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Indian Express
12 hours ago
- Indian Express
9 dead in car-truck collision on NH-18; victims were headed to Jharkhand from Bengal's Purulia
Nine people died in a head-on collision on National Highway 18 in West Bengal's Purulia district on Friday morning. The accident, near Namsol Primary School in the Balarampur police station area, involved a car carrying nine passengers and a truck which was reportedly being driven at a high speed. 'We have registered a case of rash driving. The truck driver fled from the spot. We are trying to trace him,' DSP (Headquarters) Nirmal Das told The Indian Express. According to officials, a Bolero car was traveling from Purulia to Jharkhand when it was hit by a truck coming from the opposite direction. The impact completely wrecked the car, and both vehicles reportedly overturned. All nine occupants of the Bolero were rushed to the nearest health centre, where doctors pronounced them dead. The police have taken the truck into custody and have launched an investigation. Eight of the deceased have been identified as Biru Mahato, Ajay Mahato, Vijay Mahato, Swapan Mahato, Gurupad Mahato, Shashank Mahato, Chitta Mahato, Krishna Mahato, all residents of Tilai Tand village in Lakadi under Neemdih police station. The ninth victim, Chandramohan Mahato, was a resident of Raghunathpur, also under Neemdih police station. Sources said they were returning home to Jharkhand after attending a wedding ceremony in Purulia. The accident follows another road accident a day ago in Howrah district. 'Three persons died and several people were injured. A private bus, operating on the Bagnan-Shyambazar route, left the Bagnan bus terminus approaching the Library More on NH-16, and was attempting to move towards the Kolkata-bound lane when it was hit by a Kolaghat-bound truck,' said an official of Howrah. Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari took to X on Friday: 'My heart goes out to the families of the victims who tragically lost their lives in the two consecutive horrific road accidents; yesterday in Bagnan; Howrah district and today at Balarampur; Purulia district.' He blamed the 'alarming deterioration of road safety standards in West Bengal under the supervision of the West Bengal police, which falls directly under the purview of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.' Sweety Kumari reports from West Bengal for The Indian Express. She is a journalist with over a decade of experience in the media industry. Covers Crime, Defence, Health , Politics etc and writes on trending topics. With a keen eye for investigative and human-interest stories. She has honed her craft across diverse beats including aviation, health, incidents etc. Sweety delivers impactful journalism that informs and engages audiences. Sweety Kumari is a graduate of Calcutta University with an Honors degree in Journalism from Jaipuria College and a PG in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University. Originally from Bihar, she is brought up in Kolkata and completed her education from Kendriya Vidyalaya SaltLake. Multilingual, Sweety is fluent in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili. She started her career as an Entertainment and lifestyle journalist with a newsportal in Kolkata. She is working with The Indian Express for 8 years now. ... Read More
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'Escaped bombs, but now I'm stuck at border': Indian tourist trapped in war-hit Iran; shares ordeal
NEW DELHI: Falguni Dey, a Kolkata-based geography professor and amateur mountaineer, thought the worst was over when he left the chaos of Tehran behind. After a harrowing 500-km road journey through a country rattled by missile strikes and fuel shortages, Dey reached the Astara border near the Caspian Sea, hoping to cross into Azerbaijan and board a flight from Baku to India. But what awaited him was another stretch of uncertainty -- marked by red tape, emotional exhaustion, and a prolonged wait for a migration code he never knew he needed. 'I may have managed to escape the bombs in Tehran by undertaking this journey, but now I am stuck in Iran's Astara land border because the Azerbaijan authorities would not accept me into their country without a special migration code issued by that government, and my e-visa won't work,' Dey said in a voice message to PTI. The college professor had been stranded in Tehran since June 12, when Israel launched airstrikes on Iran as part of Operation Rising Lion, prompting the shutdown of airspace and halting his return journey. He had arrived in Iran on June 6 to attempt a summit of Mount Damavand but had to abandon his climb due to a snowstorm. By June 17, with no flights available and a growing sense of fear, he decided to escape by road, eventually reaching Astara. But the hope he carried with him was quickly replaced by despair. 'Despite my best persuasions, I have been told that it would require at least another fortnight for that code to arrive, and I have no idea how I will survive that long in Iran,' he added, his voice cracking. With no access to Azerbaijan without the special code, Dey's journey to safety -- and a pre-booked hotel room in Baku -- has been indefinitely delayed. The Mumbai-bound flight from Baku that he had booked is now cancelled, along with the hotel reservation made by his family in Kolkata. 'No one told me in Tehran that my e-visa wasn't sufficient to cross over to Azerbaijan by land and that I also need this special migration pass code, especially in a war situation like this,' Dey said. 'I wasted no time in starting the application process... but the authorities have responded to me over email stating the process would require a minimum of 15 days.' As he watches other foreigners cross over with ease, Dey said Indians like him are being asked to wait for the migration code, making the situation even more isolating. 