KOttayam l thursday l october 03, 2024 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l city EDITION Two ex-IAF pilots among 3 dead in helicopter crash near Pune Two former Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots and an engineer were killed after a helicopter crashed and caught fire near Pune city on Wednesday Preliminary probe blames it on fog IAF chopper makes mayday call in Bihar The chopper took off from a golf course near Pune and was headed to Juhu when it crashed around 7.40 am. Primary information pointed to fog as the cause of the accident. A detailed probe is underway, the police said. The Agusta 109 helicopter belonged to Delhi-based Heritage Aviation. At the time of the crash, it was on hire by the Nationalist Congress Party ■ ■ In a separate incident, an IAF helicopter made an emergency landing in Muzaffarpur district of Bihar after it developed a snag. The chopper was returning after air-dropping relief materials to flood-affected people The chopper landed in a waterlogged area near Darbhanga. All four on board were IAF personnel. Officials said they were safe 7.30 am when the chopper crashed in Bavdhan area, about 25 km from pune city CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI Iran oil rigs, N-sites could face retaliatory strike over-the-counter sale ban coming on morning-after pill Biden advises against hitting n-sites; 8 IDF soldiers killed in Lebanon Agencies ISRAEL is reportedly gearing up to launch a blistering counter-attack to cripple Iran, which fired over 180 ballistic missiles on Tuesday in a major escalation of tensions in West Asia. According to reports in Israeli media, Iran’s strategic infrastructure, especially oil rigs, will be targeted. Also on the table are direct attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites, news reports said citing Israeli officials. The development further complicates Israel’s multi-front war as the country is advancing its ground offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon while still mounting attacks in Gaza to kee p Hamas militants down. On Wednesday, Israel said it lost eight soldiers in southern Lebanon during a ground offensive against Hezbollah. In Gaza, Israeli ground and air operations reportedly killed over 50 people. Besides, Israel’s foreign minister said he would bar UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres’s entry into his country because of bias. Earlier in the day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a crucial meeting with security chiefs at the IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv, his office said. The meeting, held hours before the Rosh Hashanah holiday to mark the Jewish New Year, is learnt to have discussed and decided Israel’s response to Iran’s attack. Former Israeli PM Naftali Bennett also called for a strike on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) is likely to recommend a ban on the over-the-counter (OTC) sale of all hormonal contraceptive drugs, including oral emergency contraceptive pills (ECP). An expert sub-committee formed by CDSCO is all set to recommend that the Drugs and Cosmetic Rules of 1945 be suitably amended to make them prescription-only drugs. This newspaper has learnt that the panel will soon submit a report. At present, under the National Reproductive and Child Health Programme, Anvar floats party; Jaleel does U-turn, vows to support CPM People climb on the debris of an Iranian missile intercepted by Israel, near Arad, southern Israel | AP Avoid all non-essential travel to Iran: MEA Express News Service In the wake of the escalating tensions, India on Wednesday advised its citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to Iran. In an advisory, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also urged the Indian nationals presently residing in Iran to remain vigilant and stay in contact with the Indian Embassy in Tehran. “We are closely monitoring the recent escalation in security situation in the region,” the MEA said. The Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv on Tuesday issued an advisory for Indian nationals living in Israel. and energy facilities. “We have the justification. We have the tools,” he wrote on X. US news site Axios reported that Israel has plans to take out Iran’s air defence systems and also set off targeted assassinations. An attack on Iranian oil facilities could push back the country’s economy by years, while destroying the air defence systems would make it more vulnerable. Political as- the Drug Controller General macies. Other hormonal conof India (DGCI) allows the traceptives available OTC sale of 0.75 mg tablets of Lev- include the Combined Oral onorgestrel without prescrip- Contraceptive (containing estion as an emergency contra- trogen and progestin, it is takceptive. ECPs, better known en daily) and the Progestin as the morning-after pill, were Only Pill (also taken daily). introduced in Interestingly, India in 2002 