A state-level media sensitisation workshop was organised by the Health and Family Welfare department in collaboration with Global Health Strategies in this connection in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday. The objective of
the workshop was to create awareness among communities and mobilise public opinion to consume anti-filaria drugs for prevention of Lymphatic Filariasis.

Speaking at the workshop, Snehalata Sahu, Special Secretary (Public Health), H&FW department said, “During MDA programme, it will be ensured that everyone except children below 2 years, pregnant women and seriously ill people, must consume the prescribed dosage during in presence of trained volunteer and health workers.”

She stressed that with the support of the community and the media, LF can be eliminated completely. If beneficiaries in large numbers consume anti-filaria drugs, it will break the chain of transmission, she added.

Dr Niranjan Mishra, Director, Public Health, said, “Filariasis is one of the leading causes of long-term disability worldwide. Commonly acquired in childhood but manifested in adulthood, this infection damages the lymphatic system and if left untreated, causes abnormal swelling of the body parts which is irreversible.”

He further said the MDA is a key component in addressing the disabling disease, where anti-filaria drugs (DEC and Albendazole and Ivermectine) are administered to eligible persons by trained health workers. Around 46 lakh population will be covered by the health workers during booth and house to house visit.

Dr Shubhashisha Mohanty, Joint Director-cum-State Programme Officer; Dr Suchitra Sasmal, Senior Regional Director, NCVBDCP; Prof Braj Kishore Das, Additional Director of Medical Education and Training; Dr Pushpanjali Misra, Joint Director, State Institute of Health Family Welfare and Anuj Ghosh, Senior Director, Global Health Strategies also spoke at the workshop. State representatives of World Health Organisation (WHO) and PCI were present.

He also directed the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) team to expedite the remaining finishing activities and ready it by mid-February.

The ISBT is poised to become a crucial transit hub not only for the residents of Odisha but also for those from neighbouring states.

According to an official release, Pandian took stock of the facilities provided for commuters, including waiting areas, sanitation facilities, bus bays, upcoming F&B outlets, lighting installations, and restroom facilities. He appreciated the Operation Control Centre ( OCC). Pandian also directed officials to make provision of proper Odia signages and map facility to guide the commuters.

Once operationalised, ISBT, spread over 15.5 acre, will serve as the biggest bus terminus in the state handling more than 500 buses and thousands of passengers daily. The terminal has been designed to provide a world-class travel experience to passengers and is equipped with modern amenities such as state-of-the-art Aahaar Centre, restaurants, multi-storey car parking, pick-up/drop-off facility, solar panel system, and sewage treatment plant.

It also has provisions for police facilitation centre to ensure safety of passengers, administrative building for managing the terminal operations, toilet facilities for passengers, ramp facilities for the convenience of passengers with disabilities, and baby feeding rooms for mothers travelling with infants. Besides, there will be children’s play area, a primary health clinic, and additional parking for seasonal buses.

The feel and experience will be that of an airport, the release added.

During his visit, the Chief Minister walked around the recently inaugurated heritage corridor.
5T and Nabin Odisha Chairman V K Pandian accompanied the CM to the pilgrim town, an official release said.

The Chief Minister visited the temple and had darshan of the sibling deities. He experienced the new facilities made available to the devotees.

Naveen prayed before the trinity for the prosperity and well-being of the people.
Expressing immense satisfaction over the magnificence of the project and the spiritual environment, the Chief Minister said that the project will give a spiritual environment to devotees for generations.

During his visit, the Chief Minister walked around the recently inaugurated heritage corridor.
5T and Nabin Odisha Chairman V K Pandian accompanied the CM to the pilgrim town, an official release said.

The Chief Minister visited the temple and had darshan of the sibling deities. He experienced the new facilities made available to the devotees.

Naveen prayed before the trinity for the prosperity and well-being of the people.

Expressing immense satisfaction over the magnificence of the project and the spiritual environment, the Chief Minister said that the project will give a spiritual environment to devotees for generations.

