Sitting amid the blackened remains of his home, 32-year-old Nikesh Gawali carefully broke open a half-melted plastic box with a screwdriver. His hands shook slightly, not out of fear, but out of hope. “I’m trying to find my daughter Aarti’s gold earrings,” he said quietly, still focused on the box. “She’s just five. I got them made recently after months of labour work.” The plastic box, warped and blackened by heat, was one of the few things left from his two-room house on the outskirts of Dhamangaon village . All around him lay ash, broken tin sheets and charred wooden beams. The walls had cracked under the heat and the front room’s tin roof had caved in completely. What remained was a blackened debris all around - almost nothing to suggest a home once stood there. Nikesh earns his living as an agricultural labourer, like many in the village. Work is uncertain and depends on the season. Those earrings weren’t just jewellery - they were a small dream, a reward for his hard work,...
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| CP Dr Ravinder Kumar Singal adressing a press conference while Joint CP Navinchandra Reddy (left) and DCP Lohit Matani (right) were looks on. |
With 131 checkpoints across the city, the City Police have launched a special campaign to strictly control drunk driving and rash driving in the city ahead of New Year celebrations. The special action will be carried out from December 22 to December 31 under Operation U-Turn, Commissioner of Police (CP) Dr Ravinder Kumar Singal announced at a press conference on Monday.
Every year, a large number of people visit pubs, bars, hotels, and party spots on December 31 which lead to a rise in drunk driving cases. Such incidents not only endanger the lives of drivers but also put pedestrians and other road users at serious risk. Keeping this in mind, the police have decided to intensify checks across the city to ensure public safety.
131 checkpoints for drinkers
Under this special campaign, 131 checkpoints have been set up at key locations in Nagpur. Traffic police teams will check vehicles daily from evening hours till 2 am. Special attention will be given to drivers suspected of consuming alcohol. Breathalyzer machines have been provided at every checkpoint to test drivers on the spot.
The police will also take strict action against other traffic violations. These include not wearing helmets, riding triple-seat on two-wheelers, wrong-side driving, overspeeding and rash driving, especially by youths. The CP warned that no leniency will be shown to violators during this period.
Operation U-Turn has already been implemented in Nagpur since July, but the drive has been strengthened ahead of New year celebrations due to the expected increase in crowds and late-night traffic.
Police to visit pubs, bars
Along with enforcement, the police have also planned awareness campaigns. Teams will visit malls, pubs, bars, and crowded public places to spread awareness about the dangers of drunk driving. Citizens will be appealed to use cabs, designated drivers, or public transport after consuming alcohol.
Heavy security arrangements have also been made across the city for December 31. Police presence has been increased at popular spots such as malls, Futala Lake, and other crowded areas. Special monitoring will be done in Sadar, Dharampeth, and Shankar Nagar, where large crowds are expected.
To ensure women’s safety, women police squads have been deployed in crowded areas. These teams will work in plain clothes to prevent harassment and take immediate action if any untoward incident occurs. The Social Security Branch and teams from various police stations will assist in maintaining law and order.
The police have also instructed officials to keep a close watch on hotels and pubs to prevent fights, disorderly behavior, and other incidents. Strict action will be taken against anyone found violating the law.
The Nagpur Police have appealed to citizens to cooperate and celebrate the New Year responsibly. They have urged people to avoid drunk driving and follow traffic rules so that everyone can welcome the New Year safely. Joint CP Navinchandra Reddy, DCP Traffic Lohit Matani were present in the press conference.
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