the port management has to strategise and adopt new techniques to increase its cargo share for eastern and northern India, as well as the landlocked countries of Nepal and Bhutan.

–IANS

jg/dan

Tourism picks up pace again in Pahalgam as economic activities revive: Report

New Delhi, April 22 (IANS) Tourism activity in Pahalgam and the wider Kashmir Valley has shown clear signs of revival this year after the setback from the April 2025 attack by Pakistani terrorists, in which 26 tourists lost their lives.

The return of domestic tourists, particularly from economically vibrant states such as Maharashtra, Gujarat and Delhi, has driven a steady rise in visitor numbers. Improved occupancy rates in hotels and transport services reflect strengthening demand, while local markets are gradually regaining their dynamism, according to an article published in Directus.

The article attributes the revival in tourism to swift and coordinated response by the authorities. The government prioritised restoring public confidence through enhanced security measures, including increased patrolling, surveillance, and monitoring across major tourist zones. The reopening of tourist destinations was carried out in a phased and calibrated manner, ensuring safety while facilitating economic revival.

Institutional support was crucial in stabilising the sector. Government-led promotional initiatives focused on reviving domestic tourism, leveraging domestic demand’s resilience. Simultaneously, administrative efforts to streamline logistics, improve accessibility, and maintain essential services helped restore normal economic functioning. This proactive approach helped limit the downturn’s duration and created conditions for recovery, the article states.

The recovery is being reinforced by ongoing infrastructure investments, including road connectivity, public utilities and tourist facilities. These improvements are enhancing the overall travel experience and driving positive word-of-mouth, which remains a critical factor in tourism growth.

The upcoming Amarnath Yatra is expected to further strengthen this momentum, serving as a key indicator of stability and large-scale tourist confidence, the article observes.

A defining feature of the recovery process has been the role of local communities and enterprises. Businesses across the tourism value chain have shown adaptability by resuming operations, recalibrating pricing strategies, and improving service quality. This bottom-up revival has been instrumental in restoring economic activity at the grassroots level, the article points out.

The recovery has also generated multiplier effects across related sectors. Increased tourist footfall has revived demand for handicrafts, local cuisine, and transport services, thereby supporting a broader spectrum of livelihoods. This interconnected resurgence underscores the importance of tourism as a catalyst for inclusive economic growth in the region, the article added.

–IANS

sps/na

30 or 300 minutes, Rahul’s speech won’t have any impact in Bihar: Upendra Kushwaha

New Delhi, April 8 (IANS) The Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) National President Upendra Kushwaha on Tuesday scoffed at Congress’ assertions on Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Bihar and its impact on Assembly elections and remarked that the entire exercise will prove to be futile, adding that former Congress president’s 30-minute speech won’t make any difference in the state.

“Congress Party makes statements only to attract people towards them during elections. Rahul Gandhi is doing the same. For many years after Independence, their government was in power. Look at the state of Bihar that they left behind. Later, they formed an alliance and created havoc. Everyone knows what they did,” Kushwaha said.

He further added, “Now, they are making statements to deceive people and distract them. But nothing will happen in Bihar because of their efforts. No ‘grand alliance’ will work here. That is their destiny, their internal nature.”

Kushwaha further mentioned that whether Rahul Gandhi speaks for 30 minutes or 300 minutes, it won’t make any difference in Bihar.

“He knows this well, which is why he’s in a rush to speak in his 30-minute address.”

Rahul Gandhi visited Bihar a day ago and participated in the ‘Palayan Roko, Naukri Do (Stop Migration, Provide Jobs)’ Yatra in Begusarai, along with fellow Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar.

Earlier, the Leader of Opposition also attended a ‘Save the Constitution’ meeting in Patna, marking his third such event in the past three months. During his speech, Gandhi emphasized that the Congress party had learned from its past mistakes.

“Our Bihar unit has been instructed to give at least two-thirds representation to people from OBC, EBC, and Dalit communities,” he had told the gathering.

Gandhi had also reiterated demand for the removal of the 50 per cent cap on reservation in India.

–IANS

rs/mr