Local News

New Delhi: As many as 11 students were suspended for allegedly ragging a junior in an engineering college in Andhra Pradesh’s Kakinada. According to reports, the incident took place in JNTU Engineering College where the accused students have been suspended for a period of 15 days. As per reports, two second-year and nine third-year petrochemical students allegedly ragged a first-year petrochemical student in the college hostel. Following the incident, a complaint was lodged at UCG anti-ragging website. After investigation, all the 11 students were suspended from the hostel for two months and from classes for 15 days. The Vice-Chancellor said that the college is against ragging and strict action will be taken against those involved in such activities. He also advised the senior students to focus on education and stop engaging in such activities.  This is not the first time that such an incident has been reported form the college. Earlier in February this year, the College Academic Council had suspended 18 second-year students both from academics and hostel for allegedly resorting to ragging on the hostel premises. As per reports, the JNTUA Registrar had got a phone call from a parent of one of the first-year students complaining that the student was missing from the hostel. Immediately the engineering college principal visited the hostel and could not find those students there. Based on her enquiries with other first-year students in the hostel, she came to understand that senior students had been ragging them by calling them to their hostel. On verification of the complaint, 18 students were suspended.

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan conducted a detailed inspection at Kakinada Port uncovering alleged widespread illegal transportation of Public Distribution System (PDS) rice on Friday. Calling it a “well-organised mafia operation,” the Deputy CM warned of grave consequences for national security if immediate action is not taken. Highlighting the scale of the issue, Pawan Kalyan stated, “Kakinada Port has become a center for smuggling PDS rice. Around 1000 to 1100 trucks arrive daily at the port, making it a critical hub for rice exports. The mafia has taken advantage of the port’s infrastructure to smuggle ration rice to foreign countries, primarily African nations.” “Despite the port’s significance, it has only 16 security personnel. With over 1,000 trucks entering daily, proper inspections are impossible. The lack of adequate security is alarming, raising concerns about both illegal activities and national security,” he said.

Amaravati: The India Meteorological Department on Monday said cyclonic storm Montha is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic by October 28 morning. The weather system over the southwest and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal moved northwestwards with a speed of 15 km per hour (kmph) during the past six hours and lay centred over southwest and adjoining areas of westcentral and southeast Bay of Bengal at 5.30 am today. “It is likely to continue to move northwestwards over southwest and adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal during the next 12 hours and then north-northwestwards and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by October 28 morning,” said an official release from the Met Department. According to the Met Department, Montha lay over latitude 12.2 degrees north and 85.3 degrees east at 5.30 am today, about 620 km south to southeast of Kakinada, 650 km south to southeast of Vizag, 560 km east to southeast of Chennai, 790 km south of Gopalpur (Odisha) and 810 km west of Port Blair (Andaman & Nicobar Islands). Later, the weather system is expected to move further north-northwestwards to cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around Kakinada during the evening and night of October 28 as a severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of up to 110 kmph. Meanwhile, the Met Department forecast light thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds with up to a speed of 40 kmph and moderate rainfall at a few places over Anakapalli, Kakinada, Konaseema, Srikakulam, Nellore, Tirupathi, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and West Godavari districts in the next three hours. Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) managing director Prakhar Jain advised people to stay indoors. He said heavy to very heavy rains are likely today in Kakinada, Konaseema, West Godavari, Krishna, Bapatla, Prakasam and Nellore districts. Likewise, he said heavy rains are likely in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Parvatipuram Manyam, Alluri Sitaramaraju, Visakhapatnam and Anakapalli districts. Jain said similar weather is expected in East Godavari, Eluru, NTR, Guntur, Palnadu, Chittoor and Tirupati districts.

Hyderabad: In a scene reminiscent of a blockbuster movie, Telangana police, with the help of Bajrang Dal activists, have busted an illicit cow smuggling operation in Choutuppal mandal of Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district. The smugglers’ method of transporting cattle hidden under cardboard boxes has earned the case a “Pushpa-style” slug, a popular film that showcased creative smuggling techniques. The bust occurred at the Valigonda checkpost, where the police were conducting routine vehicle inspections. A DCM lorry caught the attention of officers, who grew suspicious of its cargo. Upon closer inspection, the police and Bajrang Dal activists were shocked to discover 12 cows and 21 bulls crammed inside the vehicle, ingeniously concealed beneath a layer of seemingly innocuous cardboard boxes. The animals were being illegally transported from Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh to Hyderabad. Bajrang Dal members first intercepted the vehicle in Choutuppal and alerted the authorities, leading to the joint operation.

Hyderabad: The long-awaited direct flight service between Rajahmundry (Madhurapudi) and Tirupati was formally launched today, significantly reducing travel time between the cultural and spiritual capitals of Andhra Pradesh.  Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, alongside Rajahmundry MP Daggubati Purandeswari, inaugurated the service virtually from New Delhi. At the Madhurapudi Airport, the inaugural flight was flagged off by Andhra Pradesh Tourism and Culture Minister Kandula Durgesh and other public representatives. The new service, operated by Alliance Air, will run three days a week: Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Addressing the event virtually, Union Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu termed the launch a “gift to the people of Rajahmundry” during the auspicious season of Navratri. Naidu highlighted the remarkable success of the existing routes, pointing out that “flights to Delhi and Mumbai, started previously, are now among the most in-demand services in the country, running with full occupancy. This shows the potential of Rajahmundry airport. Connecting Rajahmundry, the cultural capital, with Tirupati, the spiritual capital, is a real blessing.”

Former Andhra Ranji cricketer MSR Murthy, originally from East Godavari, passed away in Hyderabad. He represented Hyderabad Schools, South Zone, and Juniors before excelling at Kakinada JNTU and later in HCA Leagues Hyderabad: Former Andhra Ranji cricketer MSR Murthy, who hailed from East Godavari (Andhra Pradesh), passed away here on Friday. Murthy, during his early days, represented Hyderabad Schools, South Zone Schools, and Hyderabad Juniors. Later, after joining Kakinada JNTU, he led the University team in the South Zone Championship. After completing his Engineering course, he worked at ECIL (Hyderabad) and played in the HCA Leagues.