National
Fadnavis’ overloaded chopper force-lands, all on board safe (Lead)
Nashik (Maharashtra), Dec 9 (IANS) A helicopter carrying Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis force-landed soon after take-off from here on Saturday as it was “overloaded”, officials said.
The incident occurred at around 9.30 a.m., when Fadnavis, accompanied by Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan and others were travelling from Nashik to Aurangabad, the Minister’s aide Santosh Bari said.
“As it took off from an open ground, the helicopter could barely ascend 50 feet or so and couldn’t fly further, compelling the pilot to land safely a few metres away,” Bari told IANS.
In videos of the incident which went viral on social networks, the chopper was seen struggling during the takeoff, its main rotor unable to lift and thrust it forward, but finally it stabilised and made a slow descent on the ground.
The chopper had apparently become overloaded and could not fly with the extra weight, so Fadnavis’ cook and his bag were off-loaded before it took off again after sometime, he added.
Fadnavis and his entourage reached Aurangabad after the 25 minute flight, while the cook and bag followed by road, a journey of nearly three hours, according to Bari.
Later, government sources said that the though chopper had a capacity of six people, but due to fuel issues, only four passengers were permitted on board.
“At the time of take-off, it was felt that for safety reasons they should carry three, so they landed again and requested the same. Accordingly, one person (the cook) was offloaded,” the officials explained.
Seeking to downplay the incident, they added that the chopper took off safely, it was a routine practice and not a major issue since Fadnavis travelled by the same aircraft.
Nevertheless, the incident alarmed the security and civil officials since there have been at least three other incidents involving Fadnavis’ VVIP aircraft in the past couple of years, including a chopper crash in Latur in May from which the Chief Minister emerged unscathed.
–IANS
qn/vd
National
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.