Category Archives: Transport

2-year-old Indian boy makes a record, memorizes car logos

Palakkad District, KERALA / Abu Dhabi, U.A.E:

Omar is now preparing to improve his skills by memorizing 150 car logos and brand new logos within one year to create another record.

Abu Dhabi: 

A two-and-eleven-months-old United Arab Emirates (UAE) based boy of Indian origin has been recognised by the India book of records for his amazing grasping and memory skills.

Omar Zayn was born on July 31, 2018, in the Palakkad district of Kerala; has become the youngest person to recall 101 car logos in 4 minutes and 7 seconds.

While most children his age struggle to speak properly, this prodigy has answered many questions related to cars.

Zayn’s interest in cars has grown since he landed in UAE last year and his passion for car logos took a new turn when he learned it online. He has currently memorized more than 110 logos.

“His sole learning came from YouTube. He sat for hours just to understand and memorise logos,” Omar’s father Zainul Abid told Khaleej Times.

A video of Omar memorizing the names of car logos was submitted to the India Book of Records last month, and the family recently received the coveted certificate and recognized his extraordinary talent.

Omar is now preparing to improve his skills by memorizing 150 car logos and brand new logos within one year and hopes to create another record.

source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> News> Middle East / by Sakina Fatima / September 05th, 2021

Muddappa posts fastest time as Bengaluru riders dominate drag races

Bengaluru, KARNATAKA :

Chennai (IANS): 

Riders from Bengaluru, spearheaded by reigning champion Hemanth Muddappa, swept the honours in the first round of the MMSC fmsci Indian National Motorcycle Drag Racing Championship which concluded at the MMRT, here on Sunday amidst Covid-19 safety protocols.

Muddappa, 31, astride his Suzuki Hayabusa, was the quickest of all riders, clocking 07.882 seconds over 302-metres strip while winning the featured Super Sport Above 1051cc category ahead of fellow-Bengalureans Hafizullah Khan (08.116) and Harish Naik (08.538).

Despite the comfortable win, Muddappa said due to the high track temperature, the timing was a tad slower than he wanted. “The track temperature affected all the riders and we all posted slower timings. We were much quicker in January during the final round of the 2020 championship,” said Muddappa.

Another Bengalurean, Mohd Riyaz (08.026) topped the time sheets in the Super Sport 851-1050cc class, followed by Muddappa (08.116), who was a bit slow off the mark, and debutant NV Satyanarayana Raju (08.191) from Hyderabad.

On Saturday, Chennai riders swept the podium spots in the Girls (4-stroke, up to 165cc) category with Lani Zena Fernandez, Nivetha Jessica and Soundari Sindy finishing in that order.

Results:

Super Sport (Above 1051cc): 1. Hemanth Muddappa (Mantra Racing, Bengaluru) (07.882secs); 2. Hafizullah Khan (Bengaluru) (08.116); 3. Harish Naik (Bengaluru) (08.538).

851-1050cc: 1. Mohd Riyaz (Bengaluru) (08.026); 2. Hemanth Muddappa (Mantra Racing, Bengaluru) (08.116); 3. NV Satyanarayana Raju (Hyderabad) (08.191).

Super Sport Indian – 361-550cc: 1. Aiyaz Rem (Bengaluru) (12.568); 2. Zuheeb Ahmed (Bengaluru) (12.860); 3. D Annish Samson (Speed Up Racing, Bengaluru) (12.942).

226-360cc: 1. Bharath Raj (Rockers Racing, Chennai) (12.602); 2. Yogeshwaran (Speed Up Racing, Chennai) (12.798); 3. D Annish Samson (Speed Up Racing, Bengaluru) (13.050).

Up to 165cc: 1. Kevin Kannan (RACR Castro Power, Chennai) (14.573); 2. Anand R (Chennai) (14.824); 3. Chandrashekar (Bengaluru) (14.910).

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / Daijiworld.com / Home> Sports / August 08th, 2021

Anjum Parwez appointed BMRCL managing director

Bengaluru, KARNATAKA :

He has been transferred from the Transport Department

The State government, on Wednesday, appointed senior IAS officer Anjum Parwez as the new Managing Director of the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL).

