 |
 |
|
|
(JANUARY, 2003) Villagers Scared as Tiger
Cubs Stray Out of Forest BHOPAL: Three tiger cubs strayed from the nearby Ratapani sanctuary on Wednesday in Karmai village setting off alarm bells in the surrounding villages. The villagers panicked after they found the cubs and reported the matter to forest officials. Forest officials have kept the cubs in a specially erected wooden cage and plan to place it in the forest near the spot where they were found. The cubs, two of them female and one male, were healthy and were fed on a sumptuous diet of chicken and goat milk. The forest officials have told the villagers to move cautiously in groups and not to sleep outside. Villagers said such incidents were on the rise and they were living in fear. Though no incident of poaching has been reported so far, wildlife experts said that the latest crossing of the cubs gives reason to investigate the possibility of a man-animal conflict. The last tiger census showed up around 22 tigers in the Ratapani sanctuary. Britain
Simplifies Visa Procedure (Go
to Top) CHENNAI: Britain has announced friendlier visa procedures. Applications from southern India will from now on have to be forwarded to one of the visa centres instead of its Deputy High Commission here. "Improved procedures would also be introduced in Bangalore and Hyderabad and would soon be extended to Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and other cities," UK Second Secretary (Immigration) Geoff Wood said at a press conference. The Commission will outsource the facilities from Fastrac Visa Facilitation Services Pvt Ltd from February 10. Those seeking an interview could fix an appointment, eliminating the need to stand for hours outside the Commission, he added. All applications would be immediately forwarded to the Deputy High Commission in Chennai. After approval, the passport endorsed with the appropriate visa would be returned to the new appliction centres by courier or would directly be sent to the applicant's address. Nostalgic Steam Locomotive
Rides (Go to
Top) GUWAHATI: In a bid to preserve the outdated steam locomotives, the North-east Frontier Railway has brought forth a tourism package to enable both the old and the young have nostalgic rides. 'Brahmaputra by Steam', a rail tourism venture in Guwahati, is offering to-and-fro nostalgic rides between Guwahati and Pandu, once an important port in the South Bank. The tour package aims at reviving interest in the steam-run locomotive and preserving the rail heritage. The steam locomotive was manufactured in the US in 1944. It was operational till the year 1993. Bhopal Express Gets ISO
9001 Certificate (Go
to Top)
BHOPAL: A passenger train in Bhopal ecame the first locomotive in the country to get an 'ISO 9001' certificate for providing quality services. Bhopal Express, a super-fast train running between Habibganj (Bhopal) and Hazrat Nizamuddin (New Delhi) was chosen for certification by a Norwegian firm after a survey of various other trains. It was flagged off by State Governer Bhai Mahavir at a special function to mark the achievement. The 17-bogie train, which was introduced three years back, has now been renamed as Shaan-e-Bhopal (Pride of Bhopal). Six CRPF Men Killed as Bus
Falls into Gorge in Baramulla (Go
to Top) SRINAGAR: As many as six CRPF soldiers were killed and eight injured when their vehicle plunged into a deep gorge in Baramulla district on Friday night, the police said on Saturday. The accident occurred when the driver lost control at a curve near Nadihal area of the district. The injured were shifted to a local hospital. New Centres for British Visa
(Go to Top) NEW DELHI: The British High Commission will open new visa offices at several places across the country to facilitate quick disposal of visa applications. New centres will start functioning in New Delhi, Jalandhar and Chandigarh shortly and within a month more centres will come up at other places too. According to a mission press release, applicants will have to submit their forms to the centre nearest to their place of residence. The facility will start functioning from February 3, 2003. Gujarat
