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Now Firoz Shah Fort and Chor Kuan will be made encroachment free in Sambhal, know the action of DM-SP

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Sambhal: The work on the plan to preserve the heritage sites of ancient and religious importance by the administration in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh has intensified. After the violence that broke out during the Shahi Jama Masjid survey on November 24, the administrative team is continuously engaged in identifying such sites. Excavations have been done at many places in Sambhal. A large number of sites of historical and religious importance have been found in it. After finding a historical stepwell in Mohalla Laxman Ganj, a plan has been prepared to free Firozshah Fort and Chor Kuan from encroachment. Sambhal DM Dr. Rajendra Pansiya and SP KK Vishnoi inspected Firozshah Fort, Kshemnath Tirtha Neemsar, Tota-Maina’s grave and Rajput era stepwell Chor Kuan on Wednesday.

Sambhal was called Kalki city

Sambhal DM Rajendra Pansia said about Sambhal that it is called the city of tomorrow i.e. Kalki Nagari. He clearly said that if we do not preserve history, it will leave us. Both the officers first inspected the Firoz Shah Fort. It is a building protected by ASI. It was constructed between the years 1656 and 1659.

The problem of encroachment has become severe in this fort spread over 1.2 hectares. The main signboard has been closed with a boundary wall by making illegal construction at the entry gate of the fort. The DM expressed displeasure over this. He ordered to demolish the kutcha wall immediately.

questions raised on negligence

During the inspection, the DM also raised questions on the negligence of the Archaeological Department and ordered action. Along with this, the DM instructed the Lekhpals to measure the protected land of the fort. He also issued instructions to the Pradhan to clean the well built near the fort. The DM also saw the tunnel built in the fort and the room of Chand Suraj. Both the officers instructed the officials to preserve them and make the area encroachment free.

Inspection of Kshemanath shrine

After this, the DM inspected Kshemnath Teerth Neemsar. There, after 40 years, the renovation work of the awakened well has started. Seeing the 10 to 12 feet deep water, the DM called it an awakened well. It is very important from the religious and water conservation point of view. After this, the DM and SP also inspected the grave of Tota-Maina and the Rajput era stepwell Chor Kuan.

Why was it named Chor Kuan?

The DM saw the unique architecture and secret rooms of the stepwell. He called it a historical heritage. He expressed surprise and asked why the Rajput stepwell was named Chor Kuan? The DM said that the name and glorious history of this stepwell will be brought back. He said that its excavation will be done under the supervision of the State Archaeological Department and ASI.

The DM said that it will be freed from encroachment and given the status of protected heritage. It is being claimed about this stepwell that it was built during the reign of Rajput ruler Prithviraj Chauhan.

The fort is 356 years old

Sambhal’s Firoz Shah Fort is a repository of ancient heritage. It is a glorious symbol of the Mughal era. Firoz Shah Fort is famous for its historicity and grandeur. This fort is located about five kilometers from Sambhal on the banks of the Sot River. It was constructed between 1656 and 1659 on the orders of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his chief courtier Syed Firoz.

To strengthen his hold on his throne in Delhi, Shah Jahan handed over the estate of Sambhal to Syed Firoz. Chand Mahal and Suraj Mahal were constructed in this fort. Its beauty presents an excellent example of Mughal architecture. This fort has turned into ruins at present.

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241 dead, one survivor as Air India Dreamliner crashes after takeoff from Ahmedabad: Air India

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New Delhi, June 13: In what is being described as one of the worst aviation disasters in Indian history, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 people crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport.

The aircraft, operating as Flight AI-171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, plunged into a residential complex near BJ Medical College, killing 241 people on board.

The ill-fated flight had 230 passengers, 10 cabin crew, and two pilots. According to officials, only one person, a British national of Indian origin seated in 11A, survived the crash and is currently undergoing treatment at a local hospital.

The aircraft took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1.38 p.m. (IST) on Thursday before losing control moments later and crashing into a densely populated area, igniting a massive blaze and triggering emergency response teams across the city.

Air India confirmed the accident in an official statement on X: “UPDATE: Air India confirms that flight AI171, operating from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick on 12 June 2025, was involved in an accident. The 12-year-old Boeing 787-8 aircraft departed from Ahmedabad at 1338 hrs, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew. The aircraft crashed shortly after take-off. We regret to inform that, of the 242 aboard, there are 241 confirmed fatalities. The sole survivor is being treated in a hospital.”

The airline also shared the nationality breakdown of passengers: 169 Indian nationals, 53 British, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian.

“Air India offers its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. Our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of all those affected, their families and loved ones. A team of caregivers from Air India is now in Ahmedabad to provide additional support,” the statement added.

The national carrier has pledged full cooperation with authorities investigating the cause of the crash and has established dedicated helplines for families seeking information.

