top of page

By:

Correspondent

23 August 2024 at 4:29:04 pm

Fatal Complacency

Three aviation incidents at Baramati in seven months should be enough to make even the most complacent regulator nervous. Instead, the runway appears to have been allowed to deteriorate while promises of an upgrade gather dust. There is something profoundly disturbing about the latest aircraft incident at Baramati where the two pilots fortunately escaped unharmed. In January this year, a chartered aircraft carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others had crashed near...

Fatal Complacency

Three aviation incidents at Baramati in seven months should be enough to make even the most complacent regulator nervous. Instead, the runway appears to have been allowed to deteriorate while promises of an upgrade gather dust. There is something profoundly disturbing about the latest aircraft incident at Baramati where the two pilots fortunately escaped unharmed. In January this year, a chartered aircraft carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others had crashed near the Baramati airstrip owing to low visibility, killing everyone aboard. On May 13, another aircraft crash-landed near the airfield. Now, another trainer aircraft has run beyond the runway after two rejected take-offs. The incidents ought to have triggered a more muscular response than another round of assurances. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s preliminary findings that were conducted after the crash that killed Pawar make the situation considerably harder to explain away. The runway had last been re-carpeted in March 2016. Its markings had faded while loose gravel was lying on the surface. There was no dedicated meteorological facility and no in-house aircraft rescue and firefighting unit and boundary fencing was inadequate. Baramati airfield, where regular flying-training and non-scheduled operations take place, is essentially an uncontrolled aerodrome. The question is why the state of things continue to exist? The maddening part is the timing. After the death of Ajit Pawar, did nobody think to ask whether the airstrip was fit for the traffic it was handling? Did nobody think a runway whose markings had faded and whose surface contained loose gravel warranted immediate intervention? Why should an airfield wait for a final accident report before basic safety infrastructure becomes a priority? And where, precisely, is the regulator? The AAIB can investigate. It cannot regulate. That responsibility rests with the civil-aviation system, particularly the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, which is now being urged to ensure safety standards at uncontrolled airfields. But aviation safety cannot work on the principle that one agency investigates yesterday’s accident while another waits for tomorrow. The political irony is almost unbearable. Murlidhar Mohol is not merely Pune’s Lok Sabha MP; he is the Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation. This is, quite literally, an aviation-safety problem in his political backyard and within his ministerial brief. The government says Baramati is now set for an upgrade. But infrastructure announcements are not safety measures until they are built, certified and operational. In India’s expanding aviation and developing regional air connectivity, there is an ugly contradiction in celebrating more airports while allowing existing airfields to acquire potholes, gravel and faded markings. Baramati has had its tragedy and two warnings since. The question is whether the government will act before the runway claims lives again.

A beacon of hope for rural athletes

Updated: Oct 22, 2024

How Akash Shinde transformed from a shy village boy to a prominent kabaddi player

beacon of hope

Mumbai: In the heart of Nashik's Adgaon village, a young boy Akash Shinde dared to dream big. Little did he know that his journey from playing in the muddy grounds of his town to becoming a PKL winner would inspire a generation of aspiring athletes.


“Initially, when I used to play, I would come home with bruises because Kabaddi was played in the mud,” Akash recalls as he enters his fourth season with the Puneri Paltan. And despite his family's initial concerns, his passion for kabaddi burned bright, fuelled by the unwavering support of his early mentors Sagar Malwade and Vinod Labde.


His path to success was far from smooth. He faced numerous setbacks, failing to make the cut in his first attempts at various levels. “I fell short in my first attempts at all levels. I went for my senior camp for Maharashtra and fell short there too!”


But instead of letting these failures discourage him, Akash used them as stepping stones. “These setbacks kept me determined, and I knew I needed to try harder and with renewed energy to show the world what I could do and achieve.”


His breakthrough came in 2019 at a seniors’ trial in Nashik. This performance opened doors, leading him to play in the Junior Nationals and eventually catching the eye of Yuva Paltan, which is the Puneri Paltan’s academy.


The turning point in Akash’s career came when he represented his college in Beed, earning his first chance to play for Maharashtra. Under the guidance of Anil Jagdale and Kailas Jagdale, his skills flourished. His journey accelerated as he moved from Mahindra & Mahindra to Yuva Paltan, where mentors like Sangram and Ashok helped refine his game.


Akash’s PKL debut with Puneri Paltan in Season 8 was a moment of immense pride, not just for him but for his entire village. “No player from the Nashik region had made it to PKL or even the Maharashtra team, so it was a shock, a pleasant one, for everyone. The entire Nashik district was very happy. It felt really good,” he reminisces.


But it was in Season 9 that he truly announced his arrival, becoming a formidable force on the mat. In the 22 matches that Akash played on the way to his first PKL final, he scored 139 raid points, averaging 6.32 raid point per match.


His performances caught the eye of the national selectors, earning him a spot on the Indian team for the Asian Games. “I received my Team India kit on the 27th of October. I still remember it,” he says.


The crowning glory came in PKL Season 10 when Akash, along with his Puneri Paltan teammates, lifted the coveted trophy. Albeit playing a diminished role, he managed an impressive 56 raid points in the 13 matches he played. “There was only one target then... we had made up our minds that we had to win the title this season, whatever it took,” he shared, reflecting on the team’s collective determination. Now, Akash stands as a beacon of hope for young athletes from rural India. His message to them is clear: “Keep believing in yourselves and your dedication and efforts.” He emphasizes the importance of loyalty, urging young players to stay true to the clubs that nurture them.


As he prepares for PKL Season 11, his journey from the muddy grounds of Adgaon to the bright lights of Pro Kabaddi serves as a testament to the power of dreams, determination, and unwavering support.

Comments

bottom of page