Airport services management firm Air India SATS Services (AISATS) has dismissed four senior executives for allegedly organising a party at its office, days after the tragic Air India Ahmedabad plane crash, reported the PTI. The decision was taken after the a video of the party went viral, sparking public outrage on social media. AISATS is a joint venture between the Tata Group-owned Air India and Singapore-based SATS Ltd, a global provider of aviation gateway and catering services. In an official statement issued on Friday, AISATS said it had taken “firm disciplinary action” against those responsible, though it did not name the individuals or provide further details, according to the PTI. However, sources told the PTI that the company had terminated four senior executives directly involved in hosting the gathering. A video showing senior Air India SATS (AISATS) executives dancing at a DJ party in their Gurugram office—just eight days after the deadly Flight AI171 crash—has sparked public outrage.The June 20 celebration, reportedly attended by top officials of AISATS (Air India SATS… pic.twitter.com/jBQwUSBstd — Mid Day (@mid_day) June 23, 2025 “At AISATS, we stand in solidarity with the families affected by the tragic loss of AI 171 and deeply regret the lapse in judgement reflected in a recent internal video. The behaviour does not align with our values, and firm disciplinary action has been taken against those responsible as we reaffirm our commitment to empathy, professionalism, and accountability,” the statement read, as per the PTI. AISATS did not specify the date of the event. The video clip, which showed several employees dancing at the office, went viral on social media, attracting widespread criticism for its insensitivity. "AISATS is aware of a video being circulated on social media that unfortunately is completely out of context. Notwithstanding, we sincerely regret any emotional discomfort this may have caused," an AISATS spokesperson had earlier said in a statement shared with news agency IANS. The backlash came soon after the Air India flight AI 171 crash on June 12 in Ahmedabad, where 270 people lost their lives, including 241 passengers and crew. The Boeing 787-8 aircraft, bound for London Gatwick, crashed into a medical hostel complex shortly after take-off. Only one person survived the plane crash. Among the victims were 151 Indian nationals, 34 British citizens, seven Portuguese nationals, one Canadian, and nine ground staff or airport workers. The aircraft had plunged into a densely populated area, hitting a hostel building and killing all 241 people on board, along with several on the ground. (with PTI and IANS inputs)
27 June,2025 10:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear a plea regarding Maratha reservation in July. The issue was raised for urgent listing before a bench comprising Justices KV Viswanathan and N Kotiswar Singh. The counsel for the petitioner cited a June 11 order from the Bombay High Court (HC), which had decided to hear the petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Maratha reservation law starting July 18. The lawyer also noted that the Supreme Court had previously directed the HC to constitute a bench and consider interim relief in the matter, reported news agency PTI. He said the Bombay HC declined to grant any interim relief in the matter and would continue to hear the matter. The top court posted the matter on July 14. A special bench of the HC was constituted last month to hear and decide the pleas related to the Maharashtra State Reservation for Socially and Educationally Backwards Classes (SEBC) Act, 2024. The 2024 law, which provided 10 per cent reservation in education and government jobs to the Maratha community, constituting nearly one-third of Maharashtra's population, had been at the forefront of political discourse last year during the Lok Sabha and the assembly elections. Last year, a full bench headed by then Bombay HC Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya commenced hearing the challenge to the law on the ground that the Maratha community was not a backwards one that requires benefits of reservation. The pleas also claimed that Maharashtra has already crossed the 50 per cent cap on reservation. However, the hearing came to a standstill after Chief Justice Upadhyaya was transferred to the Delhi HC in January. On May 14, the apex court directed the Bombay HC to constitute a special bench and urgently hear the matter. In March 2024, when the petitions against the reservation were filed, the HC in an interim order said that applications for NEET 2024 admission to undergraduate medical courses, in which a 10 per cent reservation granted to members of the Maratha community was applicable, would be subject to further orders in the pleas challenging the law, according to news agency PTI. On April 16, 2024, the full bench also clarified that till further orders, any applications for admissions to educational institutions or jobs at government authorities taking benefit of the Act will be subject to further orders in the present proceedings. The SEBC Act was passed on February 20 last year. It was formulated by the then-chief minister Eknath Shinde-led government based on a report of the retired