Haldiram's History

Haldiram's Has Over 100 Products

Private limited with share capital 
Industry Food industry
Founded 1937
Headquarters Nagpur, India
Area served:
India, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, United Arab Emirates, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Thailand and others
Products: Snacks, sweets, beverages, frozen foods
Revenue: 35 Billion INR
Website: www.haldirams.com

Haldiram's was founded in 1937 by Gangabisenji Agrawal, as a retail sweets and namkeen shop in Bikaner, Rajasthan. In expansion, the company's first manufacturing plant was located in Calcutta.[In 1970 a larger manufacturing plant was established in Nagpur. Another manufacturing plant was established in New Delhi, the capital of India, in the early 1990s, which also had a retail store. In 2003, the company began the process of developing convenience foods to be marketed to consumers. In 2008, the chairman of the company's Nagpur branch was Shivkishan Agarwal. In 2014, Haldiram was ranked 55th among India's most trusted brands according to the Brand Trust Report, a study conducted by Trust Research Advisory.

Haldiram's has over 100 products Its products include frozen foods such as frozen meals, ice cream, and kulfi, namkeen, sweets, cookies, crackers, sherbet, papad, savories, chips and other snacks. Haldiram's also produces fruit-flavored beverages and dairy products. The company also produces ready-to-eat food since 2010. In the 1990s, the production potato-based foods was enabled by the importation of machinery from the United States designed for these purposes.

McDonald's no match for Haldiram here

Bhelpuri beats burgers just as comprehensively as farsan beats fries. Haldiram's revenues, at Rs 3,500 crore, is more than the combined revenue of Domino's (Rs 1,733 crore) and McDonald's (Rs 1,390 crore; adding toplines of the two separate operations in India). Or take that popular two-minute snack, Maggi, which netted a revenue of Rs 1,200 crore; Haldiram is almost three times bigger. These figures for 2013-14, the latest available in official records, when combined with the fact that Haldiram's commands 40% of the Rs 5,500-crore traditional snacks business, conclusively demonstrates one thing. Whether in fast food or munchies, and despite the profusion of MNC brands with high cool quotient in both categories, good old-fashioned Indian offerings from Haldiram's still dominate the market.

Equally interestingly , Haldiram's, present both through its ubiquitous casual dining eateries and its packaged snacks, is a success story with some unusual twists. First, the brand has survived disputes and break-ups in the original Agarwal family that started with a small shop in Bikaner in 1937. Haldiram is the biggest brand of those launched by Agarwals. Second, Haldiram's itself has succeeded as a national brand although the business is broken into three distinct geography-based entities. In 2013-14, Haldiram Manufacturing, which looks at North India, clocked Rs 2,100 crore in revenues. Haldiram Foods, catering to West and South India, had an nual sales of Rs 1,225 crore. And Haldiram Bhujiawala, which does business in East India, earned revenue of Rs 210 crore.

Third, owners remain old-fashioned in that they aren't looking at exiting. "Contrary to many consumer company founders who have taken an exit route in the last few years, we are more interested in building and preserving the business for the next generation," says 40-year-old Kamal Agarwal, fourth generation member of the founding family. Fourth, every savoury and sweet items sold by Haldiram's is made inhouse, in units closely monitored by family-dominated management."Developing and manufacturing products in-house in over ten dedicated units has also helped the company experiment with a host of new products," Agarwal says.

India's First Double Hand Transplant Successful

India's first double hand transplant successful, doctors say

With the first successful double hand transplant, Indian doctors have registered a rare feat of carrying out the world's first hand transplant of a coloured skin and the first hand transplant in any developing country. So far, only 110 successful hand transplants have been done, since the first one in France 13 years ago, in USA, European countries, China and Australia. The honour for the rare feat goes to a team of surgeons at the Kochi-based Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences. The transplant was carried out on January 12 and 13 to a train accident victim – 30-year-old Manu, who received both the hands of a 24-year-old road accident victim.

"The operation lasted for 16 hours with more than 20 surgeons participating in the procedure. Each hand required connecting two bones, two arteries, four veins and about 14 tendons," said Dr. Subramania Iyer, Professor and Head of the Plastic Surgery Department. "The immune suppressant drugs were started before the start of the surgery and continued after it. He was shifted to a transplant ICU. Careful monitoring of the blood supply to the hands was done and all precautions to prevent infections was instituted in the nursing. Another operation to replace an area of bad skin was done for his left hand on the second day," he added.

