Cyclone Dana Set To Be Severe; Armed Forces On High Alert In Odisha, Bengal

by Hemanta Pande

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Cyclone Dana is expected to severely impact the coastal regions of Odisha and West Bengal. In response, the Indian Navy has launched extensive preparations for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations.

New Delhi, Oct 24: Cyclone Dana is expected to severely impact the coastal regions of Odisha and West Bengal. In response, the Indian Navy has launched extensive preparations for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations.

The Eastern Naval Command has activated its disaster response mechanism in coordination with naval officers stationed in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal. Two ships from the Eastern Fleet have been deployed with essential supplies, including rescue and diving teams, to support relief efforts by sea.

The Indian Navy remains on high alert, closely monitoring the situation, and has assured full support to those affected by the cyclone.

The Ministry of Defence has also stated that medical aid will be provided upon request from state authorities. For this, the Navy is in coordination with units such as Base Victualling Yard (BVY), Material Organisation, and Naval Hospital INHS Kalyani.

As part of the preparedness, the Navy has stockpiled essential items such as clothing, drinking water, food, medicines, and emergency supplies. Disaster response pallets have been strategically positioned on roads and key areas likely to face damage from the cyclone.

In addition to naval efforts, flood relief and diving teams are on standby, ready for coordinated rescue and relief operations.

The Indian Air Force and Coast Guard have also taken precautionary measures to safeguard life and property in the region. The Indian Air Force has airlifted 150 NDRF personnel and 25 tonnes of relief supplies to Bhubaneswar using IL-76 and AN-32 aircraft. Moreover, marine vessels, aircraft, and remote-operating stations in West Bengal and Odisha have been activated to address any emergency situation.

The Ministry of Defence said that all necessary precautions have been taken by the Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard to mitigate the impact of Cyclone Dana.

The severe cyclonic storm Dana is expected to hit the Odisha coast between Bhitarkanika in Kendrapara district and Dhamra in Bhadrak district on October 24 night and October 25 morning. After landfall, it is expected to slightly recurve towards the west and west-south direction triggering heavy rainfall in South Odisha districts on October 26.

Several coastal districts in Odisha have been receiving rainfall since Wednesday afternoon and the wind speed has been continuously increasing in the districts. As per reports, trees were uprooted at some places in the coastal districts and the fire services personnel and other rescue teams were busy clearing the roads on Thursday.

--IANS

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Adani Total Gas Clocks 7 Pc Jump In Net Profit At Rs 186 Crore In Q2, Revenue Up 12 Pc

by Hemanta Pande

Ahmedabad, Oct 24: Adani Total Gas Ltd (ATGL) on Thursday reported a seven per cent increase in consolidated net profit (year-on-year) at Rs 186 crore in Q2 FY25, while operational revenue saw a 12 per cent jump, reaching Rs 1,315 crore.

EBITDA rose by 8 per cent to Rs 313 crore in the July-September period, as standalone net profit (PAT) increased by 6 per cent, reaching Rs 178 crore.

For the first six months of this fiscal (H1 FY25), the consolidated net profit stood at Rs 357 crore, up by 11 per cent YoY.

The Adani Group company said the volume surged 15 per cent (YoY) in Q2 FY25, while the CNG network increased to 577 and PNG households increased to 8.93 lakh homes in the quarter (adding 34,468 new households).

"ATGL has reported healthy operational and financial performance during the quarter. Our business is closely aligned with India’s energy transition goals which we are delivering by providing cleaner and greener energy solutions to all our consumers," ATGL CEO and ED Suresh P. Manglani said.

"We now reach over 9 lakh consumers through our piped gas network supplying uninterrupted piped natural gas. We have commissioned our first LNG station for the transportation segment and are progressing towards covering key highway networks aiding India’s decarbonisation march," he added.

The company saw industrial and commercial connections reach 8,746 with 204 new consumers in the quarter.

With the joint venture IndianOil-Adani Gas Pvt Ltd (IOAGPL), the combined network of CNG stations stands at 958, with 31 new stations added in the quarter.

According to the company, PNG home connections have crossed the 1-million mark to 1.06 million, touching over 4 million lives on a daily basis.

"Following the recent reduction in APM gas allocation, which caters to auto CNG and home PNG consumers, we are closely monitoring the situation and given our diversified gas sourcing portfolio, we will ensure a calibrated pricing approach to balance the interest of our consumers," said Manglani.

In September, ATGL secured the largest global financing in India’s city gas distribution business of $375 million to accelerate the network infrastructure development programme. Adani TotalEnergies E-mobility Ltd (ATEL) now has 1,486 EV charging points commissioned across 213 cities, the company said.

--IANS

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Cabinet Okays 2 Railways Projects Worth Rs 6,798 Crore

by Utkalika Mohanty

New Delhi, Oct 24: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Thursday approved two railway projects with an estimated cost of Rs 6,798 crore.

The projects will be completed in five years to provide connectivity, facilitate ease of travelling, minimise logistics costs, reduce oil imports, and lower CO2 emissions, said the CCEA, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The approved projects are the doubling of the Narkatiaganj-Raxaul-Sitamarhi-Darbhanga and Sitamarhi-Muzaffarpur Sections covering 256 km, and the construction of a new line between Errupalem and Namburu via Amaravati covering 57 km. The projects will generate direct employment for about 106 lakh human-days.

