Nagpur

‘A leader creates happy experiences despite odds’

The two domains are, obviously, different, but the manner in which Dr. Atul Vaidya has eased into the coveted position of Vice Chancellor of the Laxminarayan Institutte of Technology University (LITU) demonstrates his consummate leadership quality so well ingrained into his personality. For, the transition from heading the internationally-acclaimed National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI-CSIR) to heading an equally world-renowned LITU was like traversing through perimeters of ..

On the way back home Decisive intervention of State secures Raje Raghuji’s sword

Government of Maharashtra, under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, has successfully secured the historic sword associated with Raje Raghuji Bhonsle (First), founder of the Bhonsle Kingdom in Nagpur. The sword was put up for auction on Tuesday by Sotheby’s, an auction house in London, and the Government has secured the sword through a proxy representative for cost of 38,100 GBP (Pounds) or approximately Rs 43.50 lakh in Indian currency. The auction house had originally estimated the ..

AIR 1 in NEET-SS for GMCH’s Resident Dr Jain

Dr Yash Jain from Kantabanji in Balangir district, Odisha, secured All India Rank (AIR) 1 in the NEET Super Speciality (NEET-SS) exam 2024, conducted by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences, New Delhi. Dr Jain scored 498 out of 600 marks. 27-year-old Dr Jain is the son of businessman Sunil Jain. After completing his MBBS, he pursued his postgraduate (PG) degree at Government Medical College and Hospital, Nagpur. NEET (SS) Super Speciality exam is conducted for admission in super ..

Pahalgam: The scars will remain forever

We do not have any rule of going for a vacation every summer. However, this time it was different. We had been planning for last six months for our dream vacation. It was going to be a surprise for our daughter. Growing up, two things always caught my attention among the innumerable memories that I have from my childhood. A white metal ‘shikara’ kept in the showcase and my parents’ black-and-white picture in Kashmiri dress that was painted in bright colour. This, as everyone said, was heaven on Earth ..

Samruddhi Mahakalkar shines in Pageants World Miss India Contest

In a magnificent display of culture, elegance and empowerment, Samruddhi C Mahakalkar emerged victorious in the Miss Category at the prestigious Peagents World Miss India Contest. Held in the scenic town of Mirik, Darjeeling, the event took place over two days. Samruddhi stole the spotlight during the National Costume Round, where she confidently portrayed a bold Maharashtrian look. Her appearance symbolised the fearless women of Maharashtra, courageous individuals who led, fought, and persevered ..

‘Help put auction of Raje Raghuji’s sword on hold’

In a significant development, Shrimant Dr Mudhoji Raje Bhonsle has written letters to Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India; Amit Shah, Home Minister; Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of the State; and Ashish Shelar, Minister of Cultural Affairs demanding assistance of the State and Central Governments in bringing back the historic sword associated with Raje Raghuji Bhonsle (First), founder of the Nagpur Bhonsle kingdom, that has been put up for auction by Sotheby’s, an auction house in London. ..

City Police on high alert

In a bid to bolster the security apparatus, Commissioner of Police (CP) Dr Ravinder Kumar Singal on Monday directed all police station units to remain on ‘high alert’ and intensify checking at vulnerable spots. In his directive, the CP instructed officers to step up checks at crowded places and sensitive locations, with standing orders for the swift checking of suspects. Sources informed that CP Dr Singal is in a no-nonsense mood and is closely reviewing the performance of senior police officials ..

Narrow escape for a sculptor carver

In a rare and challenging case, a young man employed in heavy metal smelting, who was a sculptor, was successfully operated on after a high-velocity, triangular-shaped metallic fragment penetrated his chest wall and lodged into his left lung. The team of doctors at Super Speciality Hospital removed the metal from the lung. The patient presented in a critical condition with haemopneumothorax, active bleeding from the entry wound, and signs of shock. Complicating the case further, the patient was a ..

24 Naxals, including top commanders, lay down arms in Bastar under State’s peace outreach

In a significant milestone for Chhattisgarh’s ongoing anti-Naxal efforts, 24 Maoists — including senior commanders, CPI Maoits front organisation Krantikari Adivasi Mahila Sangathan (KAMS) leaders, and PLGA members — surrendered before police authorities in Bastar, signaling growing disillusionment within the ranks of insurgents. Senior officials of Bastar Range Police, engaged in anti-Naxal operations and rehabilitation efforts, told The Hitavada that the surrenders were the result of sustained security ..