Justice Sunil Shukre-led Maharashtra State Backwards Class Commission (MSBCC) that found "exceptional circumstances and extraordinary situations exist" to grant reservation to the Maratha community in excess of 50 per cent total reservation in the state, reported PTI. In December 2018, a batch of petitions was filed in the high court challenging the earlier SEBC Act of 2018 that granted Marathas 16 per cent reservation in government jobs and education. In June 2018, the high court upheld the 2018 Act but reduced the quota to 12 per cent in education and 13 per cent in government jobs. This was challenged in the apex court, which in May 2021 struck down the entire Act. A review petition filed by the Maharashtra government was also rejected by the Supreme Court in May 2023. (With PTI inputs)
27 June,2025 07:28 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) is set to host a major event on Sunday, 13 July, at the Ashoka Hotel in New Delhi to mark the 90th birth anniversary of the 14th Dalai Lama. A special gathering aims to commemorate the 90th birth anniversary of the 14th Dalai Lama, honouring his profound and lasting impact, his spiritual teachings, and his tireless contributions towards fostering global peace and compassion. Meanwhile, the entire day’s programme will be dedicated to this occasion, bringing together a distinguished assembly of international scholars, prominent Buddhist leaders, and various experts who have maintained long-standing associations with His Holiness. The comprehensive schedule for the day will feature several insightful panel discussions. These discussions are designed to explore topics that deeply resonate with the Dalai Lama’s core teachings and his vision for the future evolution of Buddhism. Key themes will include “Relevance of Buddha Dharma in the 21st Century,” examining how ancient Buddhist principles remain pertinent in contemporary times, and “The Future of Tibetan Buddhism and the Preservation of its Culture,” focusing on the challenges and strategies for maintaining this unique tradition, reported ANI. A particularly anticipated segment of the day’s events will be a session titled “Quantum Physics, Neurosciences and Buddhism.” This session is intended to facilitate an exploration of the fascinating intersections and parallels between cutting-edge modern science and traditional Buddhist philosophy, delving into how these disparate fields can inform one another. Moreover, the celebration will conclude with the formal adoption of a special declaration. This declaration will centre on the theme of “Karuna & Its Relevance in Conflict Avoidance,” underscoring the crucial role of compassion as a fundamental principle for effectively addressing and resolving contemporary global challenges and conflicts. The event will have a highly esteemed roster of participants. Among them will be Professor Samdhong Rinpoche, a renowned scholar and former Prime Minister of the Central Tibetan Administration, and Richard Davidson, a distinguished American psychologist and the founder of the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Other notable international figures confirmed to participate include Most Venerable Phrarat Vajarasuttiwong from Thailand, Geshe Lobsang Tenzin Negi from Emory University, Professor Ceon Ramon from the University of Washington, and the respected Buddhist scholar Alex Berzin, reported ANI. Additionally, attendees will include Edi Rama Wijaya Putra, Rector of Sriwijaya State Buddhist College in Indonesia; Venerable Nicholas Vreeland, who served as the former Abbot of Ratod Monastery and was the subject of the documentary Monk with a Camera; Kate Saunders, the former head of the International Campaign for Tibet; and Claude Arpi, a Distinguished Fellow at the Centre of Excellence for Himalayan Studies, Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence in Delhi. (With inputs from ANI)
27 June,2025 06:47 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentIn a significant move to ensure fair market prices and increase farmers’ incomes, the Maharashtra government has launched a dedicated hedging desk in Pune. The initiative, part of the first phase of the Balasaheb Thackeray Agribusiness and Rural Transformation (SMART) Project, initially focuses on cotton, turmeric, and maize. The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) stated that the programme will eventually expand to include a wider range of crops. Supported by the National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX) and its research arm, NCDEX Institute of Commodity Markets and Research (NICR), this initiative aims to protect farmers from financial losses caused by fluctuating market prices. