The bodies of the last four of the trapped labourers were recovered from the site of the avalanche-hit Border Roads Organisation (BRO) camp at Chamoli in Uttarakhand on Sunday, taking the death toll to eight as the authorities ended the…

Helicopters, sniffer dogs and thermal imaging technology were used to expedite the rescue operation in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. PTI

The bodies of the last four of the trapped labourers were recovered from the site of the avalanche-hit Border Roads Organisation (BRO) camp at Chamoli in Uttarakhand on Sunday, taking the death toll to eight as the authorities ended the nearly 60-hour rescue operation.

Army doctors said the 46 workers who were rescued on Saturday were brought to the military hospital in Joshimath. Two of them were referred to AIIMS, Rishikesh.

An avalanche had struck the BRO camp between Mana and Badrinath at 7: 15 am on Friday. “Out of the 54 labourers who went missing after the avalanche, 46 were rescued and eight found dead,” Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari said.

Four bodies were retrieved on Saturday and as many on Sunday. Earlier, it was believed that the total number of trapped labourers was 55 but on Sunday this number was revised to 54 as one of the missing, Sunil Kumar, had proceeded on leave before the accident.

More than 200 personnel from the ITBP, BRO, NDRF, SDRF, IAF and the district administration were engaged in the rescue operation. Located 3 km from Badrinath, Mana is close to the Line of Actual Control with China.

The trapped workers found dead on Sunday were Arvind Kumar Singh (43) from Dehradun, Anil Kumar (21) from Rudrapur, Ashok (28) from Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh and Harmesh from Una in Himachal Pradesh, officials said.

Helicopters, sniffer dogs and thermal imaging technology were used to expedite the rescue operation. Eight helicopters — five from the Army, two from the IAF and a civil chopper — were engaged to evacuate the rescued from the Mana post to the military hospital in Joshimath, the headquarters of the Army’s Ibex Brigade.

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In addition, a drone-based system that can detect ‘buried objects’ was transported to Joshimath, and a UAV, five quadcopters and three Mini UAVs were deployed.

The mine was noticed by a villager during cremation of a person at Kamore village near Tanwar border out post on Saturday

A rusted anti-tank mine was found and subsequently destroyed in a controlled explosion by the bomb disposal squad in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Sunday.

The mine was noticed by a villager during cremation of a person at Kamore village near Tanwar border out post on Saturday.

Police summoned the bomb disposal squad and the mine was destroyed.

The lone worker who remains missing is 43-year-old Arvind from Dehradun

The bodies of the last four of the trapped labourers were pulled out of the site of the avalanche-hit Border Roads Organisation (BRO) camp in Chamoli on Sunday, taking the death toll to eight as authorities ended the nearly 60-hour rescue operation.

Army doctors said 46 workers who were rescued on Saturday have been brought to the military hospital in Jyotirmath. Two of them have been referred to AIIMS, Rishikesh. Three of the workers are in critical condition, Lt Col DS Maldhya said.

The body of the last missing worker has also been retrieved. The recovery marks the culmination of the Mana Village Rescue operation, Defence Public Relations Officer (PRO) Lt Col Manish Shrivastava said.

“Out of the 54 labourers who went missing after the avalanche, 46 were rescued alive and eight found dead,” Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari said.

Helicopters, sniffer dogs and thermal imaging technology were being used to expedite the rescue operation due to apprehensions about possible inclement weather on Monday, officials said.

Three bodies of the missing labourers were found on Sunday, district administration officials said in Gopeshwar. With this, the number of workers who lost their lives in the Mana avalanche has mounted to seven. One person is still missing for whom the search is in progress, they said.

The bodies have been brought to Jyotirmath by helicopter where the post-mortem was being done at the Community Health Centre.

The deceased include Anil Kumar (21) from Rudrapur in Uttarakhand’s Udham Singh Nagar district, Ashok (28) from Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh and Harmesh from Una in Himachal Pradesh, the officials said.

The lone worker who remains missing is 43-year-old Arvind from the Clement Town area in Dehradun.

The avalanche hit the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) camp between Mana and Badrinath on Friday, burying 54 workers inside eight containers and a shed. Earlier, it was believed that the total number of avalanche-hit labourers was 55 but one of them was on unauthorised leave and had reached home safely.

A total of eight helicopters – five from the Army, two from the Indian Air Force and a civilian helicopter hired by the Army — have evacuated all rescued persons from Mana Post to military hospital at Joshimath, the headquarters of the Army’s Ibex Brigade.

A drone-based system that can detect ‘buried objects’ has reach Joshimath on board a IAF helicopter. Apart from this, a UAV, five quadcopters and three mini UAV’s have been deployed.

The labourers were part of Border Roads Organisation team tasked to an infrastructure project. Mana is the last village on the India side and is close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.

A stretch of 20 km of road between Joshimath and Mana is under snow.

