Gujarat Rajkot News

After Gujarat Government Official Death, CBI Finds Rs 1 Crore In His House
Ndtv | 4 days ago | |
Ndtv
4 days ago | |

The CBI had arrested Bishnoi during a trap operation on Friday. (Representational)New Delhi: The CBI has recovered approximately Rs 1 crore from the premises of a senior Directorate General of Foreign Trade officer in Rajkot who jumped to death after being arrested by the agency for allegedly receiving a bribe of Rs five lakh, officials said on Sunday.During the search operation at the premises of DGFT Joint Director Jawri Mal Bishnoi, who was stationed in Rajkot, the CBI claimed to have seized two bags, carrying Rs 1 crore, which were allegedly being thrown out of the house by his family members, the officials said.The CBI had arrested Bishnoi during a trap operation on Friday while he was allegedly receiving the Rs 5 lakh of the total Rs 9 lakh demanded from a businessman who was seeking a no-objection certificate (NOC) to export food cans which would have allowed him to retrieve his bank guarantee of Rs 50 lakh, they said.A day after his arrest, Bishnoi (44) allegedly jumped from his fourth floor office fatally when the agency was concluding its searches, they said.A case of accidental death was registered at Pradyuman Nagar police station in Rajkot.This is one of the many cases where people have died either during a CBI trap operation or in its custody, they said.Recently, during a trap operation by the agency in Jammu the suspect police officer, who had allegedly demanded a bribe, suffered a heart attack.Earlier, Lalan Sheikh, the main accused in the Rampurhat massacre in West Bengal, had allegedly committed in CBI custody on which the state police had booked seven officials of the central agency for alleged murder.The agency had also suspended some officials in connection with alleged suicide of Sheikh.The CBI has not issued any formal statement over the alleged suicide by the DGFT officer.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.com(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)HelplinesVandrevala Foundation for Mental Health9999666555 or help@vandrevalafoundation.comTISS iCall022-25521111 (Monday-Saturday: 8 am to 10 pm)(If you need support or know someone who does, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist.)

After Gujarat Government Official Death, CBI Finds Rs 1 Crore In His House
Gujarat Government Official Jumps Off 4th Floor After CBI Arrest, Dies: Cops
Ndtv | 5 days ago | |
Ndtv
5 days ago | |

Bishnoi was on Friday arrested by the CBI for allegedly accepting Rs 5 lakh as bribe. (Representational)Rajkot: A senior official of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) died on Saturday morning after he allegedly jumped off his 4th-floor office here following his arrest in a bribery case, police said on Saturday.Jawri Mal Bishnoi (44), a joint director of DGFT, was on Friday arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 5 lakh, the official said. The CBI then began searching his office located on the fourth floor of a building.DGFT is a government body responsible for implementing the country's foreign trade policy. "CBI carried out a search operation at his office throughout the night and was about to finish it in the morning when at around 9.45 am, the accused suddenly ran towards the window and threw himself out of it," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Sudhir Desai.Bishnoi sustained serious injuries due to the fall from the fourth floor and was taken to the civil hospital where doctors declared him dead, the police official said.A case of accidental death was registered at Pradyuman Nagar police station, and further investigation is being carried out, Desai said.The version of the CBI officers will be taken in this connection, he said. "A group of people protested at the civil hospital (accusing CBI of Bishnoi's death). The police staff present at the hospital provided protection to the CBI officers and brought them to the police station for inquiry," he said.Bishnoi was on Friday arrested by the CBI for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 5 lakh, said the official.He had allegedly demanded a total of Rs 9 lakh from a businessman seeking a no-objection certificate (NOC) to export food cans which would have allowed him to retrieve his bank guarantee of Rs 50 lakh, police said.As per the CBI, the businessman had already submitted to the DGFT office in Rajkot six files that contained necessary documents concerning the periodic export of food cans with the anticipation of receiving the NOC.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.com(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)HelplinesVandrevala Foundation for Mental Health9999666555 or help@vandrevalafoundation.comTISS iCall022-25521111 (Monday-Saturday: 8 am to 10 pm)(If you need support or know someone who does, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist.)

Gujarat Government Official Jumps Off 4th Floor After CBI Arrest, Dies: Cops
Gujarat Man Gets Death Sentence For Stabbing Teen 34 Times
Ndtv | 2 weeks ago | |
Ndtv
2 weeks ago | |

A Gujarat man stabbed a girl 34 times after she rejected him.Rajkot:: A man accused of murdering a minor girl by stabbing her 34 times, has been sentenced to death by a court in Gujarat's Rajkot. The court of Additional District and Sessions judge RR Chaudhary sentenced Jayesh Sarvaiya, 26, to death for stabbing a Class 11 student 34 times after she refused to enter into a relationship with him.The man had also injured the girl's brother, who tried to intervene during the attack, which took place in March 2021.The court held this was a "rarest of the rare case" as per the definition given by the Supreme Court in the Nirbhaya case, said special public prosecutor Janak Patel.Jayesh Sarvaiya was booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act."The court awarded the death sentence and imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on the accused under Section 302 of the IPC... It was a murder that shook the entire community and hence, was taken seriously," Mr Patel said.The convict has been given a month's time for an appeal, he said.The accused and the girl were residents of Jetalsar village in Jetpur. The man had been harassing her, and on March 16, 2021, he went to her house with a proposal.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comAngered by her refusal, Sarvaiya thrashed the girl and stabbed her multiple times outside her house when she tried to escape. The shocked locals had demanded that he be given capital punishment, observing bandhs and holding protest marches.Featured Video Of The DayIndian Firms Hit By Key US Bank Collapse? Yes And No, Startup CEO Explains

