CRPF ASIs death revives memories of Maoist days
ROURKELA: Death of a CRPF personnel during an anti-Naxal operation on Saturday morning has brought back memories of the troubled phase of Sundargarhs tryst with Maoist violence Renewed Maoist activities have come back to haunt Rourkela police with the loot of the explosive-laden truck on May 27. Before the incident, Sundargarh side of the border was relatively quiet with no significant Maoist movement. Now, it appears that taking advantage of the security gaps following withdrawal of CRPF from Sundargarh, Maoist have reactivated their old bases. Reliable sources said the Sanbalijodi, Mahupada, B Jharbera, Langalkata, Silkuta, Banko, Ralhatu, K Balang and Topadihi under K Balang police once served as stronghold for the Jharkhand regional committee of the outlawed CPI (Maoist). An encounter with police in 2005 near Renjda had left the then Bonai circle inspector MP Karua shot in his leg and the Maoists had firmly made their foothold in the forested regions of K Balang and adjoining Koida police limits. With no challenge offered, the Maoists had spread their influence in the entire Bonai sub-division using the forest covers of K Balang, Koida, parts of Lahunipada and Bonai, Chandiposh, Tikayatpali and Gurundia police stations as safe corridors. In 2009, the Maoist ultras had unleashed a reign of terror with brutal killings of poor and innocent villagers to reaffirm their influence. In March the same year, CITU leader Rabi Oram was killed and the next month, the headman of Langalkata village Deonath Singh was beheaded. What followed was a spate of bloody violence in the region. The Maoists had blown up four school buildings and one health centre under K Balang police in serial blasts in December 2009 and killed five villagers in 72 hours at Topadihi and Langalkata villages. About 3,000 villagers of affected pockets seeking police protection had twice moved to shelter camps during late 2009 and early 2010. However, death of two top-most local area commanders Sameer Xalxo and Md Muslim in February 2011 instilled fear among the Naxals. This was followed by a rush for surrenders and a gradual drop in Maoists activities in Sundargarh side of the border. Police sources said the situation has changed with the Maoists no more enjoying the confidence of villagers and affected pockets too have seen visible development. DIG (Western Range) Brijesh Kumar Rai said the Rourkela police are allowing no room to Maoists to regroup and carrying out joint operation with Jharkhand police.
Bizman turns philanthropist, feeds hundreds daily in Rourkela
CRPF official killed in IED blast during anti-Naxal operation in Odishas Sundergarh
Bhubaneswar: A CRPF official was killed in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast during an anti-Naxal operation in Odishas Sundergarh district on Saturday, officials said. ASI Satyaban Kumar Singh (34) of 134th CRPF battalion sustained injuries on his left leg in the blast, they said. He was evacuated to a hospital in Rourkela, where he Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
CRPF Jawan killed in IED blast in Odisha's Sundargarh
A CRPF Jawan, Satyaban Kumar Singh, died from injuries sustained in an IED blast. The incident occurred during a combing operation in a forest area of Sundargarh district, Odisha. Singh, a member of the CRPF 134 Battalion, was 34 years old. He was taken to a hospital in Rourkela but succumbed to his injuries.
CRPF official killed in IED blast in Odisha's Sundergarh
ASI Satyaban Kumar Singh (34) of 134th CRPF battalion, who sustained injuries on his left leg, sucumbed to his injuries at the hospital in Rourkela
CRPF official killed in IED blast during anti-Naxal operation in Odishas Sundargarh
Rourkela: A CRPF official was killed in a blast during an anti-Naxal operation at the Odisha-Jharkhand border Saturday morning, officials said. ASI Satyaban Kumar Singh (34) of 134th CRPF battalion, who hailed from Kushinagar in UP, was part of a team that was searching the Saranda forest at the inter-state border for explosives robbed by []
CRPF official killed in IED blast during anti-Maoist operation in Odisha's Sundargarh
A CRPF officer lost his life in an IED blast. The incident happened during an anti-Maoist operation in Odisha's Sundargarh district. Assistant Sub Inspector Satyaban Kumar Singh was critically injured. The blast took place near K Balang village. It occurred during a joint operation by CRPF and Odisha Police SOG. Singh later succumbed to his injuries in a Rourkela hospital.
NIT Rourkela Research Assistant Recruitment 2025 - Apply Offline
TheNational Institute of Technology Rourkela (NIT Rourkela) has released an official notification for the recruitment of 01 Research Assistant posts. Interested and eligible candidates can apply Offline through the official NIT Rourkela website. The last date to submit the application form is 17-06-2025.