Sword of Nagpur’s first Bhonsle king up for auction in London

A Basket-Hilt Sword (Khanda) with the name of Raje Raghuji Bhonsle (First), founder of the Nagpur Bhonsle Kingdom, is up for auction by Sotheby’s, a British auction house. The auction is scheduled to be held on April 29 and the auction house estimates the price of the sword to be between 6000 and 8000 GBP, nearly Rs 7 lakh to Rs 9 lakh in the Indian currency. This is for the first time that any item linked to Nagpur’s Bhonsle Kingdom has appeared on international auction site...

Gokulpeth shootout Violence averted as target skipped Ambedkar Jayanti procession

The police on Sunday revealed that the Hiranwar gang, arrested for the murder of cafe owner Avinash Bhusari, had originally planned to assassinate Pravesh Gupta - a member of Sekhu gang, during the Ambedkar Jayanti procession. Police say the group’s first target was Gupta, not Bhusari. On April 14, there was a plan to kill Gupta during the Ambedkar Jayanti procession in Pandhrabodi. The gang had confirmed that Gupta would be at the event and they had planned to shoot him there...

‘Theatre, filmmaking to be given industry status’

In a significant announcement, Uday Samant, Minister of Industry and Trustee of the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Natya Parishad, declared that Bollywood, Mollywood, Tollywood, and the Marathi theatre sector would soon be granted industry status to ensure employment opportunities. The official declaration will be made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Maharashtra Day, May 1, he added. Samant was speaking at the concluding ceremony of the 100th Vibhagiya Natya Sammelan of the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Natya ..

State to rollout NDVI for real time monitoring of crop losses

Agriculture Department is readying the rollout of Normalised Difference Vegetative Index (NDVI), scheme to ensure mapping of crop loss well in time in aftermath of natural calamities using the advances in technology to the fullest. The project was to be initiated on pilot basis in one district each of Vidarbha, Marathwada, Western Maharashtra and Khandesh regions of Maharashtra. The project is being implemented through Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krushi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani, which had put-up a proposal ..

Golden spice powers rural livelihood Turmeric cultivation is boostingeconomy of Washim villages

In recent years, farmers with access to irrigation facilities have increasingly turned to turmeric cultivation. As a yearly crop, turmeric not only boosts farmers’ income but also provides seasonal employment to labourers, becoming a crucial source of economic support...

Only 36.43% water stock in dams of Nagpur region

  Staff Reporter : As of last week of April, when the scorching summer heat is wreaking havoc all over Vidarbha, the water stock in all the reservoirs across Nagpur region stood at 36.43 per cent of their designated storage capacity, which..

Mhaiskar created fake appointment letters of 68 teachers from Cyber Cafe in Sadar

 Staff Reporter Shocking details have emerged in the Shalarth ID scam (Teacher Recruitment Scam), on Saturday. Investigating the scam, police have identified a cyber cafe in Sadar area from where fake Shalarth IDs for 68 teachers were created al..

Gusty winds and thunderstorm bring mercury down by 1.50 C

 IMD : forecasts more thunderstorm with lightning and gusty winds for next couple of days in Vidarbha n Staff Reporter Overcast sky gave some respite to the citizens from the sweltering heat as most of the districts in Vidarbha witnessed drop in..

Police, admin screening Pakistanis in city; 4 return, others under scrutiny

 Staff Reporter : In the wake of the terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam on April 22, the Nagpur Police and District Administration have started a thorough screening of Pakistani nationals who are currently staying in the city. Four Pakista..

VIBRANT AND TRADITIONAL

 VIBRANT AND TRADITIONAL  A lively morning atmosphere, a grand procession was taken out ahead of the inauguration of the 100th Akhil Bharatiya Natya Sammelan, on Saturday. The procession, featuring dhol-tasha pathak, cymbals, lezim dancers..

Two killed in container accident

 Staff Reporter: A driver and a cleaner were killed when their container hit another container whose driver suddenly took a turn near the Pipla tunnel on Jabalpur Highway within Hudkeshwar Police Station limits on Friday morning. According to p..

