n the ongoing Asian Games on October 1, India’s Tajinderpal Singh Toor clinched the nation’s second gold medal in athletics. Competing in the men’s shot put final, Tajinderpal secured victory with a remarkable throw of 20.36 meters. This achievement turned the tide in his favour, surpassing Saudi Arabia’s Mohamed Daouda, who had been leading with a throw of 20.18 meters. Tajinderpal Singh Toor expressed his elation and shared his joy after winning the coveted gold medal for India.
A flash flood occurred in the Teesta River in Lachen valley.
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Vibha Sharma
Chandigarh, October 4
As many as 23 Army personnel have gone missing due to flash flood along the Teesta river triggered by a sudden cloud burst over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim.
Due to a sudden cloud burst over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim, a flash flood occurred in Teesta River in Lachen Valley. Some army establishments along the valley have been affected and efforts are on to confirm details. 23 personnel have been reported missing and some vehicles are reported submerged under the slush. Search operations are underway: Defence PRO, Guwahati
This was after the release of water from Chungthang dam that led to a rise in water level downstream. Search and rescue operations are underway.
The IMD had earlier reported a lake outburst at Chungthang in North Sikkim following which a flash flood alert has been issued leading to rise in the water levels of the Teesta river to an alarming level.
“Water levels is rising constantly,” said IMD Director General Mrityunjaya Mohapatra, adding, “A Lake of North Sikkim busted a few hours ago causing concerned in the catchment of River Teesta. Low lying areas such as Gazoldoba, Domohani , Mekhaliganj, Ghish, Bangladesh area may be affected. Please be alert.”
Ajay Banerjee
New Delhi, October 3
Looking to add more fighter jets, Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari on Tuesday said the contract for 97 additional Tejas Mark-1A is expected to be signed this year.
The deal will cost around Rs 1.15 lakh crore, the IAF Chief said while answering queries at the annual press conference ahead of the Air Force Day on October 8. The IAF is going to procure 97 more Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mark-1A fighter jets in addition to 83 such aircraft ordered by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in February 2021 under a Rs 48,000 crore order to public sector giant Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). “We will sign contract with the HAL and they may further allocate work to private sector,” said the IAF Chief. The 97 aircraft were not in lieu of any existing projections of procuring the Tejas Mark-2 or any other jet, he clarified. Asked whether or not these 97 aircraft would have any improvement over already ordered 83 jets, the IAF Chief said changes in technology would be catered to.
The prototype of the ‘Mark-1A’ version is already flying. A series of validations are being done and deliveries are scheduled to commence from February next year, the HAL has announced in the past. Asked about the pending supply of S-400 air defence regiments from Russia, the IAF Chief said: “Three (of the five) were supplied. The Russia-Ukraine conflict led to a delay. We are hopeful of getting the remaining two in a year.”
Listing out future plans, Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari said there were looking at 66 more light combat helicopters (LCHs) and 40 training planes, besides upgrade of 84 Sukhoi 30 MKI jets at a cost of Rs 60,000 crore.
Asked whether there was a requirement for 42 fighter jet squadrons mandated to tackle a collusive China-Pakistan threat in the changing war fighting scenario, the IAF Chief said “we will need the numbers”. He added the Soviet-origin MiG-21 fighter jets were being phased out by early 2025.
On the wider strategic interests, he said: “The Indo-Pacific region is the new economic and strategic centre of gravity of the world and offers us both challenges and opportunities.” Separately, work is in progress to develop capabilities such as manned-unmanned teaming and High Altitude Pseudo Satellites.
LAC deployment to stay
The IAF will remain deployed till compete disengagement takes place at friction points along the LAC, says Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari. “Our operational plans are dynamic and change as per developing situation.”
Dear All,
Jammu, October 2
A gunfight erupted between security forces and terrorists during a massive search operation in the forest area of Kalakote in Rajouri district on Monday evening. There was no immediate report of any casualty, officials said.
Earlier in the day, personnel of the Army, the police and the CRPF had cordoned off the Broh and Soom forest belt in the area after receiving inputs regarding the presence of terrorists.
