Daring rescue saves starving family in Wayanad cave
Kalpetta: In a daring eight-hour operation, four forest officers rescued a six-member tribal family, including four children under the age of five, who were found starving in a water-filled cave downstream from Soochipara waterfall. The rescue mission was carried out after landslides devastated parts of Wayanad.
Kalpetta forest range officer K Ashif, along with section forest officer Jayachandran, beat forest officer K Anil Kumar, and forest rapid response team member Anoop Thomas, traversed rocky terrain to reach the family. Ashif recounted, “Initially, she [the mother, Santha] was reluctant to speak to us... It was only then that she disclosed about her husband and three other starving kids, the youngest just one year old.”
After lodging Santha and her eldest child at the forest quarters, the team embarked on a four-kilometer trek through treacherous terrain to reach the rest of the family. Using a rope, the officers climbed down to the cave and found the father, Krishnan, and the three children squatting under a makeshift sheet. “We feared they would not accompany us, but when we explained the gravity of the situation and the danger of staying there, Krishnan agreed to follow us,” Ashif said.
The team then fashioned a sling from a blanket to safely transport the children up the slippery, rocky terrain. "It was very risky—failure would have led to us falling into a 100-meter gorge. While walking back to the camp, we took turns carrying the babies in the sling," Jayachandran added.
The rescued family is now lodged at a forest department facility in Attamala.
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GST Council clarifies on popcorn taxation
Jaisalmer, Dec 21: The GST Council on Saturday agreed to issue a clarification on the taxation of popcorn, stating that pre-packed and labelled ready-to-eat snacks will attract a 12% tax, while an 18% GST will be levied if the popcorn is caramelised.
There is no change in the tax rate for popcorn, and the GST Council has decided that the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) will issue a circular clarifying the current taxation regime for popcorn.
"Ready-to-eat popcorn," which is mixed with salt and spices and has the essential character of namkeens, currently attracts a 5% GST if it is not pre-packaged and labelled.
If it is supplied as pre-packaged and labelled, a 12% GST is levied.
However, when popcorn is mixed with sugar (caramel popcorn), its essential character changes to that of a sugar confectionery, and it would therefore be classified under HS 1704 90 90, attracting an 18% GST, as per the clarification.