The 75-meter wide corridor around the shrine is a magnificent creation with an aesthetic look. A number of facilities like cloakroom, information center, and amphitheater are available for the devotees along with the beautiful green environment, and khondalite stone work.

The cities had recorded 19.1 and 17 degree Celsius the previous day.

Kirei in Sundargarh district recorded the lowest night temperature at 8.7 degree Celsius, followed by Koraput at 10.1 degree Celsius, Jharsuguda at 10.6 degree Celsius, Rourkela (Sundargarh) at 10.8 degree Celsius, Baripada at 11.6 degree Celsius, Keonjhar 11.8 degree Celsius, and Sundargarh 12.2 degree Celsius in the last 24 hours.

According to the MeT office, Hindol in Dhenkanal received the highest 47 mm rainfall, followed by Bhuban, also in Dhenkanal, at 27 mm, Paradip in Jagatsinghpur at 15.9 mm, Ghasipura in Keonjhar at 15.3 and Soro in Balasore at 15mm.

Due to trough in easterlies from South Interior Karnataka to east Vidarbha and anti-cyclonic circulation over Northwest Bay of Bengal in the lower levels, light rainfall at isolated places is likely in Odisha during next 3-4 days, it added.

Dense fog was also seen at Nayagarh and Balangir and shallow to moderate fog at Keonjhar and Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi.

The accused, identified as Jagannath Jena and Anil Nayak of Salia Sahi here, were nabbed from a bus stop near Mancheswar.

“Following a tip-off about illegal transportation of cough syrups to Bhubaneswar, a police team was formed under IIC of Nayapalli police station. The team was subsequently deployed near Kasturba bus stop from where the duo was nabbed. They failed to produce any valid documents/authorisation certificate regarding the contraband,” said ACP (Zone 5), Bhubaneswar, Gautam Kishan.

He said that 1,680 bottles of WINCEREX cough syrup, each bottle containing 100 ml, total 168 litres, were seized from them. “It is suspected that the consignment was meant to be supplied to other parts of the state,” he said, adding that a case has been registered under Section 21 B NDPS Act.

This is for the 11th time that this native of Chicholi village under Ambabhona Block in the district will don the grease paint for the ‘Maharaja’ role. He played the role of Kansa between 2009 and 2017 and was back on the stage again in December 2022, when the festival was organised after a gap of two years due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Hrusikesh had almost lost the coveted crown by appearing as King Kansa at Dharmasala Mahotsav in Jajpur district in 2016, violating a tradition that restricts a person from playing the character on any other platform. The Artiste Advisory Committee, however, pardoned him after he gave a written assurance that he would never repeat the mistake.

Started during 1947-48 at the time of Independence, Dhanu Jatra is celebrated from the 5th day of ‘Pousasukla’ (bright fortnight) till ‘Pousapurnima’ (full moon day) when Bargarh town is transformed into Mathura under the rule of demon king Kansa. The ‘Balya Leela’ of Lord Krishna takes place at Ambapali on the other side of the Jeera River in the town that is turned into Gopapura.

Here’s a look at the various artistes who have played Kansa at Dhanu Jatra over the years:

Bundi Ratha (originally Bunde Ratha) of Deogaon was the first Kansa. He played the role of the tyrant king of Mathura for two consecutive years. He was succeeded by Bhimsen Tripathy in the third year of Dhanu Jatra. From 1957 to 1980, Yudhistir Satpathy was the Kansa. In 1973, however, there was a break in his long reign with Radheshyam Dash donning the attire of the demon king.

Debendra Biswal replaced Satpathy in 1981 and the following years saw Nilanchal Dash of Sohela playing Kasan before Gopal Sahu began his long innings.

Sahu played Kansa for 23 years from 1984-1998 and 2001-2008. The organising committee, however, replaced Sahu because of his failing health. The ‘loss of his crown and make-belief kingdom’ went on to haunt Sahu for a long time. He preferred to stay indoors and watch the show on TV. “Raja thili, praja heli (I was king, now I have been reduced to a mere subject)” is how the sub-inspector of police had bitterly summed up his feelings.

