Chitral Khambhati

Previously @IndianExpress

[The Indian Express @IndianExpress]

Demolition of Delhi's 'Madrasi Camp'

On June 1, a court-ordered demolition drive tore through the Delhi’s 'Madrasi Camp', which had been home to over 300 Tamil-origin families who arrived in the Capital seeking livelihood opportunities.

Of the 370 households, only 215 were eligible for relocation to allocated flats in Narela, about 50 kms from the camp where they spent years building their lives.

The remaining — those who failed to meet documentation or eligibility criteria — are now left to fend for themselves.

The Indian Express explores the real costs of relocation of a decades-old settlement.

Report: Chitral Khambhati (@chitral_k)

Watch full ground report here: https://t.co/yAIU9eBNCI

[The Indian Express @IndianExpress]

🚉 With her 1-year-old in her arms, Rina, a Railway Police Force officer, stood on duty at Platform 16 of New Delhi Railway Station—where a day ago, 18 people lost their lives in a deadly stampede.

The New Delhi Railway Station remained packed with travellers rushing to board Kumbh-bound trains, as authorities tried to manage the surging crowds.

See more pics 👇🏽
https://t.co/MFsRoqx9Xf

[Express Technology @ExpressTechie]

The Canon EOS R5 Mark II introduces a slew of advanced features. Is it worth your time and investment? @chitral_k explains how this smart camera stand out.

https://t.co/wFoTKiRlDv

[Vidhatri @VidhatriRao]

We saw Pushpa 2 in a packed single-screen theatre at 11 am on a Thursday in Muzaffarnagar to try and understand the film's cultural resonance.

Incredible photos by @chitral_k
Edited by the best @umavishnu

https://t.co/nS0ZfVi1oC

[The Indian Express @IndianExpress]

The National Capital woke up to a thick blanket of smog, with air quality reaching ‘severe’ levels in various parts of the city on Friday morning. According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board as of 6 AM, areas such as Anand Vihar (441), Dwarka (444), Mundka (449), RK Puram (437), and Indira Gandhi International Airport (446) all reported by Central Pollution Control Board at 6 am.

To combat the escalating air pollution, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has implemented Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR. As part of GRAP Stage III, emergency response measures such as discontinuing physical classes for primary school students in entire Delhi-NCR, and curbing construction have been put in place.

Delhi Minister Gopal Rai announced stringent measures on Friday (November 15) to tackle the capital’s deteriorating air quality under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) III. The entry of inter-state buses, except for e-buses and those running on CNG, has been banned to curb vehicular pollution, a key contributor to high PM 2.5 levels.

Additionally, BS III petrol and BS IV diesel four-wheelers are now prohibited within city limits. To address construction-related dust, private construction and demolition activities have also been suspended. To mitigate commuting challenges, 106 shuttle buses will be deployed, and metro services will operate 60 additional trips daily.

📹 @chitral_k

[The Indian Express @IndianExpress]

WATCH | Ajay Katara only has to close his eyes to remember that night from 22 years ago. A little past midnight, on February 17, 2002, the fog hung low as his scooter went down the largely deserted stretch of Hapur Road that connects Ghaziabad to Delhi.

He was on his way home to Shahdara after attending a friend’s daughter’s birthday party in Govindpuram, near Ghaziabad. Merely 2 km from his friend’s house, near the Hapur toll booth, an SUV hit his scooter from behind, throwing him to the ground. It was a minor hit, but it left Ajay shaken and angry. He dusted himself off and walked up to the driver’s side of the SUV, itching for a fight.

What he saw next would alter his life forever.

In the passenger seat was a man in a red kurta and a white stole. Hours later, the man, 23-year-old Nitish Katara, would end up dead. And Ajay would go on to become a prime witness in the murder case.

While the accident and the events that followed “wrecked his life”, Ajay believes that he was perhaps ordained to be there, at the spot, that night.

📹 @chitral_k

Read Upasika Singhal's report for The Indian Express 👇🏼

🔗 https://t.co/kE5ZHcs4fK

[The Indian Express @IndianExpress]

In the heart of New Delhi, Rani Devi defies the odds by secretly attending school, hiding it from her husband.

Alongside her, Sonu Chandeliya balances work, family, and education, living in a slum near their NDMC Day Time School in Kidwai Nagar.

From concealed school bags to community activism, they pursue their education against all challenges. 📚

Report: @SophiyaMathew1
🎥: @chitral_k

[The Indian Express @IndianExpress]

#LongReads | Two mothers -- Rani and Sonu -- are students at this New #Delhi Municipal Council school where women who are unlettered or dropouts can study alongside regular students.

https://t.co/kbltGHTt3A
@SophiyaMathew1

Watch: https://t.co/Iw8hOrdt4d
🎥 @chitral_k

[The Indian Express @IndianExpress]

#ExpressOpinion | Vinesh Phogat and the people who abandoned her

https://t.co/NAYkHk5JpW

[The Indian Express @IndianExpress]

Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) protests at Jantar Mantar against the NEET-UG fiasco

Students demanded the scrapping of the NTA and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan due to alleged exam irregularities.