Thunderstorm, lightning with rains likely from today

 IMD issues ‘Orange : alert for Chandrapur, Nagpur, Gadchiroli, Gondia and Wardha for today n Heatwave in some parts of Vidarbha will continue on Saturday n Brahmapuri was hottest in country and third hottest place in world on Friday n..

Focus on ‘high-risk’ areas

 Focus on ‘high-risk’ areas :  This special campaign is being implemented to create a sense of fear among criminals and the DB teams have been focusing on high-risk areas. Following the CP’s instructions, preventive action..

‘Transparency key to stop misuse of RTI Act’

 By Kunal Badge: “Transparency in furnishing information under Right To Information (RTI) Act in itself is key to prevent blackmailing of Government officials,” said Rahul Pande, Chief Information Commissioner, Maharashtra. “Th..

Crackdown Begins Police check 249 criminals in crime control operation

 Staff Reporter : The Detection Branch (DB) squads are the most important units at every police station in the city, as they play a crucial role in crime control. These squads are responsible for monitoring criminals, taking preventive action, a..

State Govt to geo-tag schools

 By Sagar Mohod: Maharashtra Government has decided to go for geo-tagging for all the schools in the State. It would help during future policy decision as the physical location can play an important role in the same. With availability of digital..

City mourns victims of Pahalgam terror attack

Staff Reporter ;   Nagpur city mourned and expressed solidarity with all 27 tourists who lost their lives in Pahalgam terrorist attack that took place on Tuesday afternoon. Social, cultural, educational organisations and political parties paid t..

Ignorant developers: A headache for citizens

Nagpur is currently witnessing a construction boom, with massive infrastructural projects taking place across various parts of the city. While these developments are often seen as signs of progress, for many residents however they have become a source of daily inconvenience and frustration. Builders and developers are racing to complete new commercial and residential spaces, but in the process, they are overlooking basic civic responsibilities and the well-being of the people living nearby. A clear ..

Campers learned more in seven days than adults learn through careers: Shailesh Awale

“Campers participating in the personality development camp have learned more in just seven days than most of adults present here have learnt in their careers,” said Shailesh Awale, Centre Head and Associate Vice-President, HCL Technologies Limited. He was speaking at the concluding ceremony of the first personality development camp organised by Bhonsala Adventure and Sports Foundation in association with The Hitavada Twinkle Club at Bhonsala Military School premises in Bokara. Rahul Dixit, Secretary, ..

Nagpur-Mumbai Samruddhi Expressway Final stretch of 701 km likely to be inaugurated on May 1

The Maharashtra Samruddhi Expressway, officially known as the Hinduhridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Samruddhi Mahamarg, is a modern expressway linking Nagpur and Mumbai. The work on the last phase of the Igatpuri to Thane expressway has been completed. Now, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) is now seeking time from the State Government to inaugurate this road. According to highly placed sources, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis who had initially envisioned to boost high-speed ..

HORROR IN VALLEY 194 from distt stranded in J&K

The dastardly terror attack in Pahalgam has left the world shocked. Jammu & Kashmir had become a hot favourite among tourists in recent years and its popular spots would remain choc-o-bloc with tourists during peak summer season. When the attack took place on Tuesday, hundreds of people from Vidarbha, including 194 from Nagpur district, were also holidaying in Kashmir. What followed was frantic calls from family and friends to ensure that they were safe. Fortunately, they are safe and shall return ..

Ngp Police to deploy FRS to track criminals on streets

Nagpur City Police are getting ready to deploy Face Recognition Software (FRS) as part of its plan for pro-active policing in the second capital of the State. The move is part of increasing reliance on technology to get one up over the law-beakers. Now that time is most important factor in investigations, the FRS can play significant part in helping crack the cases. For the same, the Commissionerate is readying to integrate FRS with the available crime data to help identify the criminals, especially ..

Ambazari Flood PIL: High Court blasts Irrigation Deptt, NMC

The Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court has strongly criticised the Irrigation Department and the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) for their failure to install gates at the Ambazari Lake spillway, which is crucial for controlling floods in the city. The comments were made during a hearing, on Wednesday, by Justice Nitin Sambre and Justice Vrushali Joshi. The PIL is linked to the devastating floods that occurred in September 2023 due to heavy rains and water overflow from Ambazari Lake. Many citizens ..