Water levels dip in key Sundargarh dams as monsoon falters
ROURKELA: Water level of Pitamahal, Kansbahal and Rukura medium irrigation reservoirs in the rain-fed Sundargarh district has gone down sharply due to inadequate rainfall in June so far. During kharif crop season, life-saving irrigation support is required during July and beyond in the event of monsoon playing truant. The current situation is worrying as despite early arrival of monsoon, the district has not yet received adequate rainfall in the last 13 days. Reliable sources said the live storage of Kansbahal medium irrigation dam in Rajgangpur block has now dipped to 422.263 hectare metre (Ham), which is barely 14.84 per cent of the maximum capacity of 2,845 Ham. Cumulative rainfall around the dam site is 280 mm since January with average inflow of 1.834 cubic metre per second (cumec). The designed ayacut area of Pitamahal dam is 4,218 hectare (ha) during the kharif season. Similarly, the live storage of Rukura medium irrigation dam in Gurundia block is 1199.25 Ham, which is 31.56 per cent of the maximum capacity of 3,800 Ham. In the last two weeks, the dam site has received cumulative rainfall of 84 mm with average inflow being 0.5 cumec. The Rukura dam has designed ayacut area of 5,110 ha for kharif season. The water storage position of Pitamahal medium irrigation dam in Lathikata block is slightly better than the two other projects. The present live storage of the dam is 782.002 Ham, which is about 38.78 per cent against the maximum capacity of 2016.60 Ham. Cumulative rainfall around the dam site is 188 mm since January with average inflow of 1.142 cumec. The designed ayacut area of Pitamahal dam is 2,630 ha. Sources said in the last fortnight, Rajgangpur, Lathikata and Gurundia blocks received average rainfall of only 52 mm, 32 mm and 84 mm respectively. To raise the water storage levels of the dams, good amount of rainfall lasting for a couple of days is required. Agriculture activities are largely dependent on monsoon rain and irrigation support is required to save crops during long dry spells, they said. Superintending engineer of Rourkela Irrigation division Dhananjay Kala said all the three dams released water during last kharif and rabi seasons. In absence of adequate rainfall, it is natural for water level to go down. He hoped that the situation would improve with good spells of heavy rains in coming days.
Its cholera in Jajpur, death toll 11; two more districts report outbreak
BHUBANESWAR: Even as the death toll surged to 11, the Odisha government on Friday confirmed the presence of cholera-causing bacteria in samples collected from the affected areas of Jajpur district. Adding to the governments headache, two more districts also reported the outbreak on the day. Official sources said, of the 41 faecal samples sent to the laboratory for testing, eight tested positive for Vibrio cholerae, the bacterium responsible for cholera. So far, over 700 others have been taken ill across four blocks and one urban local body in the district. The official death toll, however, is five. We are verifying the details of other deaths, director of public health Dr Nilakantha Mishra said. Health officials have intensified surveillance, water quality monitoring, and awareness campaigns in the affected regions, including Dharmasala, Danagadi, Korei, and Rasulpur blocks and Vyasanagar municipality to prevent the further spread of the disease. Two more districts - Bhadrak and Keonjhar - also came under the grip with several people from Bhandaripokhari and Anandpur blocks getting admitted in the hospitals following diarrhoea. We have received reports of people with diarrhoea in several places in Jajpur district, and small pockets in Keonjhar and Bhadrak districts. Health teams have been sent to affected areas to take stock of the situation. We are taking every possible measure to avoid further cases, said Dr Mishra. The state has been consistently reporting cases of cholera in last few decades, particularly affecting the lower socio-economic groups in districts like Rayagada, Koraput, Kalahandi, Nuapada and Sundargarh. In 2023, at least 13 people died and over 1,000 were affected in Rourkela while eight persons died and 104 others were hospitalised in Rayagada district in 2022. Poor access to clean drinking water, lack of sanitation, and delayed medical attention were cited as major factors contributing to the severity of the outbreak. On the day, chief secretary Manoj Ahuja reviewed the situation at a high-level meeting attended by Health secretary Aswathy S and senior officials from the Health and Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water departments. The Health department has appealed to people to consume boiled or chlorinated water and avoid open defecation. Ahuja directed the officials to conduct door-to-door visits and intensify awareness activities in the villages to prevent the spread of the disease and complete the disinfection work in 10 days. Affected districts have been asked to provide proper treatment facilities besides ensuring availability of drugs, saline and other essentials in hospitals.
Odisha to expand e-bus network, launch Ama Bus service in five new cities
BHUBANESWAR: Going ahead with its plan of promoting green and sustainable public transport in urban areas, the state government will launch electric buses (e-buses) under Ama Bus service in five more cities and further expand the service in Berhampur city. It has initiated the procurement of 200 more e-buses for the purpose. Officials in Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT), that manages the Ama Bus service, said the e-buses will be introduced in Keonjhar, Baripada, Angul, Jharsuguda and Sambalpur, while the existing fleet of e-buses under Ama Bus service in Berhampur will be increased. The e-bus service is available in the Capital region and Berhampur at present. Tender has been invited recently for the introduction of 200 more electric buses under Ama Bus service. The service will start in the identified cities once the procurement process is complete, said CRUT managing director N Thirumala Naik. CRUT has planned to purchase medium-sized electric buses for expansion of its e-bus service. The agency has decided to purchase 50 e-buses each for Berhampur and Sambalpur and 25 e-buses each for Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Angul and Jharsuguda. The fresh procurement will increase CRUTs existing Ama Bus fleet from 560 to 760. The e-bus fleet will also go up from 180 to 380. With Berhampur already having 20 e-buses, the fresh procurement will take the number of e-bus fleet in the city to 70. Officials said the bus operator to be finalised for procurement, operation and maintenance of these buses, will be engaged for at least a decade. Apart from the 200 e-buses, they will also be managing 400 e-buses soon under the PM-eBus Sewa scheme. Under the scheme, the Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) department plans to run at least 100 e-buses each in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Rourkela and 50 in Sambalpur. They added that implementation of the proposal has been delayed owing to legal hurdles and is expected to be implemented soon after the matter is resolved. The Centre will procure and handover the e-buses to CRUT under the scheme. Sustainable urban mobility 200 e-buses to be procured for six cities e-bus service to be introduced in Keonjhar, Baripada, Angul,Jharsuguda and Sambalpur; expanded to Berhampur 400 e-buses also to be brought under PM-eBus Sewa scheme
Mans body found near ring road, murder suspected in Rourkela
ROURKELA: Mystery shrouds the death of an unidentified man whose partially-decomposed body was found inside a plantation area along the ring road within Sector 15 police limits here on Thursday. Locals suspect that the man was murdered. But it was not immediately clear if the crime took place on the spot or the body was dumped there after being brought from elsewhere. The mans charred belongings were found nearby. Locals informed police about a foul smell emanating from the plantation near the busy ring road. Sector 15 police along with scientific team and dog squad rushed to the spot and recovered the body. Zonal deputy SP (DSP) Jogeshwar Panda said the man, who appeared to be in his thirties, died at least three days back. His partially-decomposed body bore no external injury marks. The belongings of the deceased were burnt just two metre away from his body. Panda further said the body was seized for postmortem. The reason of death would be known from the autopsy report. Nearby police stations have been alerted to help ascertain the identity of the deceased. Investigation is underway from all angles, he added.
