Traffic cops use ‘Yamaraja’ to warn motorists

Agencies

July 10, 2018

Bengaluru, Jul 10: A mace-wielding 'Yamaraja,' the authority of Death, attired in his traditional golden dress intercepted motorists near the Town hall in the city on Tuesday and warned them he would visit their homes if they flout traffic rules.

The Halasuru Gate traffic police roped in 'Yamaraja' as their brand ambassador to drive home the message of the dangers of not sporting a helmet, reckless driving and other violations.

"We are observing July as a road safety month. As part of it, we are conducting various programmes such as lectures in schools and colleges and street-plays," Deputy Commissioner of traffic police Anupam Agrawal said.

"Also, we thought of using the character Yama to send the message across that if you disobey the traffic rules, Yama will come to your home," he said.

The actor, who stopped motorists and reminded them of the importance of sticking to road rules, was Veeresh, a theatre artiste performing Hindu mythology-based dramas. After intercepting mostly young motorists, Yama waved his mace in the air, warning them that he would not spare them.

In some cases, he rode pillion on those motorcycles that were driven recklessly. According to traffic police, the public awareness drive helped in minimising accidents.

Till June-end this year, 2,336 accidents have been reported, of which 330 were fatal, they said. By last December-end, 5,064 accidents had been reported, of which 609 were fatal. In 2016, 7,506 accidents took place of which 754 were fatal.

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Elusive bamboo shrimp resurfaces in Mangaluru estuary after 70 years

News Network

December 7,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 7: A rare bamboo shrimp has been rediscovered on mainland India more than 70 years after it was last reported, confirming for the first time the presence of Atyopsis spinipes in the country. The find was made by researchers from the Centre for Climate Change Studies at Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, during surveys in Karnataka and Odisha.

The team — shrimp expert Dr S Prakash, PhD scholar K Kunjulakshmi, and Mangaluru-based researcher Maclean Antony Santos — combined field surveys, ecological assessments and DNA analysis to identify the elusive species. Their findings, published in Zootaxa, resolve decades of taxonomic confusion stemming from a 1951 report that misidentified the species as Atyopsis moluccensis without strong evidence.

The shrimp has now been confirmed at two locations: the Mulki–Pavanje estuary near Mangaluru and the Kuakhai River in Bhubaneswar. Historical specimens from the Andaman Islands, previously labelled as A. moluccensis, were also found to be misidentified and actually belong to A. spinipes.

The rediscovery began after an aquarium hobbyist in Odisha spotted a shrimp in 2022, prompting systematic surveys across Udupi, Karwar and Mangaluru. Four female specimens were collected in Mulki and one in Odisha, all genetically matching.

Researchers warn the species may exist in very small, vulnerable populations as freshwater habitats face increasing pressure from pollution, sand mining and infrastructure development. All verified specimens have been deposited with the Zoological Survey of India for future reference.

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