Dr. Iyer further said, "After 14 days post-surgery, both the hands have been accepted by the recipient's body and he started regaining movements. He has been shifted out of the ICU and post-surgical rehabilitation process has started under supervision." "Manu will be able to move his hands since his own muscles of the forearm are working to move the fingers. The sensations will return only slowly and is expected in three to four months. His immunosuppressant drugs (to prevent rejection of the transplanted hands) will have to be continued indefinitely, but at a reduced rate from three months," he added.

Dr. Iyer said, the current transplant is important, since follow up of the transplanted skin is done by the appearance of the skin and skin biopsies every month to see signs of rejection. He said the details of the transplant have been added to the International Registry of Hand Transplants, which maintains stringent standards in the follow-up of these cases. The entire expense for the transplant was borne by Mata Amritanandamayiu Math. "This transplant has put the Indian scientific community among the league of a few developed nations in the field of composite tissue allotransplant," said Dr. Iyer.

Jayanthi Natarajan's Letter to Sonia Gandhi

Jayanti Natarajan Says She Was Remote Controlled By Rahul

Hon’ble Smt. Sonia Gandhi,

President, Indian National Congress

November 5, 2014

Madam, I write to you with a very heavy heart. Over the last 11 months, I have suffered the most excruciating mental agony, and have been continuously attacked, wrongly vilified and defamed in the media, and exposed to every possible humiliation in public life. As I write today, more than 30 years of my loyal, faithful, and dedicated service to our party stand destroyed and in shambles around me. My entire career is ruined, and above all, the sacred and venerable legacy of my family, which served our nation and party with immense distinction, and patriotism stands in danger of being tarnished. As you are aware, I am a fourth generation Congress worker.

Three generations before me, fought for the independence of our country from the British, and spent many long years in jail, along with other stalwarts of the freedom movement. After independence, my family served the country and the Congress party with great dedication, and my grandfather who was the last Congress Chief Minister of the State, my aunt who was a selfless social worker, have etched the name of my family in the annals of our history as patriots and nationalists.

I myself have served the Congress party from 1984, have been a four time MP, and a former Minister of State, without a single blemish on my reputation, in terms of integrity in public life, and my loyalty to my party and my country. Thirty years later, for no fault of mine, I find that my own small work, and the glorious legacy of my family stand ruined. I am still unable to understand what I have done wrong, or what crime I have committed to have been treated like this in the party I have faithfully served so long. I want to categorically state that I have always been a loyal, sincere dedicated party worker, implicitly obeying the orders of my leaders. I have always carried out any task assigned to me with sincerity and dedication, and have never been guilty of any wrongdoing of any kind, in my public and personal life.

In these circumstances, the disaster which happened to me on the December 20, 2013, was a thunderbolt, which hit me from the blue and destroyed my life. Until now, I have been unable to understand what was wrongdoing was committed by me to suddenly receive what was virtually a sentence of death.

I want to place on record, that from December 20, 2013, until now, I have still not been told by you, why I was asked to resign from the Council of Ministers, nor have I ever been asked or given an opportunity to explain, if indeed I had committed any wrongdoing. On the other hand, the then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh wrote a letter to me, accepting my resignation, in which he praised the excellent work I had done as Minister, and what he termed my valuable contribution as Minister.

In these circumstances, it was clearly not the Prime Minister nor my work in Government, which led to my ouster as Minister. Thus it still baffles me, why I was humiliated so brutally.

To recall the sequence of events, I would like to record, that I was carrying out my duties as Minister of State (I/C) Environment and Forests in the routine course, when suddenly that day on December 20, 2013, the then PM, Dr. Manmohan Singh summoned me to his office. When I entered he stood up from his chair, looking tense and grim, and uttered these exact words. He said “Jayanthi, I have been told by Congress President, that your services are required for party work.” I was puzzled, and I said, “Yes Sir. So what should I do?” He replied, “She wants you to resign.” I was shocked and said, “Resign Sir? But when?” He replied “Today.” I once again asked him if this was what the Congress president wished. He answered in the affirmative. Unsuspecting, and trusting you totally, I did not utter a single word, but smiled at him and said I would comply with the wishes of the Congress President.

