National News
Uttar Pradesh: Incessant Rains Cause Widespread Flooding, Claiming 68 Lives And Affecting 1.8 Million In 48 Hours
Lucknow: Incessant rains across several districts of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand have caused widespread devastation, leading to severe flooding and tragic loss of life. Over the past 48 hours, 68 people have died in rain-related incidents, as reported by state officials.
The relentless downpour and rising water levels in major rivers have resulted in flooding across 16 districts. “The situation has been exacerbated by heavy rains in the Himalayan foothills of Uttarakhand, adding to the misery,” a government official said.
According to a report from the relief commissioner’s office, the fatalities include 51 people who died due to lightning strikes in 10 districts, 13 who drowned in four districts, and four who succumbed to snake bites in two districts. The breakdown of lightning-related deaths includes 16 in Pratapgarh, nine in Sultanpur, eight each in Fatehpur and Chandauli, four in Prayagraj, two in Hamirpur, and one each in Unnao, Amethi, Etawah, and Sonbhadra.
The 13 drowning victims include four each in Fatehpur and Pratapgarh, three in Etah, and two in Banda district. The snake bite fatalities include one each in Amethi and Sonbhadra districts.
Flooding has impacted numerous districts, including Gonda, Balrampur, Shravasti, Kushinagar, Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri, Basti, Shahjahanpur, Barabanki, Sitapur, Siddharthnagar, Ballia, Gorakhpur, Bareilly, Moradabad, and Azamgarh.
The report of Relief Commissioner’s office said that the deluge has affected 1,800,335 people living in 923 villages across the state. Emergency response teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have relocated 10,996 people to safer locations, while 191,515 hectares of agricultural land have been submerged.
Villagers trapped in flood-hit areas have been evacuated to shelters. Key rivers are flowing above the danger mark, including the Sharda in Lakhimpur Kheri, Ghaghara in Barabanki, Ayodhya, and Ballia, Rapti in Gorakhpur, Budhi Rapti in Siddharthnagar, and Kuwano in Gonda district.
“Authorities are on high alert and are continuously monitoring the situation, providing relief and support to affected communities as efforts to mitigate the disaster continue,” official said.
National News
Omar Abdullah conducts surprise visit of Kashmir’s premier healthcare institutions
Srinagar, Dec 25: J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday carried out a surprise visit to Kashmir’s premier healthcare institutions and gave orders on the spot for upgradation & improvement.
Conducting surprise inspections of premier health Institutions in Srinagar to gain firsthand knowledge of the facilities and services being provided to patients and their attendants, the Chief Minister visited the Bone & Joint Hospital, Barzulla, one of the region’s top orthopaedic healthcare facilities. During his inspection, he toured various sections and wards, interacting with patients and attendants to understand their concerns.
Accompanied by Minister of Health, Sakeena Itoo, senior faculty members and Doctors, he engaged with hospital staff to assess the winter arrangements, treatment facilities and the availability of medical professionals and paramedics.
CM Abdullah also inspected the state-of-the-art additional block of the hospital, constructed under the Jhelum Tawi Flood Recovery Project (JTFRP) with funding from the World Bank. Designed with earthquake-resilient technology, the block will add 160 beds, doubling the hospital’s total capacity from 150 to 310 beds.
During his visit, the Chief Minister emphasised the need to expedite the completion of the new block, which is critical for addressing the space crunch caused by a fire incident in 2022 that reduced the hospital’s original capacity of 200 beds.
He directed the executing agencies to ensure its swift operationalisation by January 2025 to enhance patient care and to dedicate the facility to public service.
The Chief Minister also inspected the 500-bed Children’s Hospital in Bemina, where he interacted with patients, attendants, and hospital staff. During his visit, attendants from far-flung areas raised concerns about the lack of a Sarai (inn) for their stay.
The Chief Minister immediately directed the authorities concerned to construct a ‘Sarai’ to accommodate attendants and alleviate their difficulties.
As hospital staff highlighted the challenges of expanding super-speciality facilities due to express space constraints, he assured them that their issue would be addressed on priority. He also promised to resolve the shortage of medical staff, including doctors and paramedics, not only at this hospital but across healthcare facilities in Jammu and Kashmir.
Furthermore, the Chief Minister instructed hospital authorities to ensure the timely availability of medicines and other essential facilities for patients. During the inspections, Omar Abdullah reiterated his government’s commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure ensuring better facilities for the public and addressing manpower shortages in health institutions across Jammu and Kashmir.
The Chief Minister was accompanied during his visits by Health Minister Itoo, the Medical Superintendent of the Children’s Hospital, senior faculty members and other officials.
Crime
Inspector suspended for allowing BJP leaders in police station during CT Ravi’s arrest
Belagavi, Dec 25: The Karnataka Police on Wednesday suspended the Inspector of Khanapur Police Station in Belagavi on the charges of violating the superior officers’ orders by letting BJP leaders inside the police station during MLC C. T. Ravi’s arrest.
IGP (Northern Range) Vikash Kumar Vikash has issued the order of suspension in this regard.
“On December 19, BJP MLC C. T. Ravi was shifted to Khanapur Police Station from the Hirebagewadi Police Station. Strict instructions were given not to allow anyone inside the station. It was also instructed to arrange security with available staff of the police station,” the IGP stated.
