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When Khalistani terrorists gunned down 110 passengers, mostly Hindus inside a train: Read all about the 1991 Ludhiana massacre

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When Khalistani terrorists gunned down 110 passengers, mostly Hindus inside a train: Read all about the 1991 Ludhiana massacre

34 years ago, hundreds of families were destroyed in Punjab by Khalistani terrorists as they attacked two trains. It was 9:35 PM on 15th June 1991.

A Ludhiana-bound train originating from Ferozpur slowed down near Baddowal in Ludhiana district when Khalistani terrorists, armed with automatic weapons, opened fire, killing 62 passengers, mostly Hindus, and injuring 40 others. The terrorists hot-wired the signal box to stop the train.

Source: Hindupost

In another incident, 48 passengers were killed and 30 were injured in the Dhuri-Hisar passenger train near Qila Rajan in Ludhiana district. In this attack, they specifically seperated Hindus from Sikhs on the train and forced them to deboard. The victims were then lined up across the railway track and killed. The terrorists were reportedly belonged to Khalistan Commando Force.

Indian Express had reported that the terrorists kidnapped the guard and driver of the train and escaped. It was the largest mass killing in two incidents on a single day. Punjab, just a day before the attacks, was declared a disturbed area and the Army was deployed to maintain law and order.

Assassination of Jatinder Singh

The massacre on trains was not the only attack by Khalistani terrorists on that day. 11 people, including an Assembly candidate of the All-India Sikh Students Federation, Jatinder Singh, were killed by Khalistani terrorists.

Jatinder Singh was contesting from Chamkaur Sahib Assembly constituency in Ropar district. Two terrorists killed him at a gurdwara in Ratlangarhi village. His private gunman was also injured in the incident.

Reportedly, Singh went to meet the people without informing his security guards, leading to the attack. He was the second AISSF candidate to be killed, and the 21st in total candidates killed by Khalistani terrorists.

Furthermore, two police personnel were killed in a separate attack. In village Dhotian of Tarn Taran district, five members of a family and a woman were also killed.

Five terrorists were neutralised on that day, including the area commander of the Khalistan Commando Force, Sukhdev Singh alias Lali, in an encounter near village Kotla Majha Singh.

The attacks happened within 5 hours after polling closed for the Lok Sabha elections. Voting did not take place in Punjab due to the law-and-order situation and was scheduled for 22nd June under Army protection. At that time, Punjab was under Central Government rule since 1987. Notably, elections for the State Assembly in Punjab were announced in April. By 15th June, over 700 people were reportedly killed in separate attacks.

Assassination attempt on Home Minister

That was the time when travel during the night was normally restricted due to the possibility of terrorist attacks. Because of the repeated attacks, there were demands for the cancellation of Punjab polls by several political parties, including the Congress Party. The situation was so critical that the Home Minister of India at that time, Subodh Kant Sahay, had escaped an assassination attempt near Ludhiana. An explosion had gone off in a pile of gravel as his car passed. He escaped unhurt.

The elections were eventually cancelled a day before the voting was scheduled.

Khalistani terrorists killed 49 Hindus in train attack in December 1991

On 26th December 1991, Khalistani terrorists hijacked a passenger train and systematically shot Hindu passengers. 49 were killed and 20 were injured in the attack. The attack on Hindu passengers happened just two months before the state elections.

Reportedly, in November 1991, the Central Government deployed 1,40,000 army personnel in Punjab to maintain law and order in view of the elections. At that time, it was becoming increasingly common for Khalistani terrorists to attack trains and kill Hindu passengers, particularly before elections.

Reportedly, the terrorists were on board the train when it left from Ludhiana. They pulled the emergency cord at around 7:30 PM near village Sohain. As the train stopped, four terrorists pulled out their AK-47s and began searching the train. They shot anyone who appeared to be a Hindu. Six other terrorists climbed the train at the Sohain crossing and joined the massacre. After killing 49 and injuring 20, the terrorists left the train and disappeared into the night.