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis described it as a major step forward for agricultural development. Hedging, explained as a ‘fence protecting a farm’, is designed to minimise risks from potential future price drops, while options trading allows farmers to secure favourable prices. Established based on recommendations from the World Bank and the project’s implementation framework, the hedging desk will provide crucial training and guidance to individual farmers and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) on participating effectively in the commodity futures market. Moreover, agriculture contributes 12 per cent to Maharashtra’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), though crop production remains highly dependent on natural factors. As several farmers often lack control over their produce prices despite successful harvests—an issue the government has traditionally addressed through policies, modern agricultural practices, and crop insurance schemes. Recognising the limited resources and market knowledge of individual farmers, the government has set up this centralised Agricultural Hedging Desk in Pune. The desk will collaborate with FPOs and Cluster-Based Business Organisations (CBBOs) to offer technical insights into commodity contracts and risk management strategies, reported PTI. Over 3,000 farmers are expected to receive training in hedging tools and strategies. Additionally, the desk will provide real-time market intelligence, including trends, supply-demand changes, and global prices, and promote the establishment of storage centres near farms via FPOs. Meanwhile, a dedicated risk management cell will analyse various risk types and formulate mitigation strategies, publishing annual commodity price risk assessment reports for cotton, maize, and turmeric with current insights, forecasts, and policy recommendations. Awareness and training programmes on commodity derivatives will also be conducted. At least 50 FPOs involved in producing and marketing these three key crops will be registered and facilitated to trade in the futures market. A formal agreement for this hedging desk was signed between NCDEX and the SMART Project on April 8, 2025. Special focus will be given to FPOs and farmers in major cotton, turmeric, and maize cultivating regions, including Hingoli, Washim, Sangli, Yavatmal, Akola, Nanded, Amravati, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, and Beed. Headquartered in Pune, the project’s operations have already commenced across the state. Hedging and options trading are anticipated to bring substantial benefits to Maharashtra’s farmers; for example, a farmer uncertain about future prices at sowing time can use options trading to lock in a minimum selling price, safeguarding them from market volatility. Ultimately, this initiative aims to help farmers secure stable incomes, plan their finances more effectively, and feel more confident about investing in agriculture. (With inputs from PTI)
27 June,2025 06:33 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentPalghar police in Maharashtra has set up a measurement collection unit (MCU) on the directives of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) that has asked for the establishment of such units at all district levels nationwide, an official said on Friday. The MCU, which has come up under the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act 2022, will collect, store and analyse physical and biological data of arrested individuals involved in criminal cases, he said.This includes the collection of fingerprints, retina scans, body measurements, identification marks or wounds, and photographs, including images of private parts as permitted under law for forensic purposes, the official added. "Through this system, all districts in the state and all prison administrations have now been interconnected. This modernized unit replaces the outdated Identification of Prisoners Act, 1920, which limited data collection to only fingerprints and photographs," a Palghar police release said. The information will be collected for 75 years, which will ensure long-term identification of those whose details are in the MCU and negate chances of attempts at evading justice by changing appearance etc, it said."The launch of this unit represents a major milestone in bringing state-of-the-art biometric identification systems to district-level policing. It aligns with the national push to adopt technology-driven, data-centric methods in the criminal justice process," the release said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
27 June,2025 06:27 PM IST | Palghar | PTIA British High Commission spokesperson confirmed on Thursday that a UK F-35B aircraft is currently awaiting repairs at Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram International Airport after developing an engineering issue. According to news agency ANI, the spokesperson stated that the aircraft, which was diverted to the airport nearly two weeks ago, will be moved to the airport's Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility once engineering teams from the UK arrive with specialist equipment. “A UK F-35B aircraft is awaiting repairs at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport after developing an engineering issue. The UK has accepted an offer to move the aircraft to the Maintenance Repair and Overhaul facility at the airport. The aircraft will be moved to the hangar once UK engineering teams arrive with specialist equipment, thereby ensuring there is minimal disruption to scheduled maintenance of other aircraft. The aircraft will return to active service once repairs and safety checks have been completed. Ground teams continue to work closely with Indian authorities to ensure safety and security precautions are