Shining star A gritty tale of Mala’s feat

In a world often clouded by indifference, stories like Mala Papalkar shine like beacons of resilience, love and unwavering determination. Found abandoned and frail at Jalgaon Railway Station, Mala’s early life was shrouded in uncertainty. With impaired vision and no one to call her own, her future seemed bleak, until destiny intervened in the form of Padma Shri Shankar Baba Papalkar. A man with immense compassion, Baba Papalkar not only gave her shelter, but a name and identity, proudly registering ..

10-min delay saves the day for Buldhana’s Jain family

Time is money, it is said. But sometimes, lost time can save life. This has come true for Jain family of Buldhana city which escaped from a tragedy as they got late in starting out for their day’s tour in Pahalgam on Tuesday. Rishabh and Paras, sons of journalist Arun Jain from Buldhana, have accompanied Arun’s brother Nilesh Jain, who is a GST officer in Mumbai, his wife Shweta and daughter Anushka, to the trip to Jammu & Kashmir. The family had reached Pahalgam on April 21. On Tuesday they were ..

RTMNU secures ANRF-PAIR grant of over Rs 6 crore

In a landmark achievement that underscores its growing research excellence, the Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU) has secured a prestigious research grant of over Rs 6 crore under the Advanced National Research Foundation – Partnerships for Advancing Interdisciplinary Research (ANRF-PAIR) initiative. The notable success was made possible through a dynamic collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Indore, one of the seven hubs selected under the first phase of ..

Free legal and health counselling centre inaugurated

The inauguration programme of the Free Legal and Health Counselling Centre was recently organised by Jyestha Nagarik Pratishthan. Justice Vikas Sirpurkar, retired Judge of the Supreme Court, was the chief guest. Padma Shri Dr Chandrashekhar Meshram and Padma Shri Dr Vilas Dangre were present as guests of honour, and Kumkum Sirpurkar also shared the dais. Justice Sirpurkar remarked, “There has always been a generational gap, but today, the widening gap in thoughts and values between elders and youth ..

City’s Saurabh Yewale cracks UPSC exam in 1st attempt

Cracking UPSC exam is a dream of almost all the students since childhood. Libraries in cities and villages are filled with students preparing for civil services exams, but not many of them clear preliminary exams despite several attempts, let alone crack the Mains. But, Saurabh Yewale, an ambitious boy from the city, not only qualified for UPSC Mains, but also passed with All India Rank 669, all in his very first attempt, a rare feat indeed. A student of Shivaji Science College, Saurabh is son of ..

Electrician’s daughter Bhagyashree gets AIR 737

Bhagyashree Naikale, a determined young woman from Dighori has achieved an impressive All India Rank (AIR) of 737 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination. Her journey to success was not without hurdles. She did not clear the prelims in her first attempt and missed the CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test) cutoff in the second. However, she remained undeterred. A former student of St Ursula Girls’ High School and SSG Pareek PG College, Jaipur, Bhagyashree comes from a humble background...

Farmer’s daughter Namrata Thakre achieves AIR 671

‘Consistency and hard work are the key to success’ they say. Namrata Thakre, who achieved All India Rank of 671 in UPSC exams, is an embodiment of this approach as she kept on trying to achieve her goal until she succeeded in her seventh attempt. Daughter of Anil Thakre, a farmer from Haturna, a small village in Warud tehsil of Amravati district, and Sangita Thakre, homemaker, Namrata studied in her village till seventh standard. She moved to Warud for further education. She completed her higher secondary ..

Nagpur Pre-IAS Coaching Centre becomes top choice for UPSC aspirants

Number of students aspiring to crack Civil Services examination are choosing Nagpur’s Pre-IAS Coaching Centre. The Centre is delivering fantastic results for the past 10 years as it is monitoring the students’ studies on personal basis. This year, 12 students have cleared the examination from this Centre. There are six Pre-IAS Coaching Centres in Maharashtra run by Higher and Technical Education Department. Till 10 years ago, Maharashtra students’ number was very low as far as the list of successful ..

Bhandewadi fire: Is it prudent to blame rag-pickers when they are the victims?