Mr. Parwez will relieve Rakesh Singh who has been holding the post as concurrent charge for over three months. Mr Parwez is a principal secretary ranking officer and is transferred from the Transport Department. He told The Hindu that expediting the ongoing phase II Namma Metro project will be his priority.

Challenges ahead

The new MD has various challenges before him including the timely execution of the metro tunnel network between Dairy Circle and Nagawara which has faced several hurdles in the past, resumption of metro work between Kalena Agrahara and Swagath Cross Road that was stalled and expediting much delayed 58-km Outer Ring Road – Airport metro line to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA).

“After taking the charge, I will study the developments in the Namma Metro project and measures will be taken to expedite the ongoing projects. Focus will also be given to integrating various modes of public transport in the city, thereby shifting people using private modes of transport to public transport,” he said.

With BMTC

Mr. Parwez, a 1994 batch IAS officer, has also worked as the MD of the Bangalore Metropolitan Road Transport Corporation (BMTC).

Senior IAS officer Rajender Kumar Kataria has been placed in concurrent charge of principal secretary of the Transport Department, the post that fell vacant after Mr. Parwez’ transfer.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Special Correspondent / Bengaluru – July 15th, 2021

Kerala ambulance staff praised for saving lives of mother and newborn

KERALA :

Health Minister Veena George applauded the efforts of Ajeesh and Noufal in the middle of a raging pandemic, terming them a model for the state’s health department.

At 2:15 am, under the duo’s guidance, Kausalya gave birth to a boy inside the car without any major complications. (Photo Credit: Kerala health department)

An emergency medical technician (EMT) and an ambulance pilot came in for praise from Kerala Health Minister Veena George for their timely intervention in assisting a pregnant woman deliver her child in a car enroute the hospital.

Around 1:55 am on Tuesday, the family of Kausalya (20), a resident of Koviloor in Idukki district, set out for a hospital in a car after she developed intense labour pain. On the way, they requested for an ambulance of the Kanivu 108 network and a vehicle from the Vattavada Family Health centre with EMT BS Ajeesh and pilot Noufal Khan rushed out.

Somewhere near the Pampadum Shola National Park, the ambulance staff met Kausalya and her family. But by then, her condition had turned critical. When Ajeesh examined her, it became clear to him that she could not be transferred to the ambulance before delivering her child. Ajeesh, with the help of Noufal, then proceeded to make arrangements inside the car for childbirth.

At 2:15 am, under the duo’s guidance, Kausalya gave birth to a boy inside the car without any major complications. The mother and newborn were then transferred to the ambulance and ferried to High Range Hospital in Munnar and subsequently a private hospital in Adimali. Both mother and child are reported to be healthy.

Health Minister Veena George applauded the efforts of Ajeesh and Noufal in the middle of a raging pandemic , terming them a model for the state’s health department.

source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> India>Kerala / by Express Web Desk, Kochi / May 25th, 2021

Chitradurga man on mission to bid dignified adieu to disowned Covid dead

Hiriyur Town(Chitradurga) , KARNATAKA :

Milan Rafiq, who runs an old furniture shop in Hiriyur town, is not allowed to park his Maruti Omni in front of his house, and neither do his neighbours visit him.

Milan Rafiq (inset) and the vehicle he uses to ferry bodies of Covid victims

Chitradurga : 

Milan Rafiq, who runs an old furniture shop in Hiriyur town, is not allowed to park his Maruti Omni in front of his house, and neither do his neighbours visit him.

For he has converted his Omni into a hearse, and ferries bodies of Covid patients to graveyards and crematoriums. He also completes the last rites, and has cremated and buried more than 200 bodies, of which around 80 were of Covid patients. His aim is to give people a final dignified departure, surprising at a time when friends and families are known to abandon both the living and dead.

“Covid has killed humanity. People are not ready to take care of their near and dear ones, including ailing parents on their deathbeds,” said Rafiq. He saw disowned bodies lying in the mortuary of Hiriyur Taluk Hospital, and it disturbed him so much that he decided to take on the last duties himself, irrespective of caste, creed and religion. He doesn’t charge any money, only accepting whatever is given to him, which he uses for the next burial or cremation.

“Before taking the body, I ask the family to get the grave dug, so we can bury the body and close the grave. On an average, I cremate two bodies every day. On Sunday, I cremated four bodies in Chitradurga and Hiriyur,” Rafiq told The New Indian Express.