Charred body found, murder suspected
Rourkela: Police recovered a half-burnt body from a forested area near Sector-7/17 square under Sector-15 police limits here Thursday morning. The identity of the deceased remains unknown. Police found a burnt mobile phone and a yellow slipper lying close to the body. Given the condition of the body and the surrounding evidence, police suspect it []
Half-charred & decomposed body found in Rourkela
NIT Rourkela Research Associate Recruitment 2025 - Apply Offline for 01 Posts
TheNational Institute of Technology Rourkela (NIT Rourkela) has released an official notification for the recruitment of 01 Research Associate posts. Interested and eligible candidates can apply Offline through the official NIT Rourkela website. The last date to submit the application form is 19-06-2025.
Protest over demand to upgrade ESIC model hospital at Rourkela in Odisha
ROURKELA: Hundreds of insured persons staged protest in front of the ESIC model hospital at Rourkela over various demands on Monday. The agitators under the banner of CITU-affiliated Sundargarh Industrial Mazdoor Union demanded upgradation of the 50-bed model hospital into an occupational disease centre and associated public health unit. They also demanded setting up of a medical college and hospital of the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC). CITUs Odisha unit vice-president Jehangir Ali said healthcare services at the model hospital have deteriorated with shifting of 10 experienced doctors including specialists and the medical superintendent to the newly-constructed ESIC hospital at Angul. Against the sanctioned posts of 28 doctors, the model hospital at Rourkela now has 16 doctors. He said the government should fill up all the vacancies of doctors immediately. Ali further said the western Odisha region has around 12 lakh ESIC beneficiaries including their dependents who are mostly tribals. They face higher risk of occupational health hazards and endure healthcare inequalities. A dedicated occupational disease centre would serve as a regional diagnostic, treatment and research hub focusing on industrial illness. Similarly, a public health unit would ensure outreach, preventive care, health education and early detection services. There is also a need for setting up of ESIC MCH at Rourkela in larger health interest of the beneficiaries, he added.
B Tech, MCA degree holders appear for home guard jobs
ROURKELA: A home guard recruitment test in Rourkela on Monday saw a huge turnout, and surprisingly, the applicants included candidates with B Tech and MCA degrees. In all 7,484 candidates appeared for the qualifying test for the recruitment of 107 posts of home guards (HG) in Rourkela police district (RPD). The test in Odia was held at Ispat stadium here. Additional SP Ramakanta Sahu informed that out of 9,061 applicants, a total of 7,484 candidates appeared in the Odia qualifying written exams in two sittings. Three to four candidates were B Tech degree holders while at least one was an MCA. Many of the applicants were graduates, while most others were either matriculate or inter-mediate. After publication of results, medical and physical tests would be conducted in the next fortnight, Sahu said. To be recruited as home guard, a candidate should have passed Class V. The remuneration is `612 per day. So, why did B Tech and MCA degree holders apply for the job that barely required Class V education? Former director of the National Institute of Technology - Rourkela (NIT-R) Prof Sunil Kumar Sarangi said jobs opportunities have grown in the era of economic boom but it is equally true that universalisation of education has created more job seekers at the same time. To create more degrees, the engineering courses and branches were diluted while teaching and learning hours reduced. To land a decent job, a combination of educational degree and knowledge is necessary but many pass-outs lack employability, he added.
BTech, MBA graduates vie for Class V-level home guard jobs
Rourkela: In a telling sign of Odishas growing employment crisis, thousands of highly educated youth including BTech, MBA graduates, and diploma holders turned up for a recruitment exam Monday for just 107 Home Guard posts in Rourkela police district, a job requiring only a Class V qualification. According to officials, 9,061 candidates applied []
Odisha: 45-year-old man held for killing partner in gambling fight
ROURKELA: A 45-year-old man was arrested on Sunday for allegedly murdering his gambling partner in Raidihi forest within Lefripada police limits in Sundargarh district. Police said accused Dhuleshwar Gandha killed one Rankanidhi Oram (43) of Hemgir with a stone on Saturday. Gandha, Oram and others were gambling inside Raidihi forest. After others left, Gandha picked up a fierce quarrel with Oram over some issue during gambling. In a fit of rage, he bludgeoned Oram to death with a stone. Sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Nirmal Mohapatra said the accused absconded after committing the crime. He was arrested from Jharsuguda and produced in court. The deceaseds body was handed over to his family after autopsy. The SDPO said Gandha was involved in the murder of his father in 2018. He was convicted and sentenced to life by a lower court. In 2023, he was acquitted from the murder charges by the high court and released from jail.