Participants from All India Students Association (AISA) and DU's Krantikari Yuva Sangathan joined with slogans like "Dharmendra Pradhan istifa do" and "Scrap NTA".

They also called for a NEET-UG re-examination and an end to centralised exams.

📹: @chitral_k

#neetug #neetexam #education #jnusu #neetpg

[The Indian Express @IndianExpress]

Since 6 in the morning, residents of Sanjay Colony, in South #Delhi's Okhla, line up with their vessels and pipes to wait for Delhi Jal Board water tankers.

As the capital faces a #WaterCrisis, the frequency of these tankers have come down to one to two times a day. Getting water for each family is difficult, even with the round of several tankers.

Residents here miss out on their work and wages to collect enough water for their families. Facing a major water crisis, the residents demand a solution, rather than political mudslinging. A solution that retains their dignity. #DelhiWaterCrisis

🎥: @chitral_k

[The Indian Express @IndianExpress]

E P Unny Interview: The Art Of Political Cartooning

From the start of his career during the Janata Party govt to NDA 3.0, EP Unny shares his journey and talks about why cartoons are important for politicians

📹: @chitral_k

https://t.co/QmLzOodcau

[The Indian Express @IndianExpress]

EP Unny Interview: The Indian Express’ Chief Political Cartoonist EP Unny (@unnycartoonist) in a chat with Manas Srivastava (@ManasSri01) about the art of political cartooning, favourite governments to cartoon, his mentors, and a cartoonist’s preference between majority and coalition governments.

From the start of his career with the Janata Party government to NDA 3.0, EP Unny talks about why cartoons are important for politicians, Madras High Court judgment in favour of cartoonists and advice for young cartoonists.

[The Indian Express @IndianExpress]

#Replug | "We worship Ram but how will we survive if you take away our livelihoods?"

Even for an election that saw BJP falling well short of its own goal, the loss in #Ayodhya was particularly stark.

So, what went wrong?

Ahead of Ram Temple inauguration, our journalist @chitral_k spent 3 days in Ayodhya, talking to locals

Here's what they had to say 👇🏽

(This video was 1st published Jan 19, 2024)

[The Indian Express @IndianExpress]

Delhi goes from sizzle to drizzle after record 52.3°C temperature

3 hours after recording its highest-ever temperature of 52.3 degrees Celsius, #Delhi experienced showers this afternoon. This brought some relief from the extreme heat.

Delhi has been enduring severe heatwave conditions over the past few days. Maximum temperatures have been around 50 degrees Celsius. Minimum temperatures have been nearing 30 degrees.

Catch #LIVE updates 👇🏽
https://t.co/zT64iIe0sx

[The Indian Express @IndianExpress]

In this #Delhi village, athletes live a dual life

A national record-holding steeplechaser from #Bulandshahr, a hurdler from a #Haryana village, a long-distance runner from Hamirpur.

#Athletes by day and gig workers by night, they are among hundreds of budding players whose track and field dreams begin in the densely packed lanes of Kotla Mubarakpur.

@chitral_k @AndrewAmsan

Watch here 👇🏽
https://t.co/BvIv9QJKHS

[The Indian Express @IndianExpress]

Gujarat: After their houses were razed, names of 700 fishermen deleted from voters’ lists

https://t.co/AW6t2azcId

[Andrew @AndrewAmsan]

@chitral_k and @CharulataB have put together a lovely video featuring a few athletes mentioned in the recent story on Kotla Mubarakpur. @IExpressSports
Link:https://t.co/Dk2eLbOFcP

[The Indian Express @IndianExpress]

In this #Delhi village, athletes live a dual life

A national record-holding steeplechaser from #Bulandshahr, a hurdler from a #Haryana village, a long-distance runner from Hamirpur.

#Athletes by day and gig workers by night, they are among hundreds of budding players whose track and field dreams begin in the densely packed lanes of Kotla Mubarakpur.

The Indian Express spends time in the Delhi neighbourhood, tracking their long, daily sprints.

[Express Sports @IExpressSports]

#Athletes by day and gig workers by night, they are among hundreds of budding players whose track and field dreams begin in the densely packed lanes of Kotla Mubarakpur.

(✍️) @AndrewAmsan and (📸) @abhinavsaha track their long, daily sprints.

https://t.co/a8ZNRpNxUu