Suspended Trinamool MLA Humayun Kabir to announce his new party today

Haridwar, Sep 8 (IANS) A significant portion of the Mansa Devi hill near the Bhimgoda railway tunnel and Kali Mata temple in Uttarakhand’s Haridwar collapsed on Monday, triggering a massive landslide that brought train services to a complete halt on the busy Dehradun-Haridwar route.

A large section of the hill suddenly gave way near the Kali temple, sending debris of soil and rocks hurtling down at high speed and completely covering the railway track close to the Bhimgoda tunnel.

The impact was so severe that the iron safety net installed to protect the tracks was also badly damaged.

The collapse led to an immediate shutdown of train movement, causing chaos in the area. Local administration officials were informed promptly, and efforts to clear the debris began without delay.

The latest incident comes less than a month after a similar landslide was reported in the same religious belt.

On August 5, a massive portion of the hill broke off, crashing onto the busy Har Ki Pauri–Bhimgoda road and railway tracks.

Dramatic CCTV footage from that incident showed rocks striking a motorcycle, narrowly missing three men who escaped with minor injuries.

Torrential rains had been cited as the reason for the hill’s destabilisation.

The Mansa Devi hill area is considered highly vulnerable to seasonal landslides, particularly during the monsoon.

Despite the installation of steel guards and protective nets in 2024 to safeguard key road and rail infrastructure, the region continues to remain exposed to extreme weather events.

Uttarakhand continues to reel under the impact of incessant rainfall, leading to major disasters that have wreaked havoc in the Himalayan states in recent days.

The risk of landslides and a sudden surge in water levels of rivers and streams remains high in the hilly regions.

The heavy rains have thrown life out of gear, disrupting both the mountains and the plains.

–IANS

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Haveri (Karnataka), Dec 13 (IANS) The police in Karnataka’s Haveri district have registered an FIR against 22 people for allegedly thrashing a school teacher, garlanding him with chappals and parading him in public over accusations of sexual harassment of schoolgirls, officials said on Saturday.

Teacher paraded with slippers in K’taka; police book 22 Videos of the public assault and humiliation went viral on social media, triggering widespread concern and sharp reactions across the state.

The FIR has been filed based on a complaint lodged by the teacher himself, who alleged that he was assaulted, publicly humiliated and threatened with dire consequences by a group of locals. He has urged the police to initiate strict legal action against those involved in the attack.

Police officials said that, as of now, no formal complaint has been received from any student or guardian directly accusing the teacher of sexual abuse. Investigators are also examining whether the incident stemmed from internal differences among staff members at the school.

The jurisdictional Savanur police have taken up further investigation. Charges invoked against the accused include causing public humiliation and issuing life threats. Police said the identities of those involved were established using video footage circulating on social media.

Earlier, on December 10, an FIR had been registered against the teacher following a complaint by the school’s headmaster, Rajesaba Khudanasaba Sankanura, alleging sexual harassment of schoolgirls. That case remains under investigation.

Police said the matter is being handled with particular sensitivity, as most of the persons accused in the mob assault belong to a minority community.

The incident occurred in Savanur town of Haveri district, where the teacher, accused of sexually harassing students at a Government Urdu Upgraded High School, was subjected to what police described as “mob justice” before being handed over to authorities.

According to preliminary accounts, parents and local residents, angered by the allegations, gathered at the school premises, confronted the teacher, and allegedly assaulted him. He was then paraded through parts of the town before being taken to the Savanur Police Station.

Meanwhile, leaders of the Anjuman Committee claimed that public anger had been building against the teacher due to his alleged conduct. They alleged that a few days earlier, a student had complained of stomach pain and fever, following which inquiries allegedly revealed sexual harassment by the teacher. The committee further claimed that subsequent checks suggested that as many as seven girls had been assaulted.

“When questioned, the teacher allegedly admitted to assaulting one student, not seven. This enraged the public, leading to the assault and parade,” committee representatives claimed.

Police, however, have said these assertions are yet to be corroborated through formal complaints or medical and legal evidence. Authorities stressed that both cases — the allegations against the teacher and the mob assault against him — are being investigated separately, and action will be taken strictly in accordance with law.

Further investigation is underway.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 23 (IANS) Adani Agri Fresh Limited (AAFL) announced on Wednesday that it has increased the price of apples it is procuring from farmers of Himachal Pradesh by 12.5 per cent to Rs 90 per kg for the large-medium-small (LMS) grade of top-quality fruit this year from Rs 80 last year.

“AAFL is committed to the betterment of apple farmers in the state, and the step has been taken to ensure that they get the best price for their crop,” an Adani Group spokesman said

AAFL procures apples in Himachal Pradesh from Rohru, Rampur, Tutu-Pani, Sainj, Jarol-Tikkar and Reckong-Peo sites, he said.

The company’s procurement network extends across more than 17,000 growers in Himachal Pradesh, comprising over 90 per cent small and marginal farmers for sourcing apples from orchards that cover 700 villages.

Last month, in a landmark initiative for the horticulture sector, Adani Agri Fresh launched the country’s first digital apple market platform in Bithal near Rampur, about 120 km from Shimla. The project is designed to directly benefit apple growers across Himachal Pradesh.

Currently being implemented as a pilot project, farmers are already expressing strong support for the project’s transparency, convenience, and profitability.

The platform enables farmers to digitally participate in transparent auctions, avoid middlemen, and ensure assured payment.

The apples are graded, packed, and marketed under the Adani brand, ensuring uniform quality and higher bargaining power for growers.

This digital platform is beneficial for both buyers and growers. Bidding can be done from anywhere.

Adani Agri Fresh Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Limited, part of Adani Group, which is one of India’s leading business houses.

With ‘Farm-Pik’, AAFL emerged as the first company to engage in organised apple purchase, storage and marketing by following the construction of state-of-the-art controlled atmospheric storage in the apple belt of Shimla district in Himachal Pradesh in 2006.

The set-up includes state-of-the-art controlled atmosphere facilities of 22,400 MT capacity in the apple growing belts of Shimla district in Bithal (near Rampur), Sainj (near Theog) and Mehandli (Rohru).

The company’s distribution network comprises 76 wholesale and 1,500 retailers pan-India, in addition to the modern retail format.

–IANS

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