Uttarakhand: 10 People Die Due To The Heavy Rains In Kedarnath

by Shambhu Datta Mishra

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

The Chief Minister held a review meeting with officials at the State Emergency Operation Centre to assess the situation of rescue and relief operations in areas affected by heavy rainfall

He instructed the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams to remain on high alert in the affected regions

Earlier, the Uttarakhand government also issued a safety advisory for Chardham Yatra pilgrims amid forecasts of heavy rainfall across the state

DGP Abhinav Kumar has urged pilgrims and devotees to be cautious and to start their journey only after breaks

Dehradun, August 1: At least 10 people have died and the concrete bridge and footbridge on the Kedarnath route have been damaged, following heavy rain in the area informed Uttarakhand State Disaster Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman Thursday.

"All the routes of Chardham are open, only the footpath in Kedarnath has been obstructed. 100 other routes are obstructed; efforts are being made continuously to open them" the Chief secretary said.

Earlier Thursday Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inspected the disaster-affected areas. The Chief Minister held a review meeting with officials at the State Emergency Operation Centre to assess the situation of rescue and relief operations in areas affected by heavy rainfall.

During the meeting, CM Dhami said that rescue teams had been active throughout the night, relocating people to safety due to the impact of the rains.

"We received information about the disruption of life in many areas across the state. Consequently, rescue teams worked through the night to move people to safer locations," he said

The Chief Minister assured that he is maintaining constant communication with the local administration. He instructed the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams to remain on high alert in the affected regions.

"I have directed officials to assist those affected by the heavy rainfall and to relocate individuals endangered by rising rivers and drains to safer places. Everyone has been instructed to stay vigilant," CM Dhami said after the meeting.

He also mentioned that relief and rescue operations are ongoing in severely affected areas such as Rambada, Bhimbali, and Jakhaniyali.

The Chief Minister directed that all officers should keep in mind that whatever funds are required for evacuating people from sensitive areas to safe places, relief and rescue operations, reconstruction and rehabilitation from a security point of view, will be sanctioned by the government immediately. All the District Magistrates were directed to coordinate at the local level and take immediate action upon receiving information about any disaster, giving priority to the safety of the public without any laxity.

Earlier, the Uttarakhand government also issued a safety advisory for Chardham Yatra pilgrims amid forecasts of heavy rainfall across the state. Authorities have appealed to devotees to delay their journeys until weather conditions improve and to remain in safe locations.

DGP Abhinav Kumar has urged pilgrims and devotees to be cautious and to start their journey only after breaks. He emphasized the importance of staying in safe places and following local authorities' instructions.

"The Meteorological Department has issued an alert for heavy rain in most districts of Uttarakhand. Your safety is our priority," the DGP said.

(ANI)

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ECI Issues Notification For First Phase Of Assembly Polls In Jharkhand

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

New Delhi/Ranchi, Oct 18: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday issued notification for the first phase of Assembly elections in Jharkhand, marking the beginning of the nomination process.

In the first phase, elections will be held in 43 Assembly constituencies.

Candidates can now submit their nomination papers both offline and online. Nomination papers will be accepted at the Returning Officer's (RO) office between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

A maximum of four persons, including the candidate, can enter the RO chamber. If the candidate belongs to a registered party, only one voter is required to propose their candidacy. However, independent candidates and those from non-recognised political parties will need ten proposers.

The candidate's name must be listed in any voter roll within the state. They can also submit their nomination forms online through the Election Commission's Suvidha App.

While submitting the nomination form, the candidate must provide three recent passport-size photos, a copy of their educational qualification certificates, a copy of the new bank account opened for election purposes, and an affidavit (Form 26) which must detail the candidate's movable and immovable assets, loans, liabilities, and any criminal record.

To keep a tab on expenses, a register will be maintained by both the candidate and the election office. Candidates are permitted to spend up to Rs 40 lakh in this election. For the nomination, general category candidates must pay a fee of Rs 10,000, while candidates from Scheduled Castes/Tribes need to pay Rs 5,000.

The seats going to polls in the first phase are Kodarma, Barkatha, Barhi, Barkagaon, Hazaribagh, Simaria, Chatra, Baharagora, Ghatshila, Potka, Jugsalai, Jamshedpur East, Jamshedpur West, Ichagarh, Seraikela, Chaibasa, Majhgaon, Jagannathpur, Manoharpur, Chakradharpur, Kharsawan.

Polling will also be held in Tamar, Torpa, Khunti, Ranchi, Hatia, Kanke, Mandar, Sisai, Gumla, Bishunpur, Simdega, Kolebira, Lohardaga, Manika, Latehar, Panki, Daltonganj, Vishrampur, Chhatarpur, Hussainabad, Garhwa, and Bhawanathpur in the first phase.

The last date for submitting nomination papers is October 25, while scrutiny was scheduled for October 28. The final date for withdrawing nominations is October 30.

The state is going to polls in two phases on November 13 and 20 and the counting of votes will be taken up on November 23.

--IANS

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Fire At ESI Hospital In Kolkata, One Dead

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

Kolkata, Oct 18: A patient was killed after a major fire broke out at Sealdah Employees' State Insurance (ESI) hospital in Kolkata on Friday morning.

The deceased was identified as Uttam Bardhan, who was undergoing treatment for cancer at the hospital. He complained of acute uneasiness because of the smoke and was admitted to the critical care unit (CCU) of the same hospital.

However, all attempts of the doctors to treat him failed and he died around 9.30 a.m. The remaining patients were safely evacuated to other wards at the hospital.

The fire was first noticed by a hospital staff who saw smoke billowing from the male surgery ward on the first floor and informed the authorities.

At least 10 fire tenders rushed to the spot to put out the fire.

Eighty patients admitted to the male surgery ward of the hospital were safely evacuated by the firemen and the personnel of the State Disaster Management Department.

State Fire Services Minister Sujit Basu rushed to the hospital and supervised firefighting operations and the evacuation of the patients.

"The fire officials and firemen have done an excellent job. They managed to bring the fire under control within a very short period, because of which losses could be averted. Fortunately, the fire broke out when the rush at the hospital was not that high," said the minister.

The hospital authorities have announced that the outdoor unit of the hospital will remain closed for the day.

The cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained, though the fire officials suspected a short circuit to be the reason for the blaze.

After receiving information about the fire, family members of the patients, who were admitted to the hospital, rushed to the spot. However, the Fire Services Department officials assured them everything was under control.

--IANS

Uttarakhand: 10 People Die Due To The Heavy Rains In Kedarnath

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