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The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Thoothukudi Collector's absence at grievances redress meeting irks farmers; stage sit-in protest
Farmers from Thoothukudi district staged a sit-in protest at the Collectorate on Thursday (June 19, 2025), following the absence of the District Collector at the monthly grievances redress meeting. The meeting, which was presided over by District Revenue Officer (DRO) A. Ravichandran witnessed a brief commotion, when a section of farmers sat on the floor of the meeting hall, raising concerns about the absence of the District Collector. The DRO explained that senior officials had arrived in Tiruchendur regarding the consecration ceremony of the temple and this had prompted the Collector to attend their visit. However, the farmers argued that the meeting must be conducted under the leadership of the District Collector and claimed that any proceedings without the Collector would be ineffective. They also pointed out the absence of Revenue Divisional Officers (RDO's) of Kovilpatti, Tiruchendur and Thoothukudi and noted that divisional-level grievance meetings had not been conducted for the past two months. The DRO assured that RDO's would be instructed to attend all future meetings, and directed the officials to ensure that the divisional-level meetings are conducted regularly. Meanwhile, another section of farmers urged that the meeting should continue. This led to a brief commotion and officials tried to pacify the agitated farmers. Despite the efforts to calm the situation, the agitation continued. The officials further contacted the Collector, who spoke to one of the farmers over the phone and it helped to diffuse the situation. The meeting resumed after a delay of 45 minutes. At the meeting, the farmers raised several key demands which included an integrated plan to control weeds in agricultural lands and measures for the distribution of relief assistance to crops affected by the 2024 monsoon. They demanded that milk producers be paid fair and fixed price and wage of the employees at the milk producers cooperative society to be increased. Farmers from Kulathur and Sivagnanapuram sought insurance compensation for shallots crops for the 2023-2024 season to be released. Additionally, they called for a Forest Extension Centre in Sathankulam, proper water flow to the tail end of the Korampallam tank and strengthening of the bunds along the 'Uppar' canal. They also demanded the speedy completion of works at Maruthur 'Melakaal' canal. Addressing the grievances, the DRO said that a subsidy of ₹800 is currently being provided for farmers for summer ploughing and for weed control measures. He added that flood damage assessments have been completed and that necessary audit work have also been finalised for the distribution of relief funds. The Forest Extension Centre at Sathankulam would be inspected and necessary action would be taken accordingly, noted Mr. Ravichandran. He further said that subsidised chilli and jasmine saplings would be distributed through the Horticulture Department.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
‘A loud noise, fire and people crying for help': BJ Medical college students narrate their ordeal from the fateful afternoon
Jeel Vyas, Yash Pandav and Yash Tapaniya — all medical students and close friends — were among around 70 students who were having lunch in the dining hall on the first floor of one of the hostel buildings at BJ Medical College on June 12. Recalling the afternoon, Tapaniya says: 'We heard a loud noise of something that seemed like a big blast. We thought that gas bottles in the kitchen area of our mess might have exploded. Suddenly, a fire broke out and the entire room was filled with smoke. The visibility was poor and it was difficult for us to see what was happening. Before we could figure out anything, concrete chunks of the ceiling fell on my head and back. A wall near us collapsed soon after and a few students got trapped. We sensed that something big had happened.' 'I somehow managed to reach the stairs and come down. There was a body. There were people around us shouting and crying. I came out of the building, while one of us (Pandav) jumped from the first floor through a window. After coming out, we spotted the tail of the plane stuck outside the first floor of the building. It was then that we realised that it was a plane crash.' Tapaniya, a second-year MBBS student at the Ahmedabad college added. On Sunday, we three checked on each other to find that we were all safe. The three then returned to their respective residences in Surat's Katargam. A London-bound plane which took off from the Ahmedabad airport on June 12 crashed on the first floor of the hostel building. According to Tapaniya, the aircraft was shattered into three pieces — the 'front cone-shaped' part that went inside the building, the middle portion, and the tail that got stuck outside the building. He further said: 'I sustained injuries after the concrete chunk from the ceiling fell on my head and back. I was bleeding. People were finding it difficult to breathe due to dense smoke. The debris of the crashed plane were still gutted in fire. Due to the impact, a few gas bottles in the kitchen also exploded, making a huge noise. I came down alone, as I had lost both my friends. One of my seniors, Krish Patel, who is from Vapi, helped me get out of the building and then took me to the Civil Hospital, where I was admitted at 2pm. I lost my phone in the dining room. I borrowed his phone to call my father Nareshbhai and inform him about the incident. I told him not to worry, as I had sustained minor injuries and was already under treatment.' Tapaniya was discharged on the following day. His father reached the hospital but was not allowed to enter as the police had cordoned off the entire building, restricting public entry. Tapaniya had reached his hostel a day before the incident and called his father to say that he could accompany him home. Yash Tapaniya further added 'The first floor mess room contained around 80 people, including the kitchen staffers, medical students, and their families. After the accident, some students who had rushed out of the building reached their hostel rooms on bikes, brought mattresses and bed sheets, which were placed on the ground near the windows so that people who would jump could not get injured. Some of the students used the bedsheets to take the injured ones to the hospital for medical treatment.' Tapania was in shock, says his father, who runs an embroidery business in Surat. The father said, 'We boarded a train from Ahmedabad and reached Surat on Sunday evening. He narrated his ordeal and we consoled him. He is better now.' Pandav (19), a first-year MBBS student, said: 'We three got separated from one another. Everybody was scared and was searching for a way out of the building. In one of the corners of the hall, I saw a portion of the aircraft that was burning. There was dense smoke everywhere. I came near a small window and jumped from the first floor, and landed on the ground. Luckily, nothing happened to me. We all had lost our mobile phones. I went to my hostel room. Nobody was there. I called up my father to inform him that I was safe. I went to bed and slept throughout the evening and the entire night. My father turned up the next day and took me back to Surat.' All the three students are currently recovering from the shock they had gone into. The trio has decided to return to Ahmedabad and continue their studies. They are waiting for a call from their college. Nandlal Pandav, a Prajapati community leader from Surat, visited the residences of the three friends in Katargam and assured 'all possible help'.