I was so guile free, that I honestly believed that you wanted me to work for the party, and that it was an honour to be so chosen. I did not for a second at that time, imagine the consequences of resigning just 100 days before the elections were due, and what would lie in store for me in the future. I trusted you with my life, and even more importantly, with my reputation, my career and the legacy of my family.

Thereafter, I asked for time to meet you. However, I was told that I could talk to you on the telephone. During our conversation I repeated what the Prime Minister told me, and you reiterated that I should resign and do Party work. Within half an hour of meeting the then Prime Minister, I sent in my letter of resignation, stating that I would like to resign from the office of Minister, due to my desire to devote myself to party work, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. As mentioned earlier, Dr. Singh immediately accepted my resignation, and in that letter profusely lauded my contribution to the government.

The next day my resignation was headlines in the media, and all the initial reports correctly reported that I had stepped down for party work. By the afternoon, to my shock, I received information that persons from the office of Shri Rahul Gandhi were calling the media and planting stories that my resignation was NOT for party work.

My sources were impeccable, and I felt unease. Thereafter, the media was flooded with negative stories about me. The same day, namely, the day after I resigned, Shri Rahul Gandhi addressed a FICCI meeting of industrialists, where he made uncomplimentary references to delays in environmental clearances, and the adverse effects upon the economy, and assured the corporate world, that the party and government would henceforth ensure that there would be no delays, and bottlenecks for industry. After being alerted by the media, I saw the entire speech on YouTube. It was then that some in the media questioned me if I had been asked to resign immediately, to enable Shri Rahul Gandhi to address FICCI and the corporate world with the news of my resignation in the background.

An assurance was sought to be given to the corporate world that they need no longer worry about environmental clearance delays and that bottlenecks would be removed, although throughout my very brief tenure, I strictly followed the laws and rules and tried to protect the environment, in keeping with the legacy of Smt. Indira Gandhi and Shri Rajiv Gandhi, who first brought in the Environment Protection Act. Since I had only followed this line of our party, I could not understand why I had been asked to resign within half an hour on the previous day, especially since I had never been told of any issues prior to December 20, 2013. Some analysts speculated that I might be projected as the focal point for the perceived failure of the economy at that time.

What followed was a hysterical vicious false and motivated campaign against me, in the media, orchestrated entirely by particular chosen individuals in the party. There was not a single word of truth in what was said, nor was there a single concrete fact.

I was never a bottleneck, nor was I ever responsible for unwarranted delays in major projects, and I can prove this at any time. I was shattered by the attack upon me, and bewildered. I wrote a passionate message to Shri Rahul Gandhi, about my removal as Minister, and his speech, at FICCI, and asked him what wrongdoing I had committed to warrant this treatment. I said, that I should have been asked for an explanation, IF I had done anything wrong, as even a murderer has his say in court, and here I don’t even know what, if any wrong doing was committed by me. I told him that my family legacy and my name would be forever ruined, and all I had done was my duty. I asked him to tell me, what wrong I had committed. I asked for time to meet him. He replied that he was “running a little busy” at that time, but that he would meet me a little later.

Despite several requests, that day never came. Not till this minute. I took a break of 10 days, and went to my sister’s home to recover.

When I returned, in the first week of January 2014, I was given an appointment to meet you. During our meeting, I explained my agony to you, over the attack which had been unleashed upon me and asked what I had done wrong. You replied that the elections were coming up and I was required for party work. I told you that the media was keen I should speak to them in view of the huge speculation over my resignation, but you specifically told me not to meet the media. From that day until now, I have honoured that word. But from that day until now, I have neither been given party work, nor have I been given an opportunity to meet you, despite several requests.

In fact, later in January, I was again shocked and distressed to receive a telephone call from Ajay Maken, Head of Congress Media cell. He informed me, that my name was being removed from the list of party spokespersons, that the decision was taken “at the highest level” and other work would be assigned to me. I have served as party spokesperson for over 10 long years during very difficult times. I have defended the party day and night, 24 hours a day despite huge domestic problems, including my mother suffering from a brain tumour, and ultimately dying after suffering for 3 long years, during which I not only served as her principal caregiver, but also constantly travelled to Delhi to serve as party spokesperson, without even being a MP.

