These images and videos are just small glimpses of how bad the situation is in Los Angeles

Gratitude to the firefighters who risked their lives to save people and animals from the deadly ongoing wildfires in California.

The fires–stoked by strong Santa Ana winds– have burned thousands of structures, including homes, businesses and vehicles. At least 24 people are dead, and the toll is expected to rise as search efforts remain underway.

But it’s not just human lives and homes, heartbreaking videos showed how pets and wild animals were evacuated by firefighters while surrounded by flames.

On social media, people have posted videos of animals like dogs, deer and horses amid the fires, confused and distressed

These images and videos are just small glimpses of how bad the situation is in Los Angeles.

Though no exact numbers of animals displaced, injured, or killed, have been given but the nonprofit Pasadena Humane has taken in more than 300 animals, from dogs and cats left behind to peacocks and baby raccoons escaping fiery areas, according to an Instagram post.

As per The Hollywood Reporter, on Sunday, Kim took to her Instagram Stories and penned a note claiming incarcerated firefighters have been paid US$ 1 per hour since 1984, telling her millions of fans that pay for them has “never been raised with inflation. It’s never been raised when fires got worse and many died. A recent agreement to raise it to five dollars an hour was reportedly ‘shot down last minute.”

Kardashian then asked California Governor Gavin Newsom to raise pay for incarcerated firefighters so it’s “a rate that honors a human being risking their life to save our lives and homes.”

The SKIMS founder concluded, “And lastly I want to thank the firefighters from the @calfire Ventura Training Center for saving my community when it started burning this week. These are all FORMERLY incarcerated firefighters who have come home, and want to continue serving our community as firefighters. Due to bills passed by @antirecidivismcoalition, these guys can now get their sentences reduced, expunging the felonies from their records for their fire service. And when they come home can get six figure jobs working for the fire departments.”

Like Kim, many other celebrities have come out to help those impacted by LA fires.

Army chief addresses press conference in New Delhi ahead of Army Day

The Indian Army chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi on Monday said the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh was “sensitive but stable” while adding “for now, during winters, we are not looking at reduction in troop-levels along the LAC”.

There may be a review of troop-levels ahead of the summer and it will depend upon what kind of meetings happen to build trust, the Army chief said adding, “we are well-poised to deal with any situation”.

The Army chief, while addressing a press conference in New Delhi ahead of the Army Day, said, “Both sides need to now sit together and restore trust”.

On being asked about any move to reduce troops in view of October 2024 patrolling arrangements, General Dwivedi said, “Troop deployment directly depends on the trust factor (between the two Armies) and the capabilities have been created on either side. The current capabilities across entails we will need to maintain the troop levels.”

“During winters, we are not looking at reduction in troop-levels along LAC. A review will be done ahead of summers,” General Dwivedi added. The Army chief further said, “We are looking at the next round of talks at the level of the Special Representatives and the WMCC,” General Dwivedi said when asked about how he sees the situation panning out. The WMCC is the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India–China Border Affairs and is coordinated by the foreign ministries of India and China.

On being asked about the patrolling arrangement announced on October 21, the Army chief said, “Patrolling in traditional areas has commenced…. two rounds of verification patrolling have bene done and both sides are satisfied”. The patrolling arrangements were for Depsang and Demchok in Eastern Ladakh.

Regarding the buffer zones created post the Galwan clash, General Dwivedi said, “There is no such thing as a buffer zone. When we carried out negotiations, a temporary moratorium was agreed so that troops of both sides agreed to stay back and not go in disputed areas as there was a chance of violence.”

On the capability development along the northern borders, Gen Dwivedi said, “It is progressing well.”

The ceasefire along the Line of Control with Pakistan is holding on, said the Army chief referring to the ceasefire announced after the two Director Generals of Military Operation agreed to it in February 2021.

The Army chief also mentioned about this year being the “year of reforms”. The mission is to ensure full spectrum of preparedness while concurrently transforming Army into self-reliant force.

Gen Dwivedi said Indian Army has prepared five key pillars of force restructuring, joint operations, modernisation, technology and human resource issues.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, two weeks ago, declared 2025 as the year of reform. 