“Police Inspector Manjunath Nayak had not made proper security arrangements. The political leaders barged inside the police station. This had created confusion on the premises of the police station. He had failed to prevent the entry of political leaders,” the IGP said.
The IGP said that a suspension order is issued for violating the orders from superior officers, dereliction of duty, negligence and irresponsible behaviour by the officer.
Meanwhile, the development has taken a political turn with the BJP, Dalit and pro-Kannada organisations calling for a Khanapur bandh to protest the Police Inspector’s suspension.
Deputy CM D. K. Shivakumar and Home Minister G. Parameshwara held a meeting of police officers in Belagavi.
Talking to reporters, Parameshwara said, “The matter of C. T. Ravi was not discussed in the meeting. The case is currently being investigated by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). When the matter is being investigated, I won’t make any comments.”
“The decision to suspend Manjunath Nayak was taken by the senior officers of the department. The government will not interfere in the matter in any eventuality,” he maintained.
Deputy CM Shivakumar had slammed the BJP leaders for holding a meeting in the Khanapur police station.
A BJP delegation comprising senior BJP leaders from Belagavi, including Anil Benake and Subhash Patil, met IGP Vikas Kumar and Belagavi Police Commissioner Iada Martin Marbaniang on Wednesday and demanded the arrest of the accused who allegedly attacked Ravi at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha.
The Karnataka BJP delegation had demanded Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot to intervene in the investigation of the derogatory remark case involving Ravi and Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar and to ensure a judicial inquiry.
BJP leader R. Ashoka had alleged that police stations have effectively turned into Congress offices in Karnataka and said that he is sceptical about the impartiality of police investigations.
The row erupted on December 19 during a heated debate in the Karnataka Legislative Council.
Ravi allegedly referred to Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, as a “drug addict”. This provoked strong reactions, with Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar calling Ravi a “murderer”. Ravi reportedly responded with an obscene remark directed at Hebbalkar.
The alleged comment led to Ravi’s arrest on charges of using derogatory language against Hebbalkar.
However, following a High Court directive, Ravi was released, creating further political drama.
The Congress government has handed over the case to the special wing Criminal Investigation Department (CID) even as the Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti had said that the case is a closed chapter and the police interference is unacceptable.
Meanwhile, Minister Hebbalkar challenged Ravi to swear before Lord Manjunatheshwara at the famous Hindu pilgrimage centre in Dharmasthala in Karnataka, regarding his alleged use of derogatory words against her in the Legislative Council.
National News
CM Siddaramaiah condoles death of 3 K’taka soldiers in J&K accident
Bengaluru, Dec 25: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday expressed his condolences over the death of three soldiers from the state near Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir after a vehicle belonging to the Indian Army fell into a gorge.
The Chief Minister said, “I am deeply saddened by the loss of soldiers from Karnataka — Dayananda Tirukannanavar, Anoop, and Mahesh Marigonda. May their souls rest in peace. I pray to God to give their families the strength to bear this immense loss.”
The Chief Minister added that Karnataka will always remember the martyrdom and sacrifice of these brave soldiers.
Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R. Ashoka said, “The news of a road accident near the Line of Control in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday evening, in which five soldiers, including three from Karnataka, lost their lives, is deeply saddening.”
“Subedar Dayanand Tirkannavar (45) from Sambra village near Belagavi, Anoop (33) from Bijadi in Koteshwar near Kundapur, and Mahesh Marigonda (25) from Mahalingapur are the three soldiers from Karnataka who were martyred. May their souls rest in peace, and may God give their family members the strength to bear this immense loss,” Ashoka stated.
Mahesh served in the 11th Maratha Regiment for six years. Mahesh was married three years ago. Anoop served in the Indian Army for 13 years and is survived by a 1-year-old child. He was married two years ago.
The Indian Army informed the district administration and families of the deceased and the mortal remains of soldiers were expected to reach their residences by Thursday.
Five soldiers were killed and five others injured in a road accident in J&K’s Poonch district on Tuesday, officials said.
Officials said that the army vehicle, which was on its way from Nilam Headquarters to the Balnoi Ghora Post, met with an accident upon reaching Ghora Post.
“The vehicle fell into a deep gorge around 300-350 feet deep resulting in on-the-spot death of five soldiers and serious injuries to five other soldiers. The vehicle was part of the 11 MLI (Maratha Light Infantry). After receiving the distress call, the quick reaction team (QRT) of 11 MLI immediately reached the spot and undertook rescue and relief operations,” an official said.
The injured soldiers were shifted to the hospital for treatment and the condition of a few of them is said to be critical, the official said.
The Nagrota-headquartered White Knight Corps of the army said on X: “All ranks of #WhiteKnightCorps extend their deepest condolences on the tragic loss of five brave soldiers in a vehicle accident during operational duty in the #Poonch sector. Rescue operations are ongoing, and the injured personnel are receiving medical care”.
Northern Command chief Lt Gen M.V. SuchindraKumar and all ranks also extended their deepest condolences on the tragic loss of five brave soldiers.
“DhruvaCommand stands firm with the bereaved families in this hour of grief”, it said in a post on X.
The army has been maintaining heightened vigil on the Line of Control (LoC) after intelligence reports that terrorists are waiting at the launch pads across the border to infiltrate into the Indian side before the mountain passes are closed by heavy snowfall this year.
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