Archives for July 2024

 A 16-year-old boy allegedly jumped to his death from the 14th floor of a residential building in Pimpri Chinchwad city near Pune, with police suspecting his involvement in an online game as a possible cause with the recovery of a “log out” message from his notebook.

The boy was addicted to playing the online game as per his parents, said Swapna Gore, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone I).

“We have found a purported suicide note from his notebook mentioning ‘log out’. He also wrote ‘XD’ which could be the online game he was playing. We are investigating the exact trigger behind the suicide,” the police officer said.

The boy flung himself off at around midnight on Thursday.

He was a student of class 10 from a local school. The father of the deceased works in a firm in Nigeria, and his mother, an engineer, is a homemaker.

Police have seized his laptop and handed it over to cyber experts to crack the password.

“Besides the mention of ‘log out’, police also found three drawings resembling maps of a building. One of the maps described how to commit ‘suicide’,” Gore said.

Police are trying to find out when the maps were drawn and whether they were old or freshly created on the day of the incident.

A case of accidental death has been registered.

Mangaluru (Karnataka): The Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has launched ‘Operation Tiger,’ targeting unauthorised street food vendors in the Mannagudda area and along Airport Road near Karnataka Polytechnic on July 29, officials said.

The crackdown has led to the clearing of Mangaluru’s famous food street in Mannagudda, an area previously bustling with activity. The operation resulted in the removal of approximately 30 illegal stalls, the officials said.

According to officials, the drive focused on vendors selling various fast food items, including fish dishes, chaats and egg preparations.

The operation was led by Deputy Commissioner Rekha Shetty, Health Officer Dr Manjaiah Shetty, and officials from the revenue department, with the support of Barke and Kadri police stations to ensure security and crowd control.

This enforcement action followed an earlier promise by Mayor Sudheer Shetty Kannur, who vowed to take stringent measures in response to increasing public complaints. Residents had voiced concerns about street vendors obstructing pedestrian movement and also posing potential health risks.

During the operation, four individuals who attempted to protest the clearance were detained by police in an attempt by the MCC to enforce municipal regulations and maintain order.

This sweep is part of a broader campaign aimed at regulating street vending and upholding the city’s safety standards, the officials said.

Singrauli (MP) A three-year-old girl, who accidentally slipped into an open borewell near a village in Singrauli district of Madhya Pradesh on Monday evening, was rescued after more than five hours and rushed to a hospital where her condition was stated to be critical, officials said.

Shoumya, daughter of one Pintu Sahu, fell into the borewell near Kasar village, located about 40km from the district headquarters, while playing in an agriculture field at around 5 pm, Bargawan police station inspector Shivpujan Mishra told.

The borewell was said to be more than 250-foot deep and the girl had got stuck at the depth of 25-foot, he stated.

Rescuers immediately launched an operation to pull out the girl and managed to bring her out after five-and-a-half hours of effort, informed the police officer.

The baby was taken to a hospital, where her condition was critical, said District Chief Medical and Health Officer NK Jain.

Two persons were killed and 20 others injured as at least 18 coaches of the Howrah-Mumbai Mail derailed in Jharkhand’s Seraikela-Kharsawan district early on Tuesday, officials said.

The accident occurred at 3.45 AM near Barabamboo, around 80 km from Jamshedpur, under the Chakradharpur Division of the South Eastern Railway (SER), they said.

SER spokesperson Om Prakash Charan said that there was another derailment of a goods train nearby, but it was not yet clear whether the two accidents occurred concurrently.

“Two persons were killed and 20 injured as 18 coaches of Howrah-Mumbai Mail derailed near Barabamboo. Rescue operations are on and an NDRF team is rushing to the spot,” West Singhbhum Deputy Commissioner Kuldeep Chaudhary, who is camping at the accident site.

He claimed that the “Howrah-Mumbai train hit the stationary goods train”.

The accident site is near the border between West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan districts.

“At least 18 coaches of the 22-coach 12810 Howrah-Mumbai Mail via Nagpur derailed near Barabamboo station in SER’s Chakradharpur Division at 3.45 AM,” the SER spokesperson said.m Of these, 16 were passenger coaches, one power car and one pantry car, he said.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren directed officials concerned to expedite relief operations and help the injured people.

“The injured passengers were provided medical aid in Barabamboo. They were taken to Chakradharpur for better treatment,” another senior SER official said.

The rescue operation is on, he said.

“A relief train for evacuation of passengers to nearby Chakradharpur railway station has arrived. Besides, buses are also being arranged for transportation of passengers,” the West Singhbhum DC told PTI.

Another official said 80 passengers have already been sent to the Chakradharpur railway station by buses.

Seraikela-Kharsawan Superintendent of Police Mukesh Kumar Lunayat said rescue operations were being carried out promptly. Several trains on the route have been cancelled or diverted, he said.

The train, which left Howrah on Monday night, met with the accident early this morning, the SER official said.

The train accident was reported from Potobeda in the Kharsawan block of Seraikela-Kharsawan district, said an official of the local administration.

“The Howrah-Mumbai Mail and a freight train were involved in the accident. The assessment of injured people is underway,” he added.