Since June 1991, several bomb attacks on civilians in Punjab and northern Uttar Pradesh were reported. In northern UP, there were pockets where pro-Khalistani Sikhs lived and gave shelter to Khalistani terrorists. Such pockets still exist in some areas. Most recently, Khalistani terrorists were killed in an encounter in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh. They were linked to the Khalistan Zindabad Force and were trained by ISI Pakistan.

The 1991 train massacres by Khalistani terrorists remain among the darkest chapters of independent India’s history. The deliberate targeting of Hindu passengers, political candidates, and civilians was not just an act of terror, but a calculated attempt to destabilise Punjab and derail democratic processes.

US President Donald Trump announces that he has nothing to do with Israel-Iran conflict, issues warning and then proposes to be the ‘mediator’

OpIndia Staff
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US President Donald Trump announces that he has nothing to do with Israel-Iran conflict, issues warning and then proposes to be the ‘mediator’

Amid the missile attacks between Israel and Iran, which have been going on for over three days now, US President Donald Trump gave a clear warning to Iran that if the country attacks the US in any way, the US would respond with full force.

Distancing the US from the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, Trump said that the US had nothing to do with the attack on Iran. However, at the same time, he offered to mediate between the two countries.

“The U.S. had nothing to do with the attack on Iran, tonight. If we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the U.S. Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before. However, we can easily get a deal done between Iran and Israel, and end this bloody conflict!!!”  Trump posted on Truth Social on Friday (14th June).

Trump offered to “get a deal done between Iran and Israel” in case the countries want to end the conflict. On Wednesday (11th June), a day before Israel attacked Iran, the US State Department advised US citizens and officials to leave Iraq amid rising regional tensions, in anticipation that Iran could retaliate to Israel’s action by targeting the American sites in Iraq.

During India’s operation Sindoor, Trump made a similar offer to mediate between India and Pakistan. After a ceasefire was agreed between the two countries following Pakistan’s call, Trump claimed to have brokered the ceasfire, even as India maintained that the ceasefire was reeached without the involvement of a third party.

Israel continues its attacks on Iran

Israel launched an aggressive aerial attack on Iran on 12th June after the US-Iran talks regarding Iran’s nuclear program reached a dead end. The US has held several rounds of discussions with Iran since last year, in order to get Iran to sign a deal agreeing not to develop nuclear weapons. Even though Iran has been denying its attempts to develop a nuclear weapon but it has been asserting its right to enrich nuclear grade uranium.

Israel and Iran has been involved in several rounds of reciprocal attacks since 12th June. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that Israel would continue with its strikes in Iran. The Jewish state has been justifying its action against Iran as move to eliminate threat to its existence which will grow manifold, if Iran is able to develop a nuclear weapon. This is the reason that Israel targeted Iran’s nuclear sites in the recent attacks.

Israeli military aims to continue hitting targets from fighter jets over Iranian airspace. As per Israeli sources, 70 Israeli Air Force fighter jets participated in the overnight operation, during which the military “established aerial superiority from western Iran to Tehran.” Around 40 sites were targeted, including air defense systems and related assets. Apart from hitting several military sites, Israeli strikes also took out several top military leaders and nuclear experts.

UK: Muslim men attack 3 Hindus after asking about their ethnicity, British MP calls out religious hatred but police claim ‘no racial motivation’

OpIndia Staff
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UK: Muslim men attack 3 Hindus after asking about their ethnicity, British MP calls out religious hatred but police claim ‘no racial motivation’

A case of religious hatred has come to light from London, United Kingdom, where three young Hindu men in their early 20s were brutally thrashed by some Muslim men in a public park on 30th May this year.

Among the victims, one was a British Indian Gujarati while the remaining two were Sri Lankan. The incident was raised by Tory MP Bob Blackman in the House of Commons on Thursday (12th June) calling it a case of religious hatred.

“Earlier this week, three young Indian boys were playing cricket in Headstone Park. They were approached by three men, slightly older. An altercation took place and the three young boys were hospitalised, one with a fractured eye socket. We understand that the police are dealing with it as an aggravated racial assault. This took place between young Hindu boys and older Muslim men,” Blackman said.

“If this type of religious hatred is going to come to this country, we desperately need the Home Secretary to make a clear statement about what the government is going to do to prevent this from happening,” the British MP added.

