मैदानी इलाकों में भारी बारिश और तूफान के आसार हैं. मौसम विज्ञान केंद्र की ओर से जारी पूर्वानुमान के मुताबिक, देहरादून समेत उत्तरकाशी, चमोली, रुद्रप्रयाग, बागेश्वर और पिथौरागढ़ जिलों के कुछ हिस्सों में भारी बारिश और बर्फबारी के अलावा तूफान का ऑरेंज अलर्ट जारी किया गया है।

ये भी पढ़ें…उत्तराखंड: अब श्रमिकों को मिल सकेगा सिर्फ दस घंटे काम, न्यूनतम वेतन में बच्चों की पढ़ाई के खर्च का भी प्रावधान

वहीं अन्य जिलों में भी भारी बारिश और तूफान का येलो अलर्ट जारी किया गया है. आने वाले दिनों की बात करें तो 25 मार्च तक प्रदेश भर में मौसम का मिजाज ऐसा ही बने रहने की संभावना है.

Barcelona police said they found 20-year-old American James “Jimmy” Gracie dead in shallow ocean waters in front of the beach club Shoko on Thursday, ending a search that began after he went missing while clubbing on Tuesday morning.Investigators said initial indications point to accidental death, but the cause and circumstances remain unclear. “Everything points to this being an accident, not a criminal act,” a police spokesperson said, CNN reports. Relatives said Gracie, of Illinois, had become separated from friends while clubbing and was last seen alive around 3 a.m. His family said he was reported missing when he did not return to his rental the next morning.Gracie was a month away from completing her junior year at the University of Alabama. His aunt told The Associated Press that he traveled abroad for spring break to visit classmates who were studying abroad.His aunt Beth Maren O’Reilly told the AP that he left Alabama last Thursday and spent the weekend in Amsterdam before arriving in Barcelona on Monday. That night, he went with friends to the beach clubs in Port Olympic. In Shoko, he became separated from his friends, his brother Kevin Maclay told CNN affiliate WBMA.“That was the last we heard from him,” McClay said.

How did the police find Gracie?

Spanish authorities searched for Gracie, with police patrolling the seaside area on motorcycles and using underwater units to scour the waters near the club where he was last seen, according to Mossos d’Esquadra, a spokesman for the Catalan police force. As the search continued, Gracie’s father moved to Barcelona.Police eventually recovered Gracie’s phone, which had been stolen, her mother, Therese Gracie, said in a post on Facebook. The Catalan police force declined to share details when CNN asked about the phone.Police reviewed Shoko’s security camera footage to determine her movements in the early hours, WBMA reported. Club staff declined to comment to CNN about the disappearance, but said they had handed over CCTV footage to police. He also said friends returned to the club in recent days to ask for information and went to the beach to hand out missing-person flyers, WBMA reported.Police said Gracie’s body was found underwater a few meters from Somorostro beach, which stretches across Shoko.

‘Unimaginable loss’: Family on Gracie’s death

Loved ones said it was “completely out of character” for Gracie not to check in, and said the family was “heartbroken” after learning she was found dead.“Jimmy was a much-loved son, grandson, brother, nephew, cousin and friend, and our family is struggling to cope with this unimaginable loss,” the family said in a statement.As the oldest of five children, Gracie often helped her parents care for her younger siblings, according to her uncle David Gracie, a senior producer for CNN in Washington, DC. He also served as a chaplain and philanthropy chair at Theta Chi fraternity, said Maclay, the chapter president.“He’s someone who goes out of his way to be there for someone in need,” McClay said before learning of his death.Gracie was an avid hockey player, her uncle said. According to his aunt, he was also an honors student in the university’s accounting program.“Jimmy’s loss is deeply felt across our campus,” the University of Alabama said in a statement Thursday.The school said, “The University has been in close contact with the family throughout the week and will continue to provide support to them and Jimmy’s friends, classmates and all members of our community who are affected by this tragedy.”