'There's a long queue of foreigners over here, and they are having all sorts of visas… But Indians like me have been told that possessing the migration code is mandatory for us to cross.' Though exhausted and facing a growing financial crunch, Dey remains thankful for the help he's received — both from his homeland and strangers along the way. 'The vice chancellor of Calcutta University, Santa Dutta, is in constant touch with me. So is mountaineer Debasish Biswas. A senior officer from the Indian embassy's cultural wing in Tehran, Balaram Shukla, is also helping me out.' Indian embassy officials in Tehran and Baku are reportedly working in coordination to convince Azerbaijan to allow Dey passage given the emergency situation. His 500-km drive from Tehran to Astara was filled with its own set of challenges. With fuel caps in place across Iran, the driver — a local woman from the travel agency had to stop frequently for fuel and basic needs. 'They were kind and deeply human. They even brought me fruits and tea, and stayed at the terminal to ensure I was safe.' With no certainty of when the migration code will arrive, Dey is now considering a gruelling eight-hour journey to Armenia's border, in the hope of finding a faster route out. But the emotional and physical toll is wearing him down. 'I am physically and emotionally drained… The uncertainty of reaching home is killing me. All my efforts and the money spent by my family and friends to get me to safety seem to have come to nought,' he said. For now, Falguni Dey's journey -- which began with the hope of scaling a peak -- has turned into a fight for survival, fuelled by the goodwill of strangers and the prayers of loved ones. 24x7 control room helpline numbers Phone numbers to contact the control room - 1800118797 (toll-free), +91-11-23012113, +91-11-23014104, +91-11-23017905, +91-9968291988 (for WhatsApp) - e-mail ID (situationroom@
Indian Express
13-06-2025
- Indian Express
Bengal: 2 days after clash, uneasy calm as Rabindranagar returns to normalcy
AN UNEASY calm prevails in Rabindranagar and surrounding areas, including Maheshtala, days after Wednesday's clashes. Residents remain largely indoors, with shops and markets shut, as a massive police deployment keeps a tight vigil over the affected localities. Prohibitory orders are still in place. 'Shops are still shut, markets too,' said Praveen Sharma, a youth residing near the Akra fish market. The violence, which erupted on Wednesday afternoon in Maheshtala under the Rabindranagar police station limits, resulted in injuries to many. According to sources, the flashpoint was an attempt to construct a 'tulsi mancha' (a platform for a sacred basil plant) at a site where a fruit seller, a member of a minority community, previously had a thela shop. The dispute quickly escalated into a skirmish between two groups, leading to widespread vandalism, brick-pelting and attacks on police personnel. Several police vehicles were damaged and at least five police personnel suffered injuries. A large number of personnel from various police stations, including those from Akra Station to Baratola, have been deployed across the Rabindranagar police station area since Thursday. Round-the-clock patrolling and loudspeaker announcements are being conducted to reassure residents and deter any further disturbances. Areas that witnessed vandalism and brick-pelting have been cleaned up, police sources said. So far, a total of 40 people have been arrested in connection with the clashes in Maheshtala. While 28 arrests were made by the police in South 24 Parganas district, 12 were made by the Kolkata Police. Authorities anticipate that the number of arrests will rise as police are likely to conduct special drives to apprehend more trouble-mongers. The police have issued warnings against rumor-mongering and said strict action would be taken against anyone attempting to incite unrest. 'Sustained police presence and ongoing probe aim to restore complete normalcy,' said an officer. Sweety Kumari reports from West Bengal for The Indian Express. She is a journalist with over a decade of experience in the media industry. Covers Crime, Defence, Health , Politics etc and writes on trending topics. With a keen eye for investigative and human-interest stories. She has honed her craft across diverse beats including aviation, health, incidents etc. Sweety delivers impactful journalism that informs and engages audiences. Sweety Kumari is a graduate of Calcutta University with an Honors degree in Journalism from Jaipuria College and a PG in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University. Originally from Bihar, she is brought up in Kolkata and completed her education from Kendriya Vidyalaya SaltLake. Multilingual, Sweety is fluent in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili. She started her career as an Entertainment and lifestyle journalist with a newsportal in Kolkata. She is working with The Indian Express for 8 years now. ... Read More
Indian Express
11-06-2025
- Indian Express
Snan Yatra fever grips Digha: Mamata sends homegrown mangoes for bhog