the six-member press and can preclusive expert sub-comvent a pregnanmittee was cy i f t a ke n formed after the within 72 hours of unprotect- Tamil Nadu government proed sex. posed a ban on the OTC sale of Experts say the availability hormonal contraceptives citof the drug OTC help prevent ing “its irrational usage” at unwanted pregnancies and the 62nd Drugs Consultative avert abortions. However, in Committee meeting held in Tamil Nadu, and other parts September 2023. The sub-comof India, ECPs are notorious- mittee’s mandate was to study ly difficult to access at phar- the issue and make a recom- S i n d u j a Ja n e @ Chennai @Malappuram sassinations, if carried out, might set the stage for a regime change in Iran. If Iran’s nuclear facilities are hit, experts fear it will push the conflict to a no-return point. On Wednesday US President , Joe Biden said he will not support an Israeli attack on sites related to Tehran’s nuclear programme. ‘The answer is no,” he said on Wednesday when asked , about his opinion. Lending his political fight with the CPM a new dimension, dissident MLA PV Anvar on Wednesday announced the formation of a secular political party, almost a week after the Left severed all ties with him. Meanwhile, in a curious development, Left independent K T Jaleel, widely speculated to be on the move to part ways with the CPM, made it categorically clear that he would not join hands with Anvar, contrary to speculations. The Nilambur MLA said his party will contest in all panchayats in the 2025 local body elections. “A new team, which includes youngsters, will come P V Anvar K T Jaleel up. It will emphasise on inclusion of Dalits and backward communities with a focus on upholding secular values,” Anvar told reporters. The announcement comes in the wake of his strained with the CPM and CM Pinarayi Vijayan. Last week, CPM state secretary M V Govindan had accused Anvar of aligning with Opposition parties and political forces like SDPI and Jamaat-e-Islami. Hypertension, diabetes on rise among Keralites in 30-60 age group Rah u l R @Kollam Poor lifestyle choices and unhealthy eating habits are taking a toll on Kerala’s population, with a staggering 1.68 lakh people diagnosed with both hypertension and diabetes, according to the state health department. The medical screening conducted from March 24 to September 30 across the state among 32.7 lakh individuals aged 30 to 59 revealed the disturbing trend. Kannur with 21,975 diagnosed cases topped the list, followed by Alappuzha (18,866) and Kollam (15,848). According to health department officials, the rise in hypertension is linked to obesity and increased body mass index (BMI), with many diagnosed individuals also struggling with excess weight. Moreover, poor lifestyle choices are becoming increasingly widespread. The consumption of processed foods, lack of regular exercise, and high levels of stress significantly contribute to this health crisis. Dr Divya Sashi, the nodal officer for the screening programme, emphasises the connection between family history and unhealthy habits. “Our findings show that 70% of those diagnosed have a family history of hypertension and diabetes, compounded by poor diets and lack of physical activity This deadly . combination, along with the use of tobacco and other addictive substances, creates a perfect storm for lifestyle dis- (Screening conducted to identify prevalence of non-communicable diseases among those in 30-59 age group) Source: State Health Department eases. Smoking, poor eating habits, and a sedentary lifestyle severely impair the body’s ability to produce insulin, leading to serious complications down the road,” Dr Divya says. If this trend continues unchecked, experts predict dire consequences. Within the next five years, diagnosed individuals are at risk of severe complications, including cardiovascular issues, strokes, kidney failure, and even limb amputations due to high blood ● More on P5 sugar levels.  Delhi Police make biggest drug bust New Delhi: The Delhi Police have made one of the biggest drug busts ever seen in the city, seizing over 560kg of cocaine and 40kg of hydroponic marijuana estimated to be worth around J5,620 crore, officials said. They said four people were nabbed from from South Delhi’s Mahipalpur. P8 Landslide survivors to launch protest T’Puram: Even two months after the Wayanad landslides that killed close to 300 people, the Centre has turned a blind eye to the state’s demand for rehabilitation packages. The state government has decided to hold a protest in Kalpetta on Monday with participation of hundreds of survivors. P4 Rumble in Punjab as core team of CM disintegrates H a r p r e e t B a j w a @ Chandigarh Districts People Diagnosed screened with diabetes, hypertension 1,89,134 11,771 2,23,072 15,848 3,04,287 18,866 50,810 4,149 1,37,083 7,547 1,59,680 11,909 1,85,241 12,623 3,40,434 15,839 3,20,431 14,258 3,97,440 21,975 3,83,315 9,979 1,80,730 7,928 2,02,989 8,101 