Rabindranath Biswas & Deepak Kumar Singh
Diglipur, June 12: In a ghastly incident, a crocodile reportedly attacked a person and his son, making them seriously injured in Diglipur yesterday.
According to information, one Mr. Amar Das, 57 and his son Mr. Manik Das, 23 went to the sea shore at Ambar Char, specifically called Tatkhali Char, a remote area in Diglipur Tehsil to catch fish with net in a dinghy at about 03:30 p.m. yesterday. The father Mr. Amar Das was casting the fishing net in the water in the knee-deep shoreline while the son Manik Das was standing close to his father on the shore.
Meanwhile a huge salt-water crocodile came from behind and reportedly attacked Amar Das across his waist and after taking Amar Das in its jaws, the crocodile gave a death roll and as an impact, Amar Das’ buttocks and thighs were torn and chest ripped; and seeing it happening, Manik Das threw himself in the water and after positioning himself close to the attacking crocodile, he reached out his hand to run his finger into the eyes of the crocodile, Manik Das narrated.
He also succeeded in running his finger into the eyes of the crocodile, while the crocodile, after getting pain in its eyes, loosened the grip of the croc’s crash-jibe and released the father and turning to Manik Das, the croc made a furious attack on the son thereby critically injuring Manik Das on his hand and legs. However, Manik Das desperately got his father released from the clutch of the crocodile’s crash jibe and himself from the terrible attack of the crocodile.
Manik Das cried out in despair for help, while an elderly person who was going past the seashore came to their rescue. Since Amar Das was profusely bleeding and almost lost sense and Manik being seriously injured somehow managed to drag his critically injured father to the shore with help of the passersby, Manik Das said. He further said that, since it was heavily raining, the water in the shoreline turned turbid, and as a result of which they couldn’t detect the presence of the crocodile even in the shallow water. In the meantime, their family members rushed to the spot after listening to the shriek of Manik Das.
The family members of Amar Das and neighbours then took the seriously injured father and son in a motorized dinghy in the tempestuous seas to Aerial Bay and they reached Aerial Bay at around 08:00 pm and after calling an ambulance they were immediately rushed to the CHC, Diglipur. The doctors attended the patients in emergency and carried out required treatment, their cuts and torn parts were stitched. Since Mr. Amar Das’ condition was critical, he was referred to GB Pant Hospital and was airlifted in the morning today while Manik Das is out of danger now and his treatment is going in CHC, Diglipur, croc victim Manik Das said.

Rabindranath Biswas
Diglipur, June 03: As the bad condition of NH4 still continues to plague the people of entire N & M Andaman, the culverts, on the other hand, on the NH4 from Diglipur Bazaar to Aerial Bay have become the constant woes for the commuters.
As per report, there are scores of culverts across the deplorable NH4 from Diglipur Bazaar to Aerial Bay which were constructed by the concerned agency and were reportedly left in incomplete shapes. The culverts’ slab-ends where the road seal-coat ends meet are marred with crater-sized potholes and uneven surfaces and the motorists, auto-rickshaw drivers and two-wheeler riders of this route step out with trepidation in their hearts.
Similarly, it was found that the meeting ends of the culverts and the seal-coat ends of the road were bumpy. “We are welcomed with deep potholes, broken patches, and a bumpy ride as we enter the stretch of road from Diglipur Bazaar to Aerial Bay” remarked users of the road.
Even the repair works undertaken by the concerned agency of the NHIDCL, after several complaints, are shoddy, corroding within a day,” alleged the residents of the areas. Despite several initiatives from the authorities to fix the issue, the woes of the NH culverts continue to rise.

Mayabunder, March 14: Concerns have been raised by residents of Mayabunder regarding sudden changes in the helicopter service schedule, which may affect their travel plans to and from Port Blair.
Mr. Abdul Siddique, former Pramukh of Mayabunder, has submitted a formal request to the Deputy Commissioner of N & M Andaman, urging immediate action to ensure the helicopter service operates via Mayabunder as per the regular schedule.
In his letter addressed to the Dy. Commissioner, Mr. Siddique highlighted the inconvenience faced by residents who had applied for tomorrow’s (15 March) helicopter service from Mayabunder to Port Blair.
According to Mr. Siddique, two individuals who had sought tickets for tomorrow’s service were informed by Pawan Hans staff that the helicopter would bypass Mayabunder and head directly to Diglipur before returning to Port Blair. This sudden change has left passengers worried, especially those with urgent commitments in Port Blair.
Expressing dismay over the perceived unfair treatment towards Mayabunder residents in matters of helicopter services, Mr. Siddique emphasized the need for immediate intervention to divert tomorrow’s helicopter service via Mayabunder. He urged the Dy. Commissioner to issue appropriate directives to ensure passengers’ travel plans are not disrupted and that such sudden changes in schedules are avoided in the future.
Mr. Siddique also stressed the importance of providing advance notice to passengers in case of any alterations to the service schedule, allowing them to make alternative travel arrangements if needed.
Mr. Siddique concluded his letter with a plea for prompt consideration of his request and swift action to address the concerns of Mayabunder residents. He expressed hope for an immediate and favorable response from the authorities to ensure uninterrupted helicopter service for the community.