BTech graduate run over by trailer in Rourkela
Explosives warehouse owner held after trucks found hidden post-Maoist loot in Odisha's Sundargarh
ROURKELA: Two days after seizing a couple of mini-trucks laden with blasting explosives, RN Pali police arrested the explosives warehouse owner and his driver and produced them in court on Tuesday. The arrest of Shraban Agarwal (41) and his driver Birsa Samad (30) comes after the two explosives-laden trucks were found parked outside a fuel station at Deogaon near Balughat on June 1. Police said Agarwal has two explosive licences including one in the name of his wife and owns a warehouse at the remote Itma in Bargaon block of Sundargarh district. On May 27, three trucks carrying explosives had come out of the warehouse. One of the trucks was looted by Maoists from K Balang area. Agarwal kept the other two trucks hidden and lied to police that the explosives were delivered to clients. Police said around 23,000 pieces of gelatin sticks, 400 detonators and 22,500 metre of detonating fuse wires were seized from one vehicle. Seizure from the other truck included 3,750 metre wires, 2,718 gelatin sticks and 30 packets of detonators. One of the trucks was driven by Agarwal himself. He along with his driver parked the two trucks outside Rourkela Fuel Filling Station at Deogaon on May 30. Two days later, locals informed the police about the parked vehicles. Rourkela SP Nitesh Wadhwani said the accused failed to produce any valid document for the explosives. Agarwal kept the trucks hidden with the intention to sell the explosives later at a higher cost. So far, Agarwals link with Maoists has not come to notice. On May 27 morning, Maoists had hijacked an explosives-laden truck from near a stone quarry at Banko within K Balang police limits. They took the vehicle to the nearby forest and unloaded the explosives. Later, the ultras carried the explosives to Saranda forest in West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand. On May 30, the security forces of Odisha and Jharkhand recovered a portion of the looted explosives after an exchange of fire with the Maoists at Tirilposh inside Saranda forest. Subsequently on Monday, the forces recovered about 2.5 tonne of looted explosives from Saranda.
Students suicide in Rourkela takes new turn as dad accuses school of torture
ROURKELA: The suicidal death of a Class X student of a reputed English medium school here has taken a new turn with his family members accusing the school administration of harassing and mentally torturing the teenager, leading him to take the extreme step. After returning from school on June 4, Tanmay Mahawar (15) had hanged himself to death from the ceiling fan at his residence in Daily Market area within Plant Site police limits. Attributing his sons death to the harassment by the school principal and others over an old issue, Tanmays father Pappu Mahawar on Friday evening filed a complaint in the local police station. Pappu said the school administration had lodged a complaint against his son with Sector-19 police. He was summoned by police on May 2 and informed that Tanmay in January had uploaded a cartoon reel (video) of the principal and teachers on Instagram. Tanmay was counselled by police and he as a parent tendered a written apology following which the issue was settled amicably in presence of the school principal. The aggrieved father said the school reopened on June 2 and everything went fine for two days. On June 4, Tanmay returned from school stressed and a few hours later, he died by suicide in his room. Before going to his room, Tanmay told me that the principal had asked him to bring his father to the school the next day. Despite all persuasion, my son did not disclose what went wrong in the school. It was his last conversation, said Pappu. Elder brother Rahul said in a social media chat, Tanmay had told one of his friends that he was stressed due to the school administrations attitude towards him and he feared he might be expelled. Tanmays classmates revealed that on June 4, he was summoned by the principal. Tanmay returned to the classroom after two periods and he was sweating and looked panicked, Rahul added. Pappu urged police for a detailed inquiry to ascertain if the school administration was harassing his son. He demanded strict action against those responsible for Tanmays death so that no other child faces similar tragic end. IIC of Plant Site police station Bibhatsa Pradhan said a UD case has been registered in connection with the students death. Further investigation is underway. (If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundation - 04424640050, Tele Manas - 14416 (available 24x7) or iCall, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences' helpline - 02225521111, which is available Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm.)
Digital twin technology to boost RSP performance
ROURKELA: In keeping pace with technological advancement in steel manufacturing, the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) of SAIL has been switching to automation and digitisation in key production units. In a significant move, the RSP has partnered with the ABB India Ltd which is renowned for its cutting-edge industrial automation and digital solutions. On May 20, the RSP signed an MoU with ABB India for development of advanced digital twin technology. The agreement was signed by ED (works), RSP Biswaranjan Palai and senior vice-president of ABB Kapil Agarwal. Palai said, We are setting the stage for developing future-proof and sustainable steel-making processes. Development of this digital twin technology will transform our steel manufacturing processes by providing us real-time insights into furnace operations, thereby enabling us to optimise our performance, efficiency, data-driven decision making, increase asset longevity and remain competitive in the global market. This strategic collaboration aims to develop digital twin technology for blast and basic oxygen furnaces at RSP. It is aligned with RSPs broader vision of integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) into its production and maintenance processes. Earlier in February 2024, the RSP had signed an MoU with the Primetals Technologies Austria GmbH to adopt green steel making technologies in a progressive manner as part of its decarbonisation strategy to become net carbon neutral. Meanwhile, the Instrumentation and Automation (I&A) department of RSP has installed and commissioned a sophisticated virtual reality-based digital walkthrough of the plant at the L&D department. The virtual walkthrough provides better understanding and orientation of plant operations through interactive visual simulation. The I&A department has also pioneered an underwater inspection of the upstream side of the spillway and sluice gates at Mandira dam using advanced drone technology. Besides, to enhance process control and emissions monitoring, the department has commissioned dry gas analysers for online analysis of different gases in converters P and Q of steel melting shop-I and H-analysers for converter 1 and 2 to ensure monitoring of hydrogen levels more accurately.
