Ruchir writes on health, aviation, power and myriad other issues. An ex-TOI, he has worked both on Desk and in reporting. He over 25 years of broadcast and print journalism experience in Assam, Jharkhand & Bihar.
Articles by Ruchir Kumar
Modi posters abruptly taken off Patna airport premises
Large posters of BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi were on Tuesday removed from the airport premises following charges of breach of agreement between the advertiser and the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
Updated on Apr 01, 2014 11:22 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Ruchir Kumar, Patna
Patna: 2 kids tied to pole, thrashed for stealing
In punishing two children for the crime of theft, a Patna shopkeeper went on to commit one himself – he tied the 10 and 13 year olds to a pole and thrashed them.
Updated on Mar 16, 2014 02:45 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Ruchir Kumar, Patna
LS elections: Lalu announces list of 25 candidates
RJD leader, Lalu Prasad faces a full blown revolt, after one of his closest aides and MP, Ramkripal Yadav offered to resign from his seat, following the declaration of party list of candidates' here on Thursday.
Updated on Sep 17, 2014 03:07 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Ruchir Kumar, Patna
I am trying to be like Dashrath Manjhi: Aamir Khan
Aamir Khan, who visited Gehlaur in Gaya district on Tuesday to pay homage to Dashrath Manjhi (also known as the Mountain Man) said he was truly inspired and moved by Manjhi's achievement.
Updated on Feb 27, 2014 07:18 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Ruchir Kumar
Ahead of LS polls, Nitish drums up ‘Bihari pride’
So far, there was only the “Gujarati asmitha”. And now it is time for “Bihari pride” – a 70-second audio-visual capsule showcasing the development of the state which is shown in cinema halls, much like the Films Division documentaries in the 1970s.
Updated on Feb 26, 2014 12:48 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Ruchir Kumar, Patna
Heightened security at Bodh Gaya temple hits mid-day meals of kids in nearby school
After the Indian Mujahideen triggered a series of blasts at the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya in July 2013, security measures around it have been strengthened. So much so that whenever VIPs visit this world-famous Buddhist pilgrimage site, children in a nearby school suffer the most.
Updated on Dec 16, 2013 03:52 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Ruchir Kumar, Bodh Gaya
Security tightened in Bodh Gaya
Unwilling to take any chances in the aftermath of the serial bomb blasts in Bodh Gaya on July 7, the authorities are set to turn this Buddhist pilgrimage town into a fortress for the ensuing prayer season.
Updated on Dec 01, 2013 01:57 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Ruchir Kumar, Patna
Bihar has no bullet proof SUV for Modi
The Bihar government has expressed its inability to meet Gujarat's request to provide a bullet-resistant SUV to Narendra Modi for his less than three-hour stay during the party's Hunkar rally in Patna on October 27. Ruchir Kumar reports.
Updated on Oct 25, 2013 01:00 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Ruchir Kumar, Patna
Betel nut remains lodged in man’s lung for 28 years
After being treated for all kinds of ailments for over two-and-a-half decades, 75-year-old Krishna Kant Jha finally realised his cough and bouts of fits were caused by a piece of betel nut lodged in his lungs for the last 28 years!
Updated on Aug 27, 2013 03:32 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Ruchir Kumar, Patna
Bihar cops, power firm spar over Rs 5.14 cr energy dues
Usually engaged in combating left wing extremism and law and order situations, jawans of the Bihar Military Police (BMP), the ‘armed’ unit of the state police, are engaged in another kind of battle these days.
Updated on Aug 23, 2013 05:23 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Ruchir Kumar, Patna
Even in flood relief camps, caste is king in Bihar
Calamity, they say, transcends all human barriers. However, the caste divide in Bihar is such that even floods have not been able to surmount it and unite people in adversity. Ruchir Kumar reports.
Updated on Aug 10, 2013 09:55 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Ruchir Kumar, Patna
Mid day meal victims discharged from Patna hospital
The morbid fear of having school meal haunts them even today - 20 days after 24 children, victims of poisoning, were admitted to the Patna Medical College Hospital (PMCH) here. Ruchir Kumar reports.
Updated on Aug 06, 2013 08:05 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Ruchir Kumar, Patna
410 more MBBS seats for Bihar this year
Bihar is set to get 410 more undergraduate medical seats this year, as compared to 2012, including 100 seats each in new medical colleges at Bettiah and Pawapuri. Ruchir Kumar reports.
Updated on Jul 31, 2013 07:03 PM IST
None | Ruchir Kumar, Patna
Killer meal survivors’ 'guest' status at PMCH
Patients have seldom been treated as 'guests' at the Patna Medical College Hospital (PMCH). But the circumstances today are different. Ruchir Kumar reports.
Updated on Jul 21, 2013 08:14 PM IST
None | Ruchir Kumar, Patna
Profile of pain: his world lies shattered after the school meal tragedy
His eyes are moist and red. The rage in his eyes is clearly evident, as Rameshwar Mahto, 55, seethes with anger. And, his disheveled look says it all. Ruchir Kumar reports.
Updated on Jul 20, 2013 07:40 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Ruchir Kumar, Patna
Paswan raises heckles over suspicion of carrying knife
Former Union minister and Rajya Sabha MP Ram Vilas Paswan on Friday raised hackles at the Patna airport, after CISF personnel searched his bag over suspicion of carrying a small knife.