The SER cancelled a few express and passenger trains on Tuesday owing to the accident, including 22861 Howrah-Titlagarh-Kantabanji Ispat Express and 12021 Howrah-Barbil Janshatabdi Express. Some other trains were either short-terminated or diverted owing to the accident near Barabamboo station, the official said.

The South Eastern Railway on Tuesday opened helpline numbers after the derailment of the 18 coaches of the train.

The helpline numbers are 022-22694040 for Mumbai, 08799982712 for Bhusawal, 7757912790 for Nagpur, 0657-2290324 for Tata, 06587-238072 for Chakradharpur, 0661-2501072 and 0661-2500244 for Rourkela and 06645-272530 for Jharsuguda, the SER said in a statement.

Thiruvananthapuram: Multiple NDRF teams, two helicopters and other rescue efforts are on their way to Mundakkai, which has been totally cut off by devastating landslides that hit Kerala’s hilly Wayanad district, the state government said on Tuesday.

State Revenue Minister K Rajan said one team of NDRF is working to clear the debris and create access as they progress towards Mundakkai.

Three more NDRF teams from Kollam, Arakkonam, and Bengaluru are also on their way, Rajan said.

“Mundakkai is in the foothills of a nearby mountain. The issue is that the area was totally cut off due to the destruction of a bridge. Now efforts are on to make a temporary bridge to facilitate the crossing of the rescue team,” Rajan said.

He also said the extent of the damage has not yet been determined.

“One team of NDRF is clearing the way as they progress towards Mundakkai. Three more teams will arrive by afternoon. Two choppers of the Army will also reach soon,” Rajan said.

He further said bodies were recovered downstream of the Chaliyar river.

“Nearly 70 people have been admitted to various hospitals in Kozhikode; at least 12 bodies are there in the hospitals,” Rajan added.

Ministers Rajan, P A Mohammed Riyas and O Kelu are expected to reach Wayanad soon. Minister A K Saseendran has already reached the place and is visiting the injured. Another state Minister, Ramachandran Kadannappally has also reached the place.

Police and the Health department have started multiple call centres and control rooms.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan held a high-level evaluation meeting and visited the State Disaster Management Authority office in the state capital to assess the situation.

Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha villages were among the areas affected and cut off by the landslides, authorities said.

Wayanad district Collector Meghasree D R said disaster relief work is progressing in affected areas and rescue operations are being carried out by the NDRF, Fire force, police and the Forest, Revenue and Local Self-government departments.

Along with government agencies, volunteers and local residents are cooperating in the rescue operation, she said in a statement.

According to district authorities, several families have been moved to the various camps or homes of their relatives in the wake of the landslides.

WAYANAD (KERALA): Heavy rains triggered a series of massive landslides in the hilly areas of Kerala’s Wayanad district early on Tuesday, leaving at least 45 persons dead and sparking apprehensions of possible increase in fatalities due to many people feared trapped under the debris.

Calamity struck in the early hours of Tuesday, catching the sleeping victims off-guard. Frantic calls for help were made and the rescue personnel were racing against time to pull out survivors.

According to the district collector Meghasree D R, the latest toll stood at 45. In connection with the landslide in Chooralmala she confirmed that 36 deaths have been reported. Additionally, nine bodies swept away by the Chaliyar River were recovered in Malappuram.

The bodies of the deceased are being taken to various hospital morgues for identification and autopsy.

Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha villages were among the areas affected and cut off by the landslides, authorities said.

Rescue teams were working tirelessly to evacuate those stranded, with the Indian Army joining the efforts. Besides the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the state government has also deployed disaster response teams from the police and the fire force to affected areas.

Hundreds are feared to be trapped in the landslides, but authorities have not confirmed this.

Frantic phone calls made by people desperately pleading for help after being trapped under destroyed houses and piles of debris highlighted the intensity of the deadly landslide.

Television channels aired heartwrenching phone conversations of several people crying and pleading to be rescued, as they were either trapped in their houses or had no way to travel due to washed-away bridges and flooded roads.

In one such conversation, a woman, apparently a native of Chooralmala town, was heard crying aloud, saying someone in her house was trapped under marsh and debris and they could not pull her out.

“Someone, please come and help us. We have lost our house. We don’t know whether Nausheen (apparently a family member) is alive. She is trapped in the marsh. Her mouth is full of marsh and sand. Our house is in the town itself,” the woman said.

State Revenue Minister K Rajan said that over 70 people who were injured in the landslides have been admitted to various hospitals.

The Kerala government has sought the assistance of the Indian Army for rescue operations.

A Defence PRO said on Tuesday that a team of 43 personnel, led by the Second-in-Command from the 122 Infantry Battalion (TA) MADRAS, has been mobilised to aid in the ongoing rescue efforts.

The team, comprising a Medical Officer, two Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs), and 40 soldiers, is equipped to provide critical assistance in the affected area.

Their deployment aims to augment existing rescue operations and provide relief to those affected by the landslides.

Of those killed, four people, including a child, died in Chooralmala town of the district. A one-year-old child of a family from Nepal died in Thondernad village, according to the Wayanad district authorities.