Covering eight districts in three states -- Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Bihar, the new rail projects will increase the existing network of Indian Railways by about 313 km.

"These will improve logistical efficiency connecting the unconnected areas, increase the existing line capacity and enhance transportation networks, resulting in streamlined supply chains and accelerated economic growth," according to the Cabinet.

The doubling of the Narkatiaganj-Raxaul-Sitamarhi-Darbhanga and Sitamarhi-Muzaffarpur Sections will boost the connectivity to Nepal, northeast India and border areas, while facilitating the movement of passenger trains, along with goods trains, resulting in the socio-economic growth of the region. The multi-tracking project would enhance connectivity to two aspirational districts (Sitamarhi and Muzaffarpur), serving 388 villages and about 9 lakh population.

"These are essential routes for transportation of commodities such as agriculture products, fertilizer, coal, iron ore, steel, cement, etc. The capacity augmentation works will result in additional freight traffic of magnitude 31 MTPA (million tonnes per annum)," said the CCEA.

The Errupalem-Amaravati-Namburu rail line project traverses through NTR Vijayawada and Guntur districts of Andhra Pradesh and Khammam district of Telangana. The new line project will provide connectivity to 168 villages and nearly 12 lakh people with nine new stations. "The new line proposal will provide direct connectivity to Amaravati, the proposed Capital of Andhra Pradesh and improve mobility for industries and the population, providing enhanced efficiency and service reliability for Indian Railways," the Cabinet said.

--IANS

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2nd Test: Washington Picks Career-Best 7-59 As India Bowl Out NZ For 259

by Hemanta Pande

Pune, Oct 24: Off-spin all-rounder Washington Sundar ran through the New Zealand batting order to pick career-best figures of 7-59 as the visitors’ were bowled out for 259 by India on day one of second Test at the MCA Stadium on Thursday.

Electing to bat first, New Zealand were 197/3 at one stage and it felt like they would go past 300. But Washington displayed an exhibition of drift and dip, while varying his pace well and turned the game on its head for India and keep New Zealand to one below 260.

His senior off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin chipped in with 3-64 as the innings marked the first-ever instance of all ten wickets taken by India’s right-arm off-spinners in a Test match. Before the game, Washington being drafted in ahead of Kuldeep Yadav raised eyebrows, but his sensational bowling performance on a slow black-soil pitch shut down all those questions.

In the morning, Devon Conway and captain Tom Latham hit five boundaries between themselves, before the latter fell early to Ashwin, who got the length ball to straighten after pitching on leg-stump and trapped the left-handed batter lbw for 15 off 22 balls.

Conway and Will Young got some easy singles on offer, while hitting boundaries occasionally to stitch a 44-run stand for the second wicket, with India’s spinners bowling quicker through the air. Ashwin then strangled Young down leg, and Sarfaraz Khan, stationed at short leg, prodded captain Rohit Sharma to take a review.

Replays justified Sarfaraz’s conviction as there was a spike detected on the ultra-edge when the ball passed off the gloves, before being pouched by Rishabh Pant, as Young was dismissed for 18. Conway was solid like a rock, especially in his sweeps, while Rachin Ravindra surviving a few close brushes till lunch came.

Resuming from 92/2 in the post-lunch session, Conway started with a cracking cover drive off Jasprit Bumrah to get his fifty. He then capitalised on width from Bumrah’s deliveries by punching off the backfoot and opening the face of the bat late to get back-to-back boundaries.

From the other end, Ravindra began to find his groove by using Bumrah’s pace to run through the gap between slip and gully for four. Conway continued to be impressive with his drive and reverse-sweeps, before poking at a short and spinning away ball from Ashwin, with the edge caught by Rishabh Pant.

Ravindra took over the run-scoring mantle by lofting Jadeja for six, before beautifully flicking Akash Deep for four more. After getting his fifty with a stylish flick going through the hands of short mid-wicket for four, Ravindra had two more boundaries coming off Akash via cut and outside edge.

The 59-run stand for the fourth wicket between Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell was brought to a halt by Washington, who turned the tide for India in the fag end of the second session with his dip and drift. Washington got a tossed-up delivery to turn away sharply from the middle stump and hit top of the off-stump with a peach of a delivery.

At the stroke of tea, Washington again brought joy to himself and Indian team by getting a length ball to grip and turn sharply into Blundell, who aimed for a flick, but was castled through the gate.

Post-tea, Washington asked for a review after rapping Daryl Mitchell on the pads with a sharp turning delivery, which proved to be a good review as replays showed ball going on to clip leg-stump. Mitchell Santner tried upping the ante by hitting boundaries, but Washington continued to hurt New Zealand.

Glenn Phillips holed out to long-off off him, while Tim Southee and Ajaz Patel were castled by the young all-rounder, and Washington wrapped up the New Zealand innings in style by ratting Santner with grip and turn to take out the off-stump, as the visitors’ lost their last seven wickets for 62 runs.