Author: Indmedia

Coimbatore: S Kalidas, 34, of Kempatty Colony, says working at a gold manufacturing unit is like a life or death situation now. “I quit the industry as I was under severe mental distress,” he opens up to TOI.Like Kalidas, several others have quit their jobs in the gold manufacturing units in the district owing to the mounting uncertainty in gold and silver prices. “Though I love the job of making ornaments, I had to give it up 10 months ago as the earnings from it weren’t sufficient to look after my family. Now, I am driving a rental auto and…

Dibrugarh: Security forces have stepped up night patrolling and deployed expert teams in the Mayodia area of Arunachal Pradesh’s Lower Dibang Valley following the fatal tiger attack on police head constable Chikseng Manpang. The big cats, however, remain unsighted since the Feb 2 incident.Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary DFO Mito Rumi said on Friday a veterinary team from Itanagar, equipped with darting guns, tranquilising drugs, and specialised equipment, has been stationed in the area. “We have also sought assistance from officers of Namdapha, Pakke, and Kamlang tiger reserves to support our operations,” Rumi said.Islamabad Suicide Blast, Bangladesh Crisis, RBI’s Fraud Compensation And…

Belagavi: In Belagavi’s Hanuman Nagar, miscreants on a bike snatched a gold chain from a woman’s neck and fled, on Friday evening leaving the locals in the outskirts of the city in shock. A woman was riding her bike on TV Centre Double Road in Hanuman Nagar, when two people on a bike followed her till near the residence of former MLA Feroz Sait, grabbed her chain, and snatched it. She screamed and alerted people, but the bikers fled with the 20g gold chain. The fact that the incident took place in broad daylight created panic. A case was registered…

Kanpur: Left-arm orthodox spinner Akshu Bajwa’s brilliant six-wicket haul helped Uttar Pradesh bowl out Chandigarh for a modest 170 on the opening day of their Under-23 Col CK Nayudu Trophy match at Green Park Stadium on Friday.Bajwa’s incisive spell was the highlight of a spin-dominated day, which saw 13 wickets fall for 216 runs on a surface offering ample assistance to the slow bowlers. After being dismissed cheaply, Chandigarh struck back in the final session, picking up three UP wickets for 46 runs to keep the contest evenly poised at stumps. Chandigarh’s Nishunk Birla claimed two wickets. Earlier, Chandigarh’s skipper…

Khaira Bet (Ludhiana): Villagers and farming unions have established a “Pukka Morcha” (permanent front) on the banks of the Satluj River, warning that aggressive sand mining under the guise of desilting has brought a critical embankment to the brink of collapse.The protest, now in its third day, has drawn more than 250 residents from Khaira Bet and surrounding areas. Demonstrators claim that heavy machinery is being used to excavate sand just 100 meters from a vital river bandh (embankment), creating “dangerous” water depths that threaten dozens of downstream villages with imminent flooding.”The embankment is directly adjacent to flowing river water,…

Mangaluru: A day after Deepthi, 26, died when a bus rear-ended the scooter on which she was riding pillion near the Nanthoor bus stand, MLC Ivan D’Souza stressed the need for immediate action to address traffic issues at Nanthoor junction.The MLC has called an official meeting on Saturday to discuss persistent traffic problems at the junction.Islamabad Suicide Blast, Bangladesh Crisis, RBI’s Fraud Compensation And MoreD’Souza visited the spot Friday, assessed the circumstances that led to Deepthi’s death, and urged urgent steps to fix traffic issues. He, along with police and corporation officials, discussed measures to ease congestion and disorder.”The absence…

Mysuru: As many as 10 police personnel in the rank of constables and head constables attached to the City Crime Branch (CCB) of Mysuru city were shunted out on Friday.Sources claim that the personnel were shifted as they allegedly failed to check illegal activities, especially those related to narcotic substances within the city limits.Mysuru police commissioner Seema Latkar told TOI that it was a general transfer of staff and there were no specific reasons or allegations against anyone. In all, about ten personnel were changed at the CCB, a special force which functions under the guidance of the commissioner of…

NOIDA: A 12-year-old boy died by suicide on Tuesday night in the Phase 2 area, police said, allegedly after being reprimanded by his mother for watching television for long hours.Officials said the child, a Class 5 student, was scolded earlier in the evening and warned that the family’s cable connection would be disconnected if the behaviour continued. Police said the boy appeared distressed following the reprimand. Later that night, he was found hanging inside the family’s home.A team from Phase 2 police station, which reached the spot after the family alerted the cops, did not find any suicide note. An…

PUNE: Nearly three tonnes of highly flammable propylene gas leaked into the atmosphere during a prolonged 32-hour decanting operation after a gas tanker overturned near the Adoshi tunnel on the Pune–Mumbai Expressway, petroleum experts and disaster management officials involved in the operation said.Officials said the incident had the potential to turn catastrophic, given the volatile nature of propylene gas and the expressway’s strategic importance as one of Maharashtra’s busiest corridors.“This could have turned into a major disaster had there been even a small spark or a minor error while executing the operation,” Z N Gawade, technical director of Mec Elec…

Panaji: The Bird Atlas of Goa was released at the ninth Bird Festival of Goa on Friday, making Goa the second state in India, after Kerala, to publish a comprehensive state-level bird atlas.The programme also witnessed the release of “Birds of Goa: Konkani Nomenclature – Olakh Suknayanchi”, contributing to the documentation and popularisation of avifauna in the local language.The ninth Bird Festival of Goa, themed Majestic Mhadei, was formally inaugurated at Valpoi. The chief guest for the occasion was C Candavelou, chief secretary and principal secretary of forests, who inaugurated the festival.Further strengthening wildlife conservation efforts in the state, an…