अमेठी जिले के संग्रामपुर विकासखंड में ग्राम चौपाल कार्यक्रम को लेकर लापरवाही सामने आई है। सरकारी योजना के तहत प्रत्येक शुक्रवार को दो पंचायत भवनों में ग्राम चौपाल का आयोजन किया जाता है, ताकि ग्रामीणों की समस्याओं को सुना जा सके और समाधान किया जा सके. लेकिन यहां अधिकारियों की अनुपस्थिति के कारण यह कार्यक्रम महज औपचारिकता बनकर रह गया है. शुक्रवार को पुन्नापुर और धौरहरा पंचायत भवन पर चौपाल का आयोजन किया गया, लेकिन कोई भी जिम्मेदार अधिकारी मौके पर नहीं पहुंचा।

चौपाल की जिम्मेदारी पंचायत सहायकों को सौंपी गई
इस दौरान ग्राम चौपाल की अध्यक्षता पंचायत सहायकों को करायी गयी. जबकि इस कार्यक्रम में प्रखंड स्तरीय पदाधिकारियों की उपस्थिति आवश्यक है, ताकि समस्याओं का त्वरित समाधान किया जा सके. अधिकारी नहीं होने के कारण सारी जिम्मेदारी पंचायत सहायकों को उठानी पड़ती है, लेकिन अधिकार सीमित होने के कारण कई समस्याएं जस की तस बनी रहती हैं।

ग्रामीणों को समाधान नहीं मिल रहा है
ग्राम चौपाल का मुख्य उद्देश्य ग्रामीणों की समस्याओं का मौके पर ही समाधान करना और सरकारी योजनाओं की जानकारी प्रदान करना है। लेकिन संग्रामपुर क्षेत्र में यह उद्देश्य पूरा होता नहीं दिख रहा है. अधिकारियों के मौके पर न पहुंचने से ग्रामीणों की समस्या जस की तस बनी रहती है। इससे लोगों में आक्रोश भी बढ़ रहा है.

किसान सम्मान निधि को लेकर महिला ने बताई समस्या
पुन्नापुर पंचायत भवन में धरौली गांव से आयी धर्मा देवी ने बताया कि उन्हें किसान सम्मान निधि की राशि नहीं मिल रही है. वह अपनी समस्या लेकर चौपाल में आई थीं, ताकि अधिकारियों से सीधे बात कर सकें. लेकिन किसी अधिकारी के न आने से उन्हें निराश होकर लौटना पड़ा। उनका कहना है कि अधिकारी नहीं आएंगे तो समस्याओं का समाधान कैसे होगा।

कार्यक्रम की गंभीरता पर उठे सवाल
इस पूरे घटनाक्रम के बाद ग्राम चौपाल कार्यक्रम की गंभीरता पर सवाल उठ रहे हैं. एक ओर जहां सरकार ग्रामीणों को योजनाओं का लाभ दिलाने के लिए ऐसे कार्यक्रम चला रही है, वहीं दूसरी ओर अधिकारियों की उदासीनता के कारण इसका उद्देश्य पूरा नहीं हो पा रहा है. स्थानीय लोगों का कहना है कि अब यह कार्यक्रम ‘राम भरोसे’ होता नजर आ रहा है.

(रिपोर्ट:बृजेश मिश्र,अमेठी)

Othman Bin Affan Mosque/Image: SPA

Nestled among the narrow medieval streets in historic Jeddah, the Othman bin Affan Mosque offers a rare, layered look into the city’s past. Fresh excavations at the site have revealed more than 1,300 years of continuous history, linking early Islamic foundations to global trade routes and evolving architectural traditions, the Saudi Press Agency reports.

The Othman bin Affan Mosque dates back to 33 AH (654 CE), making it one of the oldest archaeological and religious sites in Jeddah. Its historical significance is directly linked to Caliph Othman bin Affan, who designated Jeddah as the primary Islamic port. This decision turned the city into a major gateway for pilgrims to Mecca as well as a center of maritime trade.Situated along ancient paths and surrounded by traditional buildings, the mosque has been in continuous use for over 1,300 years. This uninterrupted use highlights not only its religious significance, but also its role in the everyday life of the city over the centuries.The mosque’s endurance reflects how Jeddah has evolved along with it, growing from an early Islamic settlement into a thriving port city that connects different regions of the world.

