The much-awaited Vande Bharat Sleeper train completed its trial run on Wednesday between Ahmedabad and Mumbai Central on Western Railway. ‘The prototype rake, designed to offer world-class comfort and convenience, reached Mumbai Central at 1:50 PM, where it was welcomed several railway officials and rail enthusiasts” said an official.

The train has dog boxes at both ends and ample linen storage for overnight journeys with 38 special berth for attendant. According to WR, the train features a sleek design and cutting-edge interiors, with amenities designed to enhance passenger comfort on long-distance journeys.

The 16-coach train includes 11 AC-3 tier coaches, 4 AC-2 tier coaches, and 1 First AC coach. Each coach boasts advanced features such as Type A and C charging ports, foldable snack tables, integrated lighting systems, and dedicated laptop charging points.

The train is also equipped with Braille navigation aids for visually impaired passengers, HL3 fire safety compliance, smooth gangway connectivity, and an additional berth for attendants, bringing the total to 38.

“The trial run was conducted at a speed of 130 kmph, and further analysis will be carried out by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) before the final certification is issued” said an official.

Rail enthusiasts praised the train for its modern design and passenger-centric approach. “The interiors are on par with global standards, with spacious seating and thoughtful features like integrated lighting and foldable tables,” commented a enthusiasts.

This trial marks a significant step toward enhancing India’s rail travel experience. Once operational, the Vande Bharat Sleeper is expected to redefine overnight travel across major routes, catering to the growing demand for high-speed, luxury train services.

Highlights of the Train

First AC Coach: 24 berth

Second AC Coaches: 48 berth each.

Third AC Coaches: Five with 67 berth each and four with 55 berth each.

New Delhi, Jan 15: Social media giant Meta on Wednesday apologised to the Indian government over its Co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s remarks on the 2024 General Elections, saying it was an “inadvertent error” on Zuckerberg’s part and India remains an “important country” for them.

The company was set to be summoned by a Parliamentary panel over “incorrect and irresponsible” remarks by its founder Zuckerberg and for “spreading misinformation”.

In a post on X social media platform, Meta India said that “Mark’s observation that many incumbent parties were not re-elected in 2024 elections holds true for several countries, BUT not India”.

“We would like to apologise for this inadvertent error. India remains an incredibly important country for @Meta and we look forward to being at the heart of its innovative future,” the company wrote.

Zuckerberg, in a recent podcast, claimed that most of the incumbent governments across the democracies saw the erosion of public trust during the COVID-19 pandemic and this eventually led to their ouster in the 2024 elections.

Union Minister for I&B and Electronics and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, had slammed Zuckerberg’s remarks about Indian elections.

While fact-checking his statements, the Union Minister said that last year’s elections in India were rather a reaffirmation of people’s trust in PM Modi-led NDA for a record third time.

“PM Modi’s decisive 3rd-term victory is a testament to good governance and public trust,” he added.

The Union Minister also dropped a piece of advice for the Meta and its chief, urging them to uphold the facts and truth.

“Meta, it’s disappointing to see misinformation from Mr. Zuckerberg himself. Let’s uphold facts and credibility,” Vaishnaw wrote.

Nishikant Dubey, BJP MP and the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology, had said that the Parliamentary panel under him will soon serve a notice to the Meta for “spreading misinformation” and seek an apology.

“Misinformation in any democratic country tarnishes its image. The organisation will have to apologise to the Indian Parliament and the people for this mistake,” he had posted on X.

New York, Jan 11: People who have limited access to air conditioning may be at higher risk of seeking emergency care for health problems following exposure to wildfire smoke, according to a new study led by Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) in the US, as Los Angeles County battles the most destructive wildfires in its history.

The study suggested that US policies should prioritise equity and education regarding the measures people can take to protect themselves from the harmful pollutants in wildfire smoke.

Posted online ahead of publication in the journal Environmental Research: Health, the study found that exposure to fine particle matter (PM2.5) from wildfire smoke in California is associated with higher rates of emergency department visits for all causes, non-accidental causes, and respiratory disease.

This risk varied by age and race, but was especially high for individuals who lived in areas with lower availability of air conditioning.

“Depending on the type of system and filter used, air conditioning may modify the impact of smoke exposure on human health,” said study lead and corresponding author Dr. Jennifer Stowell, research scientist in climate and health at BUSPH.

“California is, perhaps, the best example of this in the US, with bigger fires and longer fire seasons. An important next step will be to identify ways to better characterise access to air conditioning,” Stowell added.

The findings come at a critical time as firefighters in Southern California continue to battle multiple wildfires that have been blazing in and around Los Angeles County since Tuesday (January 7) — including the Palisades fire, which is likely the largest and most destructive wildfire in the county’s history.

Health experts are urging residents who are not under evacuation orders and can safely remain in their homes to turn on air conditioners and/or air purifiers if they have access to these devices.

Despite this guidance, very little research has examined how the health effects of wildfire smoke exposure may differ based on individuals’ access to air conditioning.

For the study, Dr Stowell and colleagues from BUSPH, Boston University College of Arts & Sciences (CAS), and the Health Effects Institute utilised a nationwide dataset of healthcare claims to assess more than 50,000 emergency department visits during the 2012-2019 California wildfire seasons, which occurred from May to November each year.

People living in areas with lower availability of air conditioning had a 22-per cent greater risk of visiting the emergency department for respiratory conditions associated with wildfire smoke exposure.

The study indicates a need for stronger policy measures that can reduce the health risks associated with wildfire smoke exposure.