Domestic callers can reach the support team at 1800 5691 444, while international callers are advised to dial +91 8062779200.

Regular updates will be provided through Air India’s official website and its X handle.

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Plastic nurdle spill from sunken cargo ship reaches TN’s Dhanushkodi sanctuary, raising alarm

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Chennai, June 10: A plastic nurdle spill from the sunken cargo ship MSC ELSA 3 has spread into the newly declared Dhanushkodi Greater Flamingo Sanctuary in Ramanathapuram district, threatening one of India’s most fragile coastal ecosystems.

The MSC ELSA 3, a Liberian-flagged vessel, sank off the Kochi coast a few weeks ago while carrying 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous materials, 12 with calcium carbide, 367 tonnes of furnace oil, and 84 tonnes of diesel.

The ship’s cargo manifest remains undisclosed, fuelling speculation about the full extent of environmental risk.

Dhanushkodi Sanctuary, located within the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, supports 128 species of birds — including Greater and Lesser Flamingos — and is home to sea turtles, crustaceans, molluscs, and fish. Its dunes, marshes, and seagrass beds form part of the Central Asian Flyway for migratory birds.

The nurdles — tiny plastic pellets used in industrial manufacturing — resemble fish eggs and can be deadly to marine life. When ingested, they cause internal blockages, starvation, and often death. They also absorb toxins, entering the food chain and posing long-term health hazards.

About 80 bags, each weighing 25 kilograms, have reportedly washed ashore along a 12-km coastal stretch. Affected sites include the Dhanushkodi old church, Irattaithalai, Mugandharayan Chathiram, Gothanda Ramar temple, and Patchappatti village.

Carried by ocean currents from the Thiruvananthapuram-Kanniyakumari coast, the spill now threatens the adjacent Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, home to vital coral reefs and seagrass beds.

Experts warn these habitats could be smothered by plastic debris, blocking sunlight and disrupting photosynthesis.

Ramanathapuram District Collector Simranjeet Singh Kahlon said, “We’ve identified between 15 and 30 nurdle bags along the coast. A special team has been deployed for cleanup, and additional teams are monitoring for further debris.”

He urged the public not to panic, stating that swift action was underway.

The disaster evokes memories of the 2021 X-Press Pearl incident in Sri Lanka, where 1,680 tonnes of nurdles led to mass marine deaths and crippled fisheries.

Studies showed severe impacts on plankton and larval life forms, threatening entire food chains.

Cleanup efforts in Ramanathapuram face challenges due to the nurdles’ buoyancy and small size, worsened by monsoon waves that break them into microplastics.

With the 61-day annual fishing ban nearing its end, fishermen fear reduced fish catches and consumer hesitancy could harm their livelihoods if the spill worsens.

Environmentalists are calling for urgent intervention, cargo transparency, and long-term containment measures to prevent irreversible damage to one of India’s most critical marine ecosystems.

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Eight Punjab and Haryana HC judges take lead to boost Kashmir tourism post Pahalgam terror attack

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Srinagar, June 9: To give a boost to Kashmir tourism post Pahalgam terror attack, eight judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court are visiting the valley along with their families.

The visit of the legal personalities along with their families carries a powerful message for the revival of tourism in Kashmir, which got shattered after the Pahalgam terror attack.

On April 22, Pakistan-backed terrorists of Lashkar-e-Kashmir (LeT) killed 26 civilians, including 25 tourists and a local pony owner.

The pony owner sacrificed his life while trying to protect the tourists from the bullets of the terrorists.

The terror attack caused outrage in the entire country, and to avenge the killings of innocent civilians, the Indian Armed Forces carried out airstrikes against terror infrastructure in Pakistan under Operation Sindoor.

In retaliation for India’s attack on terrorist infrastructure, Pakistan resorted to heavy mortar shelling on civilian facilities in Poonch, Rajouri, Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora districts.

Eighteen civilians were killed in Pakistan shelling, 13 of them in Poonch district, in addition to the destruction of scores of homes, shops, a temple, a mosque, a church and a Gurudwara.

The itinerary of the visiting high court judges includes visits to the Mughal Gardens of Nishat and Shalimar, Shikara rides on the Dal Lake, a visit to the historic Pari Mahal and buying a few handicrafts at the local market.

There could be no better omen for the revival of tourism in Kashmir than the decision of the honourable justices of the High Court to come here along with their families.

Coinciding with the visit of these dignitaries, local tour and travel operators and hotel owners are reporting a gradual rise in the tourist bookings that had virtually stopped after the Pahalgam terror attack.

Tour and travel operators and others connected with the tourist industry have expressed hope that the visit by the most respected legal dignitaries, like the high court judges, will restore confidence among visitors, both domestic and foreign, that Kashmir is a safe tourist destination.

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