Critically-hurt woman found inside forest
ROURKELA: A 30-year-old woman of Sundargarh was found critically injured inside a forested area at Pahartoli of Bansjhor within Jaldega police limits in adjacent Simdega district of Jharkhand on Wednesday morning. The woman, Meera Tirkey of Birmitrapur town, is suspected to have been hacked with a sharp weapon leading to injuries on the back of her neck. After being spotted by a villager, Meera was rushed to Birmitrapur community health centre (CHC) and later shifted to Rourkela Government Hospital (RGH). She is currently admitted to JP Hospital at Rourkela. OIC of Bansjhor police outpost Mirza Oram said the woman is married to one Erkan Bage (35) of Bansjhor. Preliminary investigation revealed that her husband attacked her. Bage is on the run and efforts are underway to nab him.
Banned plastic products continue to plague Rourkela
Trucks with explosives seized in Odisha; warehouse owner, driver held
ROURKELA: Two days after seizing a couple of mini-trucks laden with blasting explosives, RN Pali police arrested the explosives warehouse owner and his driver and produced them in court on Tuesday. The arrest of Shraban Agarwal (41) and his driver Birsa Samad (30) comes after the two explosives-laden trucks were found parked outside a fuel station at Deogaon near Balughat on June 1. Police said Agarwal has two explosive licences including one in the name of his wife and owns a warehouse at the remote Itma in Bargaon block of Sundargarh district. On May 27, three trucks carrying explosives had come out of the warehouse. One of the trucks was looted by Maoists from K Balang area. Agarwal kept the other two trucks hidden and lied to police that the explosives were delivered to clients. Police said around 23,000 pieces of gelatin sticks, 400 detonators and 22,500 metres of detonating fuse wires were seized from one vehicle. Seizure from the other truck included 3,750 metre wires, 2,718 gelatin sticks and 30 packets of detonators. One of the trucks was driven by Agarwal himself. He along with his driver parked the two trucks outside Rourkela Fuel Filling Station at Deogaon on May 30. Two days later, locals informed the police about the parked vehicles. Rourkela SP Nitesh Wadhwani said the accused failed to produce any valid document for the explosives. Agarwal kept the trucks hidden with the intention to sell the explosives later at a higher cost. So far, Agarwals link with Maoists has not come to notice. On May 27 morning, Maoists had hijacked an explosives-laden truck from near a stone quarry at Banko within K Balang police limits. They took the vehicle to the nearby forest and unloaded the explosives. Later, the ultras carried the explosives to Saranda forest in West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand. On May 30, the security forces of Odisha and Jharkhand recovered a portion of the looted explosives after an exchange of fire with the Maoists at Tirilposh inside Saranda forest. Subsequently on Monday, the forces recovered about 2.5 tonne of looted explosives from Saranda.
Trader, driver held in Rourkela for illegal sale of explosives
2.5 tonne of looted explosives found in Saranda along Odisha-Jharkhand border
ROURKELA: The ongoing search operation by security forces along Odisha- Jharkhand border on Monday led to the recovery of a fresh stockpile of around 2.5 tonne of explosives looted by the members of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) outfit on May 27. Most of the industrial explosive packets in form of gelatine sticks were found stacked around the paths used by Maoists in the hilly and treacherous terrains of the dense Saranda forest in West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand. Police sources informed that a few explosive packets were found lying in the forest in Sundargarh side of the border under the jurisdiction of Rourkela police district (RPD). Most of the packets were kept hidden in Saranda forest near Odisha border. It appeared that Maoists did not get enough time to hide the explosive packets deep inside the Saranda forest as security forces launched the search operation immediately after the loot incident. Personnel of the Special Operations Group and District Voluntary Force besides the CRPF, Jharkhand Jaguar and CoBRA are participating in the combing operation which is underway since the hijacking and loot of the truck carrying around four tonne of explosives from Banko forest in K Balang area on May 27 morning. Cops probing delivery of explosives Without specifying the spots of recovery, Rourkela SP Nitesh Wadhwani said another cache of 2.5 tonne of the looted explosives were found during the search operation. Earlier on May 30, security forces had recovered a substantial quantity of the looted explosives following an exchange of fire with the Maoists in Sarandas Tirilposh within Jareikela police limits in Jharkhand. Meanwhile, two mini-trucks laden with similar explosive packets originating from the same warehouse in Bargaon block of Sundargarh were seized by police from near Balughat at Rourkela on Sunday. On May 27, three trucks had come out from the Bargaon explosives storage point, police claimed. After the loot of one of the trucks, warehouse owner Shraban Agarwal lied to police about delivery of the other two explosives-laden vehicles. Police said it is likely that the two trucks were kept hidden with the intention to sell the explosives later for higher price. DIG (Western Range) Brijesh Rai said detailed investigation is being carried out by a SIT to verify the dates of release and delivery of explosives from the now sealed warehouse.