Ropeway Mishap Toll 7 (Go
to Top)
Fire brigade and para-military officials rescued 32 people trapped in cars hanging in mid-air. They were brought down one after other in a chair using a pulley. A police official said a helicopter and crane from a nearby refinery were used to rescue those trapped. Pavagadh town in 140 km to the south of Ahmedabad, the State's main city. Devotees use the cable cars to get to the Mahakali temple atop a hill. Tourists Throng Camel Festival
in Bikaner (Go to Top) BIKANER: Every year for two days Bikaner assumes a festive air with a unique camel festival held here. Hundreds of foreign as well as local tourists thronged the camel festival that kicked off last Friday. The festival flaunting the 'Ship of the Desert' in action showcased a great display of relations between man and animal. The event got off to a colourful start with caparisoned camels being led on to the ground by their proud owners. Intricate designs etched on the backs of the animals caught the eye of the spectators. "It is really good, really interesting. We don't have anything like this in Australia that's why we came here to look at it," said Brad, a tourist from Australia. "The camels, the way they have been decorated and the way their coats have been shaped to give beautiful designs, the ornate decoration and the men sitting on them with their beautiful costumes," said Rachel Bond, another foreign tourist. The long lanky camels, colourfully bridled with bejewelled necks, jingling anklets gave an amazing display of footwork, dancing gracefully to the direction of their owners. Graceful performances by folk artists attired in traditional costumes enthralled the audience. Organised by the State department of tourism, art and culture, the festival is aimed at boosting tourism in the State. Desert city of Bikaner, situated some 320 km from State Capital Jaipur was a major centre for trade in the 16th century. It houses a number of places of tourist attraction, including forts, palaces, temples and museums, apart from the Centre of Camel Research. Classic Cars Roll Out on
Jaipur Roads(Go to Top) JAIPUR: At least 70 old beauties, all spruced up and well-tuned, took part in a vintage car rally on Saturday in Jaipur. The rally is part of the annual heritage week which kicked off on January 14, in an attempt to spruce up the tourist arrivals in Rajasthan. Nearly 12 vintage motorcycles also took part in the rally. Of the classics participating in the rally were collections from 1927 to 1959, including the classic Lancester, Austin, Chevrolet, Baby Feat, Impala, Thunder Bread and Cadillac. Almost all the cars participating in the rally have interesting histories, with most belonging to former royalty, governors and dignitaries. Many of India's former princes are renowned for their taste of vintage cars, but only a few can now afford to maintain them. "I bought this car in 1954 and since then it's with me. There is no problem in maintaining it. Though we get parts out here in India but if there is any difficulty at times then we get it from Austin, England," said PC Solani, who is a proud owner of a 1954 Austin. Organisers said that the rally aimed at promoting tourism and put up a biggest show of classic cars in India. "The idea is definitely that Jaipur hosts the biggest collection of vintage cars ever in India. That's the aim and we can do it with no problem. ... Out here there are about 40 odd (vintage cars) from Jaipur, there will be about 30 from Delhi and there are vintage moptorcycles also. Already we should have a pretty large contingent. It's almost as good as anything that you are likely to get," said an unidentified organiser. For many of the participants, the event was an opportunity to be able to drive their old beauties through the otherwise crowded streets. Love Tames Wild Elephant
(Go to Top) LUCKNOW: Love is known to make people do the unthinkable but few except the Zoo authorities in Lucknow could have imagined it doing the same for an 800 pound elephant. Thanks to a "love therapy" used by local officials, Sumit, Lucknow city's most rowdy elephant, is well on his way to become its most well behaved.