My sacrifices, more importantly the sacrifices made by my family, my parents, and husband, were all for the cause of the Congress party. I was given an opportunity to serve as Minister for just over two years, but served the party day and night, for the last 30 odd years. Throughout, there has never been a blemish upon my reputation.

In fact apart from hundreds of others, Dr. Manmohan Singh and you have several times praised me for my work as spokesperson for the party. I only mentioned this to point out my track record was perfect, and in ten long years I have not made even one mistake as spokesperson. It was therefore clearly a deliberate decision to remove me from the list of spokespersons, and for reasons which are still unknown to me.

I also feel that I have been pressurised and used to lead issues which I considered wrong. An instance: While I was still a Minister, an important matter which has caused me great agitation is the fact that I was called upon to attack the present Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on what is referred to in the media as ‘Snoopgate.’

Despite the fact that I initially refused, because I thought that the party should attack Shri Modi on policy and governance and not drag an unknown woman into a controversy, Shri Ajay Maken telephoned me on November 16, 2013, while I was on tour and asked me to come to Delhi immediately to address a press conference on the issue. I expressed my disinclination to do this, and refused the assignment, mentioning that I was a Minister at that time, and this should not be taken as the point of view of Government. I suggested perhaps an Official Spokesperson should do the Press Conference, if so desired. Shri Maken told me once again, that this was a decision taken at “the highest level” and that I had no choice in the matter. After the press conference throughout the controversy which followed I was told by Shri Maken to fiercely attack Shri Modi, on TV channels and during debates, although I was otherwise never fielded in the media after appointment as Minister.

During my tenure as Minister, it was the clear and specific policy of the party, to take all steps to protect the environment, and carry forward the legacy of Smt. Indira Gandhi and Shri Rajiv Gandhi, to preserve the environment, and keep a balance between environment and industry. As Chairperson NAC, you have written several letters to me regarding projects in the Environment Ministry, and protection of tribal rights, and I have always kept you briefed that due care was being taken by me to protect the environment. I received specific requests [which used to be directives for us] from Shri Rahul Gandhi and his office forwarding environmental concerns in some important areas and I took care to honour those “requests.” Shri Rahul Gandhi went in person to Niyamgiri Hills in Odisha, and publicly declared to the Dongria Kondh tribals that he would be their “sipahi” and would not allow their interests to suffer at the hands of mining giant Vedanta. His views in the matter were conveyed to me by his office, and I took great care to ensure that the interests of the tribals were protected and rejected environmental clearance to Vendanta despite tremendous pressure from my colleagues in cabinet, and huge criticism from industry for what was described as “stalling” a Rs. 30,000 crore investment from Vedanta.

Fortunately, my decision was upheld by the Supreme Court. The same happened in the case of the Adani projects, where I faced tremendous criticism from within the cabinet and outside, for stalling investment at a time when the country was going through a difficult time in terms of the economy. The complaints of the local fisherfolk and NGOs of environmental violations in the Adani case were forwarded to me by Shri Rahul Gandhi’s office, and I was told to liaise with Shri Dipak Babaria in the matter. Occasionally, I apprised Shri Rahul Gandhi of steps I had taken, and he responded positively. In fact you have yourself conveyed your concern in this regard in letters written to me. In several cases including the stalled GVK power project regarding the Dhari Devi temple in Himachal Pradesh, the Lavasa project in Maharashtra, the Nirma cement plant in Gujarat and in several other cases I was given specific input, to make my decision. Apart from this Shri Pulok Chatterji, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister was in constant touch with me, and officers of the Ministry in guiding the decisions to be taken by the Ministry at that time.

So in my decision making I have factored in the party line despite all criticisms against me and therefore several decisions of mine were expressly overruled by the Prime Minister.