The sacred Snan Yatra festival commenced with great fervour at Jagannath Dham in Digha on Tuesday, marking a spiritually vibrant prelude to the forthcoming Rathayatra celebrations. The deities — Sri Sri Jagannath, Baladev, and Subhadra Devi — will be ceremoniously brought out from the temple's inner sanctum to the Snan Bedi, a special bathing platform constructed on the temple's eastern side. Bathed in the morning sun, the platform will become the stage for one of the most sacred rituals of the Vaishnavite calendar. The deities will be bathed in water collected from 108 holy tirthas. This elaborate Snan Vidhi will then be followed by an anointing ceremony involving devotional chants, pancha-amrit (a mixture of milk, curd, honey, ghee, and sugar), sweet fruit juices, and other sacred substances. 'Once the divine bath, or Snan Vidhi, is complete, the deities will be offered a grand bhoga. And in a truly heartwarming gesture, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, has sent a special gift! Luscious mangoes and jackfruits, plucked straight from the trees in her Kolkata residence. It will be included in the afternoon's elaborate Chappan Bhog, a magnificent offering of 56 delectable items,' said Radharaman Das, Vice President of ISKCON. Darshan timings on the day of the festival are scheduled from 3 pm to 9 pm, during which devotees will have the rare opportunity to witness the deities in Gaja Vesha (elephant attire), a form said to bless viewers with prosperity and protection. However, starting Wednesday, the temple will observe a period of tender silence as the deities are believed to fall ill due to the elaborate bathing ritual — a state affectionately called Snana Yatra fever. As per tradition, Sri Sri Jagannath, Baladev, and Subhadra Devi will enter a period of divine rest, making themselves unavailable for public darshan, said Das. 'However, the temple will remain open, and Sri Sri Radha Madan Mohan ji will bless the devotees with darshan,' he said. The deities are expected to reappear on June 26, a day before the grand Rathayatra on June 27. Sweety Kumari reports from West Bengal for The Indian Express. She is a journalist with over a decade of experience in the media industry. Covers Crime, Defence, Health , Politics etc and writes on trending topics. With a keen eye for investigative and human-interest stories. She has honed her craft across diverse beats including aviation, health, incidents etc. Sweety delivers impactful journalism that informs and engages audiences. Sweety Kumari is a graduate of Calcutta University with an Honors degree in Journalism from Jaipuria College and a PG in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University. Originally from Bihar, she is brought up in Kolkata and completed her education from Kendriya Vidyalaya SaltLake. Multilingual, Sweety is fluent in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili. She started her career as an Entertainment and lifestyle journalist with a newsportal in Kolkata. She is working with The Indian Express for 8 years now. ... Read More
Indian Express
09-06-2025
- Climate
- Indian Express
South Bengal braces for peak heat as it waits for monsoon; North Bengal sees early rain
Southern West Bengal is set to experience the peak of its current heatwave and discomfort this week, with temperatures expected to rise further. The IMD warns that high water vapour content will exacerbate discomfort in coastal and adjacent districts. There is a slight chance of rain with thunderstorms on Monday in some coastal areas of South Bengal and adjoining districts. The intensity and frequency of thunderstorms are expected to increase from Wednesday, though heavy rainfall is not foreseen at this time. Meanwhile, western districts of the state will remain dry. In contrast, North Bengal has already welcomed the monsoon ahead of schedule. Scattered rains with thunderstorms are anticipated in the districts, including Darjeeling. However, heavy rainfall is not expected in any North Bengal district in the coming days. Kolkata is expected to experience mainly dry weather, with temperatures steadily climbing. Residents should not anticipate immediate relief from the scorching heat, the IMD said. There is a slight possibility of scattered light rain from Wednesday onwards. Meteorologists indicate that the southwest monsoon is currently stalled across the country, having remained inactive since May 29. The IMD forecasts the potential formation of a low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal in the next few days, with its movement crucial for the monsoon's progression into South Bengal. There is some divergence among different weather models regarding the exact timing and trajectory of this low-pressure system. A rough forecast suggests its formation between June 10 and 17, potentially strengthening and moving towards the West Bengal-Odisha coast. Despite North Bengal's early monsoon, the IMD states that the wind speed and environmental conditions in South Bengal are not yet conducive for its arrival. Chances of rain in West Bengal remain low until June 12. Temperatures across South Bengal districts may increase by up to 4 degrees Celsius in the next three days, accompanied by dry and uncomfortable conditions. The districts, including Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, Purba and Paschim Bardhaman, Bankura, Purulia, Birbhum, and Murshidabad will primarily experience hot and dry air. Sweety Kumari reports from West Bengal for The Indian Express. She is a journalist with over a decade of experience in the media industry. Covers Crime, Defence, Health , Politics etc and writes on trending topics. With a keen eye for investigative and human-interest stories. She has honed her craft across diverse beats including aviation, health, incidents etc. Sweety delivers impactful journalism that informs and engages audiences. Sweety Kumari is a graduate of Calcutta University with an Honors degree in Journalism from Jaipuria College and a PG in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University. Originally from Bihar, she is brought up in Kolkata and completed her education from Kendriya Vidyalaya SaltLake. Multilingual, Sweety is fluent in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili. She started her career as an Entertainment and lifestyle journalist with a newsportal in Kolkata. She is working with The Indian Express for 8 years now. ... Read More
