Latest news with #Himalayan
India Gazette
3 hours ago
- India Gazette
J-K conducts flood mock drill in Pahalgam to bolster Amarnath Yatra preparedness
Pahalgam (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], June 20 (ANI): The Jammu and Kashmir Disaster Management Department conducted a mock drill simulating a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) scenario in Pahalgam on Friday. The exercise was held in coordination with the Anantnag District Management Authority and saw participation from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Indian Army, and other emergency support and line departments. The exercise aimed at enhancing preparedness for the Amarnath Yatra will start on July 3. It tested response mechanisms for disasters like floods and accidents, critical for the safety of over 4.5 lakh pilgrims who visited the Amarnath cave shrine last year. The Deputy Secretary of the J-K Disaster Management Department, Snober Jameel, while speaking to ANI, stated, 'It is a very significant and important pilgrimage for us. So, before that, too, it's crucial that we ensure people are already prepared. Given the extreme weather events we are witnessing nowadays--like cloudbursts and other types of events--we must be prepared in advance. We have already implemented preparedness and preventive measures. For prompt response, we have already trained our staff.' The Deputy Secretary stated that the initiative aims to tackle potential disasters in advance, highlighting the region's vulnerability due to numerous glacial lakes in the Himalayas. She said, 'This initiative is by the J-K Disaster Management Department. This mock exercise has been organised in collaboration with the Anantnag District Management Authority. GLOF hazards are a global issue, as we know, and especially in the Himalayan region, where there are many glacial lakes. The approach of the Disaster Management Department and the J-K government has always been that we should be prepared in advance to tackle any disaster.' She said that the drill aims to sensitise and mobilise response forces, including the SDRF, NDRF, and the Army. 'This initiative has been taken to conduct a mock exercise specifically for GLOFs, so that all response forces--be it SDRF, NDRF, the Army, Emergency Support Function departments, line departments, our administrative personnel, and other disaster managers--can be sensitised and mobilised. This is being done to implement preparedness measures and demonstrate the practical steps that need to be taken for a response. The idea is that if we face any such disaster in the future, we are fully prepared.' (ANI)
Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
President Droupadi Murmu opens Rashtrapati Niketan in Dehradun
Dehradun: President Droupadi Murmu, who turned 67 on Friday, opened Rashtrapati Tapovan and Rashtrapati Niketan and visited the National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities on Rajpur Road in Dehradun. Rashtrapati Tapovan and Rashtrapati Niketan which will be open to the public from June 24 and July 1, respectively. (ANI) Murmu, who was on a three-day visit to Uttarakhand from June 19, also laid the foundation stone for Rashtrapati Udyan. Rashtrapati Tapovan and Rashtrapati Niketan which will be open to the public from June 24 and July 1, respectively. Rashtrapati Tapovan is a 19-acre Presidential Estate nestled in the Himalayan foothills. A dense forest patch rich in native vegetation, Tapovan hosts 117 plant species, 52 butterflies, 41 bird species, and 7 wild mammals, including some protected species. The area features natural bamboo groves and undisturbed woodland ecosystems. Established in 1976, the Rashtrapati Niketan, formerly known as the Presidential Retreat, has a rich heritage tracing back to 1838, when the estate served as a summer camp for the Governor General's bodyguard. It spans 21 acres and includes lily ponds, historic buildings, orchards, and stables. Rashtrapati Udyan, a 132-acre public park, will be fully accessible to specially abled people. It aims to become a community engagement hub to promote wellness, culture, and civic pride among citizens. She also released a book on the biodiversity of Rashtrapati Niketan, Rashtrapati Tapovan, and Rashtrapati Udyan, which catalogues over 300 species of flora and 170 species of fauna, including butterflies, birds, and mammals. The book is on the biodiversity of Rashtrapati Niketan, Rashtrapati Tapovan, and Rashtrapati Udyan. (ANI) The President also visited the National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities and interacted with the students. 'India's history is full of inspiring incidents of sensitivity and inclusiveness. Elements of human compassion and love have always been present in our culture and civilization,' she said. The President also visited the National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities and interacted with the students (ANI) She said that through the Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan, which emphasises developing an accessible physical environment, transport, information, and communication ecosystem, the government is striving for empowerment and equal participation of the specially abled people. 'With the help of advanced technology, even people with disabilities can be able to contribute to the mainstream,' she added.