Gujarat Man Gets Death Sentence For Stabbing Teen 34 Times
DJ music menace: Cops flooded with plaints across Gujarat
Times of India | 1 month ago | |
Times of India
1 month ago | |

VADODARA/AHMEDABAD/RAJKOT/SURAT: DJ music blaring through giant speakers is the latest and the most rampant offence committed across the state. The raucous decibel levels have forced citizens to seek help from the police, flooding the control room with complaints of blaring music, especially during the ongoing wedding season.Ahmedabad city police received 10,277 complaints about noise pollution in 18 months since January 2021. However, apart from two vehicles being seized, no action was taken against any person responsible for the disturbance.When the high court inquired about the implementation of a Gujarat Pollution Control Board's notification issued in December 2019 mandating sound limiters in sound systems, the Ahmedabad police filed five FIRs in January 2023 exactly on the same day it had filed an affidavit in the HC. On January 20, the Ahmedabad police commissioner sought to curb noise pollution in public places and roads by imposing restrictions, besides asking religious places to keep their sound systems not so loud that the sound could travel beyond their premises.While it prohibits mike systems and instruments in public spaces, this circular mandates permission to play music and use public address systems. It permits the use of the mike system on certain conditions only. Vadodara police got 400 calls from citizen in just one week For religious places, the Ahmedabad police circular says, "In temples, churches, and mosques, the sound of the mike system/instrument should be limited in such a way that it does not go beyond the premises."Barodians aren't spared too and in the past few months, about 50 per cent of the calls that the Vadodara police control got daily were about raucous DJ music being played in the urban areas.In fact, in just seven days the Vadodara city police control room has received over 400 calls from distressed citizens complaining about ear-splitting DJ music. Concerned over the spike in DJ music menace, the police have begun filing complaints against the DJs and seizing the music systems. "It has become a big cause of concern in the city areas. We get dozens of complaints every day," said Shamsher Singh, the city police commissioner.A senior police official said that the number of complaints has shot up due to the big DJ systems now being played in the wedding processions. "DJs are hired for even paltry events. It is giving citizens sleepless nights," he added."The police have filed about four cases every day in the past four days and even seized the music systems," said a police official.Vadodara-based advocate Shailesh Amin had even written a letter to the police department and raised the issue of noise pollution and health hazards caused by DJ music. Citing the Supreme Court order, he urged the cops to not allow loud music in public places after 10 pm. The noise pollution rules allow 55 decibels in the daytime in residential areas and at night 45 decibels. Rajkot city police control room receives an average of six complaints daily. Cops say that music menace becomes unbearable in February during the wedding season.In Surat,cops control room receives around 250 calls daily of which 20 are for loud DJ music, mostly played in the night.(With inputs from Nimesh Khakhariya in Rajkot, Saeed Khan in Ahmedabad and Yagnesh Mehta in Surat)

DJ music menace: Cops flooded with plaints across Gujarat
Goons unleash terror as Rajkot cops watch helplessly
Times of India | 1 month ago | |
Times of India
1 month ago | |

RAJKOT: Anti-social elements made a joke of the city police by blocking a road and then vandalizing a car whose driver urged them to give them away near Anand Bungalow Chowk in Malaviyanagar late on Sunday night.The goons blocked the road with their bikes, scoffing at the night patrolling by the police. At around 11:30pm, a man returning home with his family saw the road blocked and blew the horn. Angered by this, the goons vandalized his car, leaving the family completely traumatized.TimesViewThe repeated incidents of goons taking the law into their hands only reflectw the poor control of the police in the city. If those accused of attempt to murder can show such audacity in blocking roads and breaking common citizen's car, can people really trust the cops? It's time that senior police officials take such offences seriously and crack down on such offenders.This is the second such incident in one week in the jurisdiction of Malaviyanagar police station, raising serious questions about law and order.The police arrested three accused including Dhaval Asiaya (20), Bhavin Devda (23), and Aakash Zariya (21) following a complaint lodged by Nandish Kaviya. The accused have a criminal history and they were booked for attempt to murder, fraud, dacoity, and breaching public peace. prohibition, gimbaling etc in various police stations of Rajkot and Jamnagar districts in the past. Police inspector IN Savaliya of Malaviyanagar said, "We identified the accused from the CCTV footage and registration numbers of bike and arrested them within hours of the FIR." Kaviya and his family had gone to the Race Course on Sunday and the incident happened when he was returning home at around 11.30 pm with four to five persons blocking the road with bikes in the middle of the road. He honked and asked them to clear the road but this provoked the accused who broke the rear and front glasses with sticks. Kaviya reached Malaviyanagar police station post midnight to register a complaint. Last week, around nine people blocked the road by parking five cars near Swaminarayan Chowk under the jurisdiction of Malaviyanagar police station. They started playing loud music and a birthday by blocking the road and halting the traffic, giving two hoots to the police.In fact, they also clashed with the police when a traffic cop came there to clear the road.