The credit for encouraging him to take up the role goes to his wife. She felt he was apt for playing Kansa because of his physique and voice. His nephew played the role of Krishna from 2005 to 2008. For the Dwapara Yuga king’s role, Sahu received the Sangeet Natak Academy Award in 1994 and a lifetime achievement award from the then Chief Minister J B Patnaik.

Bhubaneswar Pradhan was selected in 1999 but did not match the expectations of the organisers. So, Sahu was roped in again in 2001. He is the owner of an opera party, Samaleswari Gananatya, and is a professional artiste. Bhubaneswar made a comeback in 2018 after a gap of 17 years and went on to play the role again in 2019.

The agency said around 171 aircraft worldwide would be affected, with each inspection taking four to eight hours.

The FAA is requiring immediate inspeAlaska and United Airlines fly the largest number of MAX 9 planes, while Icelandair and Turkish Airlines have smaller fleets of these aircraft. Boeing has so far delivered some 218 737 MAX 9 planes worldwide, the company told AFP.

US-based Alaska Airlines grounded all 65 of its Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes on Friday after a flight carrying 171 passengers and six crew was forced to make an emergency landing, with passengers saying a window panel blew out after takeoff.

Alaska Flight 1282 had departed from Portland International Airport and was still gaining altitude when the cabin crew reported a “pressurization issue,” according to the FAA.

The plane quickly returned to Portland, and there were no major injuries.

Images posted on social media showed a side panel of the plane blown out, with emergency oxygen masks hanging from the ceiling, AFP reported.

“Following tonight’s event on Flight 1282, we have decided to take the precautionary step of temporarily grounding our fleet of 65 Boeing 737-9 aircraft,” Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci said in a statement Friday.

“Each aircraft will be returned to service only after completion of full maintenance and safety inspections,” he said.

Alaska Airlines said Saturday that more than a fourth of its Max 9 fleet had been inspected since the incident, with nothing noteworthy being found.

AMG Media Networks acquired 50.5% stake constituting equity shares, with voting rights and without voting rights each, of IANS India, the company said in an exchange filing. After the acquisition, IANS will be a subsidiary of AMNL.

AMNL has also signed a shareholders’ agreement with IANS and Sandeep Bamzai, a shareholder of IANS, to record their inter-se rights with respect to IANS, the company said. The acquisition of the media network is strategic in nature, the company said. IANS has an authorised share capital of Rs 20 lakh. The company reported a turnover of Rs 11.86 crore for fiscal 2023.

India thus set up a quarterfinal clash with Pool winners The Netherlands on December 12.Other quarterfinals – Argentina vs Germany, Spain vs Pakistan, France vs Australia.

Pandian visited the pilgrim town early in the morning on the direction of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and reviewed the heritage corridor project. He asked the officials to make necessary arrangements for effective crowd control.

They were asked to ensure that the devotees are able to visit the 12th century shrine and have darshan of the sibling deities in a smooth and disciplined manner, an official release said.

At the same time, instruction was given to give momentum to the works relating to the redevelopment of mutts and landscaping as part of the heritage corridor project.

Pandian went around the entire area where the heritage corridor project is being implemented between 5 am and 7 am. He also interacted with devotees.

During the visit, he emphasised the need to speed up renovation and redevelopment work of Dola Bedi area, Emar mutt and Punjabi mutt. He asked the officials to accelerate the painting work at the frontal portion of the corridor project area.

In order to ensure smooth darshan at the temple by devotees, Pandian asked the officials to take steps for starting the queue from Marichikote Chhak. He also sought steps to remove all vending zones from Singhadwar and Marichikote Chhak on the Grand Road and shift the shops elsewhere.
Similarly, the officials were asked to complete landscaping works on north, south and west sides of the temple by December 9.

Instruction was given to engage additional skilled artisans in redevelopment of mutts.

The officials were also directed to complete all electrical works near Meghanad Pacheri – the temple boundary wall – at the earliest. Safety of all ancient heritage structures and small temples near Meghanad Pacheri should be ensured. Effluent treatment plant and sanitation works should be completed as soon as possible.