My object in pointing out the above to you is to bring to your notice that, in several cases the party high command had very strong views regarding environmental violations. This was the reason that I repeatedly challenged my colleagues in cabinet, thus bringing down upon my own head the anger and wrath of the entire cabinet, and also the entire corporate world. Still, I soldiered on doing my duty. This is the reason why I am so stunned and shocked that in the end, I was removed as Minister just 100 days before elections although I had committed no wrong doing, and none was pointed out to me, in fact the then Prime Minister praised my work, while accepting my resignation. Thereafter, although I repeatedly sought clarification, as to what wrong doing I was guilty of to have been so brutally humiliated, and further humiliated by being removed as Spokesperson, no answer was given to me. Despite my repeated attempts to meet Shri Rahul Gandhi and you, no appointment was given to me. Dr. Manmohan Singh, and you, both assured me at the time of making me resign that my services were required for party work. No other explanation has been given to me till date.

After my removal as Minister, there was widespread news coverage in the Kerala media that my removal was because I had notified the order on protection of the Western Ghats, the Kasturirangan Committee report, on December 19, 2013, (just one day before my removal) which had been bitterly opposed some sections of society in Kerala, who felt that this order would adversely affect their economic interests, and had expressed their opposition to the Prime Minister and to you. Nevertheless, in the interest of protecting the environment, and pursuant to orders of court, I took that important decision.

My successor Shri Moily, put my orders on hold. A few days before I was removed as Minister, I needed to review the Adani file for some legal issues. When I sent for the file, I was told that it was “missing.” After considerable search, my officials “found” it, apparently in the washroom of the computer section, the very day on which I had been asking to resign. Clearly some officials in my then Ministry did not want to send that file back to me, for unknown reasons.

Surely you were aware that removing a Minister just one hundred days before Lok Sabha elections without any wrongdoing being even alleged against her, and on the contrary, the Prime Minister lauding my work in writing, would have devastating effects upon me, my career, everything I have worked for over 30 years, and above all the patriotic legacy of my family?

Yet this was done to me. I am a mere cog in the wheel, a helpless loyal Congress worker. Just as could be predicted, my reputation, my career and my life now lie in shreds around me. And I have committed no wrong.

Significantly, if indeed I had been guilty of wrongdoing, I would have been happy to have been given a chance to defend myself, and I would have emerged pure and transparent and victorious.

This opportunity was not given to me, I was simply told I was required for party work, but not used for it also making me feel that that was a euphemism to get me to resign.

Over the last 11 months I have undergone untold mental and physical agony, as a result of this incident. I have major health issues due to my tension and humiliation over the treatment meted out to me, and my future looks bleak. More importantly, I need to save the legacy of my family or children and my future generations will not forgive me.

You may wonder why I write to you now, which I have decided to do after 4 months of prayer and contemplation. I wish to record that I tried several times to meet Shri Rahul Gandhi and you, but was not given an appointment. During our last meeting, and only meeting after my resignation, you instructed me to avoid the media. Until today I have followed your instructions. Just two days ago, Shri Vasan left the Congress and formed his own party. It was only on the day before Shri Vasan left, that I received my first ever communication from AICC in the form of a telephone call from Shri Motilal Vora, who wanted to know what my stand was regarding Shri Vasan, and what my future course of action would be.

Until Shri Vasan left, nobody even spoke to me. This was the reason that people began to speculate that I had become a scapegoat for the economic problems of the UPA government. However, whatever is said now, the damage to my reputation has been complete and devastating. And future generations of my family will not forgive me if I do not set the record straight. I have therefore chosen this time to write to you. I am doing it after four months of prayers and contemplation and coming to the conclusion that I need to write to you the truth which you know as much as I do.

While there is considerable churning going on in the party now, my own problems however are far deeper, and are both in relation to the party in general, and how I have been treated.

Madam, most respectfully, I request you to kindly let me know at least now, what wrongdoing I am alleged to have committed to be subject to such repeated humiliation. If indeed I am alleged to have done anything wrong, I do not understand the reason why this was not placed before me, and why I was not given an opportunity to defend myself for 11 long months. I am sure you will understand how important it is for me to protect my reputation and that of my family. Without a single word being said I have been humiliated for 11 months. I would be grateful if you would be so gracious as to at least understand my anguish.

– Jayanthi Natarajan

source:thehindu.com

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Two terrorists held, police probe terror links

2 suspected terrorists involved in Burdwan blast held in Delhi-Noida border

Abdul Aziz

Rakatulla

Two terrorists have been nabbed in Noida. According to reports both the anti-nationals were held on December 19. While one of the terrorists is said to be a Bangladeshi national, another is from Uttar Pradesh.

