As 'God of Cricket' lands in Naxal-free Bastar, CM Sai hails his visit as start of new innings
Dantewada (PTI): Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Wednesday hailed the visit of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar to the Bastar region, once a Maoist stronghold, saying his tour was a matter of pride for the state and a strong source of inspiration for children and youth.
The Mumbai-based master blaster, a Bharat Ratna awardee, made a rare visit to Dantewada district as part of a grassroots sport's initiative, three weeks after the CM declared Chhattisgarh as "Naxal-free".
Sai, in a post on X, said the visit of Tendulkar to Chhindnar village in Dantewada reflects a transforming of the wider Bastar region, moving from fear towards development, opportunity, and confidence.
"Such initiatives will guide and inspire youth, while Shri Sachin Tendulkar's interaction with children will promote sports, and instil confidence, discipline, team spirit, and positive energy in them," he noted.
He added that the 'Maidan Cup Campaign', organised by the Sachin Tendulkar Foundation and Mann Deshi Foundation, is a visionary step for sports infrastructure, especially in tribal areas, aiding holistic development.
The state government continues to prioritize sports and youth development, he insisted.
During his visit on Wednesday, the "God of Cricket" participated in an event in Dantewada district as part of a grassroots sport's initiative aimed at transforming the once Maoist hotbed into a thriving sports hub and opening new avenues for the youth.
On the occasion, Tendulkar, widely regarded as one of the greatest cricketers of all time, stressed that hard work, discipline and consistent practice were essential for success, and asserted there were no shortcuts to achieving goals.
The former India captain also advised children to choose friends wisely and strive to become good human beings.
He was speaking after inaugurating a multi-sports ground at Swami Atmanand Hindi Medium High School in Chhindnar village of Dantewada district, developed under a grassroots sports initiative aimed at transforming the once Maoist-affected region into a sports hub.
This was among the 25 grounds developed under the 'Maidan Cup' initiative of the district administration, supported by the Sachin Tendulkar Foundation and the Mann Deshi Foundation as part of efforts to shed the region's strife-torn image and promote sports culture.
The initiative, launched last year, aims to build 50 playgrounds across Dantewada in the southern Chhattisgarh's Bastar region which consists of seven districts.
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UP: 11 killed in multi-vehicle crash in Mirzapur
Mirzapur (UP) (PTI): Eleven people were killed in a multi-vehicle accident on Wednesday in Dramandganj area here, police said.
SP Aparna Rajat Kaushik said that information about the accident was received at around 8.30 pm.
The collision occurred on a route descending from Dramandganj valley towards the Lasoda area, where a vehicle lost control and crashed.
Preliminary investigation suggests that a truck coming from behind possibly rammed into another truck after suffering a brake failure.
A car got trapped between the two trucks during the collision. In the sequence of events, another vehicle was also hit and caught fire, she said.
Police teams and fire brigade personnel rushed to the spot immediately upon receiving the information, according to Kaushik.
With the assistance of local residents, rescue and relief operations were launched without delay, she said.
"So far, 11 deaths have been reported, and efforts are underway to establish the identities of the victims," the SP said.
Police personnel remain deployed at the site, and efforts are ongoing to restore traffic movement on the affected route.
According to initial information, one of the trucks involved bears a Bihar registration number, while the other is registered in Madhya Pradesh.
Among the cars involved, one is from Sonbhadra district and another from Mirzapur district, the SP said.
A detailed probe is on in the matter.