American Military News
7 hours ago
- Politics
- American Military News
US lawmakers honor Dalai Lama with bipartisan resolution ahead of 90th birthday
This article was originally published by Radio Free Asia and is reprinted with permission. Ahead of the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday on July 6, U.S. lawmakers have introduced bipartisan resolutions in both chambers of the U.S. Congress to honor the Tibetan spiritual leader and designate the anniversary as 'A Day of Compassion.' The resolution – introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday and in the Senate on Tuesday – reaffirms that only the Dalai Lama himself should determine his successor and that any attempt by Beijing to select or appoint one would be an 'invalid interference' and violation of religious freedom rights. China has sought greater control over Tibetan Buddhism since invading the independent Himalayan country in 1950 and forcing the Dalai Lama into exile in India in 1959. In 2007, Beijing announced it would oversee the recognition of all reincarnate Tibetan lamas, including the next Dalai Lama. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), who co-introduced the Senate resolution with Todd Young (R-Indiana), emphasized the broader stakes. 'As the Chinese government continues to ignore the rights of Tibet under international law, we're sending the message that we must protect these fundamental freedoms,' Merkley said. In the House, Representatives Michael McCaul (R-Texas) and Jim McGovern (D-Massachusetts) introduced a similar resolution recognizing the Dalai Lama's 'outstanding contributions to peace, nonviolence, human rights, and religious understanding.' 'Despite having faced persecution, oppression, and unspeakable violence at the hands of the CCP, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has maintained inner peace and continues to preach compassion – inspiring not only his own people, but the entire world,' said McCaul. CCP refers to the Chinese Communist Party. McCaul last year led a bipartisan Congressional delegation to Dharamsala, India, where he presented the Dalai Lama with a framed copy of a U.S. bill, that was later signed into law, in support of Tibetan people's right to self-determination. 'The people of Tibet have an inalienable right to self-determination, and our resolution reaffirms the United States' commitment to Tibetans by supporting their basic human rights, religious freedom, culture, and language,' said Merkley. In recent years, China has sought to control the reincarnation process of Tibetan religious leaders in an apparent attempt to appoint the Dalai Lama's successor. But in his new book titled 'Voice for the Voiceless,' the Dalai Lama has said that his successor would be born in the 'free world,' which he described as outside China. 'The new Dalai Lama will be born in the free world so that the traditional mission of the Dalai Lama – that is, to be the voice for universal compassion, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, and the symbol of Tibet embodying the aspirations of the Tibetan people – will continue,' the Dalai Lama said in the book. The latest resolution reiterates that the selection and installation of Tibetan Buddhist religious leaders are within the authority of the Tibetan Buddhist community. 'I'm proud to stand with the Dalai Lama and the people of Tibet in their struggle for freedom and peace against the Chinese Communist Party's continued aggression. The CCP's status quo – both in Tibet and elsewhere – is not acceptable,' said Young. The resolution is co-sponsored by a group of bipartisan lawmakers including Reps. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), and Young Kim (R-Calif.), and Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), John Curtis (R-UT), and Dan Sullivan (R-AK). Both resolutions have to be approved by committee and then voted on by each chamber before passage.