In the wake of more more terrorists hiding in Delhi, NCR regions, the police are carrying out searches in Delhi, Noida.

The operation was executed jointly by Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal ATS teams and the IB. However, the West Bengal Police has taken the custody of the two terror suspects.
Two terrorists have been nabbed in Noida. One of the terrorist is said to be a Bangladeshi national.
NIA sources have said that more than 50 terror modules are operating from West Bengal.

The NIA had visited West Bengal in October and had given the list of terrorists. The arrested terrorists were being grilled by the RAW and the IB. During interrogation, their laptop has revealed a plot to bomb many cities in India. Meanwhile, the Home Ministry has ordered quick response teams be kept on standby.

More details are awaited.

Non-Subsidised LPG Rate Cut By Rs 113

Non-subsidised LPG rate cut by Rs 113, jet fuel prices by 4.1%

Price of non-subsidised cooking gas (LPG) was on Monday cut by a steep Rs 113 per cylinder and that of jet fuel (ATF) by 4.1% as international oil rates slumped to multi-year lows. A 14.2-kg cylinder of non-subsidised LPG will now cost Rs 752, down from Rs 865 previously, in Delhi, oil companies announced on .This is the fifth straight reduction in rates of non-subsidised or market priced LPG, which the customers buy after exhausting their quota of 12 cylinders at subsidised rates, since August. In five monthly reduction, non-domestic LPG rates have been slashed by Rs 170.5 per cylinder, bringing the price at three-year lows.

On similar lines, the price of aviation turbine fuel (ATF), or jet fuel, at Delhi was cut by Rs 2,594.93 per kilolitre, or 4.1%, to Rs 59,943 per kl. This is the fifth straight monthly reduction in rates. This reduction follows a steep 7.3 % or Rs 4,987.7 per kl, cut in prices on November 1. Since August, ATF prices have been cut by 14.5 per cent or Rs 10,218.76 per kl and rates have dipped below Rs 60,000 per kl level for the first time in three years.

Brent, the benchmark grade for more than half of the world's oil, have dropped to USD 68.34 a barrel, the lowest level since October 2009. Prices declined 18% last month and are 38% lower in 2014. In Mumbai, jet fuel will cost Rs 61,695 per kl from today as against Rs 64,414.98 per kl previously. The rates vary because of differences in local sales tax or VAT.

Cyclone Hudhud Battered Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam and Vizianagaram Districts

Cyclone Hudhud

Cyclone Hudhud, which made a landfall in Andhra Pradesh this noon, lost its intensity by evening as it moved further 60km northwest of Visakhapatnam, India Meteorological Department said. Hudhud, which was so far a very severe cyclonic storm has now converted into a severe cyclone. Its speed is now limited to 100-110 kmph, said M Mahapatra, scientist at the Cyclone Warning Division of IMD.
The cyclone hit the port city of Visakhapatnam on Sunday bringing with it torrential rains in three coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh and leaving five persons dead in the state and neighbouring Odisha besides snapping power and communication lines. Normal life was thrown out of gear as winds with a speed of 170 to 180 kmph battered Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts.

The very severe cyclonic storm made landfall in Visakhapatnam before noon. The gale, accompanied by heavy downpour, resulted in trees being uprooted and roofs of thatched huts and sheds being swept away. Authorities in Andhra Pradesh had evacuated 90,013 people across the four districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhaptnam and East Godavari, about 68,000 people were evacuated from coastal districts of Odisha. In Delhi, IMD director general Laxman Singh Rathore said, "Due to the hilly topography, the cyclone's intensity will reduce in next six hours and further reduce in next 12 hours. However, the area (Vizag) will experience heavy to very heavy rainfall for the next three days."

As the storm progresses, it will bring heavy rainfall to very heavy rainfall in Chhattisgarh, Bihar, east Madhya Pradesh and east UP and Gangetic belt of West Bengal. "We are in touch with the chief secretaries of these state governments and providing with bulletins. Warnings have also been issued to shift crops which have been harvested to minimise the impact of heavy rains in these areas," Rathore said. Aircraft services will be able to operate from tomorrow morning as the weather is expected to improve. "The PMO is monitoring the situation arising out of the cyclone at regular intervals," he said.

