Archives for 2023

New Delhi: The southwest monsoon is set to advance further into the southern peninsula and eastern parts of the country from Sunday after an initial delay in its onset over Kerala.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said Cyclone Biparjoy has completely detached itself from the monsoonal flow and will have no impact on the progress of the seasonal rainfall system.

“Had Cyclone Biparjoy moved north-westwards towards Oman, it would have affected the monsoonal flow,” he said.

Mohapatra said the cyclone had helped the progress of the monsoon by strengthening the cross-equatorial flow as it lingered over the southeast Arabian Sea.

Conditions were becoming favourable for further advance of the southwest monsoon over some more parts of the south peninsula and east India and adjoining areas between June 18 and 21.

Cyclone Biparjoy’s presence in the Arabian Sea had initially delayed and reduced the intensity of the onset of monsoon by pulling both moisture and convection.

The southwest monsoon hit India on June 8 with its onset over Kerala against the normal date of June 1.

Research shows that a delay in the onset of monsoon over Kerala does not necessarily mean a delay in the monsoon onset over northwest India.

India is expected to get normal rainfall during the southwest monsoon season despite the evolving El Nino conditions, the IMD had earlier said.

El Nino, which is the warming of the waters in the Pacific Ocean near South America, is generally associated with the weakening of monsoon winds and dry weather in India.

El Nino conditions this year follow three consecutive La Nina years. La Nina, which is the opposite of El Nino, typically brings good rainfall during the monsoon season.

CHANDIGARH: A political storm has erupted in the state after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Punjab Police in its report to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) stated that the complainant appeared before the SIT and stated that he was withdrawing the complaint of sexual exploitation case against Punjab Cabinet Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak. 

He also claimed that a purported video of the exploitation that had surfaced was ‘doctored’.  This comes as a relief for the AAP-led Punjab government, as state governor Banwarilal Purohit had asked the government to take action against the minister.  

The complainant had appeared before the SIT last week and his statement was videographed. He told the SIT that he lost his mobile phone and later someone showed him a doctored video of him and the minister. Earlier, the complainant had accused the minister of exploiting him for years, forcing him into a relationship on the pretext of giving him a job.

Cyclone ‘Biparjoy’ is expected to make landfall in Gujarat between 4-5 p.m. on Thursday with maximum wind speed reaching up to 150 kilometres per hour.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Railway Protection Force (RPF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Army units are on standby to provide assistance and support, said Amit Arora, the collector of Kutch, Gujarat.

While 18 NDRF teams have been placed in Gujarat, one has been stationed in neighbouring Diu in the newly formed Union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.

Consequently, authorities have evacuated a total of 74,000 residents from vulnerable areas, specifically 120 villages situated within 10 kilometres of the seashore in Kutch district.

Over 20,000 animals have been shifted to safer locations, adequate supply of rations at all shelter homes is ensured and 50 teams have been deployed for road clearance operations.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts that the cyclone will make landfall near Jakhau port as a very severe cyclonic storm, with wind speeds reaching up to 150 kilometres per hour.

The Navy has placed four ships equipped with Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) capabilities on standby. Additionally, relief teams are stationed at Porbandar, Okha, and Valsura, ready to provide immediate assistance. Helicopters stationed at INS Hansa in Goa and INS Shikra in Mumbai are prepared to be deployed to Gujarat if necessary.

IMD Warning: Damage expected in these areas

Cyclone Biparjoy is likely to destroy thatched houses and cause extensive damage to kutcha houses, and slight damage to pucca houses. Flying objects pose a potential threat, and power and communication poles may bend or uproot due to the severe cyclonic storm.

Major damage to roads, flooding of escape routes, disruption of railways, power lines, and signaling systems is anticipated. Standing crops, plantations, orchards, and coconut trees are at risk of damage, while bushy trees like mango may be blown down. Small boats and country crafts may become detached from their moorings, and visibility will be severely affected by salt spray.

Warning for fishermen

Fishermen are strongly advised to suspend all fishing operations in the northeast and adjoining east-central Arabian Sea. Those currently at sea are urged to return to the coast. Offshore and onshore activities should be regulated cautiously, and precautions should be taken at ports along the west coast of the country. Naval bases are also instructed to maintain necessary precautions.

Movement of motor boats and small ships in these areas should be avoided. Evacuation measures should be mobilised for coastal areas of Saurashtra and Kutch, while rail and road traffic should be regulated. People in affected areas are advised to remain indoors, and tourism activities may be restricted during this period.

The authorities are closely monitoring the situation and are prepared to respond promptly to any emergencies that may arise.

Mandaviya reviews preparedness measures

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday reviewed the preparedness measures being taken in Kutch for cyclone Biparjoy.

The Union health minister visited the Bhuj Air Force station to take stock of the preparations made by ‘Garuda’ Emergency Response Team of the Indian Air Force.

He said “our jawans are fully prepared for the safety of life and property from the cyclone.”

He also reviewed the availability of oxygen, ventilators and critical care beds in Kutch district government hospitals, trust-run hospitals and other hospitals in the region.

He further reviewed the preparations of health facilities that will be made immediately available if needed, post the cyclone.

Mandaviya interacted with drivers of 108 emergency ambulance service in Kutch and stated that “their enthusiasm and support have been a confidence booster”.

