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83 bridges found 'unsafe' in UP

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83 bridges found 'unsafe' in UP

Lucknow, July 11 (IANS) Following the recent cases of bridge collapse in Bihar, an ongoing inspection of bridges across Uttar Pradesh has found that 83 such structures in the state are ‘unfit to commute’, government officials said.

The audit done so far of more than 700 bridges in 41 districts found that there are heavily used bridges on which rectification was needed to be made on a war footing.

Among the measures being taken are closing them completely for commuters or banning them for heavy vehicles. Two of these unfit bridges are in the state capital.

Brijesh Singh, the Minister of State for the Uttar Pradesh Public Works Department (PWD), said, “The monitoring and repair of bridges is a continuous process that our department undertakes. We have identified the bridges that need repair. Those that are found to be no longer of use will be shut down for traffic completely.”

In Lucknow, Pucca Pul over the Gomti river in Chowk and another bridge over the Sai river in Mohanlalganj have been identified as unfit and have been shut down for the movement of heavy vehicles.

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Experts feel that regular monitoring followed by prompt action to rectify damaged bridges is required to avoid a situation such as collapse.

“When the estimate for repair goes above Rs 40 lakh, which is the limit to be passed by the engineer-in-chief, the file goes to the state administration, where technical officials may not understand the immediate need for a sanction for repair,” said Salil Yadav, retired chief engineer (bridge), PWD.

The 83 bridges that have been found unfit/vulnerable are in 41 districts of Uttar Pradesh.

The highest number of seven such bridges was identified in Kanpur Dehat, followed by four in Saharanpur.

In several districts, diversions were put in place after finding the bridge pillars to be of poor strength.

The inspection/strength test was conducted for pillars, bridge girders, expansion joints, pier caps and wing walls.

“The decision to stop movement of heavy vehicles, stop all traffic or issue diversions was taken at local level. We are compiling the report as the survey process is still going on. More than 700 bridges have been inspected so far,” said a senior official of the Uttar Pradesh PWD.

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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to get inspections of all bridges in Uttar Pradesh that are more than 50 years old.

The PWD has now demanded that district offices submit proposals for the repair of the existing bridges or the construction of new ones. The final report is likely to be compiled next week.

Meanwhile, Lucknow’s iconic Pucca Pul is now closed to heavy vehicles as it is one of the 83 bridges in the state found “unfit to commute” amid concerns over its ability to handle modern traffic loads.

The bridge connecting Daliganj and Chowk was constructed by British officers after dismantling the old Shahi Pul, a stone bridge commissioned by Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula in 1780. The Shahi Pul was regarded as a marvel of its time and completed in 1797. Following the British annexation of Awadh in 1857, the stone bridge was deemed inadequate and weak, particularly with the advent of heavier artillery.

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“In 1911, the British authorities decided to replace the aging structure, laying the foundation for Pucca Pul, which was inaugurated by the then Viceroy, Lord Hardinge, on January 10, 1914. Notably, the formal opening of King George’s Hospital took place the same day. Over the decades, Pucca Pul became a crucial artery for the city, accommodating increasing traffic demands,” historian Roshan Taqi said.

“The decision to finally ban heavy vehicles from using Pucca Pul was made following expert advice. As the bridge transitions to serving only lighter traffic, its legacy as a historic and functional landmark of Lucknow continues, albeit with necessary adjustments to ensure its preservation for future generations,” Taqi added.

In 2022, the Bridge Corporation conducted a thorough inspection, which revealed that the bridge could no longer safely support heavy vehicles.

Despite recommendations to restrict such traffic, the order was initially not enforced.

–IANS

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Defence Ministry: Year 2025 will be year of reforms

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rajnath singh with armed forces chief

On Wednesday, the Defence Ministry announced that 2025 will be designated as the “Year of Reforms,” with a primary focus on establishing integrated theatre commands to enhance collaboration among the three branches of the military.

These reforms are aimed at transforming the armed forces into a technologically advanced, combat-ready force capable of executing multi-domain integrated operations, the ministry stated.

The initiative will emphasize emerging domains such as cyber and space, alongside cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, hypersonics, and robotics.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described the “Year of Reforms” as a pivotal milestone in the modernization of the armed forces.

“It will set the stage for significant advancements in the nation’s defense capabilities, ensuring the security and sovereignty of India in the face of 21st-century challenges,” he said.

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A 3.2 magnitude tremor struck Gujarat’s Kutch district on Wednesday morning

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A 3.2 magnitude tremor struck Gujarat’s Kutch district on Wednesday morning, according to the Institute of Seismological Research (ISR).

The district administration reported no casualties or property damage following the quake.