When Muslims attacked 3 Hindu men

The three young Hindu men, including a first-year radiography student, went to the Harrow Recreation Ground to play cricket on the day of the incident.

After some time, all three of them went to a nearby shop to buy some snacks and drinks. On their way to the shop, they passed by a café where a Muslim family of 7 to 8 members, including women wearing hijab, was sitting.

Somehow, the Muslim family had the wrong impression that the Hindu men looked at them. A male member of the Muslim family approached the Hindu men with aggression and questioned them why they were looking at the family. “What’s your problem? What are you looking at?” the Muslim man aggressively asked as reported by Insight UK.

To this the Hindu men calmly responded and said that they were looking back at their friends playing cricket in the park. “I’m sorry if you think we were looking at you, but we weren’t,” one of the Hindu men replied.

The situation was pacified and the Hindu men went back to the park and sat on a bench.

About half an hour later, three Muslim men from the same family approached the Hindu men in the park and asked them about their ethnicity.

“What are you? Where are you from, are you locals? Are you Indian? Are you Sri Lankan?” one of the Muslim men asked. One of the Hindu men responded with a yes. After this, the Muslim men began physically attacking them.

They launched blows after blows on the victims as they remained seated and unable to defend themselves. The attackers did not let the victims move away or get up and kept pushing them back down.

Two of the Hindu men received blows to the head which left them unconscious. Their friends who were playing cricket came running to help them. The injured were taken to the Northwick Park Hospital.

The sister of one of the victims told Times of India that the incident has seriously affected her brother who has never been involved in a fight before. The victim received a facial fracture and bruises.

She said that at the time of the incident, her brother was wearing a sacred thread from a temple on his wrist. She added that one of the attackers was wearing a Moroccan football T-shirt with number 2 and the word ‘Hakimi’ printed on it.

She expressed dissatisfaction with way the police are investigating the case. She said that the police did not examine the CCTV footage even two weeks after the incident.

Police deny ‘racial motivation’

In the meantime, the police have downplayed the religious hatred, racial motivation involved in the targeted attack

“There is no evidence at this time that this attack was racially motivated. Our enquiries into the circumstances continue. No arrests have been made,” a police spokesperson told TOI.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu vows to continue striking hard at Iran, Israel Defense Forces say they have established aerial superiority from Western Iran to Tehran

OpIndia Staff
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Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu vows to continue striking hard at Iran, Israel Defense Forces say they have established aerial superiority from Western Iran to Tehran

Vowing to continue to strike hard at Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday said Israel will strike every site and target in Iran. “In the near future, you will see Israeli Air Force planes over the skies of Tehran. We will strike every site and every target of the Ayatollahs’ regime,” Netanyahu said in a video message.

PM Benjamin Netanyahu started his message by wishing a happy birthday to Donald Trump, saying, “You’ve been an extraordinary leader: decisive, courageous, clear vision, clear action. You have done great things for Israel. You’ve been an extraordinary friend to the Jewish state and to me personally.”

Talking about the need to strike Iranian military sites, he said, “Today, Israel is defending freedom in the Middle East and beyond. We’re doing so against a tyrannical and radical Iranian regime that wants to build atomic bombs to destroy us and wants to build ballistic missiles, including intercontinental ballistic missiles, to be able to threaten anyone and everywhere in the world.”

He said, “By defending ourselves, we’re also defending others. We’re defending our Arab neighbors, our Arab friends in peace, we’re defending Europe, we’re helping defend also the United States, which helps us all the time in our defence. This is an important mission. Right now, the Iranian regime is bombing our civilian neighborhoods while we are targeting the terrorists. Now, this is not new. They’ve tried to assassinate President Trump twice. They bombed American Embassies. They killed 241 Marines in Beirut. They killed and injured thousands of Americans with their IEDs in Iraq and Afghanistan. They burn the American flag, they chant endlessly “death to America”.”

The Israeli PM said that they have already taken out senior Iranian military leadership and their senior technologists involved in developing nuclear weapon. He said, “So, we’re preparing. We paved the way to Tehran and our pilots over the skies of Tehran will deal blows to the Ayatollah regime that they cannot even imagine.”