Recent excavations have revealed that the mosque has several historical layers, each dating to the major Islamic periods. These layers confirm that the site remained active in:

Overall, these periods extend from 41 AH (661 CE) to 923 AH (1517 CE), representing almost a thousand years of continuous development and use.During the Umayyad period, early coral-stone foundations and port-related development supported increasing numbers of pilgrims and traders. This was a time when Islamic rule expanded rapidly, spreading from Spain to India, and Jeddah began to establish itself as a major maritime centre.Under the Abbasids, often referred to as the Islamic Golden Age, the region saw advances in science, knowledge, and infrastructure. Evidence from the mosque, including glass lamps and aqueduct channels, suggests improvements in both mihrabs and water systems. These developments indicate that Jeddah was not only a trade center but also part of a broader intellectual and cultural network across the Red Sea.The Mamluk era brought further changes. The Mamluks, known for their military strength and control over trade routes, strengthened Jeddah’s fortifications. Discoveries from this period, including the import of ebony from Ceylon and ceramic fragments, point to increased commercial activity and long-distance trade. During this time the mosque developed as a flexible structure within a fortified and economically active port city.

One of the most important findings from the excavation is a sophisticated water system approximately 800 years old. The system reflects advanced engineering techniques used to manage water resources in coastal environments, indicating a high level of urban planning and technical knowledge.Equally remarkable are the rare ebony columns found in the mihrab. Scientific analysis has discovered these materials in ancient Ceylon, present-day Sri Lanka, providing clear evidence of Jeddah’s historical maritime trade ties in the Indian Ocean.The discovery of early Chinese porcelain among the thousands of artifacts recovered from the site has further strengthened this narrative. These objects confirm that Jeddah was part of a vast trade network connecting the Middle East to Asia.Overall, these findings show that the mosque was more than a place of worship. It serves as a point within a wider system of trade, travel and cultural exchange, reflecting the city’s importance on global maritime routes.

Ebony Pillar/Image: SPA

The mosque has gone through seven distinct architectural phases, all of which are now digitally documented. This detailed documentation provides information on how the structure adapted over time in response to changing needs and influences.The construction techniques seen in these phases highlight traditional coastal construction methods, including:

Each phase represents a stage in the mosque’s development, whether through expansion, repair or adaptation. These changes reflect both functional needs and the influence of different historical periods.Digital preservation of these stages ensures that the architectural history of the mosque is recorded in detail, allowing researchers and visitors to better understand its transformation over the centuries.

Today, the Othman Bin Affan Mosque serves as both a place of worship and a cultural landmark. It has become a major destination on Jeddah’s cultural routes, attracting visitors interested in the city’s history and heritage.The site blends Islamic history with contemporary cultural activities, creating a space where the past is actively preserved while remaining relevant to the present. This approach supports broader efforts to preserve the architectural identity and historical heritage of the state.What makes the mosque particularly important is its continuity. It is not a relic that has been discarded or cast aside. Instead, it remains an active part of the city, carrying on a heritage dating back more than 1,300 years.

The discoveries at the Othman bin Affan Mosque offer a detailed account of the development of Jeddah. From its early days as a designated Islamic port to its role in global trade networks, the mosque reflects the city’s evolution over the centuries.From the coral stone foundation to the imported ebony and porcelain, each layer exposed adds to the story. It shows how religion, commerce and daily life merged in one place, shaping both the mosque and the city around it.In simple words, this place is a living record of history. It links early Islamic foundations with medieval trade routes and modern conservation efforts, making it one of the most important cultural and historical sites in Jeddah today.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat (file photo)

New Delhi: RSS chairman Mohan Bhagwat Said on Friday that “India can end the ongoing war” amid increasing conflict in the Middle East.Speaking at a gathering in Nagpur, Bhagwat said voices from different countries were recognizing India’s role in promoting peace.Bhagwat said, “Many countries are saying that only India can end the ongoing war.”Bhagwat was addressing an event after laying the foundation stone of Vidarbha state office of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). He also talked about the root causes of global conflicts and the need for change towards harmony.