ROURKELA: In a major breakthrough, the ongoing joint search operation along the Odisha-Jharkhand border on Monday led to the further detection and recovery of a fresh tranche of around 2.5 tonnes of explosives looted by members of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) outfit. Most of the industrial explosive packets, in the form of gelatin sticks, were found stacked in and around the paths used by Maoist operatives in the hilly and treacherous terrain of the dense Saranda forest in West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand. Police sources informed that a few explosive packs were found lying in the forest on the Sundargarh side of the border in Odisha, under the jurisdiction of the Rourkela Police District (RPD), while the majority of the other packets were kept hidden in the Saranda forest close to the Odisha border. It appeared that due to the immediate launch of the search operation after the loot, the Maoists did not get enough time and room to carry away the explosive packets to faraway locations inside the Saranda forest and hide them safely. Since the hijacking and loot of the explosive truck carrying about four tonnes of explosives on May 27 morning from the Banko forest of K Balang police station under the RPD limits, the joint search operation has been ongoing. The Special Operation Group and District Voluntary Force (DVF), CRPF, Jharkhand Jaguar and CoBRA from Jharkhand, are participating in the combing operation. Rourkela SP Nitesh Wadhwani, without specifying the spots of recovery, said a fresh tranche of 2.5 tonnes of explosives was recovered during the ongoing search operation along the Odisha-Jharkhand border. He said these explosives were looted by the Maoists on May 27. Earlier, following an exchange of fire with the Maoist ultras at Sarandas Tirilposi under Jareikela police limits in Jharkhand, the joint forces had recovered a substantial quantity of the looted explosives on May 30, but details were not revealed, claiming that assessment was underway. Meanwhile, two other mini-trucks laden with similar explosive packets originating from the same explosive warehouse in Bargaon block of Sundargarh were seized by police from near Balughat at Rourkela on Sunday. Police claimed that on May 27, three trucks had come out from the Bargaon explosive storage point, and after the loot of one truck, the warehouse owner, Shraban Agarwal, lied to the police about the delivery of the other two trucks. Police said it seems the other two trucks were kept hidden with the intention to sell the explosives later for higher monetary gain. DIG (Western Range) Brijesh Kumar Rai said a detailed inquiry is being carried out by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) about the release and delivery of explosives from the now-sealed warehouse. He said the concerned authorities have been asked to conduct a safety audit of all explosive storage centers or magazines in Sundargarh, adding that a necessary SOP is also getting implemented for the issue and transport of explosives.
NIT Rourkela Ad Hoc Faculty Recruitment 2025 - Apply Online for 03 Posts
The National Institute of Technology Rourkela (NIT Rourkela) has released an official notification for the recruitment of 03 Ad Hoc Faculty posts, and interested and eligible candidates can apply online through the official NIT Rourkela website before the last date of 15-06-2025, with this article providing complete details on eligibility criteria, age limit, salary structure, selection process, application steps, and direct links to the official notification and online application form.
Five poachers arrested with seven firearms in Odisha
ROURKELA: A special team of the Bonai forest division arrested five wildlife poachers from Kuliposh range early in the morning on Friday. Seven country-made rifles, traditional hunting weapons and wildlife trophies were recovered from the accused - Brundaban Naik (23), Dasu Naik (26), Jethu Naik (48), Sukanta Naik (23) and Dhaneswar Munda (43). Bonai divisional forest officer (DFO) Lalit Patra said the arrested persons were also involved in manufacturing country-made firearms for wildlife hunting. They were under surveillance for some time. Basing on specific intelligence, a special team conducted raids in Kuliposh forest range and nabbed the poachers. The DFO said a detailed investigation would be carried out to ascertain if these persons were part of any broader wildlife poaching network. Apart from the firearms, bows and arrows, gun powder, wildlife trophies of Indian crested porcupine, meat and skin hair of barking deer, hide of monitor lizard and hair of wild boar were seized from the five accused.
Security forces recover part of looted explosives in Odisha
ROURKELA: Security forces recovered huge quantities of the looted explosives following an exchange of fire with the Maoists inside Saranda forest near Tirilposh in West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand, around 20 km from Sundargarh border, on Friday. The recovery came three days after armed Maoists hijacked an explosives-laden truck from the forested Banko area under K Balang police limits in Sundargarh on Tuesday morning. The rebels drove the vehicle about one km inside the forest and decamped with the blasting gelatin sticks weighing nearly four tonne. Sources said the site of the loot is hardly two km from Saranda forest in Jharkhand and the Fridays encounter spot is nearly 20 km from Sundargarh border. It seems due to initiation of combing operation on both sides of the border immediately after the loot, the Maoists did not have time to shift the explosive packets elsewhere. It is likely that the explosive packets may have been kept hidden in the forest. Requesting anonymity, a senior police officer said the exchange of fire started early on Tuesday afternoon and was still going on intermittently. A major portion of the looted explosives was found lying near the spot of encounter. DIG (Western Range) Brijesh Kumar Rai confirmed that huge quantities of the looted explosives and Maoist materials have been recovered. Three joint teams of security forces of Odisha and Jharkhand participated in the intense search operations along the border at different places. One team was involved in the gun battle after being challenged by the Maoists. The exchange of fire and search operation is still underway and details would be shared accordingly. Unofficial sources claimed one security personnel was injured in the cross firing. However, there is no official confirmation yet. Earlier on Thursday, a National Investigation Agency (NIA) team visited Rourkela for investigation considering the sensitive nature of the incident. A day after the loot, Odisha DGP YB Khurania reached Rourkela and took stock of the situation with the IG (Operation) Deepak Kumar, DIG Rai and Rourkela SP Nitesh Wadhwani. The recent activities by ultras based out of Jharkhand on Odisha side of the border comes after a hiatus of almost five years with the banned CPI (Maoist) outfit deliberately refraining from drawing attention of Rourkela police manning the Naxal-infested bordering pockets. The Maoists led by top leader Misir Besra are faced with existential threat with security forces targeting to eliminate Naxal activities by March 2026. The explosive loot is seen as a last ditch effort of the Maoists to fight the security forces.
