Gujarat: Possibility of flooding in Banaskantha district, officials say
At least 22 people were killed in various parts of Gujarat as heavy rains lashed the state on Tuesday. State Disaster Control Room officials said that while four of those killed died in the northern Banaskantha district, three people each were killed in the Rajkot and Patan districts of the state, with one more casualty being reported from the Sabarkantha district. The officials added that teams from the National Disaster Response Force and the State Reserve Police had been dispatched to the Banaskantha district, keeping in mind the possibility of floods in the region. The state’s Meteorological Department also issued a warning to fishermen, asking them not to venture out to sea for the next 24 hours due to high wind speeds.
Maharashtra: Two killed, several trapped after building collapses in Thane
At least two people were killed and 15 more were feared trapped under the debris of a building that collapsed in the Thane district of Mumbai in Maharashtra on Tuesday. Regional Disaster Management Committee chief Santosh Kadam said that the building had collapsed at around 10.40pm following heavy rains in the area. Kadam further said that a massive search-and-rescue operation had begun, adding that three injured persons had been rushed to a nearby hospital. Meanwhile, chief fire officer Dilip Gund said that 22 people had been rescued from the debris. Residents said that 15 families in the building, some of whom managed to evacuate the structure before it came down. Other officials said that fire brigade teams had already been rushed to the area, with police officers saying that heavy rains were obstructing relief-and-rescue efforts.
Delhi: Government removes hoardings criticising Modi
The Arvind Kejriwal-led government in Delhi on Tuesday removed hoardings and posters criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The hoardings, first put up over a week ago, had targeted Modi over the administration of Delhi, saying that the Prime Minister was not allowing the Aam Aadmi Party government to function in the state. The government had also come out with television and radio advertisements over the same matter. The row initially began months ago, when Kejriwal accused Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung of interfering in bureaucratic appointments in the state. The latest flashpoint came after Jung called the appointment of Swati Maliwal as chief of the Delhi Commission for Women unconstitutional. However, the Lieutenant-Governor on Monday approved Maliwal’s appointment. Later, Delhi officials said that the hoardings and posters had been removed as a mark of respect to former President APJ Abdul Kalam, who passed away yesterday.
Bihar: High Court bans use of Nitish pictures for government campaign
The Patna High Court on Tuesday asked the Bihar government to stop using pictures of state Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his cabinet colleagues in promotions for the state-sponsored Badh Chala Bihar campaign. A two-Judge bench of the court issued its order after hearing a writ petition filed by Right to Information activist SP Rai, who alleged that public money meant for the campaign was being “misused” to promote Kumar’s party, the Janata Dal (United). Rai later told reporters that he would demand the recovery of the money spent on the campaign. “The state government has said that it was spending only Rs 14 crore on the campaign, but we’re going to challenge that contention in court,” Rai’s lawyer said. The order was issued one day after Kumar said that his government had covered 18,000 villages as part of the campaign, which aims obtain public feedback on the development of the state.
Tripura: Government to provide allowances for transgenders, AIDS patients
Tripura’s government on Tuesday announced that it would begin to provide monthly allowances to different socio-economic categories, including transgender individuals, AIDS and leprosy patients as well as female domestic workers and anganwadi employees. State Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said that the decision to provide the allowances was taken after a cabinet meeting, adding that the resultant schemes to implement the decision would benefit over 1.07 lakh people every month. He further said that a one-time lump sum payment would also be provided to some individuals in case they decided not to opt for monthly allowances. The financial benefit would also be available to the heirs of anganwadi workers and helpers under certain conditions, Sarkar said. Officials later said that the schemes would cost the state exchequer slightly over Rs 2.3 crore.
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At least 22 people were killed in various parts of Gujarat as heavy rains lashed the state on Tuesday. State Disaster Control Room officials said that while four of those killed died in the northern Banaskantha district, three people each were killed in the Rajkot and Patan districts of the state, with one more casualty being reported from the Sabarkantha district. The officials added that teams from the National Disaster Response Force and the State Reserve Police had been dispatched to the Banaskantha district, keeping in mind the possibility of floods in the region. The state’s Meteorological Department also issued a warning to fishermen, asking them not to venture out to sea for the next 24 hours due to high wind speeds.
Maharashtra: Two killed, several trapped after building collapses in Thane
At least two people were killed and 15 more were feared trapped under the debris of a building that collapsed in the Thane district of Mumbai in Maharashtra on Tuesday. Regional Disaster Management Committee chief Santosh Kadam said that the building had collapsed at around 10.40pm following heavy rains in the area. Kadam further said that a massive search-and-rescue operation had begun, adding that three injured persons had been rushed to a nearby hospital. Meanwhile, chief fire officer Dilip Gund said that 22 people had been rescued from the debris. Residents said that 15 families in the building, some of whom managed to evacuate the structure before it came down. Other officials said that fire brigade teams had already been rushed to the area, with police officers saying that heavy rains were obstructing relief-and-rescue efforts.
Delhi: Government removes hoardings criticising Modi
The Arvind Kejriwal-led government in Delhi on Tuesday removed hoardings and posters criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The hoardings, first put up over a week ago, had targeted Modi over the administration of Delhi, saying that the Prime Minister was not allowing the Aam Aadmi Party government to function in the state. The government had also come out with television and radio advertisements over the same matter. The row initially began months ago, when Kejriwal accused Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung of interfering in bureaucratic appointments in the state. The latest flashpoint came after Jung called the appointment of Swati Maliwal as chief of the Delhi Commission for Women unconstitutional. However, the Lieutenant-Governor on Monday approved Maliwal’s appointment. Later, Delhi officials said that the hoardings and posters had been removed as a mark of respect to former President APJ Abdul Kalam, who passed away yesterday.
Bihar: High Court bans use of Nitish pictures for government campaign
The Patna High Court on Tuesday asked the Bihar government to stop using pictures of state Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his cabinet colleagues in promotions for the state-sponsored Badh Chala Bihar campaign. A two-Judge bench of the court issued its order after hearing a writ petition filed by Right to Information activist SP Rai, who alleged that public money meant for the campaign was being “misused” to promote Kumar’s party, the Janata Dal (United). Rai later told reporters that he would demand the recovery of the money spent on the campaign. “The state government has said that it was spending only Rs 14 crore on the campaign, but we’re going to challenge that contention in court,” Rai’s lawyer said. The order was issued one day after Kumar said that his government had covered 18,000 villages as part of the campaign, which aims obtain public feedback on the development of the state.
Tripura: Government to provide allowances for transgenders, AIDS patients
Tripura’s government on Tuesday announced that it would begin to provide monthly allowances to different socio-economic categories, including transgender individuals, AIDS and leprosy patients as well as female domestic workers and anganwadi employees. State Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said that the decision to provide the allowances was taken after a cabinet meeting, adding that the resultant schemes to implement the decision would benefit over 1.07 lakh people every month. He further said that a one-time lump sum payment would also be provided to some individuals in case they decided not to opt for monthly allowances. The financial benefit would also be available to the heirs of anganwadi workers and helpers under certain conditions, Sarkar said. Officials later said that the schemes would cost the state exchequer slightly over Rs 2.3 crore.