Goons unleash terror as Rajkot cops watch helplessly
Silver, imitation jewellery worth Rs 3.93 crore robbed in Gujarat’s Surendranagar
Times of India | 1 month ago | |
Times of India
1 month ago | |

RAJKOT: The silver jewellery and imitation jewellery worth Rs 3.93 crore being transported to Ahmedabad from Rajkot in a cargo vehicle of a logistic company was robbed near Sayla in Gujarat's Surendranagar district late on Friday night. The seven robbers intercepted the pick-up van posing as police officers. Rajkot is known for its jewellery designs and imitation jewellery. The jewellery made here are transported across the country. According to police, a cargo vehicle of News air service was transporting 992kg silver worth Rs 3.88 crore and 704kg imitation jewellery worth Rs 5.12 lakh from Rajkot to Ahmedabad airport. The cargo belonged to several traders of Rajkot and it was destined for various metro cities through air cargo service from Ahmedabad. According to the statement of driver Amit Sing, a Bihar native, there were seven people involved in this robbery. A car was following him and it suddenly overtook his pick-up van from wrong side and intercepted the vehicle near Mordan school of Sayla. The other car came from the front and around five people came near the van dressed as police officers and told him in Gujarati that he needed to come to police station as he was transporting liquor. Before the driver could reply he was hit in the head, and he lost consciousness. He was then put in another car, his hands and legs were tied, and he was blindfolded. The robbers drove the van and after about an hour he gained conscious. The robbers pulled the car in a cotton filed on a remote road, broke the door of pick-up van, looted the jewellery and abandoned the driver in a cotton filed. The driver somehow reached the highway, took the lift from a truck driver and informed his boss. According to the driver, the robbers had covered their faces but they were speaking in Gujarati. Rajkot inspector general of police, Ashok,Kumar Yadav said, “We have formed ten teams with the police of three districts including Rajkot, Surendrangar and Morbi. We have blocked all the major roads and trying to nab the robbers as soon as possible.”

Silver, imitation jewellery worth Rs 3.93 crore robbed in Gujarat’s Surendranagar
  • Silver, Imitation Jewelry Worth Rs 3.38 Crores Robbed On Gujarat Highway
  • Ndtv

    The jewellery consignment was being sent to the Ahmedabad airport (Representational)Surendranagar, Gujarat: A gang of robbers took away silver and imitation jewellery worth Rs 3.88 crore from a delivery van of a courier company after attacking the driver in Gujarat's Surendranagar district, a police official said on Saturday.The robbers came in three cars and intercepted the van near Sayla town on the Rajkot-Ahmedabad highway late on Friday night, said Superintendent of Police Haresh Dudhat."The assailants fled in their vehicles after looting jewellery worth Rs 3.88 crore. We have formed 15 teams to nab the culprits," said Dudhat.The jewellery consignment was being sent to the Ahmedabad airport for onward despatch to other cities in the country, said an official from the Rajkot-based courier company.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.com"Our van delivers valuables at Ahmedabad airport from Rajkot every day. The van driver called us from someone else's mobile late Friday night and informed us that some persons had looted jewellery parcels after thrashing him. The parcels belonged to nearly 50 traders and jewellers," said the courier firm's manager Pintu Singh. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)Featured Video Of The DayAAP On Why Manish Sisodia Sought More Time From CBI

Why millet remains a cereal winner
Times of India | 1 month ago | |
Times of India
1 month ago | |

Gujarat is slowly but surely ingraining its lostand-found millet way of life. With the United Nations declaring 2023 the International Year of the Millet, primarily to provide affordable and nutritious superfood to billions, pearl millet (bajri), sorghum (jowar), finger millet (nagli, ragi) etc. , are returning in their GenNextfriendly avatars.At environmental activist Mahesh Pandya’s Ahmedabad residence, chapatis made of ragi, or flour mixed with bajri and little millet (bavto) are most preferred. “We are diet conscious people and have been using an entire range of millet grains at home for the past 12-odd years. We even fry bhajiyas in batter made of different millets. However, for wider acceptance of the grains, they have to be supplied through the public distribution system,” he says.While millet lovers like Pandya were in the minority till a few years ago, the humble grain, once considered the staple of the lower strata of society, is making a comeback, riding on increased awareness after Covid. A slew of reimagined millet food products, ranging from khakhra and flakes on one end of the spectrum to brownies and gulab jamuns on the other, are gaining popularity.Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, a central government body, has declared Gujarat as a major producer of millet varieties , especially bajra, in India. Different regions of the state grow different varieties which include kodo millet (gajro), proso millet (cheno), little millet (kuri), foxtail millet (kang) and barnyard millet (sama).Dieticians and nutritionists say while millet grains have been around for a long time, the urban population caught on to the quinoaragi trend around the Covid period. Those with hypertension and diabetes were advised to include millet in their diet and nouveau recipes found their way from the internet to the kitchens.Jinal Parmar, a dietician with Apollo Hospitals, said, “Earlier, particular varieties of millet were associated with specific regions or communities, but with wider availability, they are becoming part of the urban platter. Millet is good for all age groups, primarily to prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs). ”Himanshu Banker, a resident of Vejalpur, said his family has reduced rice and wheat consumption by about 70%. “We make porridge, khichdi and vadas out of kodri, jowar and bajri. We also mix wheat and millet flour to make chapatis,” said Banker.But all is not well with millet. The People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR), maintained by the villages, indicates a drop in the cultivation area and crop diversity in several areas of the state. In Rajkot’s Jasdan, foxtail, barnyard and proso millet disappeared between 2017 and 2022. Several farmershave taken to cash crops or switched to hybrid varieties that need less water and are resilient to climate change.Shruti Bhrdwaj, a clinical dietician with a hospital in Ahmedabad, said, “While multigrain flour is better, its composition should factor in a person’s health condition,” she said.In the end though, it’s about what appeals to every palate. Tushar Pancholi, a resident of Rajkot, said while a ragi chapati may not entice many, Gujarati snacks out of millet varieties that are lapped up by all in the family.—Inputs by Paul John