The tremor occurred at 10:24 am, with its epicenter located 23 kilometers north-northeast (NNE) of Bhachau, as per the Gandhinagar-based ISR.

Last month, the region experienced four seismic events exceeding a magnitude of 3, including a 3.2 magnitude tremor just three days ago, with its epicenter also near Bhachau.

Earlier tremors in the area included a 3.7 magnitude earthquake on December 23 and a 3.2 magnitude event on December 7, according to ISR reports.

Kutch was also jolted by a 4.0 magnitude earthquake on November 18, 2024. On November 15, a 4.2 magnitude quake hit Patan in north Gujarat, based on ISR data.

Gujarat is considered a high-risk earthquake zone, having experienced nine major earthquakes over the past 200 years, according to the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA). The 2001 earthquake in Kutch, which occurred on January 26, was the third-largest and second-most destructive in India in the last two centuries, according to the GSDMA.

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Diljit Dosanjh faces legal action over concert songs

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Singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh’s much-anticipated New Year’s Eve concert in Ludhiana faced legal hurdles after a complaint was filed by Punditrao Dharenavar, an assistant professor from Chandigarh.

Following the complaint, the Deputy Director of the Women and Child Department, Government of Punjab, issued a formal notice to Ludhiana’s District Commissioner, urging them to prohibit Dosanjh from performing specific songs during his live show on December 31, 2024.

The notice specifically targets songs accused of promoting alcohol, including Patiala Peg, 5 Tara Theke, and Case (Jeeb Vicho Feem Labbiya), even if the lyrics are slightly modified. The complaint points to previous warnings issued to Dosanjh by various commissions advising against performing these controversial tracks.

Despite these warnings, the singer allegedly continues to perform the songs with minor alterations. Dharenavar raised serious concerns about the influence of such music on young audiences, especially when minors are present at live events.

Adding to the controversy, Dharenavar referenced a 2019 Punjab and Haryana High Court ruling, which directed law enforcement to ensure that songs promoting alcohol, drugs, or violence are not played at public events, including concerts. This ruling underscores the legal basis for the complaint and has further intensified the scrutiny surrounding the event.

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UP Minister’s convoy overturns, 5 person injured

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UP Minister’s convoy overturns, 5 person injured

Five people sustained injuries when a vehicle in the convoy of Uttar Pradesh Minister and Nishad Party chief Sanjay Nishad overturned into a ditch near Januan village in the Khejuri Police Station area of Ballia district late last night.

Sanjay Nishad shared details of the incident, stating that the accident injured five party workers, including four women.

“I was traveling with the convoy to participate in the Constitutional Rights Yatra organized by the party on Tuesday night. Near Januan village in the Khejuri area, one of the vehicles following the convoy lost control while trying to avoid an animal and overturned into a ditch,” Nishad explained.

The injured individuals have been identified as Rakesh Nishad, Ramrati, Usha, Geeta, and Iravati Nishad.

Senior police and administrative officials quickly arrived at the scene following the incident to oversee the situation.

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Suchir Balaji’s mother alleges Murder

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Suchir Balaji’s mother alleges Murder

The mother of Suchir Balaji, a 26-year-old former OpenAI researcher found dead after accusing the company of copyright violations, has alleged that her son was “murdered” and called for a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) probe.

Poornima Rao, Suchir’s mother, claimed her son’s death was a “cold-blooded murder” that authorities wrongly ruled as suicide. She further disclosed that a private autopsy report conflicted with the findings of the initial police investigation.

Rao alleged that her son’s apartment had been “ransacked” and cited evidence of a struggle in the bathroom, including bloodstains that suggested he had been assaulted.

“We hired a private investigator and conducted a second autopsy to uncover the truth. The private autopsy does not confirm the cause of death stated by the police. Suchir’s apartment was ransacked, there were signs of a struggle in the bathroom, and it appears he was hit based on blood spots. This is a cold-blooded murder being misclassified as a suicide. Lobbying in San Francisco won’t deter us from seeking justice. We demand an FBI investigation,” Rao wrote on X.

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Elon Musk reacted to Rao’s post, commenting, “This doesn’t seem like a suicide.”

Balaji was discovered dead in his San Francisco apartment months after accusing OpenAI of violating copyright laws during the development of ChatGPT, as reported by Fox News. Despite these claims, the San Francisco Police Department found no evidence of foul play and ruled the death a suicide.

On October 24, shortly before his death, Balaji voiced doubts about the “fair use” defense in generative artificial intelligence. “I recently participated in a NYT story about fair use and generative AI, and why I’m skeptical ‘fair use’ would be a plausible defense for a lot of generative AI products,” he wrote on X.

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