Rabindranath Biswas
Diglipur, Feb. 22: People residing in different Wards and areas under Gram Panchayat Diglipur are experiencing commuting woes due to dilapidated roads in the region.
As per report, the residents said that the condition of the roads in their areas is in such a bad shape that auto rickshaws and other vehicle operators refuse to transport passengers to the area at night.
Amidst this situation, Mrs. Boopathy K.V. Raj, Pradhan, Gram Panchayat, Diglipur has recently written a letter to the Executive Engineer, CD, Diglipur apprising him of the bad condition roads under SFA in the areas. When contacted, Mrs. Boopathy K.V. Raj said that she has urged the EE to start the construction works of the roads under SFA on priority as the condition of the roads are in unspeakable state. She further said that, if the construction works of the roads are not started within a period of 20 days, the Pradhan along with the villagers will mount a massive dharna to press for their demand.
When Andaman Sheekha Daily contacted the Executive Engineer, CD, Diglipur and posed questions on the dilapidated condition of roads under GP Diglipur, the EE said that it has been about 3/4 months since the works/agreements of the respective road works under SFA under GP Diglipur were awarded to the contractors/agencies; however, owing to non-availability of aggregates in Diglipur region road works are being severely thwarted. And he further emphasised that, the construction works of the roads under SFA under GP Diglipur and elsewhere coming under his jurisdiction will be started soon after getting the aggregates in sufficient quantity.
However, to alleviate the sufferings of the commuters a little, the agency has reportedly dumped some quantity of rubbish material by roadsides in Khudirampur village and filled the potholes of these roads, the Pradhan, GP, Diglipur further informed.

 

Rabindranath Biswas
Diglipur, Jan. 17: Farmers of Diglipur region are plagued with non-availability of fertilizers in winter sowing season.
According to information, the prospects of a good harvest of `cole crops’ and cultivation of other vegetable crops were severely affected due to reportedly non-supply of fertilizers by the Department of Agriculture during this crucial hour. Talking to Andaman Sheekha Daily, Mr. Kamal Halder, President, Diglipur Farmers’ Union alleged that the Agriculture Department isn’t supplying a key crop nutrient known as DAP to the farmers of Diglipur, and as a result of which the yield of vegetable crops has alarmingly dipped this year and which in turn has escalated the vegetable price.
On the other hand, vegetable growers left with no other options are purchasing fertilizers from the open market at higher prices and are compelled to dig deep into their pockets, Mr. Halder further claimed. “Non-supply of fertilisers like DAP & Urea in Diglipur and elsewhere in A & N Islands have hit the vegetable production especially in Diglipur, threatening the entire winter sowing season”, lamented the Diglipur Farmers’ Union’s President.
The cole crops like cauliflower, cabbage etc. would have been abundant in the market in Diglipur by this time and farmers would have been in a better position to sell and send vegetables to other parts of these islands had the farmers got the key crop nutrients from the Agriculture Department in time; but unfortunately it didn’t happen, and it portrays the absolute apathy of the administration towards farmers, alleged Mr. Halder.
Amid the situation, when Andaman Sheekha Daily posed questions to the local Agriculture Officials on the issue, they said that the issuance of chemical fertilizers like DAP, Urea etc is of a part of the India govt.’s policy matter; however, the Dept. is now supplying one of the most essential crop nutrients called MOP (Muriate of Potash) to the farmers and which is available at all the depots in Diglipur at present, the Officials further affirmed.

 

Rabindranath Biswas
Diglipur, July 31: The normal life of the people of Diglipur was severely paralysed with the erratic power supply for the last couple of days.
According to information, after every 1-2 hours, and at times without any time-frame, there was a power failure which put the people of Diglipur in real trouble. “Though the duration of the power outage varies, the power disruption has become a regular feature in Diglipur nowadays,” the incensed public said. Online services in Govt. Offices where there is no alternative means of power supply are also being severely impeded owing to this erratic power supply, govt. staffs manning the tasks, alleged.
Similarly, electrical/domestic appliances are also being badly affected by this irritant power failure, the general public alleged. And business owners too suffer due to voltage fluctuations and frequent power failures. Talking to Andaman Sheekha, general store owners and bakery owners in the town alleged that the goods they store in their refrigerators and deep freezers are always at a risk of perishing because of unexpected power outages.
However, when contacted to unearth the reasons of the alleged power failures in Diglipur region, the higher Officials of the Electricity Department, Diglipur told Andaman Sheekha Daily over phone that there were certain unavoidable hurdles which caused power failures in the last few days. A number of trees fell last night on the HT lines owing to gusty winds and which caused snapping of HT lines at multiple places in between Power House at Sitanagar and Kalpong Dam. Besides, the HT lines often get tripped due to the trees and plants touching the power lines. And repeated tripping and other related reasons cause flashes in the power control panels in the Power Houses which are reasons for disruption in the power supply, the Officials explained. The delay in attending the faults at electric lines is caused due to communication gap between the staffs at Power House at Sitanagar and Kalpong Dam; and this communication gap occurs due to BSNL’s service which gets disrupted owing to its backup problem in the event of power failure, the officials alleged.
Amid all this, when asked about when the power supply is going to be restored to normalcy, the Official told that the staffs of the Electricity Department worked on war footing last night mending the faults and it is expected that there will be uninterrupted power supply right from today, the Official further assured.