Why millet remains a cereal winner
7 Morbi bridge collapse accused denied bail
Times of India | 1 month ago | |
Times of India
1 month ago | |

RAJKOT: A court in Morbi on Saturday rejected the bail applications of seven people arrested in connection with the collapse of a suspension.The court of principal sessions judge P C Joshi refused to grant bail to the seven, including two managers of Oreva Group.The accused, Deepak Parekh and Dinesh Dave, managers of Oreva group who were responsible for bridge operation; ticket clerks Mahadev Solanki and Mansukh Topiya, and security guards Alpesh Gohil, Dilip Gohil and Mukesh Chauhan, had moved a bail application contending that they were only employees and working on superior's order.The bail plea of Devang Parmar and his father Prakash, who was subcontracted to repair the bridge, is scheduled on February 6. The special investigation team (SIT) found that Parmar's firm DevPrakash Solutions was not qualified to carry out this work.According to the SIT, the lapses included lack of restriction on the number of persons accessing the bridge and no curb on the sale of tickets, which led to unrestricted movementMeanwhile, the Morbi municipality received the SIT report and relevant documents sought from the government. Replying to the show-cause of the state government, the civic body had stated that they don't have the relevant documents to give a detailed response.The municipality is expected to file its reply in the next couple of days on why it should be dissolved.

7 Morbi bridge collapse accused denied bail
  • Gujarat court rejects bail pleas of seven accused in Morbi bridge collapse case
  • Times of India

    MORBI: A sessions court in Gujarat denied bail to seven persons arrested in connection with the Morbi bridge collapse incident that left 135 people dead in October, last year. Principal sessions judge P C Joshi's court rejected the bail pleas of the seven accused, including two managers of the Oreva Group, the company responsible for operating and maintaining the bridge.Oreva Group MD Jaysukh Patel surrenders; sent to judicial custodyThe British-era, Machchhu river bridge collapsed on October 30, 2022, just a few days after its reopening post-repairs. Jaysukh Patel, the managing director of Oreva Group, surrendered to the court and was arrested on February 1.The police had last week filed a charge sheet in the case, in which 10 persons have been arrested so far, including Patel.Police file 1,262-page charge-sheet; Jaysukh Patel named as accused, absconderThe other nine arrested persons include two managers of the firm, two ticket-booking clerks, three security guards and two sub-contractors who were engaged for the repair works by Oreva Group.The bail pleas of these nine persons were rejected earlier by the Gujarat High Court and sessions court. Except the two sub-contractors, the other seven once again approached court for bail on Thursday.Earlier, a special investigation team (SIT), which was formed by the state government to probe the collapse, had cited several lapses on the part of the firm.Nearly 250 persons were on the hanging bridge, a popular tourist site, when it caved in.According to the SIT, the lapses included lack of restriction on the number of persons accessing the bridge and no curb on sale of tickets, which led to unrestricted movement on the structure, and carrying out repairs without consulting experts.The probe had revealed the new metal flooring done by the firm had increased the weight of the structure and it had failed to change the rusted cables on which the entire bridge was hanging.Apart from this, the contractors hired by Patel's firm were not qualified to carry out such repair and renovation work, the SIT stated.The probe report also revealed the Oreva Group did not hire any expert agency to assess the load-bearing capacity of the carriageway before throwing it open to the public after repair and renovation work.The prosecution had earlier informed the lower court that the firm had sold 3,165 tickets on the day of the collapse alone and there was no coordination between ticket booking offices on both sides of the bridge.All 10 accused, including Jaysukh Patel, have been charged under the Indian Penal Code sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 336 (act which endangers human life), 337 (causing hurt to any person by doing any rash or negligent act) and 338 (causing grievous hurt by doing rash or negligent act).(With inputs from PTI)