The recent massive fire in Bhandewadi Dumping Yard posed significant social, economical and environmental challenges for the city. Many social organisations and NGOs are talking about its environmental impact from day one, but no one is talking about the economic loss of the rag-pickers of the yard who are completely dependent on the garbage in the yard and are most affected due to the fire. Even Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is blaming the rag-pickers for this massive fire. Like every time, ..

Property dealer murder case Kadu’s murder was planned in advance, contract killing ordered for Rs 15 lakh Dispute arose over 11 acres of land, 12 accused in custody.

  Staff Reporter : Sensational revelations have emerged in the murder case of property dealer Ankush Rama Kadu (55), who was killed at Mhada Chowk on Nari Road last Saturday. A woman had ordered contract killing of Kadu for Rs 15 lakh. The..

Cops summon Vaishali Jamdar for questioning

In connection with the Shalarth ID scam, the Sadar Police have summoned Vaishali Jamdar, Divisional Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board, for questioning. A notice has been issued, directing her to appear at the police station on April 23. According to the police, Jamdar will be questioned regarding how teachers were appointed using bogus Shalarth IDs. She served as Deputy Director of Education (DDE) from December 2020 before being transferred from Nagpur...

Big step Forest Deptt receives 34 captive vultures from Haryana to be released in the wild

After successful release of 20 White-backed and Long-billed vultures in the wild last year, the Maharashtra Forest Department received another batch of 34 scavengers, including 20 Long-billed and 14 White-backed vultures, on Tuesday. On the occasion of World Earth day, these 34 vultures were handed over to the Maharashtra Forest Department at Pinjore in Haryana. The birds are being transferred from Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre (JCBC), Pinjore to Maharashtra for reintroduction into the wild. ..

Over 1 lakh property tax notices remain undelivered

 Staff Reporter : NMC could not reach target of Rs 325 crore as dues recovery slowed down despite amnesty scheme in place   Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) experiment for door-step delivery property tax demand failed to have the des..

Rahul Pande sworn in as State Chief Information Commr

Maharashtra Governor C P Radhakrishnan, on Monday, administered the oath of office to the newly appointed State Chief Information Commissioner (SIC) Rahul Pande at a swearing-in ceremony held at Raj Bhavan, Mumbai. The ceremony was attended by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The Governor also administered the oath of office to three State Information Commissioners - Ravindra Thakare, Gajanan Nimdeo (both from Nagpur) and Prakash Indalkar...

Fire at Bhandewadi Yard still on; NMC clueless about how to curb such incidents in future

  By Kaushik Bhattacharya : The civic body has no long or short term plans to control fire Experts suggest scientific measures to reduce fire incidents in the dumping yard Utilisation of hill of residual ash will be a daunting tas..

SHALARTH ID SCAM Cyber Police serve notice to 14 teachers under scanner

Many new facts have come to light during probe into the Shalarth ID scam. Cyber Police have now sent notices to 14 teachers who are suspected to be involved in the scam. The teachers will be summoned for questioning soon. Deputy Director (Education( Ulhas Narad and Clerk Suraj Naik have been already arrested by the police for their involvement in the scam. According to the Cyber Police, some fake Shalarth IDs were created using different gadgets. The Internet Protocol (IP) address (a digital address ..

Mercedes owner uses fake registration number plate to avoid ‘challans’

A shocking case has come to light where a businessman and his son used fake vehicle registration number plate on their Mercedes car to avoid paying traffic challans. The accused are identified as Harish Devicharan Tiwari (50), a businessman and his son Yash (25), a student, and residents of Pragatisheel Colony, Wardha Road. The original registration number of their Mercedes is (MH-31/EX-9993), but for almost a year, the duo were using a duplicate registration number plate (MH-02/DZ-5061) which is ..

MARCH 17 RIOTS CASE:Court grants bail to Md Hamid Engineer

Adhoc District Judge-4 M B Oza has granted bail to 69-year-old Mohammad Hamid Mohammad Hanif alias Engineer, a resident of Seva Sadan Apartment, Gandhibagh, who was arrested in connection with riots that occurred in the city on March 17. Hamid was arrested on March 19 and had been in judicial custody for over a month. He was booked under Sections 192, 196, 353(1)(b), 353(1)(c), and 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 66(c) and 66(d) of the Information Technology Act...