2,02,417 7,803 32,77,063 1,68,596 E X P R ESS R EA D joining the dots Disturbing data T’Puram Kollam Alappuzha P’Thitta Kottayam Ernakulam Thrissur Malappuram Kozhikode Kannur Palakkad Idukki Wayanad Kasaragod Total Stating that the country is at a crucial juncture and secular values should be upheld, Anvar said his party will be a platform to promote these values. “Lakhs of youngsters are waiting to join me,” he claimed, adding that the official launch of the party will take place at a large gathering in Manjeshwar. Anvar alleged a conspiracy behind the CM’s controversial interview, and accused Pinarayi of lying. “Initially, it was claimed the CM did not have a PR agency Yet, no cor. rection was made when the news first broke, Anvar said, adding the CMO responded a long 32 hours after the article came out, hinting it was part of the CM’s strategy  ● More on P4 . mendation on whether such a ban is needed. Dr Pinkee Saxena, professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Lady Hardinge Medical College, is the chair of the subcommittee. Its other members include M N Sridhar, Joint Director of Drugs Control cum Controlling Authority (in-charge), and a representative from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). A source privy to the deliberations said the panel it is overwhelmingly in favour of making prescriptions from a physician mandatory for the purchase of contraceptives, including ECPs.  ● More on P5 birthday snap NSS volunteers of St Albert’s College take a picture with a statue of Mahatma Gandhi after an event held in Kacheripady to mark the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation on Wednesday | A SanesH Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann’s trusted core appears to be disintegrating. But the big question is whether the CM is slowly losing his utility for the Aam Aadmi Party? Take Navneet Wadhwa, director of communications at the Chief Minister’s Office. He put in his papers after he was told his contract will not be renewed. A few days a go, Onkar Singh, Officer on Special Duty to the CM, quit. Singh was considered close to Mann. His exit came as a surprise as he was also handling the political programmes of Mann’s spouse Dr Gurpreet Kaur. The axe is expected to fall on one more important official, say sources. Five new faces were inducted into the Mann ministry recently while four were dropped, two of whom — Chetan Singh Jouramajra and Anmol Gagan Mann — were considered close to the CM. When Mann recently fell down at the Chandigarh airport after de-boarding from a chartered plane, the Opposition Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) took another shot at his failure to stay sober during work hours. The AAP leadership chose not to defend him. Mann was later admitted to Fortis Hopsital in Mohali where he was dignosed with leptospirosis. Among those who called on him at the hospital were Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains, Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan and Congress MLA Pargat Singh. cleanest of them all Kerala beaches home to least polluted waters: Central study M S V i d ya n a n d a n @T’Puram Kerala’s beaches have the least polluted waters in the country Among the 12 coastal . states/UTs in India, Kerala tops in Coastal Water Quality Index (CWQI), shows the “EnviStats India 2024: Environment Accounts” released by the Union government. As per the data released on Monday, Kerala’s scores and rankings in 2023-24 iomproved from the previous year. The report had CWQI scores for three States At shore At offshore At nearshore (less than 1km) (2km) (5km) Kerala 74 75 79 Karnataka 65 65 73 Gujarat 60 62 58 55 58 67 Source: ‘EnviStats Tamil Nadu India 2024: Andaman & Nicobar 52 56 65 Environment Accounts’ Goa 46 53 67 CWQI score locations in the coastal sea and Kerala was ranked “Good” in all. For the location “At shore (less than 1km)” Kerala’s score was 74, followed by Karnataka (65), and Guajarat (60). The state’s score for “At nearshore (2 km)” was 75, followed by Kar- nataka (65), and Gujarat (62). With 79 points, Kerala was also top in the “At offshore (5km)” location, and was followed by Karnataka (73), and Tamil Nadu and Goa, both 67. “The report indicates our coastal waters are significantly better than those along the rest of the Indian coast. The improvement in water quality is likely due to the increased freshwater input during the monsoon season, which dilutes unwanted substances. This positive change reflects a tran- sition from an unhealthy to a healthy coastal ecosystem,” opined Dr Resmi T R, head incharge of Ecology and Environment Research Group (EERG) of the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM). The CWQI grading was: Very Poor (0-20), Poor (21-40), Moderate (41-60), Good (61-80) and Very Good (81-100). In 2022-23, Kerala’s scores and ranking in the three locations were 68 (Good), 56 (Moderate) and 67 (Good), respectively  ● More on P5 .