The reforms are aimed at enhancing operational readiness, embracing technological advancements, and fostering jointness.

The five pillars in the blueprint are—jointness and integration; force restructuring; modernisation and technology infusion; systems and processes, and human resource management, sources said.

Book Release ” THORNS AND ROSES ” by Brig Baqir Shameem, at DSOI CHANDIGARH, on 6 Jan 25. With Speakers, Col Romesh Mehandroo, Maj Gen Mohan Singh Brig Baqir Shameem, Brig TPS CHOWDHURY, and our lovely Moderator Ms Mehak.

. It has articles from various service officers on their experiences during service. Two of Major Gen Mohan Singh articles are included in the book.

One is on the Demolition of DERA BABA NANAK BRIDGE ,

and the other one is CASE OF THE SLEEPING PILL.

This is a humorous incident which took place in high altitude area at 13000 ft.
Sending some pictures of the event.

Col Romesh Mehandroo,

Maj Gen Mohan Singh

Brig Baqir Shameem,

Brig TPS CHOWDHURY

Moderator Ms Mehak. Grand daughter of Col Jatinder Bengal Sappers

Director Major General Chauhan conducts inspection at examination centre in Mohali

handigarh, January 12:

As many as 3329 candidates, on Sunday, appeared in the entrance exam for the 15th course to be commenced at the prestigious the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (MRSAFPI), SAS Nagar (Mohali). A record number of boys (4128) have registered themselves for the entrance test this year. This response has been largely due to the concerted efforts of the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government and high success rate of the Institute.

Notably, the Institute is being run by the Department of Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training headed by Cabinet Minister Mr. Aman Arora.

Director of MRSAFPI Major General (Retd.) Ajay H Chauhan, VSM, conducted surprise inspection at a examination centre set up at School of Eminence, Phase-3B1, Mohali. Three examination centres were set up for the entrance test at School of Eminence, Phase-3B1, Mohali, Police DAV Public School, PAP Complex, Jalandhar and MSD Senior Secondary School, Bathinda. in spite of inclement weather young boys turned up in hordes to appear for the test.

Major General Ajay H Chauhan said that the top 150 successful candidates will be called for the final selection process i.e interview and medical at the later date and 48 candidates will be chosen from across Punjab to undergo training for joining the Armed Forces through the National Defence Academy (NDA) and equivalent academies under the watchful eyes of experienced and highly qualified staff of the Institute.

He further informed that a total of 74 cadets of the Institute have been commissioned as officers in Defence Services since the CM Mann led-Punjab Government has come into power. As many as 64 cadets have joined training academies and 12 cadets are awaiting call up letters.

A retired colonel of Indian Army lost Rs 35.30 lakh in a digital arrest fraud case. After realising about the fraud, the 81-year-old victim lodged a police complaint and following investigation, the Cyber Police Station here has registered a case….

A retired colonel of Indian Army lost Rs 35.30 lakh in a digital arrest fraud case. After realising about the fraud, the 81-year-old victim lodged a police complaint and following investigation, the Cyber Police Station here has registered a case.

The complainant, Col Parupkar Singh (retd), a resident of Sarabha Nagar, told the police that he had received calls from some unknown people who posed themselves as CBI and police officials. They informed him that his name emerged in some hawala racket and he would face strict action.

“The suspects told me that I have been digitally arrested in the case and will face legal action as per law. They forced me to transfer Rs 35.30 lakh in bank accounts provided by them. Later, I realised that I was cheated by cyber fraudsters, following which I lodged a police complaint,”the complainant told the police.

ASI Sukhdev Singh said after registering a case further investigation was launched to identify and arrest the suspects.

Notably, Padma Bhushan awardee $1-billion worth Vardhman Group CMD SP Oswal was among the victims, who alone had lost Rs 7 crore in the country’s one of the biggest cyber frauds reported so far in Ludhiana. Oswal had received a WhatsApp call and the caller posed himself as a CBI officer from the Mumbai office. The caller told Vardhman Group owner that he has opened a fake bank account in Canara Bank and a case has been registered against him in the CBI. Now, his case is being transferred to the ED. Oswal was further threatened while putting him under digital arrest through a Skype video call for an initial 24 hours. Similarly, many cases of cyber fraud with similar modus operandi were reported in the city in the past.