The 10-year-old pachyderm had, since his inception into the Zoo in 1994, displayed excessive moodiness and refused to be tamed. Things took a turn for the worse when Sumit entered adolesence, his violent fits increased and zoo officials were often forced to run for cover. Kishan, Sumit's mahout, recalls a recent incident when Sumit attacked him and other officials. "The elephant went berserk and started attacking us. We tried to tie him up but he was too violent, we had to run," said Kishan. Perturbed by his constant mood swings and tired of trying conventional measures, the zoo authorities then introduced 'Jiamala, a sober pachyderm beauty, into the picture. Much to their relief the move clicked and smitten by the full 670 pound of her, Sumit today is a changed personality. Though still chained he fondly watches over his sweetheart, who is tied right opposite him, as he allows the mahout to scrub him. Eva Sharma, Director, Lucknow Zoo, agrees that Sumit has shown a remarkable improvement in his behaviour but adds that he will have to be chained for some more time as a precautionary measure. "Right now he (Sumit) is looking very normal and calm. We gave him a good bath today and he was very obliging, he also allowed himself to be chained without any hassles. He was fully cooperative, but we will still keep Sumit in chains as a matter of precaution. Our mahouts will make sure that he gets his daily walk within the zoo premises," she said. Sumit will stay under observation for another two weeks before he is allowed a full 24-hour stay with his sweetheart. 42 Injured as Bulls in Ceremony
Go Berserk(Go
to Top) PALAMADU (Tamil Nadu): One hundred and forty-two people were injured, 28 of them seriously, during the 'Jallikattu' (taming the bull) organised on Thursday as part of the Pongal festivities in Palamadu village near Madurai. The incident occurred as one of the bulls went out of control and attacked a 100,000-strong crowd. In another incident, 50 persons were injured, five seriously, in nearby Avaniapuram village on Wednesday. 'Jallikattu' is a major, age-old ceremony in the villages of south India and is held as thanks-giving event for the animals which have helped in farm activities all round the year. The objective of this sport is to wrest the bounty, which is put in a cloth bag tied between the horns of the bulls. But the sport has degenerated into a game of gambling. With lucrative prizes (ranging from 10,000-50,000 rupees) attached to the bulls, betting is heavy and bull owners try all cheap tricks (like intoxicating bulls) to chase them beyond their capacity leading to disasters of all kinds. In most cases, both the racing animals and the majority of the spectators are drunk. The races have also led to group clashes and emerged as a battleground to score unsettled issues among various groups. 21 Hurt as Train Derails
in Howrah Station (Go to Top) KOLKATA: Twenty-one passengers were injured when a coach of the Pandua-Howrah local train derailed on Saturday morning after hitting the buffer at the end of the platform in the busy Howrah terminus. The accident occurred when the train was entering the station. The injured were discharged after first aid and the driver has been suspended. Sunny Nainital a Refreshing
Change for Tourists (Go
to Top) NAINITAL: A bright and sunny weather prevailed in Nainital, a hill station in Uttaranchal, even though the higher reaches of the State received moderate to heavy snowfall. Every year, the minimum temperature during winter in Nainital hovers from six to seven degrees Celsius while other parts of India get caught in a severe fog and cold wave. It was reported that the fortnight from January 1 to 15 was the coldest in five years in Delhi with maximum day temperatures varying between 11 to 14 degrees Celsius while minimum temperatures dipped below 4 degrees. Hundreds of tourists who thronged the hill resort said that they were enjoying the sunny weather after a fairly long time. "It has been ages since I saw bright sun. I am feeling great here in Nanital. It is comparatively warmer than other places in north India. As we come here during summers, the same way we have come here during winters," said Samir Agarwal, a tourist. "This place is just heaven. We can see sun here," said Naveen, another tourist. A lot many of them came from Delhi and said that Nainital's weather was a welcome change. "There was severe cold in Delhi. I read that Nainital is comparatively warm. As I came here, it proved right. I am really feeling good here," said Nikesh Mathur, a frequent visitor. Elephants Play Football in
Guwahati(Go to Top) GUWAHATI: A two-day elephant festival was organised in Assam with a view to reducing the growing tension between man and the animal. In the past two years, at least 150 people have been trampled to death by elephants in the State. Angry villagers have killed up to 200 pachyderms. Nearly 275 elephants were assembled from across the country for the festival which was held at the world famous Kaziranga National Park. More than 15,000 people thronged to see the beautifully decorated elephants and cultural troupes which took part in a procession reminding people that elephants have a special place in the State's culture. "People don't see so many elephants together. So you can see the size of them, you can see the breadth of them, you can see the tradition of them and the real tradition of Assam," said Mark Shand, a wildlife expert. A football match among the elephants was also organised which drew thunderous cheers from wildlife enthusiasts. Assam is home to about half of India's total wild elephant population which is about 10,000. There are an estimated 2,500 domestic elephants in Assam. Due to loss of corridors and habitat, the elephants in India are scattered in more than 15 States. In India and in several other Asian countries, recent trends indicate that the elephant is under increasing pressure from poachers. Sixth