Mint
4 days ago
- General
- Mint
New shocking footage of Ahmedabad tragedy - Students jump from BJ Medical College building after Air India plane crash
Air India Plane CRash: On 12 June 2025, a tragic Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, claiming the lives of 241 passengers and crew. The aircraft struck the BJ Medical College hostel, igniting a massive fire that engulfed the building and surrounding area. New video footage has now emerged, showing the harrowing moments when students at the medical college desperately jumped from the burning hostel to escape the flames and smoke. The footage captures thick plumes of black smoke billowing from the hostel as panicked students scramble to flee. Some are seen climbing down from the medical college's windows and balconies, while others use makeshift ropes fashioned from tied-together bedsheets to descend from higher floors. The scenes reveal a desperate attempt to survive amid chaos, with students helping one another to escape the rapidly spreading fire. Several students were even seen perched on nearby trees, watching helplessly as the fire raged on. The Air India plane crash not only resulted in the loss of nearly all lives on board but also claimed the lives of around 30 people on the ground, including five medical students residing in the hostel. The plane's tail reportedly struck the college mess hall during lunchtime, causing a devastating impact. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched a thorough investigation into the incident. Following the tragic Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crash near Ahmedabad on 12 June, significant developments have unfolded in the investigation and response efforts. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of India is leading the inquiry, with crucial assistance from international agencies including the United States' National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the United Kingdom's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Both the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR), commonly known as the black boxes, have been successfully recovered from the crash site. In the wake of the accident, the Civil Aviation Ministry has ordered enhanced safety checks on the entire Boeing 787-8/9 fleet operated by Air India to prevent any recurrence of similar incidents. The Air India plane crash claimed 241 lives onboard, including prominent figures such as former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, whose funeral was held with full state honours. The disaster also resulted in casualties on the ground, as the aircraft struck a medical college hostel, intensifying the tragedy.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Phillies Trade Idea Lands Angels' World Series Champion Closer Kenley Jansen
Phillies Trade Idea Lands Angels' World Series Champion Closer Kenley Jansen originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Philadelphia Phillies are in the thick of the National League postseason hunt. Sitting 2 ½ games behind the New York Mets for the NL East lead and holding the top spot in the Wild Card, the Phillies are expecting to be active at the trade deadline, with the bullpen being a glaring concern. Advertisement Closer Jose Alvarado is still out after an 80-game suspension and will not be eligible for the postseason. In his place, former All-Star Jordan Romano has struggled to lock down the ninth inning with a 7.11 ERA across 25.1 innings, creating further need for another late-inning reliever. Sports Illustrated's Nick Ziegler suggests the Phillies target Los Angeles Angels closer Kenley Jansen as a potential Romano replacement. Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Kenley Jansen (74).Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images 'One name that makes a lot of sense is the future Hall of Famer Kenley Jansen,' wrote Ziegler. 'The right-hander is at the tail end of his career but has been one of the best closers in baseball for the last decade. This year, he is pitching for the Los Angeles Angels, who will be a seller at the trade deadline. Jansen will certainly be a desired pitcher with his successful track record.' Advertisement Jansen, 37, is under contract through the 2025 season, likely making him one of the cheaper bullpen arms available. In 26 appearances, the former All-Star has a 4.94 ERA, 22 strikeouts, and 14 saves through 23.2 innings. Although the numbers are unimpressive, it is Jansen's postseason success that makes him an alluring trade target. In 59 postseason appearances, Jansen has a 2.20 ERA, 94 strikeouts, and the second-most saves of all-time, 20, just behind Mariano Rivera. Jansen may not be the biggest name on the market, but he is the most accomplished. For a Phillies team that has fallen short of winning a World Series since 2008, acquiring Jansen could be a difference-maker come October. Related: Phillies Reportedly Among Most Active Teams Leading up to MLB Trade Deadline This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- Hindustan Times
DNA of 19 victims matched, more remains discovered