Netanyahu also claimed to have information that senior Iranian leaders are preparing to flee from the country. He said, “we have indications that senior leaders in Iran are already packing their bags. They sense what’s coming.”

Saying why the strike on Iran was necessary, he added, “I’ll tell you what would have come if we hadn’t acted. We had information that this unscrupulous regime was planning to give the nuclear weapons that they would develop to their terrorist proxies. That’s nuclear terrorism on steroids. That would threaten the entire world.”

He further said, “This is what Israel is doing with the support, the clear support of the President of the United States, Donald Trump, and the American people and many others in the world. So, with God’s help and with the goodwill and resolution of all free societies, we shall win.”

Defense Minister Israel Katz has also warned that “Tehran will burn” if Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei does not stop the deadly missile attacks targeting Israel.

Earlier the IDF had said that they have established aerial superiority from Western Iran to Tehran. The Israel Defense Forces said it was aiming to operate freely over Tehran after taking out air defences overnight. Notably, during the strikes on Iran, this was the first time that Israeli fighter jets flew over Tehran and targeted Iran’s air defenses.

Israeli military aims to continue hitting targets from fighter jets over Iranian airspace. As per Israeli sources, 70 Israeli Air Force fighter jets participated in the overnight operation, during which the military “established aerial superiority from western Iran to Tehran.” Around 40 sites were targeted, including air defense systems and related assets.

IAF fighter jets and drones flew over Tehran for some two and a half hours during the operation. Apart from hitting several military sites, Israeli strikes also took out several top military leaders and nuclear experts.

Four Naxalites including three women killed in encounter in Madhya Pradesh’s Balaghat

ANI
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Four Naxalites including three women killed in encounter in Madhya Pradesh’s Balaghat

Security forces gunned down four Naxalites, including three women, in an encounter which took place in the hilly area of Pachama Dadar in Madhya Pradesh’s Balaghat district, police said on Saturday.

Security forces also recovered a hand grenade, a rocket launcher, a 315 rifle and cartridges, Special DG Naxal, Pankaj Srivastava told ANI over the phone.

“Four Naxalites, including three women, have been neutralised in an encounter which took place in the hilly area of Pachama Dadar of Bithli police station. A hand grenade, a rocket launcher, a 315 rifle and cartridges have been recovered,” Special DG Naxal told ANI.

Some Naxalites succeeded in escaping from the encounter site. The search operations for them are underway.

Additionally, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav also confirmed the development, calling it a part of the state’s continuing mission to eliminate Naxalism by March 2026.

“Under the guidance of Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, Madhya Pradesh is continuously working towards our resolve to end Naxalism by March 2026. 4 Naxalites have been killed in the encounter in Balaghat today, including 3 women and a man. Many weapons and ammunition, including rocket launcher, have been recovered from them,” Yadav said.

MP CM Yadav said that the government will reward the personnel for their success in the incident.

“The Madhya Pradesh government will definitely reward the policemen who brought good results in this incident,” Yadav said.

Earlier, Security forces neutralised two Naxals in an encounter in the forest area under Kukanar Police Station area of Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district, police said.

According to Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan, automatic weapons were also recovered from the spot.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

India distances itself from SCO statement on Iran-Israel conflict; urges dialogue, diplomacy for de-escalation

ANI
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India distances itself from SCO statement on Iran-Israel conflict; urges dialogue, diplomacy for de-escalation

India said on Saturday that it did not participate in the discussions on the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) statement on recent developments between Israel and Iran and that channels of dialogue and diplomacy be utilised to work towards de-escalation.

In its statement, Ministry of External Affairs said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had discussed this matter with his Iranian counterpart yesterday and conveyed the deep concern of the international community at the turn of events.

The statement referred to India’s stance articulated on Friday in which New Delhi had expressed deep concern at the recent developments between Iran and Israel.

“The SCO has issued a statement on recent developments between Israel and Iran. India’s own position on the matter had been articulated by us on June 13, 2025, and remains the same. We urge that channels of dialogue and diplomacy be utilised to work towards de-escalation and it is essential that the international community undertake endeavours in that direction,” MEA’s statement said on Saturday.