International Kite Festival Off to Flying Start in Jodhpur (Go
to Top) JODHPUR: The 6th International Desert Kite Festival literally got to a flying start in the city of Jodhpur in Rajasthan. Kites of all exotic shapes, sizes and hues filled tge sky. The festival dubbed as 'One Sky, One World' started from on Saturday, and would end on January 18. This will also be held in Jaipur, Agra and Goa. The travelling festival, the only one of its kind, attracts participants from India and kite lovers from all around the world. Kite makers and kite fliers from US, UK, France, Holland, Germany, Belgium, Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa will display and take part in various kite flying competitions and also the chief attraction - the Indian Kite Fighting Competition. Admiring the splash of colours, cultures and comaraderie, a Japanese delegate said, "This is a great place, the international people are here from all over the world. This is a great way to know their culture by looking at their kites". Gracing the festival, Rajasthani folk singer Ila Arun illustrated the intrinsic nature of kite flying to the cultural heritage of Rajasthan and Gujarat. Manali
Carnival Wins Many Hearts (Go
to Top) MANALI: Hundreds of tourists are thronging a five-day winter carnival currently under way in Manali in Himachal Pradesh. More than 30 teams with around 900 artistes from all over the country won the hearts of the audience with their performances setting an example of cultural unity. The carnival began with a cultural procession attended by participants from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Pune. Beautifully decorated tableaux of various States were seen along with the participants who danced through the procession. Foreign tourists who witnessed the event, said it was a good opportunity to know more about the Indian tradition and culture. "I think it was really beautiful and the thing that was most special about it for me as a foreign tourist, was the fact that it gave me and my kids an opportunity to see the cultural expression of different areas of India. The thing that was really special was that people came from different parts of the country and I got a chance to see them on the streets of Manali," said Anne McWilliam, a tourist from Australia. Several artistes, including famous ghazal singer Peenaz Masani enthralled the audience with her melodious voice. Organisers said the carnival has been organised with a view to promoting tourism, which was severely hit after communal clashes in Gujarat last year. "The main purpose of this carnival is to promote tourism in Manali. Normally it happens that tourists throng the place during Christmas season. During 25-31 Dec, there is a heavy rush and to make them stay longer we organise this programme," said Praveen Fakay, organiser of the carnival. Tourism is the mainstay of the State's economy which generates about 100 million dollars. Over the last few years, Himachal Pradesh has become the preferred destination for tourists after the ongoing separatist violence in Jammu and Kashmir. 21 Killed in Train Accident
in Maharashtra (Go to Top) SECUNDERABAD (Andhra Pradesh): Twenty-one people were killed and 25 injured on Friday when a passenger train, the Secunderabad Manmad Express, collided with a stationary goods train at Ghatnandur station in Maharashtra. Three coaches of the Express were derailed. Anxious relatives thronged the Secunderabad city railway inquiry counters to get information about their relatives. Ramesh Reddy, whose relatives were travelling in the train, said the railway authorities did not have the details. Meanwhile, in New Delhi, Railway Minister Nitish Kumar said the accident was a result of "human failure". A point should have been set when one train was already parked. "The station man and pointsman have run away from the station," according to him.He said many people were still trapped in the coaches. Last month, 18 people were killed and 80 injured when nine coaches of the Bangalore Express and its engine overturned in Andhra Pradesh State, and 126 people were killed in September when a luxury train crashed in Bihar. Railway officials suspected sabotage by leftist extremists behind the two accidents but police contested the claims. 500 Held in Patna During
Stormy Street Protests(Go to Top) PATNA: More than 500 people in Patna were arrested on Friday after mobs torched Government buildings and clashed with security forces during a strike called in protest against the killing of three youths by the police. They fought pitched battles with police in the streets of Patna, hurling stones and burning tyres, witnesses said. The police caned the demonstrators in many places and fired teargas shells at one intersection. At least 10 people were injured in the violence over last Saturday's shooting of three Patna young men who the police said were criminals. But city residents said they were innocent. Six policemen have been suspended for the killings pending an investigation. The state-wide strike, called by Opposition political parties, was the second this week. Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sushil Kumar Modi said the police cane-charged protestors even though they were demonstrating peacefully. State police chief RR Prasad said the shutdown was total across the State with shops and businesses closed and that most of the violence and arson was reported in the State Capital. Prasad added that the rioters set a police outpost and two Government office buildings on fire. He said the police had arrested more than 500 people in Patna. The strike also hit rail traffic as the authorities halted train travel in the State during the shutdown to avert damage to coaches, stranding thousands of people in neighbouring regions. -ANI & India Overseas |
Previous Files
|
