लुकसान स्थित कुची डायना नदीको तेज बाहउले लियो एक वृद्धकाे प्राण ।
pic: By Amit Khas Chhetri
pic: By Amit Khas Chhetri
Tuesday, 26 July 2016
REMEMBERING THE ORIGINAL LEGEND WHO SAVED #KARGIL: Subedar Harka Bahadur Rana, Military Cross
July 26th is celebrated across India as the Kargil Vijay Diwas to commemorate the glorious victory of India over the Pakistani forces in 1999.
But what about the forces themselves? What do they celebrate?
When it comes to Kargil there is only One Hero – in fact a LEGEND who stands the tallest. As far as the forces are concerned there is One Giant who along with his brave comrades literally saved Kargil for India, and that did not happen in 1999.
It happened in 1948, during independent India’s first war.
TheDC is proud to present the story of a Gorkhali legend who has continued to inspire generations of soldiers serving in for the Indian army in Kashmir.
INDEPENDENCE BLUES
Barely few months after independence, Pakistan invaded India via Kashmir with overwhelming number of forces, and such was the disadvantage our troops were in, that India was on the verge of losing entire Kargil region to Pakistan.
Barely few months after independence, Pakistan invaded India via Kashmir with overwhelming number of forces, and such was the disadvantage our troops were in, that India was on the verge of losing entire Kargil region to Pakistan.
The main problem was that our troops could not reach the battlefield due to lack of roads, and they had to reach Leh via Zojila , Drass, and Kargil. Despite poor facilities and equipment, hard work by our Engineers helped in moving the Tanks to reach up to the Zojila pass - in what is called THE BATTLE FOUGHT ON DONKEY TRACKS - But it was still a long way from the actual battle field.
GORKHALIS ON THE MARCH
As in Kargil in 1999 when the 1/11 Gorkhas were the First battalion to be deployed for Kargil, back in 1948 it was the 1/5 Gorkha Rifles under the command of (then) Lt. Col Anant Singh Pathania, who was incidentally the first Indian officer to command the Gorkha Rifles and win a Military Cross, began moving northwards in the direction of Kargil.
As in Kargil in 1999 when the 1/11 Gorkhas were the First battalion to be deployed for Kargil, back in 1948 it was the 1/5 Gorkha Rifles under the command of (then) Lt. Col Anant Singh Pathania, who was incidentally the first Indian officer to command the Gorkha Rifles and win a Military Cross, began moving northwards in the direction of Kargil.
During the course of the 1948 war, the most fearful battle was fought for the then Khera bridge which connects Kargil to the rest of India and it was vital to both the sides from strategic, military and geopolitical aspects.
Since the Pakistanis had captured the Kargil area, they were well entrenched in the area with superior firing positions and well supplied armoury. On the other hand the Indian army had been on a move for a while and the supplies were not as regular, also they were in inferior positions which exposed them to firing by Pakistani troops.
THE BATTLE AT KHERA BRIDGE
The 1/5 Gorkha Rifles were engaged by a strong force of Pakistani defenders at Khera bridge over the river Shingo. The battle was so fierce and the Indian troops were so disadvantaged that at one stage of the war the capture of the bridge seemed to be by all means impossible and unlikely. Until one Gorkha soldier decided that loss or withdrawal was simply not an option.
The 1/5 Gorkha Rifles were engaged by a strong force of Pakistani defenders at Khera bridge over the river Shingo. The battle was so fierce and the Indian troops were so disadvantaged that at one stage of the war the capture of the bridge seemed to be by all means impossible and unlikely. Until one Gorkha soldier decided that loss or withdrawal was simply not an option.
The main problem for the Indian troops was that, the enemy were too well set and they could not keep on fighting the enemy from a distance, they needed to take the fight to the enemy or give up. The battle was fierce and most of the troops guarding the bridge were American trained Pak soldiers with heavy machine guns.
Despite all the odds young Subedar Harka Bahadur Rana and his valiant men of 1/5 GR managed to cross the Shingo river, take the fight to the enemy in the positions where they had felt invincible, and beat them into surrendering or retreating.