Indian Army doctors on-site have performed life-saving surgeries for those in dire need, while helicopter operations from the Joshimath helipad are in full swing. — with PTI

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MANA AVALANCHE 46 rescued, drone system to detect buried objects on way

A rescued worker being shifted via a helicopter from the Mana avalanche site to Joshimath for medical care in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. PTI

Four labourers have been found dead by rescue teams while the search is on for five others still buried under the snow following an avalanche that hit a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) camp near Mana in Uttarakhand on Friday.

The Army said 55 labourers were trapped in the incident. In the search operation launched by the Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), 50 labourers were rescued, but four of them died on Saturday. These labourers were part of a BRO team engaged in an infrastructure project.

Mana is the last village on the India side and is close to the Line of Actual Control with China. A drone-based system to detect “buried objects” was being sent by the Indian Air Force (IAF) for deployment in the search and rescue operations. The Army is continuing its search to save the five missing persons despite bad weather conditions.

As a 20 km stretch of the road between Joshimath and Mana was still under the snow, six helicopters — three from the Army Aviation, two of the IAF and a civilian helicopter hired by the Army — were deployed to evacuate the rescued persons.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami today visited the site and took stock of the rescue operations. Central Army Commander Lt Gen Anindya Sengupta also visited the avalanche site. In a video put out by the command, Lt Gen Sengupta said: “All resources, including unmanned aerial vehicles and radars, will be pressed into service once the weather and road conditions are conducive. The casualties are being shifted by the aerial route.” Army doctors on site performed life-saving surgeries on those in dire need, while helicopters carried out sorties from the Joshimath helipad.

“Twenty four of the 50 rescued persons have been brought to Joshimath and are being treated there. One person with a spinal injury has been sent to the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, via air ambulance and the rest will be brought tomorrow to Joshimath and given medical assistance,” Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari was quoted as saying to the media.

Indian Army and IAF chiefs flew in a Tejas jet at Aero India 2025, marking historic moment

Air Chief Marshal AP Singh has expressed a vision for the Indian Air Force (IAF) to become a major aerospace power by 2047. This ambitious goal aligns with India’s broader strategy to enhance its military capabilities and achieve self-reliance in defence production.

The IAF aims to have its entire inventory produced domestically by 2047, emphasising the importance of indigenous weapons systems for future security challenges. This includes producing 35-40 fighter aircraft annually to replace ageing fleets.

By 2047, the IAF expects to operate advanced aircraft such as Rafale and upgraded Sukhoi Su-30 jets, ensuring a fleet of aircraft above the 4.5 generation.

The IAF plans to enhance interoperability with ground, land, and maritime forces, enabling seamless communication and data exchange during operations.

The IAF is involved in India’s space ambitions, including the Gaganyaan project, and aims to expand its space-based assets.

The IAF is focusing on automation and advanced technologies to enhance decision-making and stay competitive with global aerospace powers.

Key Strategies

The IAF is focusing on the TEJAS Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), with over 200 TEJAS MK-1A jets ordered. This program is crucial for developing indigenous fighter capabilities.

The AMCA is a fifth-generation stealth fighter jet being developed in collaboration with the DRDO and private sector partners.

The IAF is encouraging private sector involvement to enhance production capabilities, as seen with the C-295 transport plane manufactured by a Tata-Airbus joint venture.

The IAF is developing advanced variants of the Astra beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM). Upgrades to the Akash surface-to-air missile system, including the Akash Next-Generation, are underway. A significant capital expenditure of ₹56,000 Crores has been allocated to enhance the IAF’s capabilities and support indigenous production

The IAF is working to indigenise critical components and materials to reduce reliance on foreign supply chains. The IAF needs to produce 35-40 fighter jets annually, which requires expanding production capacity beyond Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

Implementation Roadmap

Focus on accelerating TEJAS MK-1A production, initiating TEJAS MK-2 development, and enhancing indigenous missile systems like Astra and Akash by (2025-2030). Intensify private sector participation, develop additional production infrastructure, and advance AMCA development by (2030-2035. Achieve full-scale indigenous production of all aircraft and systems, ensuring self-reliance in both production and lifecycle support by (2035-2047).

Challenges And Opportunities

The IAF encourages private sector involvement to address production challenges, as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has its limitations.

There is a push for increased investment in domestic defence manufacturing to support the goal of self-reliance.

The vision is set against a backdrop of rapidly evolving geopolitical dynamics, emphasizing the need for robust air power capabilities.

The IAF’s vision for 2047 reflects a commitment to transforming into a fully self-reliant and technologically advanced aerospace power, capable of securing India’s interests in a rapidly changing global environment.

In a nutshell, The Indian Air Force (IAF) aims to achieve its goal of having an entirely indigenous inventory by 2047 through several strategic initiatives. By implementing these strategies, the IAF aims to achieve its ambitious goal of operating with a fully indigenous inventory by 2047.