Operation was launched by different units of Army in Bhattal area on Saturday after villagers reported suspicious movements in Jogiwan forest area

A search operation to track down terrorists, whose movement near the Line of Control (LoC) in Akhnoor sector was reported last week, entered the second day on Sunday with forces deploying drones and other latest equipment, officials said.

The operation was launched by different units of the Army in Bhattal area on Saturday after the villagers reported the suspicious movements in the Jogiwan forest area. They suspected these were infiltrating terrorists.

The search operation is going on with more troops mobilised to cover more area even as there was no trace of the suspected persons so far, the officials said.

They said security forces have deployed drones and other latest equipment besides the sniffer dogs to sanitise the area, while police parties have also joined the search operation.

Three heavily armed terrorists of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) were eliminated in a two-day-long operation in the Akhnoor sector on October 28 and 29 last year.

When World War II broke out in 1939, Subedar Richhpal Ram of 4 Rajputana Rifles was on two months’ leave at his village Barda in Gurgaon district. Barda was known in the region as ‘Faujion ka gaon’ since almost every…

When World War II broke out in 1939, Subedar Richhpal Ram of 4 Rajputana Rifles was on two months’ leave at his village Barda in Gurgaon district. Barda was known in the region as ‘Faujion ka gaon’ since almost every household had at least one member who was serving or had served in the defence services.

Soon after the war started, most faujis on leave in the village received recall telegrams one after another. They cut short their leave and returned to their paltans (battalions). Upset due to the non-receipt of a telegram for many days, Subedar Richhpal unilaterally decided to rejoin his paltan. Janaki, his wife, told him to wait, but he argued that the telegram meant for him had perhaps been wrongly addressed or got misplaced in transit. He insisted that his soldier’s creed demanded his service and it was time for him to prove his wafadari (loyalty) towards his paltan and his country.

During his send-off at the tonga stand, Richhpal said to his wife, “Main ulto aaungo, morcho jeet ke aaungo. Aur jai ulto na aa payo to iso kuchh karjango ke mhari poori biradari tere pe garv karegi” (I will return victorious. But if I don’t come back, I would have done something for which our entire clan will be extremely proud of you).

Sadly, he did not return from the war, but he kept his promise. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.

Fast-forward to the middle of 1999, when the war clouds were gathering over Kargil. Some officers and jawans of the 17 Jat battalion were on leave. Realising the operational urgency, the battalion adjutant, Major HS Madan, started sending recall telegrams. Major Deepak Rampal, ‘Delta Company’ Commander, 17 Jat, was on long leave, preparing for the staff college exam scheduled for September 1999. Unwilling to disturb Major Rampal during his preparations, the Commanding Officer, Col US Bawa, thought of sending a recall notice to him later, when the war became imminent.

Col Bawa was pleasantly surprised when he saw Major Rampal, carrying a rucksack, walk into the battalion’s operational room. When asked what made him rejoin without receiving the recall telegram, he replied: “Sir, I heard on the radio news about Pak infiltration in the Kargil sector. I also read in the newspaper about the missing patrol of 4 Jat led by Lt Saurabh Kalia and the torture inflicted upon him and his men. I also saw coffins of our soldiers being brought to their villages. Did I need to know more and see more to take a decision?”

Within a fortnight of his rejoining the battalion, Major Rampal led his ‘Delta Company’ during an assault on the formidable Whale Back feature strongly held by Pakistani troops. After a night-long fierce fight, including hand-to-hand combat, the Whale Back was back in Indian hands. Major Rampal received a well-deserved Vir Chakra.

Not just Richhpal and Rampal, all Indian soldiers have always been like that — a class apart. For them, their country and their paltan are supreme. Leave is too small a privilege for them.

