Indian cyclist attempting world record for fastest journey across South America dies in Chile
Santigao (Chile), Feb 13 (PTI): A 36-year-old Indian cyclist died after being run over by a vehicle in Chile during his pursuit to break the world record for the fastest 10,000 km journey across South America on a standard bicycle, according to media reports.
Mohit Kohli was run over by a minibus on Route 5 in the Pozo Almonte commune at 8.30 am (local time) Wednesday, local radio network Radio Paulina reported, quoting officials.
According to Pozo Almonte Fire Department superintendent Efrain Lillo, Kohli died on the spot.
Personnel from the national law enforcement agency reached the spot to carry out initial investigations and clarify the causes of the accident, the report said.
“Due to the severity of his injuries, he unfortunately lost his life," said Lieutenant Alexis Gutierrez Corbalan from the Traffic Accident Investigation Section (SIAT) of the Iquique Police.
"That is why the presence of this investigative team was requested in order to analyse the elements and traces present on the road to determine the dynamics and the underlying cause of this accident,” the report quoted him as saying.
Kohli was documenting his journey on his social media account, according to which, his goal was to set the fastest cycling record from Cartagena, Colombia to Ushuaia, Argentina.
According to the local news portal Cooperativa.cl, the cyclist began his journey on January 22 in Cartagena. His journey consisted of a 10,000-kilometre trip during which he passed through Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and recently Chile.
According to the official website of the Guinness World Record, the record for the fastest journey across South America was set by Michael Strasser from Austria, who took 41 days and 41 minutes to achieve it in 2018.
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EAM Jaishankar meets Jamaican PM, gifts over 10 BHISHM Cubes
Kingston (PTI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness and discussed ways to further deepen "political, economic and people-to-people cooperation."
Jaishankar also conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Holness.
"Pleased to call on Prime Minister @AndrewHolnessJM in Kingston. Conveyed the greetings of PM @narendramodi," Jaishankar posted on X.
"Discussed deepening our political, economic and people-to-people cooperation. Value his commitment towards further strengthening India-Jamaica relations," the post further read.
Also, the external affairs minister handed over 10 BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita & Maitri) Cubes as a gift to Jamaica.
"Formally handed over 10 BHISHM Cubes as a gift from India to Jamaica, in the presence of PM @AndrewHolnessJM, Health Minister @christufton and FM @kaminajsmith," Jaishankar posted on X.
"The BHISHM Cube mobile hospital system, designed for rapid deployment, will help Jamaica during disasters and emergencies. The gift of these cubes is a statement of friendship, a commitment to disaster preparedness, and an outcome of innovation," the post said.
Jaishankar arrived in Kingston on Saturday evening, marking the first leg of his nine-day tour of Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, aimed at further strengthening India's strategic and cultural ties with the Caribbean nations.
Earlier in the day, he interacted with the Indian diaspora and discussed India's ongoing transformation in infrastructure, human development and technology-driven governance and entrepreneurship with them.
He also highlighted the cricket bond between both countries as India gifted a scoreboard to Jamaica.
A scoreboard was dedicated at Sabina Park in Kingston. It is the home of the Jamaica cricket team and is the only Test cricket ground in the Caribbean island nation.
The minister expressed hope that the new scoreboard would witness many memorable innings, including those symbolising the enduring friendship between the two countries.
Cricket has long been a strong cultural bridge between India and Jamaica, which is part of the West Indies cricket team.
Jamaican players, including Chris Gayle, Courtney Walsh and Michael Holding, have played a major role in shaping the legacy of West Indies cricket in the international arena, contributing to its dominance in earlier decades and its continued global appeal.