SUPREME SACRIFICE
Sub. Harka Bahadur and many of his friends died in the operation but the Gorkhas marched ahead till they fought up to Kargil. As one of the picture will show, before Sub Harka Bahadur and his friends decided enough was enough, it was Pakistan on the other side of the bridge, now the border is more than 5kms away.
Sub. Harka Bahadur and many of his friends died in the operation but the Gorkhas marched ahead till they fought up to Kargil. As one of the picture will show, before Sub Harka Bahadur and his friends decided enough was enough, it was Pakistan on the other side of the bridge, now the border is more than 5kms away.
Given that so many of our brave hearts have given their supreme sacrifice for our motherland in Kashmir, nowhere in Ladakh or entire Kashmir will you see a memorial solely dedicated to a single person. The memorial dedicated to Sub Harka Bahadur is an exception.
Sub Harka Bahadur Rana earned that rarest of the rare honour not only due to his valour and dedication for our motherland, but also for that rare indomitable spirit which turned the course of war and helped in conjoining Kashmir with India forever.
WE REMEMBER
Lt. Col. Anant Singh Pathania who commanded the mission was decorated with Mahavir Chakra, and Late Subedar Harka Bahadur Rana won Military Cross for his bravery and exploits. Today a new bridge has been built by Indian Army and is known as Harka Bahdur Rana Bridge.
Lt. Col. Anant Singh Pathania who commanded the mission was decorated with Mahavir Chakra, and Late Subedar Harka Bahadur Rana won Military Cross for his bravery and exploits. Today a new bridge has been built by Indian Army and is known as Harka Bahdur Rana Bridge.
In Military circles, it is said that the battle waged by Col. Phatania, Sub. Harka Bahadur Rana and their men of 1/5 Gorkha Rifles were one of the hardest battle ever fought.
While others chose to ignore or forget our brave hearts, we refuse to forget the real Legends of Kargil - like Harka Bahadur, without whom there would be no Kargil in India.
Jai Mahakali!! Ayo Gorkhali!!
[This article was published earlier in TheDC, and has been re-posted as#KargilVijayDiwas Special]
Students of Lohagarh risk their lives to reach school
Residents of Lohagarh and three other villages under Mirik block are still facing difficult times ever since a connecting diversion got washed away by torrential rainfall a couple of days ago. They are taking huge risks as they are compelled to cross the swollen river while the authorities are yet to come up with a solution to resolve the matter.
Engineers from the Kurseong Engineering Department have asked local contractors to construct another diversion at a cost of Rs 8 lakh as a temporary solution, but work has not started yet.
Meanwhile, a JCV of the tea garden is being used to clear debris to make way for heavy vehicles that carry essential goods to the factories.
Gopal Mahato, a truck driver from Siliguri who carries coal for the garden, said, "Today I took a big risk and crossed the river, but while returning I could not make it as the river was flowing very fast and the water level had risen high due to heavy rainfall in the hills."
Local contractors said the GTA has given its clearance for the construction of a temporary diversion, but heavy rainfall has not let work to start.
Avisekh Dhamala Manjha and a class VII student of Potong High School, said, "This is not the only time we are facing problems, but during every monsoon season since the last four years.
We have to cross the river risking our very lives as there is no other alternative to reach our school."
Priya Tamang of class IX, who studies in the same school, said, "When we go to school the water level is low and we can cross the river easily. But while returning home the water level goes up and it gets really difficult to cross the river."
[Via: EOIC]
Monday, 25 July 2016
First Japan tea unit in Assam - Factory opens in Tinsukia garden
The flavour and aroma of authentic Japanese green tea can now be found much closer home. A tea garden in Tinsukia district of Upper Assam has started the first Japanese-style green tea factory.
The garden Chota Tingrai, belonging to Jalan Industries Pvt Ltd, has just started a Japanese green tea manufacturing unit, a first-of-its-kind in India, using machines, techniques and know-how imported from Japan.
The 600-hectare garden is manufacturing Japanese green teas - guricha and hojicha in its factory. Majority of the tea produced in Japan is green.
The garden produces 6 lakh kg tea out of 16 lakh kg of tea produced by other gardens of the company. The trial production started in May.
Guricha is a form of Japanese tea which is well known for its ring-type shape and mellow liquors with a sweet aftertaste.
Hojicha is a form of roasted Japanese tea that is popular in Japan for its health benefits as it has negligible to no-caffeine contents.