PM Modi is set to inaugurate the tunnel in J&K on January 13

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the Z-Morh tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir on January 13 — a vital step in providing all-weather access to Ladakh along the Srinagar-Leh National Highway.

Located at an altitude of 8,652 ft above sea level, the 6.5-km two-lane tunnel will provide round-the-year connectivity between Gagangir, nearly 68 km east of Srinagar, and Sonmarg, a popular tourist destination further on. Named after the Z-shaped twisting stretch of road, the tunnel, burrowing through the mountains, will by-pass the avalanche prone area that used to get blocked for extended periods and cut down the travel time from two hours or so hours to just about 15 minutes. Built under the aegis of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), its construction had started in May 2015.

The NH-1 that connects Ladakh to Srinagar and there on to the rest of India remains closed for almost six months in a year due to heavy snow on several high mountain passes en route. The situation is the same on the alternate Manali–Leh axis, where the passes are even higher.

The Z-Morh tunnel is a critical component of the Zoji La tunnel project, conceived to establish uninterrupted road connectivity between Ladakh and Srinagar. The under-construction 14-km long U-shaped Zoji La tunnel, situated further east from Z-Morh, will do away with the need to negotiate the 11,575-ft pass, said to be among the world’s most treacherous. Zoji La Tunnel, laying in Kargil district, is expected to be completed in another two years’ time.

The immediate significance of commissioning the Z-Morh tunnel is that it will boost tourism and provide convenience to the civilian populace of Sonmarg area that needs to travel down to Srinagar and Jammu for their personal requirements.

It is only after the Zoji La Tunnel is complete that the true strategic value of these under-the-mountain bypasses will be realised. The all-weather road connectivity to Ladakh will greatly enhance India’s defence posture and logistics capability in the Kargil and Ladakh sectors, where Indian troops are deployed on the Line of Control and Siachen against Pakistan as well as the Line of Actual Control against China.

Similarly, a series of tunnels are also to come up on the Manali–Leh highway. While the first of these, Atal Tunnel under the Rohtang Pass ahead of Manali in Himachal Pradesh, was opened in 2020, the work has commenced on a tunnel to its north under the Baralacha La on the Himachal–Ladakh border. Tunnels are also planned under Tangang La and Lachung La on this route in Ladakh. These three passes are at an altitude of over 15,000 ft.

A third axis to Leh has also been opened recently. This route from Manali, which lies to the west of the main highway, is through the Zankakar Valley over the 16,800-ft Shinku La, leading to Padum in Kargil. The construction of a tunnel under the Shinku La received environmental clearance last year. These tunnels are part of the Central Government’s India China Border Roads initiative, an expansive project to build up strategic infrastructure, involving several thousand km of roads and bridges, in the northern as well as north-eastern theatres. Besides the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), which handles the bulk of these construction and maintenance works, several agencies, including the NHAI, National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited, Central Public Works Department and the Public Works Departments of the states involved as well as private sector entities are associated with this.

In winters, the sustenance of troops deployed in the northern sector is dependent on air. The Indian Air Force transport aircraft ferry in fresh rations, supplies and equipment and help rotate troops. Even civilian medical cases requiring critical care are evacuated from Kargil and Ladakh regions by the IAF or Army helicopters.

The all-weather road connectivity to the northern sector becomes crucial in view of the prevailing security situation requiring sustained deployment of a large number of troops along the frontiers. Round-the-year access will reduce reaction time, facilitate faster and cost-effective mobilisation and re-enforcing existing capability by moving in heavy equipment. It will also benefit the civilian population in these areas.

When all tunnels are completed a few years hence, Ladakh and Kargil will have all-weather access from three axes — one from Srinagar and two from Manali, allowing considerable strategic advantage and flexibility. In the long run, it would also be a boon for socio-economic development of the region.

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Lal Bahadur Shastri, the second Prime Minister of India, was a symbol of simplicity, humility and integrity. Born on October 2, 1904, in Mughalsarai, Uttar Pradesh, Shastri played a pivotal role in shaping modern India. His leadership and policies have left a lasting legacy, inspiring generations to come.

WITH LT GEN JS DHILLON :