Barabanki, July 28: Two people were killed and 32 injured in a stampede at a temple here after a live electric wire, broken by monkeys, fell onto a tin shed early on Monday, officials said.

The incident occurred at the Avsaaneshwar temple in the Haidergarh area during the holy month of Shravan on Monday when devotees had gathered at the temple for ‘jalabhishek’ (offering water as a ritual). The electric current spread through the tin shed as the wire fell, triggering panic and a stampede in the temple premises.

Prashant (22) from the Mubarakpura village under the Lonikatra police station area and another 30-year-old devotee succumbed to their injuries while undergoing treatment at the Trivediganj Community Health Centre (CHC), officials said.

A total of 10 injured persons were brought to Trivediganj CHC, of whom five were referred to higher medical centres due to their critical condition.

Meanwhile, 26 injured devotees are being treated at the Haidergarh CHC, and one of them has been referred for advanced care due to serious injuries.

Following the incident, there was chaos in the temple and surrounding areas. District and police officials reached the spot and are working to manage the situation. An investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the incident.

Barabanki District Magistrate Shashank Tripathi said that during the ‘jalabhishek’ ritual, monkeys had damaged an electric wire, which caused current to flow through three tin sheds in the temple complex.

The resulting panic led to a stampede in which two people lost their lives and more than two dozens were injured, he added.

Devotees later resumed their worship at the temple.

New Delhi, Jul 27: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah Sunday called for a data-driven defence mindset and pushed for a youth-led strategy.

Addressing the 8th National Security Strategies Conference (NSSC) in New Delhi, Shah paid homage to the soldiers who lost their lives during the Kargil War and saluted the efforts of the armed forces and BSF during ‘Operation Sindoor’.

He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strong resolve and the support of fellow citizens sent a strong message of zero tolerance to terrorism across the world.

Pointing out that India’s economy had risen to the fourth position globally, Shah said that India was now a world leader in new and emerging technologies, start-ups, green energy, and innovations.

He said that India’s rising stature would lead to increasing national security challenges in the years to come.

Stressing that these challenges needed to be tackled through better coordination, Shah directed the formation of homogeneous teams of central and state agencies to develop strategies and implement and monitor them.

He also instructed the involvement of young Police officers in each state to brainstorm on national challenges and devise solutions to address them.

Shah said that this conference was significant in enabling senior officers to guide young officers, familiarise them with challenges, and show them the path to finding solutions.

He urged that the use of national databases like NATGRID, NIDAAN, iMoT, and CBI’s fugitive database be inculcated amongst young officers by including them in all training programmes.

“To address the challenges coming before the nation, a reliable ecosystem for real-time data sharing must be established,” Shah said.

He said that the PM Modi-led government had resolved numerous issues scattered across various states.

Shah emphasised that the next 5 to 10 years would be very important for the development and security of the country.

Observing that internal security challenges would remain dynamic given India’s geo-political neighbourhood, he exhorted the state Police forces and central security agencies to adopt the motto of ‘Security, Alertness and Coordination’.

Appreciating the achievements in the Left Wing Extremism areas, North East, and J&K, Shah asked Director Generals of Police (DGPs) to adopt a similar approach for effective implementation of the three new criminal laws and tackling the challenge of narcotics.

He advocated the need for a top-to-bottom and bottom-to-top approach in initiating action against big drug cartels, besides focusing on the extradition of narco-offenders.

Shah directed the DGPs to make it the prime agenda of the Police for the next three years on the path towards a drug-free India.

Pointing out that police stations were focal points of intelligence collection, he called upon the Police leadership to evolve a credible platform for sharing real-time information up to the police station level.

Emphasising the primary duty of the Police to protect the life, property and dignity of citizens, the Union Home Minister directed each state Police force and central agency to strive towards excellence, and nurture a spirit of healthy competition to address internal security challenges.

Stressing the need for all-round development in LWE-affected areas, he urged the DGPs to coordinate with state administrations to ensure the implementation of more than 300 central and state development schemes at the grassroots level.

Underscoring the importance of securing smaller seaports along our maritime borders, Shah emphasised capacity building of state Police to counter infiltration and smuggling activities.

He also reviewed the counterterror initiatives and directed that stringent legal action be taken against repeat offenders.

New Delhi, Jul 27: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today paid tribute to former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam on his death anniversary, hailing him as an “inspiring visionary, outstanding scientist, mentor and a great patriot.”

In a message posted on X (formerly Twitter), the Prime Minister said, “On his death anniversary, paying homage to our beloved former President, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.

He is remembered as an inspiring visionary, outstanding scientist, mentor and a great patriot. His dedication to our nation was exemplary. His thoughts motivate the youth of India to contribute towards building a developed and strong India.” Dr. Kalam, who served as the 11th President of India, is fondly remembered for his contributions to India’s missile and space programmes and for his deep engagement with youth across the country.