observed. We thank the Indian authorities and Thiruvananthapuram International Airport for their continued support,” the spokesperson said. The F-35B made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram airport nearly a fortnight ago after it was unable to return to the UK’s HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier due to adverse weather conditions. The UK aircraft was safely diverted to the Thiruvananthapuram airport, where it subsequently developed an engineering issue that prevented its return to the carrier. Following the aircraft's landing, engineers from HMS Prince of Wales assessed the situation and determined that assistance from a UK-based engineering team was required to carry out necessary repairs. The High Commission also highlighted that the ongoing security and organisational assistance provided by India reflects the strong coordination and growing relationship between the Armed Forces of the UK and India. Earlier, the Indian Air Force (IAF) had confirmed that the Royal Navy fighter jet made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram airport on the night of June 14. In a post on X, the IAF had said, "A Royal Navy F-35B fighter recovered off an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on the night of 14 June 25. Operating from UK Aircraft Carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, it was undertaking routine flying outside Indian ADIZ with Thiruvananthapuram earmarked as the emergency recovery airfield." A Royal Navy F-35B fighter recovered off an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on the night of 14 June 25. Operating from UK Aircraft Carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, it was undertaking routine flying outside Indian ADIZ with Thiruvananthapuram earmarked… pic.twitter.com/gL2CQcuJc7 — Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) June 15, 2025 (With ANI inputs)
27 June,2025 06:24 PM IST | Thiruvananthapuram | mid-day online correspondentDue to heavy rainfall across parts of Jammu and Kashmir, the situation in the area looks even worse. Heavy rainfall in the last few days has led to a rise in the water level of the Chenab River, causing an overflow at the Baglihar Hydroelectric Power Project. Doda-Kishtwar-Ramban Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Shridhar Patil acknowledged the tense situation in the valley and urged people to stay away from rivers and overflowing streams. While speaking to the media, DIG Patil said, "All of you must have noticed that the water level has risen in the Chenab River. One incident has also come to our notice in the Doda district, in which some people have lost their lives. I appeal to all people not to go near the rivers... The water level is very high. Do not put yourself at risk," as per ANI. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), on Wednesday, rescued an individual who was stranded in the River Tawi of Jammu following heavy overnight rainfall, which had raised the river's water level. As per ANI, the SDRF personnel, during the rescue operation, put down the stairs to the accident site amid flowing water and rescued the man stranded in the Tawi. Meanwhile, the movement of vehicles stopped at Chanderkote as the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway has also been closed due to a landslide at Mehar and T2 Tunnel Marg, as per ANI. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) had also issued a multi-region meteorological alert, warning of intensified rainfall activity over various parts of the country, along with issuing a heatwave warning for the Jammu division. It has also been reported that authorities of several districts in Jammu, including Rajouri and Doda, have imposed a strict ban on swimming, fishing, and roaming around the rivers amid the flash floods. IMD, while alerting about the alarming weather conditions predicted, stated that isolated heavy rainfall is likely over Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Muzaffarabad during 25th to 27th June, and over East Uttar Pradesh during 27th to 30th June. The India Meteorological Department has also predicted light to moderate rainfall, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds of 30–40 km/h, across Northwest India from 24th to 30th June. (With ANI Inputs)
27 June,2025 06:12 PM IST | Jammu and Kashmir | mid-day online correspondentAmid the ongoing concerns about the administrative lapses in the forest range, the discovery of a seemingly stale carcass of a cow in the Hugyam forest range in Mahadeshwara Hills on Friday is now taking things in another direction. The carcass of a cow in the forest range has strengthened the doubt that the death of a tigress and her four cubs could be due to poisoning, an official confirmed. The demise of a tigress and four cubs on Thursday in the Hugyam forest range raises deep concerns about the administrative authorities governing this particular forest area. It is now highly suspected that the miscreants had poisoned the cow, and after eating it, the tigress and her cubs might have died, as per PTI. The office, while addressing the issue, stated that: "Either the bovine was poisoned before being left in the forest, or the owner of the cattle, after spotting the dead cow, would