His has carried out cremations in Chitradurga, Bengaluru and Kolar districts, ferrying bodies from Bengaluru to Kolar, and Madhugiri in Tumakuru. At a time when ambulances charge exorbitant rates, Rafiq just asks where the body should be ferried and sets out in his Omni. The cost of petrol and repairs is met by his group of friends, standing solidly behind him ever since he took up these humanitarian duties.

“I am also using my fixed deposit, I cannot ask families for money when they are in pain. It would be a sin,” he said.

Rafiq’s wife Shahtaj Begum, son Mohammed Zubair and son-in-law Mohammed Ali support him and even help him with the last rites. They wear masks and PPE kits, and sanitise the Omni after work is done. He cites a recent ordeal where there was no one to give them even a glass of water.

“My son, son-in-law, and I conducted the last rites and drank water only after returning to Hiriyur,” he said. Rafiq freely gives his number — 7259859407 — for anytime, anywhere burials and cremations.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by G Subhash Chandra, Express News Service / May 25th, 2021

Bengaluru biker-brothers turn ambulance drivers to help COVID-19 patients

Bengaluru, KARNATAKA :

I have seen visuals where people were running from pillar to post for hospitals.I did not want to sit back and complain, so we started volunteering, one of the biker brothers Muteeb Zoheb said.

Bike-brothers Muteeb Zoheb and Murthaza Junaid volunteer as ambulance drivers.

Bengaluru :

While India grapples with the second wave of COVID-19, common people across the country are stepping up to help others in distress.

Among these are two biker brothers from Bengaluru, Murthaza Junaid and Muteeb Zoheb, who have been volunteering as ambulance drivers.

“I have seen visuals where people were running from pillar to post for hospitals and there is a scarcity of beds and oxygen. I could see the pain of people. I did not want to sit back and complain, so we started volunteering,” Muteeb Zoheb told ANI.

“As we travel across India and neighbouring countries on our bikes, we have been trained on evacuation. Ladakh is at a high altitude. On the saturation level, we have been using oximeters there also and checking the physical condition of the riders. We are using the same tools and we are getting a similar experience to check patients and give them first aid,” Zoheb said.

He further said that they have been volunteering as ambulance drivers for the last three weeks.

“People used to get the patients in two-wheelers and autos because they could not afford ambulance service,” he added.

Zoheb also urged people to volunteer and help people in distress.

Junaid said, “It is the need of the time. We have taken the opportunity to help people on the ground. The transformation is heartwarming.”

“Either we can watch, or we can do something. We chose to do,” Junaid said.

According to official data issued on Tuesday, India recorded 2,63,533 fresh infections of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours. There are 33,53,765 active cases of COVID across the country. 

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by ANI / May 19th, 2021

Kochi businessman gives away 15 tempos for Covid fight, turns them into ambulances

Thrikkakara (Palakkad) / Kochi, KERALA :

“I wondered if there is something I can do. My vehicles have been lying in the garage for months now, why not use them, I thought,” said Najeeb.

Najeeb in front of his tempo traveller that was recently converted into a Covid care ambulance by attaching first-aid kits and stretchers

Kochi : 

At a time when the state is grappling with the second wave of Covid, a Kochiite who owns a fleet of tempo travellers has decided to convert his vehicles into Covid-care ambulances, given the shortage of facilities in the district.

Recently, Najeeb Vellakal who hails from Thrikkakara himself faced a crisis when he couldn’t get a vehicle to drop his Covid positive staff to his hometown in Palakkad.  He converted one of his 20 tempo travellers under Zainul Travels into a Covid ambulance to drop his staff. “I removed all the seats except the long one in the back.

I bought a PPE kit for the driver and separated the driver’s cabin using a plastic sheet and dropped the Covid positive person in Palakkad,” said Najeeb, who has been in the vehicle  rental business for over 20 years. The incident, however, left him pondering over the struggles of common people during the pandemic. “I wondered if there is something I can do. My vehicles have been lying in the garage for months now, why not use them, I thought,” said Najeeb.

“It costs around Rs 10,000 to convert a traveller into an ambulance by adding stretchers, fixing oxygen cylinders and first aid kits,” he added. On a trial basis, the Ernakulam mayor suggested converting one vehicle into a Covid ambulance. 