He said under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, “all possible arrangements are being made by the central and state governments to deal with cyclone Biparjoy.”

17 SDRF teams deployed in Rajasthan

Seventeen SDRF teams have been deployed in Rajasthan to deal with the impact of very severe cyclone Biparjoy which is expected to make landfall on the Gujarat coast Thursday, a top official said on Wednesday.

Rajasthan Chief Secretary Usha Sharma held a meeting with officials of various departments and district collectors to review the preparations to deal with the effects of the cyclone.

A meteorological department official said in the meeting that under the impact of Cyclone Biparjoy, a deep depression will hit Jalore and Barmer on June 16, bringing heavy rains and thunderstorms with wind speeds up to 50 to 60 km per hour.

Sharma said 17 SDRF teams have been deployed and 30 teams are in reserve and directed the officers to be present at their headquarters to deal with the situation.

The district collectors present in the meeting said that power, health and police departments have been alerted to deal with any impending situation.

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka is not in the position to hold a snap presidential election this year because of the ongoing economic crisis and the government’s focus is on debt restructuring, Cabinet Spokesman Bandula Gunawardena said on Tuesday.

“No election would be possible this year as the state finances have not improved,” Gunawardena said while responding to speculation that the government might opt to hold a snap presidential election.

He said the government’s focus, for now, is centred on successfully ending the process of debt restructuring.Advertisementhttps://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2023/jun/14/sri-lanka-cant-afford-to-hold-snap-presidential-election-this-year-due-to-economic-crisis-2584957.html

Former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was elected as the President of Sri Lanka by the Parliament to serve the remainder of ex-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s term, which was supposed to end in November 2024.

The IMF extended a nearly USD 3 billion bailout facility to debt-ridden Sri Lanka to help stabilise the country’s economy after it was jolted by a devastating economic crisis last year.

“Without restructuring our debt it will not be possible to obtain any more foreign loans,” Gunawardena, also the Minister of Transport and Highways and Minister of Mass Media, said, citing the example of 53 million dollars needed for improving the roads infrastructure.

“Until we pay back the existing loans we will not be able to borrow,” he stressed.

Sri Lanka has a tight September deadline from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to conclude its outstanding debt. The nearly USD 3 billion bailout from the IMF that was approved on March 20 was delayed due to the need to restructure debt.

President Wickremesinghe, who is also the finance minister, is also under mounting criticism for holding back the local council election claiming the treasury was short of funds to allocate money for election expenditure.

The opposition who blamed Wickremesinghe for postponing elections due to fear of losing has petitioned the highest court for intervention in the matter.

The election for 340 local councils was originally fixed for March 9. It has since been postponed indefinitely.

Last year, Sri Lanka plunged into its worst economic crisis since its independence in 1948 due to plummeting foreign exchange reserves that caused severe shortages of essential items and triggered massive public protests.

In April 2022, the island nation declared its international debt default due to the forex crisis.

CHENNAI: A medical bulletin from the Omandurar hospital said that Minister for Electricity, Prohibition and Excise duty Senthil Balaji (47) underwent a coronary angiogram at 10.40 am on Wednesday. It revealed triple vessel disease, for which CABG-Bypass Surgery is advised at the earliest, it added. 

The minister complained of chest pain while being taken for investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The medical report will also be sent to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) by the ED to ask their opinion, said sources. 

The minister was arrested in connection with the cash for jobs scam when he was the transport minister during AIADMK regime in 2011-15. CM MK Stalin visited Senthil Balaji at the hospital. Ministers PK Sekar Babu, M Subramanian and Udhayanidhi Stalin are still in the hospital.

According to the doctors, Senthil Balaji complained of chest pain and discomfort and there were variations in his ECG. 

When Senthil Balaji was taken in a car probably the one used by the ED officials,   initially, it was believed that he was being taken to the ED office in Nungambakkam for further interrogation.  But within a few seconds, the situation changed as Balaji was seen screaming in pain holding his chest.  He was seen in the very same dress he wore when he returned to his home on Tuesday morning after hearing the news about ED officials were searching his house.

NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge slammed the late-night arrest of Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister Senthil Balaji by the (ED) saying that it is “nothing but political harassment and vendetta” by the central government.

“Congress President Shri condemns the late-night arrest of Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister Shri V. Senthil Balaji by the ED. This is nothing but political harassment and vendetta by the Modi govt. against those opposed to it. None of us in the Opposition will be intimidated by such brazen moves,” Kharge said in a press statement released by the Congress.

Meanwhile, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram pointed out that these raids by the central agencies are only for ‘optics’ and it does not help in collating ‘evidence’.

“All these raids on functionaries of political parties opposed to the @BJP4India are only for optics & voyeuristic pleasure of a few, it in no way aids in collating “evidence” in the “alleged” case. Events of 2016 (ADMK)raids in 2023 in the Secratariat Office, seriously

Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Blaji broke down while being taken into custody by the ED officials for questioning in connection to an alleged money laundering case in the early hours of Wednesday. This was after his residence was raided by the ED on Tuesday.

The ED brought Balaji to Omandurar government hospital in Chennai for medical examination amid tight security when the high drama was witnessed outside the hospital. Balaji could be seen crying in pain while lying in the car as his supporters gathered there to protest against the ED action.