have spread poison on its body, which the tigress and her cubs ate and died." Affirming the forest official’s statement, the Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre also backed the same theory. The Karnataka Forest Minister further said: “Someone might have poisoned the cattle, which led to the death of the big cats.” "Our government has taken the matter very seriously, and we will investigate it from all angles. We will not spare those behind it," Khandre further told reporters. While the autopsy on the mother tigress was done on Thursday itself, the post-mortem on the four cubs was underway on Friday, the forest officials said. The tigress and the cubs were found dead during a routine morning patrol by vigilant frontline staff, officials added. As reported by PTI, a five-member team of experts on Thursday undertook a comprehensive necropsy following NTCA (National Tiger Conservation Authority) protocols. The tissue, blood, and stomach samples were being processed for toxicology, histopathology, and DNA profiling, forest officials said. Following the tragic incident which happened on Thursday, the forest department has strengthened monitoring and anti-poaching vigilance across the Hugyam range. According to Khandre, real-time drone surveillance, infrared cameras, and GPS-based M-STRIPES patrols have been escalated across the range, and all Anti-Poaching Camps (APCs) are on high alert. Moreover, intensive sweeps for snares, poison baits, and traps are being conducted, and a confidential informer network with reward mechanisms has also been made operational for actionable intelligence. Keeping in mind that Karnataka has the second-highest number of tigers in the country, after Madhya Pradesh, this incident of five tigers being killed can be a major point of debate. (With PTI Inputs)
27 June,2025 06:01 PM IST | BangaloreUttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami conducted an aerial survey of the ongoing construction work at the multi-purpose Jamrani Dam project, located in the Nainital district on Friday. Following the inspection, the Chief Minister provided an update and expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for revitalising this significant project, which had remained stalled for over six decades. Speaking to ANI after his aerial review, Chief Minister Dhami conveyed his thanks on behalf of the people of Uttarakhand. He noted the project’s long-standing delay, stating, "First of all, I would like to thank PM Modi on behalf of the people of Uttarakhand that this project was long pending for more than 6 decades now... A lot of time went by, and governments came and went, but the work didn’t begin." He further stated that under the decisive leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the project has now received approval and is actively underway. A completion target has been set for 2029, and Chief Minister Dhami affirmed that it is the government’s earnest endeavour to ensure the project is finished within this stipulated timeframe. Earlier on the same day, Chief Minister Dhami also attended the launch of the book titled The Emergency Diaries: Years that Forged a Leader. During the event, he described the publication as far more than just a book, referring to it as an "experience that touches the heart." He elaborated that the book narrates the story of a period in Indian history when expressing one’s opinions was deemed a criminal act, and remaining silent was perceived as a form of surrender. Further, Chief Minister Dhami profoundly stated, "In these pages, one finds the shadow of such a personality, who kept the torch of his thoughts burning even in that silence. The leadership that has become the voice of India on the world stage today has been tempered in the heat of struggle." He even conveyed that reading this particular chapter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's life journey filled him with immense pride. The Emergency Diaries – Years that Forged a Leader, published by BlueKraft, is based on first-person accounts and anecdotes from associates who worked closely with a young Modi. Meanwhile, utilising various archival materials, the book is a pioneering work that generates new academic insight into the formative years of a young man who dedicated himself entirely to the fight against tyranny during the Emergency period. (With inputs from ANI)
27 June,2025 05:54 PM IST | Dehradun | mid-day online correspondentThe Monsoon Session of the Maharashtra Legislature is scheduled to take place from June 30 to July 18, reported PTI. The decision was taken on Thursday at the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meetings of both the Houses of the state legislature in Mumbai. The meeting was attended by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Legislative Council Chairperson Ram Shinde, Deputy Chairperson Neelam Gorhe, Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar, and Deputy Speaker Anna Bansode, alongside State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandrakant Patil. Culture Minister Ashish Shelar, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan, Leader of Opposition in the Council Ambadas Danve, as well as MLAs Deepak Kesarkar (Shiv Sena), Bhaskar Jadhav (Shiv Sena