A man, bottom jumps into the water to rescue a woman, center, who fell due to strong tidal waves on the Bay of Bengal coast at Gopalpur, Orissa, about 285 kilometers (178 miles) north east of Visakhapatnam, India on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014.

While three persons were killed in rain-related incidents in Andhra Pradesh, two were killed in Odisha. "Three deaths have been reported due to impact of Hudhud. Two died after trees fell on them and one in collapse of compound-wall in Visakhapatnam and Srikakulam districts, respectively," AP chief secretary IVR Krishna Rao said. Casualty in cyclone Hudhud rose to two in Odisha. A fisherman was caught in the sea current amid a tidal surge while he was trying to save his fishing boat anchored in the coast of Puri, special relief commissioner PK Mohapatra said. Yesterday, a nine-year-old girl drowned when a boat engaged in evacuation of the people in Satbhaya area of Kendrapara district capsized in the Baunsagadi rivulet.

Union cabinet secretary Ajit Kumar Seth said the Prime Minister was concerned not only about AP and Odisha but also wanted other states, which could face heavy rains minus the cyclone, to be alerted. "We have done that," Seth said, adding that while the Prime Minister reviewed the situation last night, he himself has been reviewing the situation closely and holding meetings with Chief Secretaries of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha twice daily. Seth advised residents of cyclone-hit Vizag to exercise caution till the second phase of the high wind is over even as he lauded the efforts of the central agencies and state government in meeting the challenge. He said once the initial brunt has been taken at the time of the landfall of the cyclone, there is a lull as the centre or eye of the storm passes but thereafter the wind speed is going to pick up again and it is going to be the same as was when it hit the coast first.

Seth said the government does not have the total estimate of the damage caused due to the cyclone as yet. "State government, central agencies are on their job. They have done their job. The Army, the Navy and all other agencies are already there. "Both the governments were well-prepared. We have been reviewing the situation with them ... They have got their act together. They have taken necessary precautions and alerted the local population," Seth said. The NDRF has doubled the strength of its teams stationed in Visakhapatnam to 13 in order to undertake swift relief and rescue operations.

"We have increased our teams to 13 in Vizag after the landfall occurred. Earlier there were six teams stationed here," National Disaster Response Force chief O P Singh told PTI. In Bhubaneswar, chief minister Naveen Patnaik said the cyclone had its impact in different districts like Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput, Puri, Kalahandi and Kendrapara. 68,000 people have been evacuated to safe places, the chief minister said, directing the officials to continue the evacuation of people from vulnerable areas as the complete impact of the cyclone would be felt some hours after the landfall.

RBI to Sell Govt Securities Worth Rs 15,000 Crore

The Reserve Bank will sell dated government securities worth Rs 15,000 crore in four tranches on Friday, RBI said.

Dated government securities are long term securities carrying a fixed or floating coupon or interest rate paid on the face value. It is payable at fixed time periods, usually half-yearly. The tenor of dated securities can be up to 30 years. In a price based auction to be held on June 20, RBI will sell 8.35 per cent government stock 2022 for Rs 3,000 crore, 8.60 per cent government stock 2028 for Rs 7,000 crore, 9.20 per cent government stock 2030 for Rs 3,000 crore and 9.23 per cent government stock 2043 for Rs 2,000 crore. "Up to 5 per cent of the notified amount of the sale of the stocks will be allotted to eligible individuals and institutions as per the scheme for non-competitive bidding facility in the auction of government securities," RBI said.

RBI said both the competitive and non-competitive bids for the auction should be submitted in electronic format on on the RBI's Core Banking Solution ( E-Kuber) system on June 20, 2014. The non-competitive bids should be submitted between 10.30am and 11.30am and the competitive bids should be submitted between 10.30am and 12 noon, it said. The result of the auctions will be announced on the same day and payment by successful bidders will be on June 23, 2014, it added further. The stocks will be eligible for "When Issued" trading for a period commencing from June 17, 2014 in accordance with the guidelines on "When Issued transactions in Central Government Securities" issued by RBI, it added. Securities trade on a when issued basis when they have been announced, but not yet issued. The transaction is settled only after the security has been issued.