“I am willing to convert the rest of my 15 vehicles into Covid ambulances if they agree,” Najeeb said. He also said that the ambulance will only charge an affordable rent from people, enough to pay the driver and get fuel.  The 43-year-old  has been working at Kakkanad Infopark arranging transportation for its employees. His business has been dull since work-from-home became the new norm.

You may contact Najeeb on 7907034416

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by Aishwarya Prabhakaran, Express News Service / April 28th, 2021

Bhopal auto driver sells wife’s jewellery, converts vehicle into free ambulance for Covid patients

Bhopal, MADHYA PRADESH:

Javed Khan said he and his wife often saw painful visuals over TV, showing people die in the want of ambulance and also having to pay hefty sums to get the ambulances.

Javed Khan with his autorickshaw-ambulance in Bhopal (Photo | Special arrangement)

Bhopal :

A 34-year-old autorickshaw driver in MP capital has turned his bread-winning vehicle into free ambulance service. 

Meet Javed Khan, the Aishbag resident, who since the last three days has saved at least 15 lives by timely rushing them free of cost to different hospitals of Bhopal — which is among the top two Covid hotspots of MP.

Khan, the father of three kids (two daughters and a son), who also takes care of his three daily wage labourer brothers (who don’t have jobs owing to the corona curfew) sold his wife’s gold necklace for Rs 5,000 to fund his mission of rendering the free auto-rickshaw ambulance to Covid and other patients.

“I stocked three months’ ration for my family and subsequently used the money secured by selling wife’s necklace to fund the conversion of the autorickshaw into an ambulance. The 7 kg oxygen cylinder fitted in the auto-rickshaw has been gifted by social activist Bharti Jain,” Khan told The New Indian Express on Friday.

“Besides selling my wife’s chain, I’ve also stopped the payment of the instalment of Rs 10,500 on the purchase of the auto-rickshaw to ensure that my ambulance continues to run effectively and my family too doesn’t have any problems in the coming days. Some people have donated Rs 1,500 which too is helping my cause,” said Khan.

The money has been used to refill the cylinder, buy pulse oxymeter, sanitizer and  PPE kits and other protective gear to keep himself safe.

According to the father of three kids, for whom the auto-rickshaw was the lone bread-winner, he and wife often saw painful visuals over TV, showing people die in the want of ambulance and also having to pay hefty sums to get the ambulances.

“In agreement with my wife, I decided to start the autorickshaw-ambulance service which can be availed by anyone just by dialling my cell number 7999909494. In the last three days, I’ve rushed 15 Covid patients to hospitals, including AIIMS-BHOPAL, Hamidia Hospital and Paliwal Hospital. Even if people are willing to pay me, I tell them that this is for the human cause during the holy month of Ramzan,” Khan said.

While Khan is the lone autorickshaw driver to start this service, he also claims that there are 10-12 more autorickshaw drivers in the city, who are ready to operate a similar service if supported by generous donors.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by Anuraag Singh / Express News Service / April 30th, 2021

Pyare Khan spends Rs. 1 crore to donate 32 tonnes of oxygen for Covid victims

Nagpur, MAHARASHTRA :

New Delhi: 

Pyare Khan, a Nagpur-based businessperson, has spent 1 crore rupees to buy 32 tonnes of oxygen and supply them to Covid care centres in the city.

Last week, he had sent a tanker carrying 16 tonnes of oxygen to the city from Bhilai, Chhattisgarh. He has again sent another tanker carrying the same amount of oxygen to Nagpur.

Khan is associated with transport business. He is the owner of Amshi Transport.

Several Muslims have been at forefront in the ongoing battle against Covid-19. Several of them have played their role in various ways during the pandemic.

Muslim men in various cities have performed last rites of Hindu Covid victims. Danish Siddiqui and Saddam Qurashi are among them. They have cremated over 60 bodies so far in Bhopal.

India is witnessing an acute shortage of oxygen and other basic medical facilities required for the treatment of Covid-19 patients.

Commenting on the current situation, the Supreme Court on Thursday said that India is facing a ”national emergency-like situation”. The court asked the Centre to put in place a “national plan” on issues including supply of oxygen and essential drugs for the treatment of patients infected, and method of vaccination.

source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Featured / by Muslim Mirror Staff / April 24th, 2021