UBT), Jitendra Awhad (NCP SP), Nitin Raut, and Amin Patel (Congress) also attended the meeting along with MLCs Bhai Jagtap (Congress) and BJP's Pravin Darekar, Prasad Lad, and Shrikant Bharatiya. "The BAC finalised the Monsoon Session for three weeks. We will conduct the proceedings as per what has been decided," Fadnavis told reporters on Thursday. Speaking on the recent controversy surrounding the third language in the school curriculum, Chief Minister Fadnavis clarified that Hindi remains an optional subject, while Marathi is compulsory. He was also asked about the High Court's dismissal of pleas related to alleged bogus voting in the 2024 assembly polls as "farcical claims made out of desperation". The Chief Minister asserted that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi must stop discussing rigging and irregularities in the state polls if he genuinely respects the Constitution, democracy, and the judiciary. Further emphasising that the High Court's order was detailed and logically sound, Fadnavis remarked that "nothing can be done about those pretending to sleep." "But yeh public hai, yeh sab janti hai (the public knows everything)," he said, quoting a Hindi film dialogue. Regarding the 802-kilometre Nagpur-Goa Shaktipeeth Expressway, Fadnavis informed reporters that the state finance department has not raised any objections to the decision to acquire a loan for land acquisition for the project. Moreover, he clarified that the finance department merely pointed out some issues, which is standard procedure for their role. "When we invest in infrastructure, the economy grows. All countries create infrastructure by raising loans. Marathwada and drought-prone areas of the state will see development due to the Shaktipeeth Expressway. It will not just be an access controlled road. We will also create 500 to 1000 farm ponds at every 100 kilometres of the route," Fadnavis explained, highlighting the project's broader economic and developmental benefits. (With inputs from PTI)
27 June,2025 05:40 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentChaos erupted during the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad as elephants went out of control and trampled people, on Friday. Further details awaited. VIDEO | Gujarat: Chaos erupted during the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad as elephants went out of control and trampled people. Further details awaited.(Source: Third Party)(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/sEIiYhXmt6 — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 27, 2025 The 148th Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath began in Ahmedabad on Friday morning, with thousands of devotees joining in for a glimpse of the deity. The raths or chariots of Lord Jagganath, his brother Balbhadra and sister Subhadra were pulled out of the Jagannath temple in Jamalpur area of the city by the Khalasi community as per the age-old tradition. The grand procession of the three chariots rolled on from the 400-year-old temple, and it is expected to return by 8 pm after making its way through the old city, including a few communally sensitive areas. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and his family members participated in the morning prayers at the Jagannath temple, while Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel performed 'pahind vidhi', a traditional ceremony of symbolic cleaning of roads by a golden broom. The procession, usually comprising 18 elephants, 100 trucks, 'bhahan-mandlis' (devotional groups) and 30 akhadas (local gymnasiums), will cover a distance of 16 km during the day. Several trucks have been decorated as tableaux on different themes. Throughout the day, lakhs of devotees are expected to gather on both sides of the route to pay obeisance to Lord Jagannath and his siblings. Police officials said they have made elaborate security arrangements for the procession. Nearly 23,800 security personnel have been deployed in the city to guard the annual Rath Yatra, which is expected to draw 14-15 lakh people. According to a government release, an Artificial Intelligence-based surveillance system will be used for the first time to prevent stampede-like situations. The AI-based system would notify the police and fire department in case of a fire along the route, besides alerting the police control room when too many people are gathered in a particular area, it said. About 4,500 security personnel will walk with the procession on the entire 16-km route, while 1,931 personnel will be deployed for traffic management, said officials. Several roads will remain closed to normal traffic. Senior police officials will keep a watch on the Rath Yatra procession using 2,872 body-worn cameras linked with the control room, 41 drones and 96 cameras installed at different locations and 25 watch towers. Ahead of the 148th Rath Yatra, police had organised 177 meetings of peace committees, 235 meetings of mohalla committees, 57 meetings of women's committees as well as 21 meetings with various religious leaders with the aim of maintaining communal unity and harmony, the release had said. (With inputs from Agencies)
27 June,2025 05:09 PM IST | Ahmedabad | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