The company has hired Japanese tea experts and has named the factory Chota Tingrai Hara Green Tea Factory. The factory is dedicated to Hara family from Japan who worked tirelessly and selflessly with the team to set up the factory in Assam.
The director of Jalan Industries Pvt Ltd, Mrityunjay Jalan, said: "Shoji Hara and Masanori Yanagawa, green tea factory experts working with us, visited Chota Tingrai last November to get an assessment of the leaves and the site of the factory. After trials with hand-rolled green teas, they were of the opinion that the project can be a success."
The Rs 7.5-crore factory has a capacity of producing 3 lakh kg of green tea per annum.
"The Japanese are pioneers of green tea manufacturing and have advanced greatly in technology. So, by using their system we can produce the best green tea product in a fully automated setting," Jalan said.
"The reason why Japanese green tea is loved by all lies in the manufacturing process. The steaming process used in Japan ensures that the colour of the tea remains green and the taste is stronger," Shoji Hara of Umenoen Tea Company told The Telegraph.
He said the factory in Chota Tingrai is fully automated and the first modern authentic Japanese green tea factory in India.
Jalan said the green tea manufactured here is a lot different from other green tea products now sold in Indian markets.
"Using the characteristics of Assam leaf and marrying it with Japanese technology, the green tea produced has a green polished appearance, an earthy aroma and mellow liquors with a lingering sweet aftertaste," he added. "Unlike in Japan, where green teas are not sorted, Chota Tingrai will sort its green teas keeping Indian and global consumers in mind." "Green tea which we are producing is mainly for Indian markets as we want the Indians to get access to quality and authentic products. We also have a small base in the US where we are looking to export. The conventional green tea is sold under the brand name of Midori while the organic brand for our green tea is Mana Organics," Jalan said.
Writes :Roopak Goswami, via: Telegraph
अविरल वर्षाले नेपाल सुनसरीकाे ११ गाविस जलमग्न : सयौँ घर डुबानमा
केही दिनअघिदेखि अविरल परेको वर्षाका कारण सुनसरी जिल्लाका ११ गाविस, तीन नगरपालिका र एक उपमहानगरपालिकाका एक हजार सात सय घर डुबानमा परेका छन् ।
अधिकांश डुबानमा परेका घरका मानिस विस्थापन भएर छिमेकी, आफन्त र उच्च भागमा शरणार्थी भएर बसिरहेको सुनसरीका प्रजिअ मोहनबहादुर चापागाईँले जानकारी दिनुभयो । अहिलेसम्म कुनै मानवीय नोक्सानी नभएको र केही स्थानमा चौपाया मरेको बाहेक जिल्लाको दुहवीभलुवामा १५ घर तथा आज मात्र सेउतीखोलाले बकलौरी–३ मा सेउतीखोलाको कटानमा परेर तीन घर बगाएको छ ।
स्थानीयवासी पुष्प प्याकुरेलका अनुसार सेउतीमा आएको बाढीले अर्जुन श्रेष्ठ, श्रवण खवास र भोलाकाजी राईका घर बगाएर लैजाँदा कम्तीमा रु १२ लाखको नोक्सानी भएको छ । सो क्षेत्रमा नेपाली सेना र प्रहरीले उद्धार गरिरहेका छन् । आजै जिल्ला दैवीप्रकोप उद्धार समितिले अवस्थाको विश्लेषण गरेर आपत्कालीन राहत उपलब्ध गराउने सम्बन्धमा सबै सरोकार भएका निकायसँग छलफल गरेको छ ।
यसैगरी सुनसरीका प्रहरी उपरीक्षक पोषराज पोख्रेलले सप्तकोसी नदीमा अपराह्न ४ बजे दुई लाख २७ हजार क्युसेक बाढीको बहाव रहेको र ब्यारेजका २९ ढोका खुला गरिएको बताउनुभयो । सम्भावित खतरालाई दृष्टिगत गरेर ब्यारेज क्षेत्रमा माछा मार्न र कोसीमा बगेर आएको दाउरा निकाल्न प्रतिबन्ध लगाइएको छ ।
Via: purbelinews.com
Everesters felicitated in Bagdogra
The two were felicitated today at a programme in Danra Gaon, Upper Bagdogra. "The encouragement shown by the people of Darjeeling and the country motivated us to conquer the world's highest peak," said Trishala, a student of Southfield College in Darjeeling.
