India successfully test fires nuclear capable Agni-I ballistic missile

The Strategic Forces Command (SFC) of the Indian Army successfully launched on Friday the Agni-I missile from the Wheeler Island, off Orissa and the missile travelled its full range of 700 km.

Agni-I took off from a mobile launcher (a TATRA truck) at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at 10.06 a.m. and sped towards its target in the Bay of Bengal. The missile’s re-entry systems worked well and it plunged into the targeted area with accuracy.


The Defence Research and Development Organisation designed and developed Agni-I. The Army has already deployed this short-range missile which can carry nuclear warheads.

An elated V.K. Saraswat, Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister, told The Hindu from the Wheeler Island, that all the Agni missiles — Agni-I, II, III, IV and V, developed by the DRDO, “are flying high.” The DRDO launched Agni-V with a range of more than 5,000 km in April 2012 and the DRDO was back to launching Agni-I now.

“The production system of Agni missiles is working on schedule and the user [the Army] is conversant with the exercise of the launch. They have done a superb job today. The Strategic Forces Command has mastered the technology of launching the missile to a high degree,” said Dr. Saraswat. The missile was drawn from the production lot.

G. Satheesh Reddy, Associate Director, Research Centre, Imarat (RCI), one of the DRDO laboratories situated in Hyderabad, described the launch as “a complete success.” Cameras on board two ships stationed near the targeted area recorded the terminal event of the missile’s flight.

Avinash Chander, Chief Controller (missiles and strategic systems), DRDO, V.G. Sekaran, Director, Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL), Hyderabad, S.K. Chaudhury, Director, RCI, M.V.K.V. Prasad, Director, ITR, Balasore, Orissa and the top officers of the SFC witnessed the launch. The ASL, a DRDO laboratory and the RCI contributed the systems in Agni-I.

Agni-I is 15 metres long and weighs 12 tonnes. It is a single stage missile that is powered by solid propellants. It can carry a nuclear warhead weighing one tonne. With its range of 700 km, it is Pakistan-specific. The first flight of Agni-I took place on January 25, 2002. The DRDO developed it quickly within 15 months because there was a felt need for a missile with a short range which will cover the western area. Such a need was felt after the Kargil war between India and Pakistan in 1999.

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Bollywood's first superstar Rajesh Khanna dies at 69

Mumbai: Superstar Rajesh Khanna passed away on Wednesday afternoon at his residence Aashirwad in Mumbai. He was 69. He had been battling prolonged illness for a long time and finally had to bow down to it.

The actor’s condition had been deteriorating since April when he stopped eating and had complained of weakness. He was admitted to Lilavati Hospital twice in the past month. The actor was discharged from the hospital on Tuesday but due to extreme weakness and low blood pressure, the actor was on ventilator since last night.

The actor, who shot to stardom in the 1960s, was the first 'superstar' of Indian cinema. He made his debut in 1966 in 'Aakhri Khat' after winning a talent hunt contest. At the peak of his career, he delivered 15 consecutive solo hits, a feat which no other actor has achieved so far.

He breathed his last in the presence of his wife Dimple Kapadia, daughters Rinkie and Twinkle, son-in-law Akshay Kumar, grand children and close relatives.

His funeral will take place at 11 am tomorrow in Mumbai.

बाबू मुशाय !!! जिंदगी बड़ी होनी चाहिए, लंबी नहीं !!!

IANS adds

Fondly known as Kaka, Khanna worked in about 160 films including. Here is his filmography:

1960s

—1966 “Akhri khat“

—1967 “Raaz“

—1967 “Baharo Ke sapne“

—1967 “Woman“

—1968 “Shrimanji“

—1969 “Khamoshi“

—1969 “Doli“

—1969 “Bandhan“

—1969 “Aradhana“

—1969 “Ittefaq“

—1969 “Do Raaste“

1970s

—1970 “Safar“

—1970 “Kati Patang“

—1970 “The Train’

—1970 “Sachaa Jhutha“

—1970 “Aan Milo Sajana“

—1971 “Mehboob Ki Mehandi“

—1971 “Maryada“

—1971 “Guddi“

—1971 “Dushman“

—1971 “Andaz“

—1971 “Anand“

—1971 “Haathi Mere Saathi“

—1971 “Choti Bahu“

—1972 “Shehzada“

—1972 “Mere Jeevan Saathi“

—1972 “Malik“

—1972 “Dil Daulat Duniya“

—1972 “Bawarchi“

—1972 “Apna Desh“

—1972 “Anuraag“

—1972 “Amar Prem“

—1972 “Joroo Ka Ghulam“

—1973 “Daag: A Poem of Love“

—1973 “Raja Rani“

—1973 “Bombay Superstar“

—1973 “Namak Haraam“

—1974 “Badhti Ka Naam Dadhi“

—1974 “Aap Ki Kasam“

—1974 “Prem Nagar“

—1974 “Ajanabee“

—1974 “Avishkaar“

—1974 “Roti“

—1975 “Prem Kahani“

—1975 “Aakraman“

—1976 “Maha Chor“

—1976 “Ginny Aur Johny“

—1976 “Bundal Baaz“

—1976 “Mehbooba“

—1977 “Tinku“

—1977 “Karm“

—1977 “Chalta Purza“

—1977 “Anurodh“

—1977 “Tyaag“

—1977 “Aaina“

—1977 “Chhailla Babu“

—1977 “Hatyara“

—1977 “Palkon Ki Chhaon Mein“

—1977 “Aashiq Hoon Baharon Ka“

—1978 “Chakravyuha”

—1978 “Bhola Bhala“

—1978 “Naukri“

—1979 “Muqabla“

—1979 “Janta Hawaldar“

—1979 “Bebus“

—1979 “Amar Deep“

—1979 “Prem Bandhan“

1980s

—1980 “Bandish“

—1980 “Red Rose“

—1980 “Phir Wohi Raat“

—1980 “Aanchal“

—1981 “Bharosa“

—1981 “Dushman Dost“

—1981 “Kudrat“

—1981 “Sundara Satarkar“

—1981 “Dhanwan“

—1981 “Dard“

—1981 “Fiffty Fiffty“

—1982 “Rajput“

—1982 “Ashanti“

—1982 “Dil—E—Nadaan“

—1982 “Dharam Kanta“

—1982 “Ayaash“

—1982 “Jaanwar“

—1983 “Avtaar“

—1983 “Souten“

—1983 “Agar Tum Na Hote“

—1984 “Asha Jyoti“

—1984 “Dharam Aur Qanoon“

—1984 “Awaaz“

—1985 “Zamana“

—1985 “Hum Dono“

—1985 “Masterji“

—1985 “Bewafai“

—1985 “Aakhir Kyon?”

—1985 “Alag Alag

—1985 “Babu“

—1985 “Awara Baap“

—1986 “Angaaray“

—1986 “Amrit“

—1986 “Anokha Rishta“

—1987 “Sitapur Ki Geeta“

—1987 “Nazrana“

—1988 “Vijay“

—1989 “Main Tera Dushman“

—1989 “Ghar Ka Chiraag“

1990s

—1990 “Jai Shiv Shankar“

—1990 “Dushman“

—1990 “Swarg“

—1991 “Ghar Parivaar“

__1991 “Begunaah“

—1994 “Khudai“

—1999 “Aa Ab Laut Chalen“

2000—2008

—2001 “Pyaar Zindagi Hai“

—2002 “Kyaa Dil Ne Kahaa“

—2008 “Wafaa“

As Producer:

—1985 “Alag Alag”

—1989 “Police Ke Peeche Police”

—1990 “Jai Shiv Shankar”

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