  • Court Rejects Bail Pleas Of 7 Accused In Morbi Bridge Collapse Case
  • Ndtv

    The Morbi police had filed a chargesheet in the case, in which 10 persons have been arrested.Morbi: A court in Morbi on Saturday rejected the bail applications of seven people arrested in connection with the collapse of a suspension bridge in Morbi town of Gujarat, in which 135 people were killed.The court of principal sessions judge PC Joshi refused to grant bail to the seven accused, including two managers of Oreva Group, the company which was given the contract for operation and maintenance of the bridge.The British-era bridge on Machchhu river collapsed on October 30, 2022, days after it was reopened following repairs.Jaysukh Patel, the managing director of Oreva Group, had surrendered before a court here on February 1 before his arrest.The Morbi police had last week filed a chargesheet in the case, in which 10 persons have been arrested so far, including Mr Patel.The other nine arrested persons include two managers of the firm, two ticket-booking clerks, three security guards and two sub-contractors who were engaged for the repair works by Oreva Group.The bail pleas of these nine persons were rejected earlier by the Gujarat High Court and sessions court. Except the two sub-contractors, the other seven once again approached court for bail on Thursday.Earlier, a special investigation team (SIT), which was formed by the state government to probe the collapse, had cited several lapses on the part of the firm.Nearly 250 persons were on the hanging bridge, a popular tourist site, when it caved in.According to the SIT, the lapses included lack of restriction on the number of persons accessing the bridge and no curb on sale of tickets, which led to unrestricted movement on the structure, and carrying out repairs without consulting experts.The probe had revealed the new metal flooring done by the firm had increased the weight of the structure and it had failed to change the rusted cables on which the entire bridge was hanging.Apart from this, the contractors hired by Mr Patel's firm were not qualified to carry out such repair and renovation work, the SIT stated.The probe report also revealed the Oreva Group did not hire any expert agency to assess the load-bearing capacity of the carriageway before throwing it open to the public after repair and renovation work.The prosecution had earlier informed the lower court that the firm had sold 3,165 tickets on the day of the collapse alone and there was no coordination between ticket booking offices on both sides of the bridge.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comAll 10 accused, including Jaysukh Patel, have been charged under the Indian Penal Code sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 336 (act which endangers human life), 337 (causing hurt to any person by doing any rash or negligent act) and 338 (causing grievous hurt by doing rash or negligent act). (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)Featured Video Of The DayNewborn, With Umbilical Cord Still Tied, Pulled Out From Rubble In Syria

Gujarat businessman abducted in South Africa, freed after Rs 30 lakh ransom paid
Times of India | 1 month ago | |
Times of India
1 month ago | |

RAJKOT: A 28-year-old businessman from Rajkot was abducted in South Africa, and released only after his father paid the captors a ransom of Rs 30 lakh. Sleuths from Rajkot’s crime branch acted as negotiators to secure the release of Keyur Malli (28), who is into import-export business.Malli had been lured by a gang of criminals with cheap copper and cast iron and was called to finalize the deal last month. He was in touch with these people for the last four months, believing that they were traders. The captors — believed to be of Pakistani origin who spoke Urdu and Punjabi — initially asked for Rs 1.5 crore to release Malli, but the crime branch cops negotiated with them while keeping Malli’s father and the Johannesburg police in the loop.Malli landed at Tambo international airport in Johannesburg on January 20. He was picked up in a car by his hosts but to his utter shock, he was put into a small room and made to sit in a chair with his limbs bound. “I received a call from my son’s mobile on January 21 and the kidnappers made me talk to my son who told me that they were demanding Rs 1.5 crore as ransom. I had no money, so I approached the Rajkot police here for help,” Malli’s father Praful said.The abductors eventually settled for Rs 30 lakh, police said. They sent a code number using which the money was sent through a hawala channel. The captors released Malli on January 24 and sent him to the airport in a taxi. He was received by the local police and provided medical treatment. A complaint was registered against the suspects.

Gujarat businessman abducted in South Africa, freed after Rs 30 lakh ransom paid
Gujarat: ‘Groundnut production may be hit by up to 32% in 50 years’
Times of India | 2 months ago | |
Times of India
2 months ago | |

AHMEDABAD: In a study highlighting the possible impact of climate change, the experts have predicted a drop in the production of groundnut, Gujarat’s main kharif crop, by up to 32% by the end of the century. The state is the largest producer of groundnut in the country. The projection was made based on a long-range forecast of annual increase in minimum and maximum temperatures by 0.11 and 0.12 degrees celsius respectively. The forecast also predicts an in crease in annual rainfall by nearly 63% in a period rang ing from 2071 to 2100. To mitigate the impact of the change in weather conditions, the study suggests early sowing with enough irrigation compared to the current cycle. The study ‘Impact Assessment of Climate Change on Groundnut in North Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone of Gujarat’, by P K Parma from Navsari Agricultural University, and M J Vasani, H R Patel, S B Yadav and V Pandey from Anand Agricultural University, has been published in the January edition of Mausam journal by India Meteorological Department (IMD). Gujarat accounts for 40.5% of the total groundnut production of India — the sowing was 2.16 lakh hectares in 2020-21 whereas the production was 4.16 million tonnes, followed by 1.39 tonnes in Rajasthan. The researchers took data from 1961 to 1990 for research station Targhadia near Rajkot to create forecasts for 2071-2100 along with the PRECIS model based on IITM Pune data. K L Dobaria, former faculty member of Junagadh Agricultural University, said that high temperatures help in early germination. “Farmers usually carry out groundnut sowing during summer and monsoon months. In summer, however, the sowing takes place in areas where irrigation is available,” he said. “Many farmers go in for early sowing as they get the benefit of reaching the market early – the early yield fetches a better market price. Early sowing also helps in early germination. Germination takes about eight to 10 days for groundnut crop. If the temperature is very high, germination is faster,” said Arvind Dave, a farmer at Dhari in Amreli district.

