A teacher, from Bihar’s Khagaria district, was suspended after a video of him complaining about the school officials who decided to cancel Raksha Bandhan’s holiday went viral.

The teacher, who has been identified as Sunil Kumar, took out his frustration on the department officials after his sister had to travel from Bhagalpur to Khagaria (roughly 90 Km) to tie rakhi.

In a bid to make up for the loss of teaching days, department officials have decided to curtail the number of school holidays on important festivals in the remaining five months of the year.

The incident came to light after a Twitter page of Bihar Shikshak Manch shared a video of Mr Sushil. In the clip, he can be seen criticising the additional chief secretary of the Bihar Education Department KK Pathak as his sister ties a rakhi inside the school premises.

The video was shared on August 31, along with the note that read, “After the cancellation of the Raksha Bandhan holiday of the employed teachers in Bihar, a teacher’s sister reached Mathurapur school in Khagaria from Bhagalpur crying and tied a rakhi to her brother, while the teacher was seen taking out his frustration.”

बिहार में नियोजित शिक्षकों का रक्षाबंधन की छुट्टी रद्द होने के बाद एक शिक्षक की बहन रोती हुई भागलपुर से खगड़िया के मथुरापुर विद्यालय पहुँची अपने भाई को बाँधी राखी,शिक्षक भाई ने निकाली भरास . pic.twitter.com/ZU5QnJlsIl

— बिहार शिक्षक मंच (@btetctet) August 31, 2023

An official order, dated September 1, stated that Mr Kumar has been suspended from his duties. In addition, for making indecent and objectionable statements towards the higher officials, the teacher also faces departmental action. The notice also mentioned that his salary payments would be blocked with immediate effect.

Raksha Bandhan was celebrated on August 30 and 31.

Raksha Bandhan is the celebration of the unique bond between siblings. While it is celebrated with much zeal across the country, it is not uncommon for hectic schedules and work commitments to keep loved ones away from each other on the day of the festival. One sibling duo got the opportunity to celebrate the festival on a flight. Yes, Shubha,  an IndiGo Airlines cabin crew member got to celebrate the festival with her brother Gaurav, who was the pilot.

A video of the heartwarming moment shared on X [formerly Twitter] shows Shubha tying the sacred thread on Captain Gaurav’s wrist and the pilot touching her feet. 

The video begins with Shubha making a special announcement to passengers before the flight takes off. “In a profession like ours, it is not that every year we get to celebrate festivals and special moments with our loved ones back home, because it is important for us to take you back home so you can celebrate with your loved ones,” she says on the flight interphone system, adding, “That’s why, today is a very special day for me and my brother Gaurav, who is on board today to make sure that we celebrate Raksha Bandhan together after many years.”

With Captain Gaurav standing next to her, she adds, “Like all brothers and sisters, we also laugh and cry, play and fight, but he’s my rock, my best friend, my shoulder to lean on.” To this, the passengers begin applauding as Shubha proceeds to tie the rakhi on her brother’s hand.

The tweet by IndiGo says, “At 30,000 feet or on the ground, the bond of a brother and sister remains special. A heartwarming moment on board today as our Check Cabin Attendant Shubha celebrates Rakhi with her brother Capt. Gaurav.”

At 30,000 feet or on the ground, the bond of a brother and sister remains special.
A heartwarming moment on board today as our Check Cabin Attendant Shubha celebrates Rakhi with her brother Capt. Gaurav. #HappyRakshaBandhan2023#HappyRakhi#goIndiGo#IndiaByIndiGopic.twitter.com/WoLgx8XoIa

— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) August 30, 2023

Replying to the post, one user wrote, “Some might envy the job of the cabin & flight deck crew for their glamorised work profile. But nobody envys them for their odd working hours….nobody envys them when they are on the jobs, come rain, come shine, or festivals when all of enjoy at home. KUDOS to every crew member!”

Some might envy the job of the cabin & flight deck crew for their glamorised work profile. But nobody envys them for their odd working hours….nobody envys them when they are on the jobs, come rain, come shine, or festivals when all of enjoy at home. KUDOS to every Crew member!

— Sanjeev P. Ghanekar (@sanjeevghanekar) August 31, 2023

“This is unbelievable, the bonds between brother & sister is unimaginable, no matter where we are. Proud to be an Indian,” wrote another.

This is unbelievable, the bonds between brother & sister is unimaginable, no matter where we are. Proud to be an Indian. https://t.co/ybELgakHGB

— Raj Nayak (@RajNaya50858983) August 30, 2023

“Truly heart-warming,” read a comment.

Very Nice
Happy Rakshabandhan https://t.co/XDLQnVmnOFpic.twitter.com/aO2kEahdtt

— vinod (@grrnage) August 31, 2023

Tell us what you think of the video.

Cuttack, Odisha:

Upholding the order of a trial court, the Orissa High Court on Wednesday sentenced a man to 20 years of imprisonment for repeatedly raping her sister and impregnating her when she was 14.

Rejecting the appeal of the convict, Justice S K Sahoo also slapped a fine of Rs 40,000 on him. In default, the convict shall undergo rigorous imprisonment for another two years.

The judge lamented that he had to adjudicate such a case on the day of Raksha Bandhan.

“It is both shocking as well as ironical to hear this case and render judgment on an auspicious day when a brother takes the solemn pledge not only to protect his sister but also to nurture her till his last breath,” Justice Sahoo observed.

The man was earlier convicted by the Malkangiri special judge’s court for repeatedly raping his younger sister between May 2018 and May 2019 in their village.

He was also convicted in January 2020 for threatening his sister not to disclose it to others. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Delhi Metro will be running around 106 extra train trips on its corridors on Wednesday to facilitate passengers on the festival of Raksha Bandhan, officials said.

Additional Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) personnel will also be deployed at stations to cater to the extra rush of commuters by operating additional ticket counters, they said on Tuesday.

If required, additional standby trains will also be kept for induction into services to clear the rush, officials said.

Passengers are requested to use DMRC Travel Mobile App to buy QR code-based tickets to avoid rush at ticket counters, they said.

Guards and customer facilitation agents will be deployed at major metro stations to help and guide commuters, the DMRC said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)