“The External Affairs Minister too discussed this matter with his Iranian counterpart yesterday and conveyed the deep concern of the international community at the turn of events. He also urged the avoidance of any escalatory steps and an early return to diplomacy,” it added.

MEA said that the overall position of India was communicated to other SCO members.

“Keeping that in mind, India did not participate in the discussions on the above-mentioned SCO statement,” MEA said.

SCO issued a strong statement on Saturday condemning military strikes “carried out by Israel against Iran on June 13”.

In its statement, SCO expressed serious concern over the escalating tensions in the Middle East.

“Such aggressive actions against civilian targets, including energy and transport infrastructure, which have resulted in civilian casualties, are a gross violation of international law and the United Nations Charter. They constitute an infringement on Iran’s sovereignty, cause damage to regional and international security, and pose serious risks to global peace and stability,” the statement said.

Iran is a member of SCO. “The SCO member states firmly advocate for the resolution of the situation surrounding Iran’s nuclear program exclusively through peaceful, political, and diplomatic means. SCO member states, strictly adhering to the principles and norms of the UN Charter and the SCO Charter, consider any unlawful actions directed against SCO member states unacceptable and reaffirm their unwavering commitment to strengthening international peace and security,” the statement added.

India had on Friday expressed its deep concern at the recent developments between Iran and Israel.

“We are closely monitoring the evolving situation, including reports related to attacks on nuclear sites. India urges both sides to avoid any escalatory steps. Existing channels of dialogue and diplomacy should be utilised to work towards a de-escalation of the situation and resolving underlying issues,” MEA had said.

It said India enjoys close and friendly relations with both the countries and stands ready to extend all possible support.

“Our Missions in both countries are in contact with the Indian community. All Indian nationals in the region are advised to exercise caution, stay safe and follow local security advisories,” the statement said.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Lallantop journalist, Zee 24 Kalak and Congress spread fake news after Air India crash, claim boy who recorded the incident was detained: Here is the truth

OpIndia Staff
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Lallantop journalist, Zee 24 Kalak and Congress spread fake news after Air India crash, claim boy who recorded the incident was detained: Here is the truth

On 14th June, The Lallantop journalist Abhinav Pandey claimed in a social media post on X that the teen who recorded the video of the London-bound Air India flight crash had been detained by the Ahmedabad Police.

In his post, Pandey claimed that the teenager who first recorded the video of the crash was taken away by the police. He said, “Already frightened by the tragic incident, [name retracted] was left even more shaken by the police action. It was his first time visiting the city, his first time seeing an airplane, and what he witnessed was a horrifying crash.”

Source: X

He further claimed that, instead of reassuring him, the authorities subjected him to further fear. According to Pandey, his father, Madan, a retired soldier, raised serious concerns over the treatment meted out to his son. He further tagged Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and questioned the conduct of the police.

To support his claims, he further shared a screenshot of a post by Zee 24 Kalak that said the same thing in Gujarati, which no longer exists.

Source: X

However, there is another post along similar lines.

Ahmedabad Congress Sevadal also made the same allegation, claiming that the boy was detained by police for filming and sharing a video of the recent plane crash.

Ahmedabad police refuted claims

Replying to both Pandey and Zee 24 Kalak, Ahmedabad police clarified that the teenager had come to the police station to record his statement. After he gave the details to the police, he was let go with his father. Police made it clear that the boy was not detained.

The police said, “No one has been arrested for making this video. A screen recording of the mobile video went viral. The minor who recorded the video provided details to the police. He came with his father to give a statement as a witness. He was then sent back with his father. There has been no arrest or detention. Please refrain from spreading rumours or misinformation.”

Pandey further replied to the police and claimed he did not say the teenager was detained or arrested. He claimed that his question was on the method the police used and questioned why they were not polite.

Source: X

While Pandey claimed he did not say the police detained the teenager, he apparently forgot that he had shared the Zee 24 Kalak post’s screenshot that categorically claimed he was detained. The post where the screenshot was shared was available till this post was published.

The contradiction between Pandey’s defence and his earlier post raises questions about the credibility of his claim. With the police issuing a clear denial and no evidence of detention, the matter appears to be a case of premature outrage based on unverified information.