NIT Rourkela develops sunlight-powered concrete beads for wastewater treatment
Rourkela: A team of researchers at the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela has developed a reusable photocatalyst system that uses natural sunlight to treat industrial wastewater, offering a cost-effective and sustainable solution especially suited for rural and resource-constrained regions. The system features iron-doped nano-titania combined with graphene oxide, immobilised on spherical beads made from green []
Some looted explosives recovered following gunfight with Maoists
Bhubaneswar/Rourkela: Security personnel Friday recovered a substantial amount of the explosives recently looted by Maoists in Sundargarh district following a fierce gun-battle with the Red rebels, police said. Around 200 packets of explosives, mostly gelatin sticks, were looted by Maoists at gunpoint in K Balang police station area three days ago while those were being []
Looted Explosives Recovered After Gunfight With Maoists
Rourkela Superintendent of Police (SP) Nitesh Wadhwani confirmed the formation of the SIT, stating that the teams immediate priority would be to trace the supply network of the explosives and identify local sympathisers aiding the Maoists.
NIT Rourkela Faculty Recruitment 2025 - Apply Online
The National Institute of Technology Rourkela (NIT Rourkela) has released an official notification for the recruitment of 04 Faculty posts, and interested and eligible candidates can apply online through the official NIT Rourkela website by 18-06-2025, with this article providing complete details including eligibility criteria, age limit, salary structure, selection process, application steps, and direct links to the official notification and online application form.
NIA team to probe loot of explosives by suspected Maoists in Rourkela
BHUBANESWAR: Two days after suspected Maoists hijacked and looted a truck laden with a huge cache of blasting explosives, the National Investigation Agency's (NIA) officers visited Rourkela on Thursday to probe the incident along with Odisha Police. An NIA team has visited Rourkela to investigate the incident. Preliminary probe suggests the left-wing extremists from Maoist hotbed of Saranda forest in West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand were involved in the loot of the blasting explosives, western range DIG, Brijesh Rai told the mediapersons. DGP YB Khurania who visited Rourkela on Wednesday to take stock of the investigation, has directed the police to beef up the security at vulnerable stone quarries. Sources said he has also instructed the senior officers to conduct a security audit of the stone quarries in such locations. Besides this, Khurania has asked the police to verify the security arrangements at the forested stone quarry in Banko within K Balang police limits, from where at least eight armed persons hijacked the explosives-laden truck on Tuesday. The quarry is more than 90 km from Rourkela. After hijacking the explosives-laden truck at around 9.30 am on Tuesday, the armed persons drove the vehicle to a nearby forest. Another 10-15 persons waiting inside the forest looted at least 150 packets of explosives each weighing 15 to 25 kg. The empty vehicle was later found abandoned inside the forest and its driver was unhurt. Meanwhile, Rourkela police intensified combing operation along the Odisha-Jharkhand border. Senior officers IG (operations) Deepak Kumar, DIG (western range) Brijesh Kumar Rai and Sundargarh SP Pratyush Diwakar, also in charge of Rourkela are camping in the steel city.
Suspected Maoists loot 4 tonnes explosives-laden truck in Odisha
The Western Range DIG of Odisha and the Rourkela SP, along with police reinforcements, rushed to the Langalkata area under K. Balang police limits near the Saranda forest in Sundargarh district on Wednesday, following reports that suspected Maoists ...
NIT Rourkela Research Associate Recruitment 2025 Walk in
National Institute of Technology Rourkela (NIT Rourkela) Recruitment 2025 is announced for 01 post of Research Associate, and candidates holding M.A or M.Phil/Ph.D qualifications can attend the walk-in scheduled on 06-06-2025 for complete details, please visit the official website.
Burglars mock Rourkela police, steal from officers house on police station campus
ROURKELA: In a daytime burglary, unidentified thieves broke into the official quarters of a police officer located within the Plant Site Police Station campus, escaping with gold and silver ornaments worth over Rs 15 lakh on Saturday. The incident came to light after Havildar Subrata Hota of the Reserve Office (RO) lodged a complaint on Saturday night. The audacity of the theft has made a mockery of the police, particularly in light of the ongoing Operation Suraksha , which aims to curb property offences and keep habitual offenders under surveillance. Hotas wife stated that the family including her husband and their two children, had been away at the nearby Lathikata block from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday when the burglary took place. Upon their return at around 6:00 p.m., they were shocked to find the main doors lock broken. On rushing inside, they discovered that several gold and silver ornaments had been stolen.
