A trudge through a dense jungle with footsteps being the only sound you hear, and then the silence is shattered by the piercing sound of gunshots.

A video shot by a security personnel shows a glimpse of what it took to carry out Chhattisgarh’s biggest anti-Maoist operation, which left 29 rebels dead on Tuesday. The dead Maoists included a senior leader, Shankar Rao, who had a bounty of Rs 25 lakh on his head.

The gunfight took place around 2 pm in the Hapatola forest near Binagunda village in Kanker district and was carried out by a joint team of the Border Security Force (BSF) and the state police’s District Reserve Guard (DRG). Three people were injured – two from the BSF and one from the DRG.

The minute-long video shows security personnel walking through the jungle when suddenly, 20 seconds in, one of them fires two shots from his rifle. Shouting is heard from various sides and the man shooting the video then warns personnel ahead of him to tread carefully and not rush ahead.

“Peeche se koi fire nahin karega bhai (no one should fire from behind),” he warns his fellow personnel and the video ends with him repeating the warning.

The team involved in the encounter was led by Laxman Kewat, a President’s Award winner who has also been honoured with six other awards. Known as an encounter specialist, he has killed 44 Maoists so far.

‘Planning Big Incident’

On Tuesday evening, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said the operation was the “biggest-ever success” in the state’s fight against Maoists.

“I congratulate everyone involved in the operation and salute their courage. Maoists don’t believe in democracy and it is possible that they were looking to influence the elections. The place where the gunfight took place is near both the Bastar and Kanker Lok Sabha constituencies, and Bastar will vote in the first phase on Friday… They were attempting to carry out a big incident and their plans have been foiled by the security forces,” Mr Sai said.

“Home Minister Amit Shah has also called for, and taken a pledge for, a Maoist-free Bastar region. This operation is a big success towards ensuring peace. The government wishes to end the bloodshed and would like the Maoists to leave the path of violence, hold talks and join the path of development… The three injured personnel are out of danger and are undergoing treatment,” he added.

Dubai, which usually experiences an arid climate and scorching temperatures, plunged into chaos on Tuesday as heavy rain battered the United Arab Emirates (UAE), disrupting air travel and prompting widespread flooding across the desert country. The unexpected deluge not only brought the bustling city to a standstill but also raised concerns about the increasingly evident impact of climate change on extreme weather events in the region.

On Tuesday, Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest air hub for international passengers, was forced to divert numerous incoming flights as the heavy downpour rendered flight operations dangerous. The airport, which typically welcomes over 100 flight arrivals on a typical evening, witnessed a rare suspension of arrivals, followed by a gradual resumption 25 minutes later. Despite the resumption of departure flights in the evening, flight operations encountered delays and cancellations. 

Dubai Airport right now
pic.twitter.com/FX992PQvAU

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Videos circulating on social media showed planes taxiing on flooded runways and cars half-submerged in water at the airport’s parking lot. Access roads leading to the airport were also inundated with water.

Key infrastructure in the city, including flagship shopping centres like Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates, were flooded and ankle-deep water inundated at least one Dubai Metro station. Roads collapsed, residential communities were submerged, and reports emerged of leaks from roofs, doors, and windows in various households.

Current weather in Dubai pic.twitter.com/v6dqxaA97A

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The impact of the storm extended beyond Dubai, with the entire UAE and neighbouring Bahrain experiencing similar scenes of flooding and chaos. According to news agency AFP, schools across the Emirates were closed, and further storms, including hail, are forecasted for today, prompting authorities to extend remote working arrangements for government employees.

In Oman, where the storms initially struck, the devastation was particularly grim, with flash floods resulting in the deaths of 18 people, including children. Bahrain too experienced flooding due to the storms. 

Both Oman and the UAE, hosts of the previous year’s COP28 UN climate conference, have previously cautioned about the increased likelihood of flooding due to global warming.
 

Kashmir emerges as the preferred summer destination for Hyderabadis with high demand for costly packages, even surpassing international options. Local agents note fully booked accommodations and steady flow of travelers to Kashmir.