Air India crash: 4 MBBS students and 4 family members of super-speciality doctors have died, confirms Junior Doctor’s Association of B J Medical College, urges not to inflate numbers

ANI
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Air India crash: 4 MBBS students and 4 family members of super-speciality doctors have died, confirms Junior Doctor’s Association of B J Medical College, urges not to inflate numbers

Junior Doctor’s Association of BJ Medical College on Saturday confirmed that four MBBS students lost their lives after the London-bound Air India flight rammed into the doctor’s hostel shortly after taking off from the Ahmedabad airport on Thursday.

In a statement, Junior Doctor’s Association on Saturday said that the students were having lunch at the mess when the plane crashed into the building, killing four and injuring 20 MBBS students. Of the injured, 11 have been discharged.

“In reference to the recent plane crash incident, JDA- BJMC clarifies that a total of 4 MBBS students from B.J. Medical College, who were having lunch in the mess building, have sadly passed away. Out of the 20 MBBS students injured in the accident, 11 have been discharged with a stable condition,” the statement read.

The association also urged people not to be misled by rumours of a higher death toll among students and resident doctors in the plane crash.

“Some individuals are spreading rumours suggesting a high death toll among medical college students and resident doctors. We appeal to everyone not to be misled by such misinformation and to refrain from spreading rumours further.”

According to the association, four family members of super-speciality doctors who were residing in “Atulyam” building in the college campus also died.

“Among the family members of Super Specialty doctors residing in the “Atulyam” building, 4 have tragically died. Additionally, the wife of one resident doctor from the Super Specialty department has been injured and is currently under treatment. The condition of all admitted patients is stable and they are recovering quickly,” the statement read.

Air India earlier confirmed the death of 241 people out of the 242 on board in the plane crash.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued an order to extend the scrutiny of the Boeing Dreamliner 787 series planes present in the Indian Aircraft fleet, said Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu

Naidu further stated that around eight Boeing 787 Series aircraft have already been scrutinised and inspected with immediate urgency.

Addressing a press conference here, the Union Civil Aviation Minister said, “We have very strict safety standards in the country…When the incident happened, we also felt that there is a need to do an extended surveillance of the Boeing 787 Series. DGCA has also given an order to do the extended surveillance for the Boeing 787 planes. There are 34 in our Indian aircraft fleet today. I believe that 8 have already been inspected, and with immediate urgency, all of them are going to be done.”

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

The curious case of seat no 11A: The chilling coincidence connecting two plane crash survivors, 27 years apart

OpIndia Staff
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The curious case of seat no 11A: The chilling coincidence connecting two plane crash survivors, 27 years apart

On 12th June, Air India’s London-bound flight tragically crashed within a few minutes of take-off from Ahmedabad International Airport. Out of 242 onboard, including crew members, 241 died in the crash. The sole survivor, 40-year-old British Indian man Viswash Kumar Ramesh, walked away with some injuries. Ramesh was seated on seat 11A.

Around 4,800 KM away in Thailand, when actor and singer James Ruangsak Loychusak read about Ramesh surviving the air crash, he was shocked to learn the seat number. Coincidentally, in 1998, Loychusak was one of the survivors of the deadly Thai Airways flight TG261 crash. The plane crashed while attempting a landing in the southern Thai city of Surat Thani. The flight had taken off from Bangkok. During landing, it stalled mid-air and crashed. There were 146 people onboard, out of which 101 were killed. Loychusak was sitting on 11A and survived.

The 47-year-old actor-singer took to Facebook and wrote, “Survivor of a plane crash in India. He sat in the same seat as me. 11A.”

Source: Facebook

While this is a coincidence that brought back horrifying memories for Loychusak, both crashes were far apart from each other. There were 45 survivors in the 27-year-old crash, while in Air India’s recent crash, there was only one survivor. Furthermore, the two aircraft were different. The Thai Airways flight was an Airbus A310, while Air India flight AI-171 was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. The design, layout, and seat positioning of 11A are also different on the two aircraft.