The Indian Coast Guard Ship ‘Sachet’ embarked on a significant humanitarian mission by departing for Sudan on Friday, carrying a substantial cargo of over two tons of life-saving medicines.

This shipment includes crucial anti-cancer drugs, underscoring the importance of the mission in providing essential medical aid to Sudan.

Nearly two years have passed since the outbreak of conflict in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023.

Over 25 million people across Sudan, South Sudan, and Chad are trapped in a spiral of deteriorating food security. including at least 17 million in Sudan. The war risks creating the world’s largest hunger crisis, as per the World Food Program.

The Indian Coast Guard’s initiative highlights the country’s commitment to supporting global health needs, particularly in regions facing medical challenges.

The delivery of these medicines is expected to have a positive impact on the healthcare system in Sudan, addressing critical medical requirements and enhancing the well-being of its population.

Last month, India dispatched humanitarian assistance of 26 tons to Honduras in the wake of the recent Tropical storm SARA. The consignment comprised medical supplies and disaster relief material including surgical supplies, glucometers, oximeters, gloves, syringes and IV fluids, blankets, sleeping mats and hygiene kits.

This mission demonstrates India’s role in international humanitarian efforts, showcasing its capacity to respond to global health crises effectively.

ANI

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasised the importance of addressing critical technological challenges to ensure India’s strength and security. Speaking at the inauguration of ‘Vigyan Vaibhav-2025’ in Hyderabad, part of the National Science Day celebrations, Singh highlighted the shift in warfare from hardware to software, underscoring the need for India to lead in transformative technologies like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, machine learning, and clean tech.

He urged the youth to inculcate a scientific temper and make the best use of the internationally competitive infrastructure being established in the country.

Singh also reiterated the government’s commitment to harnessing modern technology for national security and praised the potential of India’s youth in achieving the vision of a developed India by 2047.

During his visit, Singh felicitated the team behind the successful flight trials of the Long-Range Hypersonic Anti-Ship Missile, which positioned India among a select group of nations with hypersonic missile capabilities.

He commended the scientists for their contributions to India’s defence capabilities and encouraged them to continue integrating evolving technological advancements into their projects.

The event, themed ‘Empowering Indian Youth for Global Leadership in Science and Innovation for Viksit Bharat,’ saw over 30,000 students participate and featured more than 200 exhibition stalls showcasing cutting-edge defence and aerospace technologies developed by DRDO and leading Indian industries.

Singh also touched upon the New Education Policy 2020, which aims to transform science education by promoting creativity and critical thinking, despite resistance from some states.

He emphasised the importance of education in preparing the new generation to face global challenges and contribute to India’s technological advancements.

Solar Industries India Limited, part of the Solar Group, has secured a significant export order valued at ₹2,150 Crores for the supply of defence products.

This order, awarded by an international entity, is set to be executed over a period of six years, marking a substantial milestone in the company’s expansion into the global defence sector. The announcement was made in a filing before the stock exchanges on Friday.

In addition to this major defence contract, Solar Industries also issued commercial papers worth ₹75 Crores last week. These papers are scheduled to mature in March 2025, as per the filings with the exchange. The company’s recent financial performance has been robust, with a 55% increase in net profit to ₹314.87 Crores for the December quarter, driven by a 38% rise in revenue to ₹1,973.08 Crores compared to the same period last year.

Despite the positive developments, Solar Industries’ shares experienced a slight decline following the announcement, reflecting broader market dynamics. The company’s market capitalization remains substantial, standing at approximately ₹78,000 Crores.

Solar Industries continues to strengthen its position in both domestic and international markets, with a focus on defence and other sectors such as mining and construction.

A violent clash at the Indo-Bangladesh border in Tripura’s Sepahijala district resulted in injuries to a Border Security Force (BSF) Jawan and a Bangladeshi intruder.

The incident occurred when a group of 20-25 Bangladeshi nationals, allegedly involved in smuggling activities with Indian accomplices, crossed into Indian territory near Border Pillar 2050/7-S. Despite being cautioned by a BSF patrolling team, the intruders launched a violent attack on the security personnel.

The situation escalated further as the intruders attempted to snatch weapons from the BSF personnel, prompting a Jawan to fire a non-lethal round from a Pump Action Gun (PAG) in self-defence, which injured one of the Bangladeshi nationals.

Both the injured BSF Jawan and the Bangladeshi intruder were immediately evacuated for medical treatment and are currently undergoing care at nearby hospitals. Their condition is reported to be stable. However, there are conflicting reports regarding the outcome for the Bangladeshi nationals involved. Some sources indicate that one Bangladeshi national was injured and hospitalized, while others report that a Bangladeshi smuggler was killed in the incident.

The clash highlights ongoing challenges related to smuggling and border security along the Indo-Bangladesh border. Authorities have initiated investigations to identify and take action against those involved in the border intrusion.

In a separate incident, Mumbai Police apprehended 16 Bangladeshi nationals for illegal entry during a large-scale operation across several areas in Maharashtra.