Gujarat: ‘Groundnut production may be hit by up to 32% in 50 years’
14-Year-Old Girl Dies In Gujarat; Family Blames Cold Weather, School
Ndtv | 2 months ago | |
Ndtv
2 months ago | |

The family of the student say cold weather conditions have caused her death. (Representational)Rajkot, Gujarat: A 14-year-old girl studying in Class 8 in Gujarat's Rajkot city died after suddenly collapsing in her school, with her family members claiming that she died due to cold weather conditions and added that the school authorities should have allowed students to use warm clothes of their choice instead of just uniform sweaters.The incident took place on Tuesday at A V Jasani Vidya Mandir, prompting the district education authorities to direct that the schools be opened an hour later than their normal start time in the morning in view of the prevailing cold weather conditions and also allow flexibility in wearing of warm clothes by students.Doctors said victim Riya Sagar's death appeared to be due to a cardiac arrest, while her family maintained that she did not suffer from any health complications.District Education Officer B S Kaila said the exact cause of her death will be ascertained after the port-mortem."Around 7.25 am, Riya fell down while talking to her friends in the lobby of the school. There is a hospital located within 100 metres of distance where she was rushed. But she was declared dead there and doctors said prima facie it was due to a cardiac arrest. The detailed post-mortem report will ascertain the actual cause of the death," the official said."We have instructed schools to start after 8 am and allow students to wear shawl and muffler, jackets, etc. in view of the issues raised by her (Riya's) mother. This will be in force till January 21 and it may be extended till January 27," he said.Talking to reporters, Riya's mother said the school should have allowed students to wear warm clothes rather than sticking to uniform sweaters, which is not sufficient to beat the cold."My daughter did not suffer from any disease. She died because of freezing blood in her heart due to cold," her mother Janaki Sagar said.She appealed to schools to begin their classes a bit late in the morning in view of the prevailing cold weather conditions so that the health of students is not compromised."I would like to appeal to the school to delay the time of opening school as much as possible...Don't open schools early in the morning. If you compel students to wear only a uniform sweater then they will not be able to beat the cold. Allow them to wear thicker jackets. This is my request...," she added.Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi urged the government to take steps to prevent such incidents and delay the school opening time by an hour so that students do not have to suffer due to cold."We have written to the state education minister. There are many schools where there is a shortage of classrooms, and students are forced to study in the open. In such a situation, the government should act immediately and change the timing for the benefit of students," he said.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comGujarat has witnessed a drop in temperature with cold wave conditions prevailing in parts of Saurashtra and Kutch regions in the last two days.(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)Featured Video Of The DayWatch: Two Women Cops Fight Off Armed Bank Robbers In Bihar

14-Year-Old Girl Dies In Gujarat; Family Blames Cold Weather, School
  • Class 8 girl dies after collapsing at Gujarat school; kin blame authorities for not allowing warmer clothes
  • Times of India

    RAJKOT: A Class 8 student died after collapsing at her school all of a sudden in Gujarat's Rajkot.The family member of the 14-year-old girl claimed that her death was a result of the cold weather and argued that the school should have permitted students to wear appropriate warm clothing of their choice, rather than mandating the use of only uniform sweaters.The incident took place on Tuesday at A V Jasani Vidya Mandir, prompting the district education authorities to direct that the schools be opened an hour later than their normal start time in the morning in view of the prevailing cold weather conditions and also allow flexibility in wearing of warm clothes by students. Doctors said victim Riya Sagar's death appeared to be due to a cardiac arrest, while her family maintained that she did not suffer from any health complications. District Education Officer B S Kaila said the exact cause of her death will be ascertained after the port-mortem. "Around 7.25am, Riya fell down while talking to her friends in the lobby of the school. There is a hospital located within 100 metres of distance where she was rushed. But she was declared dead there and doctors said prima facie it was due to a cardiac arrest. The detailed post-mortem report will ascertain the actual cause of the death," Kaila said. "We have instructed schools to start after 8 am and allow students to wear shawl and muffler, jackets, etc. in view of the issues raised by her (deceased student's) mother. This will be in force till January 21 and it may be extended till January 27," he said. Talking to reporters, Riya's mother said the school should have allowed students to wear warm clothes rather than sticking to uniform sweaters, which is not sufficient to beat the cold. "My daughter did not suffer from any disease. She died because of freezing blood in her heart due to cold," her mother Janaki Sagar said. She appealed to schools to begin their classes a bit late in the morning in view of the prevailing cold weather conditions so that the health of students is not compromised. "I would like to appeal to the school to delay the time of opening school as much as possible...Don't open schools early in the morning. If you compel students to wear only a uniform sweater then they will not be able to beat the cold. Allow them to wear thicker jackets. This is my request...," she added. Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi urged the government to take steps to prevent such incidents and delay the school opening time by an hour so that students do not have to suffer due to cold. "We have written to the state education minister. There are many schools where there is a shortage of classrooms, and students are forced to study in the open. In such a situation, the government should act immediately and change the timing for the benefit of students," he said. Gujarat has witnessed a drop in temperature with cold wave conditions prevailing in parts of Saurashtra and Kutch regions in the last two days.(With inputs from PTI)