Doctors in Ahmedabad worked round the clock to match blood and DNA samples to slivers of charred remains, forensic investigators combed through mangled pieces of metal for human parts, and rescuers cut through the wreckage to pull out bodies on Saturday as authorities struggled to arrive at the final toll of India's worst single-aircraft tragedy. Officials said they pulled out three bodies from the debris on Saturday, adding to the already staggering toll from the Thursday afternoon crash of the London-bound Air India 171 flight just outside Ahmedabad airport, even as it became clear that people had died not just on the plane or in the hostel it slammed into, but also the neighbourhood. The government has confirmed that only one of the 242 people on board the plane survived, and eight bodies of people who died at the BJ Medical College hostel were handed over to their families on Friday. In addition, the 15-year-old son of a tea-seller who was sleeping under a tree, Akash Patni, was confirmed dead as well. Around 20 more people – all on the ground – were feared dead, but confusion reigned on the exact number. 'As of Friday, the death toll stood at 270. Today, we recovered three additional bodies, including one from the tail section of the aircraft. Search and recovery operations for the remaining victims continue,' a police official stated. But Dhaval Gameti, president of the Junior Doctors Association at B.J. Medical College, told reporters that at least 270 bodies were recovered from the site of the crash. 'The eight bodies handed to the families on Friday did not need DNA identification. They had died after the wall collapsed. But 11 passenger bodies were examined for DNA sampling on Saturday because of the burn injuries. It matched with the blood samples given by the victims,' said medical college dean Meenakshi Desai, adding that the hospital authorities were waiting for four families to give their samples. Later in the evening, state home minister Harsh Sanghavi said in a post on X that the matching process for 19 victims was completed. 'DNA Matching Progress: 19 DNA samples have been matched so far, confirming the identities of victims,' he said. Emergency services continued recovery efforts, extracting a badly burnt body from the wreckage on Saturday before cranes were deployed to clear debris. DNA identification is underway to confirm victim identities, with relatives, some traveling to India, providing samples to assist. The flight carried 169 Indian, 53 British, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian passenger, along with 12 crew members. The deceased include at least four medical students and two of their relatives who were inside the hostel where the plane crashed. Only one British nation, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, survived. Three forensic science laboratory teams were engaged in DNA sample analysis, and so far, blood samples from 248 relatives were collected, a Civil Hospital official said on condition of anonymity. At the Trauma Centre, the health department deployed five teams comprising around 100 specialists and assistants in orthopaedics, neurology, medicine, plastic surgery, and burns. Additionally, a team of 32 experts and 20 assistants was stationed at the post-mortem room, while 12 experts were operating at the testing facility of B.J. Medical College. The DNA matching process is being conducted with support from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and the National Forensic Science University (NFSU). Hospital authorities have established strict protocols. A close relative who provided the DNA sample should come in person to collect the body. If unavailable, other close family members may collect the body. If the person who gave the DNA sample cannot come personally, they must send an authorised representative with a proper authority letter. Some relatives expressed frustration that the process was taking too long. Authorities say it normally takes up to 72 hours to complete DNA matching and they are expediting the process. Navib Sheikh, who lost four members of his family, asked, 'The doctors are saying it will take 72 hours. The mother of the girl who died does not know that her daughter is no more. We gave the DNA samples on the day the incident took place. Why is it taking so long?' Sheikh's relatives Mariam Ali Syed, her husband Javed, and their two children, Zayn, 5, and Amani, 4, perished. State Emergency Commissioner Alok Pandey said the deceased were from 18 of Gujarat's 33 districts. 'A grief counsellor has been appointed for each family to address the mental trauma. The families of the 11 foreign nationals have also been contacted, and they will arrive here by noon tomorrow,' he added. Dean Desai said, 'The forensic science laboratory is working round-the-clock to match the samples. We hope to release the report of 10-20 samples every day. The bodies of the passengers are being handled in a dignified way.' Explaining the process, Desai said that the tissue from bones and teeth of charred bodies were taken up for DNA profiling. ' Taking samples in case of a charred body is possible but it takes time. In case of immediate relatives, the results are delivered immediately. For distant relatives, it may take time. But all bodies will be identified and handed to the families for a dignified funeral.' Throughout Saturday, families of those who died in the crash continued to wait outside the mortuary. Among them was Yash Mistry, a resident of Anand in Gujarat, whose sister, Kinal, was among the passengers on the Air India flight. 'This morning, a police inspector explained the process. We have been given a slip with a number. The hospital authorities said that each one of us will get a call, once the body is identified. We have been told to present this slip containing the number at the counter in the hospital. Once they match the number and our identity, then the bodies will be returned.' Police officials at the mortuary said that each passenger, whose identity was not known, too was assigned a number. 'The number and the blood sample given by the relatives is matched. This is how the bodies will be handed. We have told the relatives not to stand in this heat outside the mortuary and urged them to return to the accommodation provided by the government until then,' they added. Aamir, whose brother Irfan Sheikh, a flight crew member, is suspected to be among the dead, said the hospital authorities said that the body would be handed in by Saturday night or soon. 'We are hoping to receive a call from the hospital anytime. Each time the phone rings, we hope this is a call from them. We want to take our brother home at the earliest.'