Hindustan Times
9 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Meta alerts help Uttarakhand cops save over a dozen people from ending their lives since 2022
The Uttarakhand Police managed to save a 30-year-old Haridwar man from dying by suicide because a technological intervention by US-based Meta, which owns Facebook and WhatsApp as well, alerted them when the man put out a post on Instagram announcing his decision to take his life. This is one of many such stories that have lately emerged from the Himalayan state. The Uttarakhand police tied up with Meta in August 2022 for timely alerts whenever the tech giant tracks a post related to suicide on Facebook or Instagram. With Meta's help, the Uttarakhand police has so far foiled over a dozen suicide attempts in various districts, including Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar and Dehradun. Deputy superintendent of police (cyber crime cell), Ankush Mishra, who is the nodal officer of the project in Uttarakhand, said, 'On June 19, Meta informed us via an urgent call and an email that a person from Haridwar had posted on Instagram indicating his intent to die by suicide. Two officials on duty at the cyber crime police station in Dehradun — sub inspector Mukesh Chand and constable Nitin Ramola — shared the details with the Haridwar district control room, Haridwar Kotwali Nagar and senior police officials of the district. Upon receiving the information, a team from Haridwar police promptly reached his house and counselled him from taking the step.' 'Upon questioning, the person revealed that he was severely distressed due to family issues, which led him to post about ending his life on Instagram,' the police said. 'If someone posts about suicide (using keywords like poison, hanging, suicide) on Facebook, Instagram or any other platform owned by Meta, the company's algorithm picks these keywords and immediately sends an alert to the nodal officers of states,' Mishra said. The DSP further said, 'Sometimes, I receive calls from Meta officials at odd hours like 2-3am due to different time zones in the US and India. I have now set a different ringtone for international calls so that I immediately know that it's urgent. They ask us to check the email, which contains complete details of such posts and the social media user. We then coordinate with the district control room and share with them the person's name, location, and sometimes even photos. The cops from the local police station then reach the location and counsel the person along with the family members.'
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Restarts After 5 Years, First Batch Leaves from Nathula Pass, ET TravelWorld
Advt Advt Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals. Subscribe to Newsletter to get latest insights & analysis in your inbox. All about ETTravelWorld industry right on your smartphone! Download the ETTravelWorld App and get the Realtime updates and Save your favourite articles. After a gap of five years, the revered Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through Sikkim recommenced on Friday with the ceremonial flagging off of the first batch of pilgrims by Sikkim Governor Om Prakash Mathur from the Nathula Pass The batch comprises 33 pilgrims, accompanied by two nodal officers and one doctor from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), making a total of 36 members. The resumption of this spiritual journey marks a significant moment of international cooperation and cultural continuity between India and at the flagging-off ceremony, Governor Mathur said, "It is a moment of immense pride for the state of Sikkim that this historic and spiritual journey is progressing through the sacred land of the state." He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for reviving the yatra, terming it a sign of restored heritage and international Governor also lauded the Sikkim Government, ITBP, and Indian Army for their coordination in making this possible. Before their departure, he interacted with the pilgrims, offering wishes for a safe and healthy journey. Sikkim tourism minister Tshering Thendup Bhutia says, "After 5 years, history is being created that devotees from all over India are coming here and getting ready to start the Mansarovar yatra... This Kailash Mansarovar yatra was closed for many days due to COVID-19. But now the first batch is going today, and the second batch is getting ready. It also gives publicity to Sikkim's Nathu La and will also give value addition to Sikkim tourism..."The pilgrims underwent stringent medical screening and completed a two-phase high-altitude acclimatisation process, first at the 18th Mile and then at Sherathang. These measures were mandatory to prepare them for the extreme Himalayan conditions, situated at altitudes above 14,000 official from the Indian Army confirmed the fitness of the group, stating, "All yatris have been declared fit by the medical team and are ready to proceed."Shalanda Sharma, one of the pilgrims, told ANI, "This yatra is starting after five years through mutual agreement between the Government of India and the Government of China. The arrangements, the hospitality, and the medical attention--we're truly grateful. We're all excited to carry blessings from Kailash Mansarovar back to India."Another pilgrim, Indar Sharma, praised the arrangements made by the Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation (STDC) and authorities, stating that everything from medical checks to logistics had been handled efficiently. He added, "We are carrying blessings and hope this yatra strengthens India-China ties and allows more pilgrims in the future."As per schedule, by 9:15 AM, the group was expected to cross the Nathula border into the Chinese side, where immigration formalities would be completed before they continue their pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Mansarovar yatra is being jointly facilitated by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation, and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, ensuring a safe and smooth experience for all participants.