ABB India, SAIL Sign MoU To Optimise Steel-Making Processes
SAIL's Rourkela Steel Plant will exchange data with ABB India to prepare data-based models to create digital twins of blast furnaces and basic oxygen furnaces of steel melt shop areas.
NIT Rourkela Principal Project Associate Recruitment 2025 - Apply Offline
NIT Rourkela Principal Project Associate Recruitment 2025 Notification Out! NIT Rourkela has released an official notification for the recruitment of 01 Principal Project Associate posts. Interested and eligible candidates can apply Offline through the official NIT Rourkela website. The last date to submit the application form is 16-06-2025.
ED raids underway at 5 places in Kolkata over 'irregularities' in NRI quota medical admissions
The central probe agency is investigating whether documents were forged to create false NRI credentials for admission of local Indian students in medical colleges in Odisha's Bhubaneswar and Rourkela
Odisha to invest Rs 9,200 cr for redevelopment of four major healthcare institutes
The Odisha government has announced a significant investment of nearly Rs 9,200 crore to revamp healthcare infrastructure across the state. This initiative focuses on redeveloping four key medical institutions, including VIMSAR, MKCG, Rourkela Government Hospital, and Capital Hospital, to substantially increase bed capacity and improve facilities.
Odisha Techie Uses ChatGPT To Negotiate Auto Fare In Bengaluru
Sajan Mahto, a content creator and tech enthusiast from Odisha's Rourkela, shared how he used ChatGPT's voice feature to overcome the language barrier.
NCST takes suo motu cognisance of death of a tribal during protest in Odisha
NCST asks Sundargarh district and Rourkela Steel Plant authorities to submit factual reports
Bioink helps in bone regeneration; fixes issues in the injured
A Bio-ink developed from natural materials promises to help improve bone grafting and implants in people suffering from injury or disease of bones. A research team from the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Rourkela, focused on improving existing bone repair techniques in coming up with the natural bioink that is biocompatible, easy to use, and Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
NIT Rourkela researchers develop bioink for bone regeneration; secure patent
NEW DELHI: Researchers at the National Institute of Technology Rourkela (NITR) have made a significant breakthrough in bone regeneration by developing a unique bioink that is biocompatible for human bone regeneration. This innovative bioink is designed to address the challenges with bone grafting and implants, which are commonly used to treat bone defects caused by injury or disease. Made from natural materials, the bioink is easy to use for the 3D bioprinting of bone-like structures. One of the key advantages of this bioink is that it can be printed directly onto injuries, providing a simpler alternative to traditional bone grafts and implants. The technology has also been granted a patent. Traditional bone grafting involves using bone from another part of the body or a donor to replace the damaged bone, but this method has several drawbacks, including pain, limited availability, and the risk of rejection. Metal implants, such as titanium plates, are another option for repairing damaged bones; however, these do not always bond well with natural bone and can lead to complications over time. Both methods often require surgery and, in some cases, multiple procedures for proper healing, said Prof. Devendra Verma, Associate Professor in the Department of Biotechnology and Medical Engineering at NITR, who developed the technology alongside researchers Tanmay Bharadwaj and Shreya Chrungoo. Meanwhile, there are existing bioink technologies which can also repair damaged bones, they tend to be slow and complex. These bioinks require a lengthy preparation period under laboratory conditions before they can be implanted, and the printed tissue must be maintained in a controlled environment for the cells to grow and form functional bone before use. To overcome the challenges posed by existing technologies, the NITR researchers simplified the process, making treatment more efficient. They developed a bioink that remains liquid at room temperature but quickly transforms into a gel when exposed to body temperature and variations in pH levels. This allows it to be printed directly onto an injury, meaning the material is applied at the injury site instead of being printed separately and implanted later, explained Verma. The adaptability of the bioink makes it suitable for treating irregularly shaped bone defects, providing a personalized approach to bone regeneration, he added. The findings of their research have been published in journals including the Journal of Biomaterials Science and Carbohydrate Polymers. Research and clinical trials will help determine its effectiveness in real-world applications, paving the way for its use in orthopedic and reconstructive surgery, he added. Researchers also noted that the new bioink technology can be utilised in research to study bone tissue engineering and to test new therapies in laboratory and preclinical settings. The team plans to test the developed bioink in appropriate animal models and develop a scalable production process in a Good Manufacturing Practices facility for future clinical trials. To facilitate commercialization, the researchers have also established a startup, Quixotix Bioprinting Pvt. Ltd.
SAIL Plans To More Than Double Rourkela Plant Capacity For Rs 30,000 Crore
At present, the total steelmaking capacity of Steel Authority of India Ltd. stands at 20.3 million tonnes per annum, of which RSP's contribution is 4.4 MTPA.
Managing diabetes: Now, AI will predict blood sugar levels
An AI-driven technique now helps predict levels of blood glucose and improve the management of diabetes. Prof Mirza Khalid Baig and his team at the National Institute of Rourkela (NIT Rourkela) have developed the Artificial Intelligence approach to improve blood sugar predictions for people with diabetes. Prof Khalid Baig, Assistant Professor of Biotechnology and Medical Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
JEE Main Session 2: Seat availability At NITs, JoSAA 2025 Counselling And Other Details
JoSAA 2025 is jointly organised by IIT Kanpur and NIT Rourkela. CSAB 2025 is led by NIT Rourkela.