The possible impacts on India if Iran-Israel conflict escalates into a full-fledged war: Read details

OpIndia Staff
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The possible impacts on India if Iran-Israel conflict escalates into a full-fledged war: Read details

Amid the ongoing military confrontations and the likelihood of an all-out war between Israel and Iran, the global markets, including the Indian market, are expected to experience major trade disruptions. Early signs of the conflict’s impact on the Indian market became visible after Sensex closed 573 points lower on Friday (13th June). Considering that India has trade relations with both the countries, the impact of their conflict will be seen in India.

Surge in oil prices and resultant hike in the cost of exports

Following the first two rounds of Israel’s attack on Friday, the international oil market witnessed a spike of nine percent. Prices of Brent crude oil also rose by over $6 to cross a five-month high of $78 per barrel. Though, India does not import large quantities of crude oil from Iran, but the supply chain being affected, exports might become expensive. A rise in crude oil prices threatens to weaken the Indian rupee resulting in inflation.

According to a report of Emkay Global, Iran produces around 3.3 million barrels per day (mbpd) of crude oil, which accounts for around 3% of global production. It exports around 1.5 mbpd to different countries, with China being its biggest importer (80%) followed by Turkey.

Iran lies on the northern side of the Strait of Hormuz/Persian Gulf, which is a key passage through which 20–25 per cent of global oil supply transits, as well as a critical corridor for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) shipments from the UAE and Qatar, which is among the top LNG suppliers to India. Iran, in the past, warned to block this route. If it chooses to do so as a result of its ongoing conflict with Israel, the global oil supply is bound to take a hit. With a higher-than-expected production hike for July, the oil markets are reportedly expected to survive any possible cuts in Iranian oil supply for some time. However, if the conflict drags for too long, it can cause disruptions in the oil market

Air space diversions

After Israel began its airstrikes on Iran on Thursday (12th June), the Iranian airspace witnessed mass diversions of passenger jets flying between Europe and Asia. As Iranian as well as Israeli airspaces were occupied by projectiles being fired from both sides, the international commercial aviation felt its ripple effects. The flights had to take longer routes resulting in delays and increased fuel costs. With Pakistan’s airspace already being closed for India, a shut down of the Iranian irspace will force Indian flights to take longer routes. As per reports, an Air India Mumbai-London flight returned after three hours in the air.

Freight rates might go up

The conflict between the West Asian countries will also negatively impact trade via sea route. Shipments, including export shipments from India, started resuming the Red Sea route in May this year, after the route faced security concerns throughout the last year due to recurring attacks by Houthis in Yemen. However, with direct confrontations started between Israel and Iran, the vessel might have to take the longer Cape of Good Hope route. This detour will result in increased freight charges as the voyage time increases by 10-14 days. Longer sea routes also lead to reduced availability of vessels further contributing to the rise in freight rates.

Other adverse effects of the conflict

India’s imports from the Middle East include, LPG, LNG, petrochemicals, and fertilisers. The diversion in the sea route could lead to enhanced prices and well shipping risks. Any disruptions in the LPG or fertiliser supply would disturb the supply chain in rural Indian households and agriculture sector. An increased cost of fertiliser would further affect the price of food.
Manufacturing sector including aviation, chemicals, paints, tyres, cement, and logistics make use of petroleum-based components and fuels. If the prices of the raw materials like jet fuel, gasoil, or naphtha increase, the profit margins will be reduced.

India’s trade relations with Israel and Iran

During the current financial year, India exported goods worth $2.1 billion to Israel and imported goods worth $1.6 billion. India’s exports to Iran stood at $1.2 billion while it imported goods worth $441.9 million from Iran. India’s cumulative trade with both Israel and Iran amounts to about $5 billion.

The items exported by India to Israel include, polished diamonds, jewellery, consumer electronics and engineering goods. Israel, on the other hand, exports large quantities of military weapons to India. The country is India’s 32nd largest trading partner and a major defence supplier. According to a report of Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, India has imported military hardware worth about $3 billion from Israel, including radars, surveillance and combat drones and missiles, in the past 10 years. India also imports pearls, precious stones, electrical, electronics equipment, fertilizers, chemical products from Israel.

Apart from crude oil, India imports dry fruits, chemicals and glass utensils from Iran and exports several items including Basmati rice, tea, coffee and sugar.

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