Exclusive Video: tragedy in Himachal, 24 student swept away

On an trip to Himachal Pradesh, 24 students from Hyderabad washed away by the Beas on Sunday after a hydropower plant allegedly discharged water into the river without any warning. Exclusive video of incident source:amarujala.com.

Hyderabad Engineering Students Swept Away In Beas River

Hyderabad engineering students had no warning of gushing waters 

Distraught father Bonath Shekar Naik shows a portrait of his son Rambabu who is feared dead in the tragedy

One day after a wall of water swept away and killed 24 Hyderabad engineering students on a hill tour, Himachal authorities on Monday suspended three officers of the Larji dam project from where the floodgates were opened, catching the sightseers on the Beas riverbank off-guard. As evidence mounted, along with anger and grief, over callousness being the main cause of the deaths, Himachal chief minister Virbhadra Singh ordered a high-level probe and vowed to punish officials who had turned the faucets to release water. The three project officials suspended for negligence were resident engineer Mandeep Singh, executive engineer MS Dadwalia and operator Harwansh Lal of Larji Hydroelectric projects. The rulebook says dam authorities must inform the state and the local administration on when water is being released so that people downstream can be alerted about the rise in water levels. But Mandi deputy commissioner Devesh Kumar said, "I did not receive any phone call from the authorities and I have no idea if they sent a written communique."

With survivors from VNR Vignana Jyothi Engineering Institute and locals in the Mandi area accusing Larji project officials of releasing 250 cumecs of water without proper warning on Sunday, knowing full-well that crowds throng the banks in the peak tourist season, dam authorities rejected charges of negligence, saying they were within their rights to release waters in a hurry. Dam officers, who did not want to be named, claimed they had sounded the mandatory hooters in time. Angry locals, however, said the hooter was sounded after the accident as a face-saver. The spot, about 35km from Kullu, from where the 24 engineering students of Hyderabad were swept away by the swelling Beas is known for its scenic beauty and regularly draws tourists to the edge of the water. It is for this reason that the dam authorities should have been extra careful, say locals. Deena Chand, a local, said, "They are lying that they had sounded the hooter in time. We heard it only after the students were swept away."

photo of students who were swept away in Beas river in Himachal Pradesh

Gayatri Devi, a resident of Thalout village, said, "Tourists come to enjoy themselves. They want to touch the river and the water was at a safe level initially. Authorities have made a big mistake." P C Negi, managing director of Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Ltd, which operates Larji, said, "In emergencies, we release water without informing the authorities and by sounding hooters to alert people downstream". He insisted that on Sunday northern grid had informed the state load dispatch committee about less demand due to which power generation was reduced across projects in the state. This forced them to release the water.
"It was not that water was released from Larji dam alone. It was also released from Bhakra, Baspa and Bassi projects. The alert was sounded but the students could not understand its meaning. They arrived at the spot just 30 minutes before water was released," he added. "Had the water not been released, it could have damaged the dam," he claimed.

VNR Engineering Girls Students Washed Away in Himachal Pradesh

Local residents however are angry. Himalaya Niti Abhiyan president Kulbushan Upmanyu has asked chief minister Virbhadra Singh to register an FIR against the official who released the water without any warning. "The state government should apologize to the families of deceased," he said. Union HRD minister Smriti Irani, who travelled to Mandi, shared the local anger. "There is a primary and secondary school close to the accident site and locals are concerned about the safety of the children," she said, urging the local government to heed the local fears.

Routine broken

Locals of Thalout, Shalanala and other surrounding villages allege that Larji hydropower project authorities normally released water after 9pm. This time they released it around 6pm without sounding the mandatory hooters in time. "We did not hear any hooter before the students arrived," local Shiv Lal alleged.

Louder hooters soon

Hooters with higher frequency will now be installed at Larji dam site. At present three hooters with a range of 1 to 1.5km have been installed. The state electricity board managing director P C Negi said that hooters of 2 to 3km sound frequency would be installed along the riverbank to ensure the safety of people downstream.

Hyderabad engineering students had no warning of gushing waters

One day after a wall of water swept away and killed 24 Hyderabad engineering students on a hill tour, Himachal authorities suspended three officers of the Larji dam project from where the floodgates were opened, catching the sightseers on the Beas riverbank off-guard.