Vinesh Phogat's village celebrates her return with grand gestures despite Olympic disappointment
She is the bravest girl in the world and the strongest too: Watchman of Vinesh's village
Charkhi Dadri: In a heartwarming display of support, the village of Balali in Haryana’s Charkhi Dadri district welcomed wrestler Vinesh Phogat back from the Paris Olympics with a grand celebration, despite her missing out on a medal after she got disqualified for being 100-gram overweight on the morning of the finals. The festivities began early, with 10-year-old Anshaj Kumar assigned to guard 750 kg of desi ghee ladoos at the village temple.
As Phogat’s journey from Delhi to her village stretched over 12 hours, with every Haryana village on the way eager to honor her, Balali residents prepared for her arrival. Contributions poured in from villagers across social strata, reflecting their deep affection for Phogat.
Among the notable donations were Rs 100 from village watchman Sanjay Chowkidar, Rs 500 from Raghbir Master, and Rs 21,000 from Vikrant Fauji of the Fauji Bhaichara group.
Sanjay Chowkidar, recalling his memories of Phogat, shared, “She was like my daughter. When I used to take my rounds at night, she would often tell me, ‘uncle, you are so brave.’ But see now, who turned out to be brave? She is the bravest girl in the world and the strongest too,” he said, choking up with emotion.
Villagers expressed their pride in Phogat's achievements, with many stating that she remains a champion in their eyes. Women in the village, including Phogat's neighbour Dhanpati, praised her for her resilience and courage, particularly in standing up against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
The celebration saw budding wrestlers and villagers alike gathering to honor Phogat, with some even requesting blessings for their newborns from the wrestler. Despite the Olympic setback, Balali’s residents made it clear that for them, Vinesh Phogat is still a symbol of strength and determination.
VIDEO | Wrestler Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) meets her uncle Mahavir Phogat upon her arrival in Balali, Haryana.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 17, 2024
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/dv5TRAShcC) pic.twitter.com/IUp2dn30vc
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Heavy rain, hailstorms likely to lash Uttarakhand on Tuesday; IMD issues warning
Dehradun/Pithoragarh (PTI): The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning for heavy rain and hailstorms across several districts of Uttarakhand on Tuesday, as temperatures remained markedly below normal in the region.
Heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places in Dehradun, Haridwar, Tehri, Pauri, Nainital, Champawat, and Udham Singh Nagar districts. Most places across all districts are expected to receive light to moderate rain or thunderstorms, while higher reaches are likely to witness snowfall, officials said on Monday.
The weather department warned of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, hail and intense spells of rain in six districts, including Dehradun and Nainital. Gusty winds with speeds reaching 40-50 kmph are also expected at isolated locations in these areas and other hilly districts.
In the state capital, Dehradun, the sky is forecast to remain partly cloudy with light rain and thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds of 30-40 kmph.
The maximum and minimum temperatures in the city are expected to hover around 31 degrees Celsius and 19 degrees Celsius, respectively.
Maximum temperatures during the past 24 hours remained markedly below normal in the hills and appreciably below normal in the plains. While no significant change in temperature is expected over the next 2-3 days, the IMD predicts a rise of 3-5 degrees Celsius during the subsequent 3-4 days.
Rainfall was recorded in several areas after 8.30 am today, with Ramnagar receiving 31.5 mm and Nainital recording 26.5 mm. Other areas, including Pithoragarh, Khatima and Champawat, also reported moderate precipitation.
Authorities have stopped a batch of 36 Adi Kailash pilgrims at the Dharchula base camp and placed the high-altitude yatra route on high alert following heavy rains and hailstorms in the district on Monday.
Dharchula SDM Ashish Joshi said the pilgrimage was halted due to adverse weather conditions. The issuance of new inner-line passes has been suspended until the weather normalises.
With 1,700 passes issued so far, pilgrims already at higher camps are being monitored for safety, the official added.
