One Dead, Several Others Injured In Near Stampede During Rath Yatra In Puri

by Hemanta Pande

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

In a tragic incident, one person died due to suffocation while several others sustained injuries in a stampede-like situation during the pulling of chariots in Rath Yatra at Puri on Sunday,

Puri, July 7: In a tragic incident, one person died due to suffocation while several others sustained injuries in a stampede-like situation during the pulling of chariots in Rath Yatra at Puri on Sunday, officials said.

According to sources, several other devotees were injured in the incident while some of them are reportedly critical. They are currently undergoing treatment at the Puri district hospital.

"The chariot of Lord Balabhadra had moved ahead a little when suddenly the crowd increased outside the security cordon. Meanwhile, we saw the elderly deceased fall on the ground in the crowd. We immediately rescued him and brought him to the hospital in the ambulance. We also administered CPR to him in the ambulance on the way to hospital. I gave CPR all along and the doctor also tried hard to save him at the hospital but later pronounced him dead. From a call received on the deceased’s mobile which is with us, we came to know his name and he belonged to Balangir district," said a volunteer working in St John Ambulance.

The administration identified the deceased as Lalit Bagarti from Saintala in Balangir district. Expressing deep grief on the death of a devotee during Rath Yatra, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has announced an ex-gratia of Rs four lakh for his family.

A similar stampede-like situation also occurred during the pulling of Nandighosh Rath, the chariot of Lord Jagannath.

Sources also said that due to extremely humid conditions in the holy city and the huge gathering, more than 300 persons were admitted to hospitals after feeling uneasy during the Rath Yatra till evening on Sunday.

Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, and Health Secretary Shalini Pandit also visited the hospitals and enquired about the health condition of the injured persons undergoing treatment.

The pulling of chariots was stopped on Sunday evening after they rolled a short distance and will be resumed on Monday. The state government had earlier declared July 8 as a holiday keeping in view the continuing pulling of chariots. (IANS)

PM Modi Welcomed By Banjara Women, Engages With Community Saints In Maha

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

New Delhi, Oct 5: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday spent some time with the saints of the Banjara community in Washim. PM Modi appreciated the efforts of the saints to serve the society. Several women from the Banjara community also welcomed PM Modi during his visit. He exchanged pleasantries with the women there.

In a post on X, PM Modi wrote: “In Washim, met respected Saints from the Banjara community. Appreciated their efforts to serve society.” PM Modi on Saturday launched development projects in Maharashtra.

The PM also performed Darshan at Jagdamba Mata Temple, Poharadevi. He paid tribute to the Samadhis of Sant Sevalal Maharaj and Sant Ramrao Maharaj in Washim.

The PM inaugurated the five-floor Banjara Virasat Museum, celebrating the rich heritage of the Banjara community. Poharadevi is one of the important and well-known pilgrimages of Maharashtra.

In a rally in Washim, PM Modi launched a blistering attack on the Congress terming it as anti-farmer, and accused the party of heaping insults on the Banjara community when it was in power after independence. PM Modi also inaugurated several projects.

He also distributed the next instalment of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi in Washim district of Maharashtra. He appreciated the contribution of the Banjara community to the country. He recalled how the British treated these community members as criminals. He alleged that Congress also ignored this community.

Speaking during another public meeting, PM Modi exhorted the people of Maharashtra to firmly stand behind the pro-development BJP and MahaYuti and oppose the anti-development Congress and Maha Vikas Aghadi.

“Keep those opposing Maharashtra’s development out of power. Keep them hundreds of miles away,” he appealed to the people in his address at the public rally after launching and inaugurating various projects worth Rs 32,880 crore including the first phase of Mumbai Metro Line 3 and Thane circular metro rail project.

--IANS

RG Kar Protest: Junior Doctors To Render Medical Services, Carry Out Hunger Strike In Parallel

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

Kolkata, Oct 5: The West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Forum (WBJDF), on Saturday evening, announced a unique way to continue with their protests in support of their demands in the wake of the ghastly rape and murder of a junior doctor of R.G Kar Medical College & Hospital by continuing to provide medical services for the patients - and carrying out a fast-unto-death agitation in parallel.

Explaining the modus operandi of the parallel protest, a WBJDF representative said that six junior doctors will start the fast-unto-death agitation to begin with from Saturday night itself, while the other will be dedicated to medical services at the different medical colleges and hospitals in the state.