Temperature drops below 10 degrees in 14 Gujarat cities
The Indian Express | 2 months ago | |
The Indian Express
2 months ago | |

At least 14 cities and districts in the state including Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, reported temperatures below 10 degrees celsius Monday as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted cold wave conditions in Gujarat till January 18.Naliya in Kutch reported the lowest minimum temperature of two degree Celsius, falling by 8 degrees below normal temperature, which was 1.4 degrees C on Sunday – the lowest in last decade.“The cold wave conditions are very likely to prevail at isolated pockets in the districts of Saurashtra including Rajkot and Porbandar along with Kutch district,” stated the IMD. On Monday as the cold winds prevailed over the state, several centres recorded minimum temperature below 10 degrees Celsius. The state capital of Gandhinagar reported the second lowest minimum temperature at 5.3 degrees Celsius, Porbandar at 6.2 degrees Celsius (8 degrees below normal), Dahod at 6.7 degrees Celsius, Deesa at 7 degrees Celsius (3 degrees below normal), Panchmahal and Patan at 7.1, Jamnagar 7.3, Rajkot 7.3 (5 degrees below normal temperature), Ahmedabad and Bhuj were at 7.6 (5 and 2 degrees below normal, respectively), Valsad at 7.7 degree Celsius, Narmada 8 and Kandla 9.1 (5 degrees below normal temperature). Minimum temperatures at other centres were Vadodara at 10.4, Bhavnagar at 10, Chhota Udepur at 10.1, Dwarka at 13, Sasan Gir 12.5, Surat 12.2 and Veraval at 12.5 degree Celsius. The daytime temperatures too reported a fall ranging from 2 to 4 degrees below normal. The lowest maximum temperature in the state was recorded at Okha (23 degrees Celsius) and the highest was at Valsad (30.2 degrees Celsius).Also, Okha reported the highest minimum temperature of 17.8 degrees Celsius in the state. Elaborating on the current weather phenomeon and the forecast, IMD regional director Manorama Mohanty told this The Indian Express, “Temperatures will rise by 2-4 degrees from Wednesday and after three to four days it will be normal. Due to the Western Disturbance (WD) which when crosses and reaches towards East, the Northerly winds carry all cold wave from the North resulting in cold wave conditions in Gujarat. Similarly, when a WD approaches, temperature rises.”Two western disturbances-first from the night of January 18 followed by the second from the night of January 20-are likely to affect the western Himalayan region in quick succession, the IMD said on Monday. Under the influence of these two systems, the IMD stated that there will be some relief from the cold wave conditions witnessed in the Northwest India.

Temperature drops below 10 degrees in 14 Gujarat cities
Surat recorded highest sales of electric vehicle in 2022 at 21,872 units
Times of India | 2 months ago | |
Times of India
2 months ago | |

AHMEDABAD: The sales of EVs began registering an upward spiral in October 2021 and the trend picked up last year. In the first 10 days of this month, the state registered sales of 2,168 EVs with two-wheelers accounting for 60% of the share. In the petrol vehicles category, two-wheelers accounted for 67% per cent of the sales and four-wheelers, 33%.A senior officer of the transport department said that CNG vehicles recorded 58% growth last year compared to 2021, but EV sales saw a 606% growth in the state in the same period. This is also way more than the country's EV sales growth of 211%.The positive consumer sentiment also reflects the improving road infrastructure and a maturing EV ecosystem aided by the government's policy, he said.Surat, Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Rajkot accounted for sales of 45,764 units against the overall sales of 68,999 units. Surat, Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Rajkot accounted for sales of 45,764 units against the overall sales of 68,999 units. Surat sold 21,872 units followed by Ahmedabad which sold 13, 251 units.Manoj Das, additional chief secretary, transport department, said, "The sales figures are quite encouraging. With more charging stations opening, buyer confidence has also gone up. Besides, various incentives and subsidies offered by the government have also helped in building the EV ecosystem.""With fuel prices rising, EVs are turning out to be cost-effective and this has also contributed greatly to the transition," he added.A dealer said, "The running cost of an electric vehicle is Rs 1-2 per km against Rs 5 for petrol vehicles and Rs 3.50-4 for CNG vehicles. An EV vehicle's full-charge range is over 300km. So, one can easily go from Ahmedabad to Vadodara and back, or straight to Surat."Besides, under Section 80EEB of the Income Tax Act, individual taxpayers can claim a deduction of up to Rs 1.5 lakh on the interest component of the loan taken to purchase an EV which has also given a push to EV sales, say dealers.Hitendra Nanavati, chairperson, FADA Gujarat, said, "Sales of EVs have been satisfactory in the state. EVs account for 1.3% of the vehicles sold in the country and Surat's share in the EV sales is around 3%. The people of Surat adapt faster to newer technologies. The incentives offered by the government are also bringing in more customers."