Gangaikonda Cholapuram, July 27: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said Operation Sindoor showed the world the way India would respond if its sovereignty was attacked and that the cross-border military offensive has created a new self-confidence across the country.

Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, also proved that for enemies and terrorists targeting India, there is no safe haven, Modi said in his address at an event here to honour the Tamil emperor Rajendra Chola-I.

The event marks the birth anniversary of the Rajendra Chola-I which is celebrated as the ‘Aadi Thiruvathirai’ (the birth star of the king is Thiruvathirai in the Tamil month of Aadi) festival. Also, it commemorates 1,000 years of Rajendra Chola’s legendary maritime expedition to South East Asia and the commencement of the construction of the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple, a magnificent example of Chola architecture.

“The world saw how India responds if someone attacks its security and sovereignty,” he said about the military strikes at chosen targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7.

Further, he said: “Operation Sindoor proved that for enemies of India, for terrorists, there is no safe haven. When I came here from the helipad, the 3-4 km distance suddenly became a roadshow, and everyone was praising Op Sindoor. It has created a new awakening, a new self-confidence across the country. The world has to realise India’s strength.”

Modi further said the names of emperors Raja Raja Chola, and his son Rajendra Chola-I are synonymous with India’s identity and pride and announced that grand statues would be built for them in Tamil Nadu. These statues will be “modern pillars of our historic awakening.”

The honour for the iconic Tamil kings follows Modi’s several Tamil-centric initiatives including the Kashi Tamil Sangamam

and multi-language and braille translations of Thirukkural, Manimekalai and other classic Tamil literature.

“The Chola emperors had woven India into a thread of cultural unity. Today, our government is carrying forward the same vision of the Chola era. Through initiatives like the Kashi-Tamil Sangamam and the Saurashtra-Tamil Sangamam, we are strengthening these centuries-old bonds of unity,” the PM said.

Further, Modi said several people spoke about UK’s Magna Carta while commenting on democracy. However, the Chola-era ‘Kudavolai system’ predated it by centuries, he said. Clearly, the prime minister continued with his Tamil pitch by invoking the rich legacy of Chola kings and their patronage of Saivite spiritualism.

The PM said: “Our Shaivite tradition has played a vital role in shaping India’s cultural identity. The Chola emperors were key architects of this legacy. Even today, Tamil Nadu remains one of the most significant centres where this living tradition continues to thrive.”

The PM said operation Sindoor has raised a new confidence in the people of India and the whole world is witnessing it. On the legacy of Rajendra Chola, he said, out of deep respect, the temple gopuram was built lower than that of his father’s Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur.

Despite his achievements, Rajendra Chola exemplified humility. “Today’s New India embodies this same spirit—becoming stronger, yet rooted in values of global welfare and unity”, the Prime Minister said.

Noting that July 27 marks the death anniversary of former President A P J Abdul Kalam, Modi remarked that in order to lead a developed India, the country needs millions of youth like Kalam and the Chola kings.

Listening to the rendition of spiritual hymns by Odhuvamurthys (Saivite gurus) and a Shiva-chant concert by music maestro Ilaiyaraja, the PM said the the spiritual atmosphere deeply moved the soul. Amid chants of Vedic and Saivite Thirumurai, Modi prayed at the Lord Shiva temple here, built by Rajendra Chola-I to mark his victories and the founding of a new city Gangaikonda Cholapuram.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a roadshow here on Sunday soon after his arrival to preside over the function to mark the birth anniversary of Rajendra Chola.

During the roadshow, the prime minister stood on the running board of his vehicle and waved at the people who lined up on both sides of the road.

Workers of the BJP and AIADMK enthusiastically gathered on roadsides and they showered flowers and petals on Prime Minister Modi all through the 3-kilometer road show route; the flags of the BJP and AIADMK fluttered.

The prime minister released a commemorative coin honouring Rajendra Chola I, and attended the launch of the Tamil Gita album, facilitated by the Chinmaya Mission, remarking that the initiative energises the nation’s resolve to preserve its heritage. The PM also released a booklet on “Thirumurai recital,” (recital of Saivite hymns).

The prime minister arrived in Tuticorin on July 26 night and inaugurated, laid foundation stones for projects worth about Rs 4,900 crore. On Sunday, he presided over the Aadi Thiruvathirai festival’s grand finale here, which commenced on July 23. The event is an initiative of the Union Ministry of Culture/the ASI which maintains the Chola-era Lord Shiva temple here. Gangaikonda Cholapuram in Ariyalur district is near Kumbakonam in the Cauvery delta region of Tamil Nadu.

After completing his 2-day engagements in Tamil Nadu, the prime minister left for Delhi on July 27 from Tiruchirappali, where he stayed on Saturday night.