"For the sake of transparency of our hunger strike, CCTV machines will be installed at the hunger strike venue, so that the common people can come and see how serious we are about continuing with our agitation. As committed earlier we are giving our services to the patients. But we will not be consuming food," the representative said.

On Friday evening, the WBJDF, while announcing the withdrawal of their cease-work protest, had set a deadline of 24 hours for the state government to fulfil nine out of their 10-point demands failing which they would go for fast-unto-death agitation.

"That deadline is over and there has not been any communication from the state government about our demands. So as per our commitment, we will be continuing with our medical services for the patients besides entering into fast-unto-death agitation," the WBJDF representative said.

Already, the WBJDF has made it clear the first of their 10 demands relates to the protracted judicial process to ensure justice for the rape and murder of the victim, whose fulfilment depends on the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Supreme Court. However, the fate of the remaining nine demands depends on how serious the state government is about fulfilling them, they said. The demands include the immediate removal of the state Health Secretary, the introduction of a centralised referral system and digital bed vacancy monitor, task forces based on each college, with elected representation of junior doctors, increased police protection in hospitals, filling up of vacant posts of doctors, nursing staff and health workers and setting up of inquiry committees in every medical college to investigate those involved in threat syndicates and punish them.

An inquiry committee being formed at the state level, immediate elections being held for student councils in every medical college, and immediate enquiry being ordered into the rampant corruption and lawlessness in the West Bengal Medical Council and West Bengal Health Recruitment Board are the other demands.

--IANS

Exit Poll Projects Hung Assembly In J & K

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

New Delhi, Oct 5: The Axis My India has predicted a hung assembly in Jammu and Kashmir with the National Conference-Congress alliance slightly ahead and the BJP tailgating the opposition.

According to Axis My India, the NC-Congress alliance can win 35-45 seats whereas the BJP can win 24-34 seats. Notably, the majority mark to form the government in the Union Territory is 46 and the prediction has shown no one above the mark.
According to the predictions, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) can win 4-6 seats while Awam Ittehad Party-led by Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid can win 3-8.
The Axis My India has given Sajjad Lone's People's Conference 1-3 while others can get 4-10 seats.
As per its prediction, the NC-Congress vote share can go up to 38 per cent while the BJP on 21.
Earlier today, former Deputy Chief Minister of J-K & BJP leader Kavinder Gupta hinted that the BJP is holding talks with "like-minded" parties.
"It is only in the Exit polls that Congress-NC has got these seats, but BJP will emerge as the biggest party once the correct results are out. We are confident of getting more than 35 seats in Jammu province and the remaining from Kashmir. BJP will be in a better condition in Kashmir...Talks are going on with like-minded parties," Gupta said.
Bharatiya Janata Party General Secretary and J-K in charge, Tarun Chugh said on Saturday that these are only "Exit polls" and the results will be better than this.
Chugh exuded confidence that in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir, the BJP will form the government with a full majority.
"These are exit polls. The results will be better than this. BJP will form a government with a full majority in both Haryana and J&K. People's blessings are with BJP. Double engine government will be formed," he said.
National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah dismissed the exit poll predictions.
In a post on X, Abdullah said, "I'm amazed channels are bothering with exit polls, especially after the fiasco of the recent general elections. I'm ignoring all the noise on channels, social media, WhatsApp Etc because the only numbers that matter will be revealed on the 8th of Oct. The rest is just time pass."
According to TV-Today C-voter projections, the NC-Congress alliance is likely to win 40-48 seats while the BJP can win 27-32. Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti-led People's Democratic Party is likely to win 6-12 seats whereas others can win 6-11.
As per Dainik Bhaskar's projection, the NC-Congress alliance can win seats ranging from 35-40. The BJP can win 20-25 seats, PDP 4-7 while the others can win 12-18 seats.
The People Pulse survey has predicted 46-50 seats for the NC-Congress alliance and 23-27 for the BJP. As per them, the PDP can win 7-11 whereas the others can win 4-6 seats..
The Gulistan News projection on Republic TV projected 28-30 seats for the National Conference, 3-6 seats for the Congress, 5-7 seats for the PDP and 8-16 seats for other parties and independents.
The Election Commission of India said that an overall 63.88 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the Assembly elections in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The counting of votes will take place on October 8. In 2023, the Supreme Court directed the Centre to hold Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir by September 30, 2024. (ANI)

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One Dead, Several Others Injured In Near Stampede During Rath Yatra In Puri

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