Besides that, three bodies, including that of a five-year-old, were recovered from the banks of a river near Pothukal village, authorities said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concern over the incident and said he spoke to Cihef Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and assured all possible help from the Centre to the state.

“Distressed by the landslides in parts of Wayanad. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones and prayers with those injured.

“Rescue ops are currently underway to assist all those affected. Spoke to Kerala CM Shri @pinarayivijayan and also assured all possible help from the Centre in the wake of the prevailing situation there,” Modi said in a post on social media platform ‘X’.

The landslides left a trail of destruction, with several houses destroyed, water bodies swollen, and trees uprooted, hampering rescue operations.

Picturesque hamlets known for their beauty until Monday–Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha- are now a picture of gloom after landslides hit the areas, cutting them off from other places.

Vehicles washed away in floodwaters could be seen stuck in tree trunks and submerged here and there in many places.

Swollen water bodies changed their course and flowed through inhabited areas, resulting in more destruction.

Huge boulders rolled down the hills and hindered the path of rescue workers.

Collector Meghasree said disaster relief work is progressing in affected areas and rescue operations are being carried out by the NDRF, fire force, police, and the Forest, Revenue and Local Self-government departments.

Along with government agencies, volunteers and local residents are cooperating in the rescue operation, she said in a statement.

The Collector also informed that the shutter of Banasura Sagar dam, on the Karamanthodu river, was opened and warned those living downstream and in low-lying areas to be cautious.

Earlier, in a video message, UDF MLA T Siddique said that district authorities were drawing up plans to airlift people from Mundakkai area.

“Currently, we have no complete information about those missing and dead in the landslides. Many areas have been cut off. NDRF personnel are trying to reach those places,” he said.

Vijayan said in a Facebook post that two Air Force helicopters will depart for Wayanad from Sulur (Coimbatore in TN) shortly to take part in the search and rescue operations.

Climate activist Soman Wangchuk announced on Sunday that he will launch another 28-day fast on Independence Day if the government does not invite Ladakh authorities for talks on demands for statehood and constitutional protection for the union territory.

In an interview with PTI, Wangchuk said that the Apex Body, Leh (ABL), and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) from Ladakh submitted a memorandum of demands to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Dras on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Kargil Vijay Diwas last week.

“We did not want to push the government too much during the elections; we were hopeful that the new government would take some concrete steps. If they do not heed our request, if they do not call us for talks, we will launch another round of protest from August 15,” he told PTI.

In March, Wangchuk went on a 21-day fast, surviving only on salt and water, to demand statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to help protect the ecologically fragile region from “greedy” industries.

After the abrogation of Article 370, Ladakh became a separate union territory “without legislature”. The Buddhist-dominated Leh district had long demanded union territory status due to alleged neglect by the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir government.

However, with the region now entirely administered by bureaucrats, many in Ladakh demand that the union territory be included in the Sixth Schedule, which provides for the formation of Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) with legislative, judicial and administrative autonomy within a state.

These councils administer areas under their jurisdiction, making laws on specific matters with the governor’s assent. They can establish village councils or courts for dispute resolution and manage facilities and services within their areas, including education and healthcare. They also have the authority to impose taxes and regulate certain activities.

Wangchuk had previously said that statehood and constitutional protection under the Sixth Schedule would not impact defence and national security-related projects in Ladakh.

Ladakh’s former MP, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal of the BJP, had also demanded that the region be included in the Sixth Schedule to safeguard the land, employment and cultural identity of the local population.

In 2019, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda promised to do “whatever is required from a constitutional perspective to protect them”.

In September 2019, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) wrote to Home Minister Amit Shah and Munda, recommending that Ladakh be declared a tribal area under the Sixth Schedule.

New Delhi: The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Sunday announced the results for the Common University Entrance Test (CUET)-UG, paving the way to begin the undergraduate admission process which has been delayed this year.

The NTA had on July 7 released the provisional answer keys of the CUET-UG 2024. A retest for more than 1,000 candidates whose grievances were found genuine by the agency was conducted on July 19.

The delay in the CUET-UG results came amid a row over alleged irregularities in competitive exams, including in the NEET-UG and the UGC-NET.

Initially, the CUET-UG results were scheduled to be declared on June 30, but the NTA delayed it, as it was grappling with allegations of paper leak allegations in the NEET-UG, UGC-NET and the CSIR-UGC-NET exams.

The CUET-UG conducted in a hybrid mode for the first time across the country was cancelled in Delhi a night before the scheduled exam day over “logistical reasons”. The exam was held in the national capital later.

The NTA had earlier announced that the third edition of the CUET-UG will be completed in seven days and there will be no normalisation of scores as all exams will be conducted in a single shift.

For 15 subjects, the tests were in pen-paper mode and for the other 48 subjects, the exam was held in CBT mode. Over 13.4 lakh candidates registered for the test for admission to undergraduate courses in 261 central, state, deemed and private universities this year.

In the first edition of the exam in 2022, the test was plagued by technical glitches. Also, as a result of tests for a subject being conducted over multiple shifts, the scores had to be normalised during the announcement of results.