Updated on Jul 19, 2013 11:46 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Ruchir Kumar, Patna
Panic in ICU housing midday meal victims
Panic hit the pediatric intensive care unit (PIKU) at the Patna medical college hospital here today, when a window air-conditioning unit in the room malfunctioned and started emitting smoke. Ruchir Kumar reports.
Updated on Jul 19, 2013 03:52 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Ruchir Kumar, Patna
Mid-day meal deaths: children were fed insecticide; detailed forensic reports still awaited
The 22 children who died on July 16 after eating their mid-day meal had consumed insecticide that was either in the food or cooking oil, post-mortem reports have said. Ruchir Kumar and Arun Kumar report. Cooks recount horror of mid-day meal deaths | School principal absconding, no arrests yet
Updated on Jul 19, 2013 02:26 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Ruchir Kumar and Arun Kumar, Patna/mashrakh
Patna's top govt hospital 'critically ill'
For the 26 children battling for life at the Patna Medical College Hospital, prayers are what they need the most. Reason: Despite competent doctors, medical facilities at the medical college are abysmal. Ruchir Kumar reports.
Updated on Jul 18, 2013 12:30 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Ruchir Kumar, Patna
What killed Chhapra school kids? Investigators look for clues
A controversy is raging in Bihar about what led to the deaths of 22 school children in Chhapra region of Bihar. Investigators say the food was contaminated but are yet to confirm that it had insecticides. Arun Kumar, Ruchir Kumar report.
Updated on Jul 18, 2013 12:13 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Arun Kumar and Ruchir Kumar, Chhapra/ Patna
NIA takes over Bodh Gaya probe
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday formally took over probe into the Bodh Gaya serial blasts by re-registering three FIRs filed the Bihar police in connection with attack on the Buddhist shrine. Arun Kumar and Ruchir Kumar report
Updated on Jul 11, 2013 02:50 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Arun Kumar/ Ruchir Kumar, Bodh Gaya/ New Delhi
Shops around Bodhi complex to relocate
Security comes at a price. Some 58 shopkeepers, selling Buddhist artifacts and trinkets outside the Mahabodhi Mahavihara were on Tuesday served notices to shut shop with immediate effect and relocate. Ruchir Kumar and Arun Kumar report.
Updated on Jul 09, 2013 07:31 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Ruchir Kumar & Arun Kumar, Patna
Blasts fallout: Foreign tourists cancel bookings
Following Sunday's serial blasts, business has taken a hit in the Buddhist temple town with cancellation of bookings by many foreign tourist groups, which were scheduled to visit Bodh Gaya in the near future.
Updated on Jul 09, 2013 07:19 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Ruchir Kumar & Arun Kumar Ruchir Kumar & Arun Kumar, Bodh Gaya
Bodh Gaya blasts: Flight of troubles for crack team
A crack team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and National Security Guards (NSG) which flew in to Bodh Gaya on Sunday following the serial blasts may well have missed vital evidence because of delayed arrival and intermittent showers during the intervening period. Ruchir Kumar reports.
Updated on Jul 09, 2013 07:59 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Ruchir Kumar, Bodh Gaya
UPA failed to curb terror: Rajnath Singh
BJP chief Rajnath Singh and leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley today visited the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya and accused the UPA government of playing vote bank politics over country's internal security. Arun Kumar & Ruchir Kumar report
Updated on Jul 09, 2013 03:39 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Arun Kumar & Ruchir Kumar, Bodh Gaya
Bodh Gaya blasts: poor CCTV footage a letdown, say investigators
The poor quality of CCTV footage is hobbling the investigating agencies, trying to put the bits and pieces together to identify those involved in the Bodh Gaya blast. Arun Kumar and Ruchir Kumar report.
Updated on Jul 09, 2013 12:58 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Arun Kumar and Ruchir Kumar, Bodh Gaya
Bodh Gaya blasts: hunt on for 6, Myanmar link being probed
Remnants of an exploded bomb were found and another one was defused 1.5 km west of the Bodh Gaya temple complex today, even as the NIA and NSG joined state police probe into the serial bomb blasts which took place on Sunday. Arun Kumar and Ruchir Kumar report.13 bombs were planted: Shinde | Temple reopens, monks of 50 nations hold special prayer
Updated on Jul 08, 2013 09:55 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Arun Kumar and Ruchir Kumar, New Delhi
Bodh Gaya blasts: lean season lessens impact
The casualty in the Gaya serial blasts on Sunday could have been higher had the incident taken place between October and May. Ruchir Kumar reports.
Updated on Jul 08, 2013 12:32 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Ruchir Kumar, Patna
Lean season keeps casualties low in Bodh Gaya serial blasts
Casualties in the Bodh Gaya serial blast on Sunday could have been higher had the incident taken place between October and May, which is the peak tourist season. Ruchir Kumar reports.
Updated on Jul 07, 2013 06:26 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Ruchir Kumar, Patna
People of Bihar is not safe in the hands of the police: HRC
In a scathing comment on the police brass, the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has observed with 'concern' and 'dismay', that the people of the state were 'not very safe with the police'. Ruchir Kumar reports.
Updated on Jul 04, 2013 07:19 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Ruchir Kumar, Patna