She said she had given up hope when it was barely 10 minutes to the summit, but the words of encouragement she had received while embarking on the historic journey flashed in her mind egging her on despite severe pain in the legs, hunger and drowsiness.
Sulaxchana, a student of Ghoom Degree College, said she was really excited when she arrived at Bagdogra airport. "I am proud to be the daughter of Darjeeling and India," she said. She urged youths, especially women, to always think positive and never give up hope. "Women should not underestimate themselves and never fear of dreaming positive in life," advised Suloxchan
Via: EOI
Rain Wrecks Havoc in Dooars - Parts of #Siliguri Submerged: VERY HEAVY RAINFALL PREDICTED IN NEXT 48 HOURS
Siliguri got 337mm of rain since 8am on Saturday and though water started to recede on Sunday the forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall in the next 48 hours loomed.
In nearby Gazoldoba, the rainfall recorded between 8am Saturday and 8am Sunday was 330mm.
While district authorities till late tonight had not spoken about whether schools would open tomorrow, the Met office said heavy to very heavy rain (70mm-200mm) was expected in the next 48 hours in Darjeeling, Siliguri, Jalpaiguri and the rest of sub-Himalayan Bengal.
While most of the waterlogging in Siliguri last night and this morning was because of rain water, in Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts, swelling rivers overflowed their banks and inundated several towns and tea estates.
According to sources in the tea industry, around 30 estates are under water in the Terai and Dooars.
Such sudden inundation of plantations and roads that connect these tea estates has led to halt in plucking and processing of tealeaves.
In Alipurduar district, tea estates such as Kalchini and Patkapara have been badly affected. In Kalchini, water has entered around 300 workers' quarters. In Patkapara, stretches of the plantation are under water.
In Malangi area of Jaigaon, also in Alipurduar district, over 200 families have moved to higher areas for safety.
Tea garden representatives are apprehensive of huge losses because of the flooding.
Sanjoy Pramanik, the manager of Patkapara, said: "We are supposed to get around 30,000kg of tealeaves but in these days, we are getting around 6,000kg per day. Several stretches of plantations are under water. Even after the water recedes, we will have to wait for another 20 days to get new leaves. Also, the labour quarters have been flooded and we are apprehensive that there might be an outbreak of water-borne diseases."
In Tasati tea estate in Alipurduar the management is in a fix. "We have around 1 lakh kg tea ready in the factory for dispatch but because of non-availability of vehicles, we cannot send it to warehouses. Even if we get a vehicle, it is a tough situation because during transportation, if any tea package gets wet, it will fetch lower prices."
In Jalpaiguri district too, several gardens are facing similar problems of water logging.
Among the gardens is the Banarhat Tea Estate where about 100 hectares of plantation area and all roads in the garden are under water. Around 8,000 people have been affected.
Similar is the situation in Telepara. In Lakhipara garden, water has flooded the factory and a labour line.
"Work had to be stopped today in Choonabhutti tea estate as water entered in two labour lines where around 2,000 people reside. An embankment of a local stream has breached in Katalguri tea estate and has inundated a labour line. The Neora river has eroded around an acre of land in Baradighi tea estate. Similarly, one acre has been eaten into by the Leesh river at the Leesh river tea estate," a source at the Dooars Branch of Indian Tea Association (DBITA) said. "The entire Dalmore tea estate is under water."
"A disastrous situation is prevailing in the tea belt which would lead to loss of crores of rupees. We will soon sit with the district administration to discuss how such floods can be mitigated," S. Guha Thakurta, the DBITA secretary said.
Although it rained less in Jalpaiguri town yesterday as compared to Siliguri, heavy rainfall in the Dooars and in adjoining Bhutan hills led to the flooding of rivers.
The worst affected was Banarhat, located around 50km from Jalpaiguri town, which got inundated as an embankment of the Hatinala, a stream, was breached near Rheabari Tea Estate.
In Siliguri, a youth drowned in the Mahananda today.
[Via: Teleraph, Pics: Amit chhetri and Sashi Singh for TheDC]
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)