Surat recorded highest sales of electric vehicle in 2022 at 21,872 units
Rajhans Group pays loan after order on sealing facilities
The Indian Express | 2 months ago | |
The Indian Express
2 months ago | |

A week after Surat district collector issued notice to seal a Amazia water park and Rajhans Multiplex run by the Rajhans Group for defaulting loan payment, the group on Tuesday submitted NOC from bank with proof of paying the full loan amount.On January 1, assistant manager with Bank of Baroda’s debt recovery branch in Vadodara, Bholanath Trivedi, registered an offence with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in New Delhi against Rajhans Group for defaulting payment of loan to the tune of Rs 76 crore.On his complaint, the CBI registered an offence under IPC sections 420 (Cheating) and 120(b) (criminal conspiracy), as well as section 13(2) and 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act against Rajhans Infrabuild Company, its promoters Sanjay Movaliya, Manoj Movaliya, Mitesh Movaliya, Pukhraj Shah, Ashish Jain, Sohilkumar Mandanka (Rajkot) and a private person.According to CBI sources, Rajhans Group owner Sanjay Movaliya and partners had taken a loan of Rs 100.79 crore from three banks — Union Bank of India, Bank of Baroda and Bank of India in 2019. However, the firm failed to pay the loan amount. The banks then requested Surat district collector to take action against the Rajhans Group and seal their Amazia water park at Maghob area and Rajhans Multiplex at Paal.Following their complaint, the collector ordered sealing of both the places in the first week of January. On January 10, the firm paid Rs 170 crore to all three banks, including Rs 76 crore to Bank of Baroda. Sources in the district collector’s office said that the group also obtained NOC from the banks.Movaliya told The Indian Express, “The amount pending with all banks has been paid… We have been in the entertainment industry since 2020 and during the Covid-19 lockdown, we faced great loss in business… Now all issues have been resolved.”

Rajhans Group pays loan after order on sealing facilities
Suryakumar Yadav’s consistency is bit more than AB de Villiers: Ajay Jadeja
The Indian Express | 2 months ago | |
The Indian Express
2 months ago | |

Swashbuckling India batter Suryakumar Yadav has been earing plaudits since his sensational performances in the T20 World Cup last year. He carried his hot form into 2023 when he scored 112 runs in the 3rd T20I against Sri Lanka at Rajkot, helping India win the series 2-1 on Saturday.Due to the unorthodox nature of his shots, Yadav has been compared countless times with South African icon AB de Villiers with former India player Ajay in an interaction with Cricbuzz recently saying that SKY was more consistent than than ADB.“With AB de Villiers we saw, I mean he was one of the finest we have seen, no doubt. His (Suryakumar Yadav) consistency is a little bit more and I think what he adds with AB is that there’s a little more power to his game. What he adds is the writ work which AB didn’t have. So the angles you were talking about, they were because of the wrists. both sides his wrists work better than AB also,” he said.SKY’s knock, laced with seven fours and nine sixes, powered India to an imposing 228 for five, a total that proved to be too good for the visitors.“It is really important to put pressure on yourself when you are preparing for the game. The more pressure you put, the better you can play. There is a lot of hard work involved. Some quality practice sessions are also involved,” Suryakumar said after his blazing knock.

Suryakumar Yadav’s consistency is bit more than AB de Villiers: Ajay Jadeja
Ashish Nehra made a big difference to my captaincy at Gujarat Titans: Hardik Pandya
Times of India | 2 months ago | |
Times of India
2 months ago | |

RAJKOT: There has been no looking back for Hardik Pandya since he led Gujarat Titans to an IPL triumph in their maiden appearance last year, and the new Indian T20I skipper credits his franchise coach Ashish Nehra for making "a big difference" to his captaincy.Coming back from a long injury layoff, the premier all-rounder was made the Gujarat skipper in a bold move by the first-timers.But Pandya, who had led only once at senior level in a tour game against Australia, proved his detractors wrong and led by example."What has been very important from Gujarat point of view is the kind of coach I worked with. Ashish Nehra made a big difference in my life, because of our mindsets. We might be two different personalities, but we have very similar cricketing thoughts," Pandya said after leading India to a 2-1 series win over Sri Lanka on Saturday."Because I was with him, it added value to my captaincy. It helped me to get exactly what I know. It was just about getting that assurance, once I got that... the awareness of this game I always knew. It was all about knowing and backing what I knew already. It has definitely helped me," he added.Before the home series against Sri Lanka, the Indian selectors overhauled the side after the Rohit Sharma-led team failed to win the T20I World Cup in Australia, losing to eventual champions England in the semifinal.Prior to this series, Pandya had led India's T20I side whenever Rohit was unavailable."I've never led in junior cricket as well. When I was under-16 I led Baroda. After that everyone thought that I should focus on my game. Since then, I've not led (a side)," Pandya added.

Ashish Nehra made a big difference to my captaincy at Gujarat Titans: Hardik Pandya