The search operation turned into an encounter late in the evening when the terrorists hiding in the area opened fire on the forces in an attempt to break the cordon, the officials said. Security forces retaliated and an exchange of fire between the two sides was underway. (With PTI inputs)
Kyiv, October 3
Ukraine destroyed 29 of 31 drones launched by Russia and one cruise missile, its air force said on Tuesday, most of them targeting the regions of Mykolaiv and Dnipropetrovsk. The waves of overnight attacks lasted more than three hours, the southern command of Ukraine’s forces had said earlier. Falling debris in the southeastern city of Dnipro caused fire at a private firm that was quickly doused, said Serhiy Lysak, governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region.
3,35,000 sign up for Moscow’s military
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said his country had no plans for an additional mobilisation of men to fight in Ukraine as more than 3,35,000 people had signed up so far this year to fight in the armed forces or voluntary units.
Damage to manufacturing facilities at an industrial enterprise in the city of Pavlohrad led to a fire that was also put out, he added on the Telegram messaging app.
At the same time, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said his country had no plans for an additional mobilisation of men to fight in Ukraine as more than 3,35,000 people had signed up so far this year to fight in the armed forces or voluntary units.
Armenia to join International court, Russia fumes
Russia has been bolstering its armed forces and ramping up weapons production in the expectation of a long war in Ukraine, where front lines have barely shifted for a year.
“The armed forces have the necessary number of military personnel to conduct the special military operation.” Shoigu, an ally of President Vladimir Putin, said.
Meanwhile, according to a media report, Russian President Vladimir Putin may soon indicate he will take part in a 2024 presidential election. — Reuters
New Delhi, October 2
As part of the long-range deployment in South-East Asia, a flotilla of ships of the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard is now in Malaysia. The ships — INS Tir, INS Sujata, and ICGS Sarathi — are on a visit to Port Klang in Malaysia (September 30 to October 3).
During the visit, the activities being undertaken by the crew of include various professional and community interactions, training exchanges, cross deck visits and sports fixtures with personnel of Royal Malaysian Navy, as well as ships open for the visit of schoolchildren.
The deployment is aimed at exposing the trainees of the Navy to the sociopolitical, military and maritime linkages of India with the friendly countries in the Indian Ocean Region and strengthening of bilateral engagements between the two Navies. Last week, the flotilla was in Thailand.
Arjun Sharma
Jammu, October 3
Heavy exchange of gunfire continued between security forces and terrorists in the forest area of Broh in Kalakote of Rajouri district on Tuesday. Three soldiers were reportedly injured late on Monday evening when the encounter broke out after a search operation was launched.
It is believed that two or three heavily armed terrorists, after infiltrating into Rajouri from the Line of Control (LoC), managed to reach Kalakote. The operation follows another encounter on September 12 in which two terrorists were shot dead in Narla area in Rajouri.
While Kalakote and Narla are not close to the LoC, it is believed that many groups of terrorists have been making attempts to infiltrate. After intrusion, terrorists mostly hide in the forest areas of Rajouri, Poonch and Reasi where multiple encounters have taken place in the recent past. Defence PRO, Lt Col Suneel Bartwal said that due to continuous intelligence flow, area domination and resultant pressure on the terrorists, a specific input about the movement of some unidentified individuals was received by the police on October 1.
“A joint operation by the Army and the police was launched in Kalakote. Presently, intense operations are under progress,” he said.
Army’s para commandos and dog squad have also been sent to the area. Wary of Kokernag encounter in Kashmir in which senior Army and police officials were killed recently, surveillance is being conducted so that terrorists do not make any attempt to flee taking advantage of the forest area, sources informed.
The operation started early on Monday when heavy deployment of Army and police personnel was made in the area after inputs regarding presence of terrorists. Roads leading to the area were closed and soldiers and police personnel entered the area with caution. During the initial exchange of firing, three soldiers were injured and later hospitalised.
At least 25 terrorists have been shot dead in Rajouri, Poonch and Reasi in different encounters since the start of the year. There have been credible reports that Pakistan has been trying to revive terrorism in Jammu division.
While the Army has not accepted that any successful infiltration took place in Rajouri and Poonch, the number of terrorists going up in the region suggests otherwise.
“As the operation is being conducted in a difficult terrain, it is being done very deliberately to avoid collateral damage,” said Lt Col Suneel Bartwal.Army helicopters and drones were seen flying in the area
