Archives for September 2024

Kolkata: The ceasework by junior doctors at state-run hospitals in West Bengal continued on Wednesday to protest against the alleged rape and murder of a trainee medic at RG Kar hospital here last month.

Health services remained crippled at most state-run medical facilities due to the ceasework, which has been underway for over three weeks now.

“Our demand for justice is still unfulfilled. The protests will continue till our sister gets justice and the culprits are brought to book,” one of the junior medics said.

He said Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal has not resigned, too, which was another demand of the agitating doctors.

The protesters have alleged inadequate steps by the police during its probe into the August 9 rape-murder of the young doctor, before the investigation was handed over to the CBI by the Calcutta High Court.

The body of an on-duty postgraduate trainee was found in the seminar room of state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in the city. The incident has triggered nationwide outrage.

A civic volunteer was arrested shortly after the trainee doctor’s body was discovered. The CBI has also arrested former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Sandip Ghosh, for alleged financial misconduct at the medical establishment.

Ahmedabad: An analysis of recent flooding in parts of Gujarat showed that it was caused by severe weather conditions and exacerbated by extensive urban development, altered elevations and compromised drainage patterns, researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IIT-GN) have said.

Parts of Gujarat witnessed flooding due to heavy rains between August 20 and 29.

During this period, 15 out of the 33 districts in the state recorded three-day rainfall totals exceeding their 10-year return period – a statistical measure indicating the average interval between such intense events – with Jamnagar, Morbi, Devbhumi Dwarka, and Rajkot experiencing levels above their 50-year thresholds, the analysis showed.

The recurrence of “unusual weather events along India’s western coast”, such as the one witnessed last week, highlights the urgent need to reassess urban planning and infrastructure resilience. This scenario underscores the need for robust and scalable emergency response strategies that can handle the complexities of concurrent extreme events, researchers at IIT Gandhinagar’s Machine Intelligence and Resilience Laboratory (MIR Lab) said.

“As rapid urbanisation continues to modify regional and local hydrology, placing greater strain on drainage systems, it is crucial to keep hydrology at the core of urban development strategies,” the researchers observed.

Vadodara, which grappled with severe flooding after heavy rains last week, suffered from the situation despite rains not being unprecedented in magnitude, the IIT-GN research said.

“However, the flooding was likely exacerbated by extensive urban development in flood-prone areas, altered elevations, and drainage patterns compromised due to rapid urbanisation and clogged drainage systems,” it said.

“This situation is a classic example of concurrent extreme events, where multiple regions experience severe weather simultaneously. Such concurrence complicates emergency response and evacuation efforts as resources become stretched across multiple affected areas,” the study said.

Demands for rescue, relief, and evacuation operations in such a scenario can overwhelm emergency services, making it more challenging to respond effectively and efficiently to the needs of those impacted by the floods, it said.

“This underscores the need for robust and scalable emergency response strategies that can handle the complexities of concurrent extreme events,” it added.

The analysis of maximum rainfall during this period revealed that Gujarat’s Devbhumi Dwarka and Morbi in the state’s Saurashtra region experienced rainfall over a one-day period last week that surpassed their 50-year “return period” (with Dwarka exceeding 100-year period).

Twelve of the state’s 33 districts experienced one-day rainfall totals that exceeded the 10-year return period, it said.

The situation became even more critical over two-day periods, with 17 districts exceeding the 10-year return period, including Jamnagar, Morbi, and Devbhumi Dwarka, where rainfall surpassed 50-year return levels, according to the researchers.

Additionally, 15 districts recorded three-day rainfall totals exceeding the 10-year return period, with Jamnagar, Morbi, Devbhumi Dwarka, and Rajkot all experiencing levels above their 50-year thresholds.

Assistant Professor in Civil Engineering and Computer Science and Engineering at IIT Gandhinagar, Udit Bhatia, said the granularity of the available data may not fully capture the nuances of urban flooding, which often results from short-duration, high-intensity rainfalls that overwhelm city drainage systems.

“When rainfall persists for longer durations, the soil becomes saturated during the initial spells, and subsequent rainfall is more likely to contribute directly to surface runoff. This runoff exacerbates flooding, especially when drainage systems are either incapacitated or unhealthy,” said Bhatia, who is the Principal Investigator at the MIR Lab.

Mumbai : A 26-year-old woman died after being hit by a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) in Malad area of Mumbai, police said on Wednesday.

The accident occurred in Gudiya Pada locality on Tuesday night, following which the police arrested the SUV driver, who is a merchant navy officer, an official said.

“The woman, identified as Shahana Kaazi, was walking when she was hit by a Ford Endeavor around 10 pm. After the accident, the accused himself took the woman to a nearby hospital, where she died during treatment,” the official of Malad police station said.

The accused, Anup Sinha, was booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and was placed under arrest. His vehicle was also seized by the police, he said.

The accused has an office in Andheri and he was on leave when the incident occurred, he added.

The police have collected his blood sample to ascertain whether he was driving under the influence of liquor, the official said.

Congress Leader Pawan Khera

New Delhi: Congress leader Pawan Khera on Monday accused Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch of receiving salaries from private entities, specifically ICICI Bank and ICICI Prudential, during her tenure.

At a press conference, Khera raised concerns over potential irregularities, claiming that Buch continued to draw income from these institutions while serving in her official capacity. He further alleged that several investigations involving ICICI Bank were resolved during this period, implying a conflict of interest.

Khera urged the SEBI Chairperson to clarify her position, accusing her of relaxing norms for ICICI Bank. He also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, highlighting their roles in the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, responsible for appointing SEBI’s Chairperson. “Between 2017 and 2014, Madhabi Buch received regular income amounting to Rs 16 crore 80 lakhs from ICICI Bank while serving as a full-time SEBI member,” Khera claimed, questioning the appropriateness of such payments.

New Delhi : The Enforcement Directorate on Monday arrested AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan as part of a money laundering investigation against him and some others linked to him, official sources said.

He was taken into custody under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after the agency conducted a search at his residence in Okhla area of the national capital.

The money laundering case against the 50-year-old legislator stems from two FIRs, one by the CBI in the Wakf Board related alleged irregularities and another by the Delhi ACB related to an alleged case of possession of disproportionate assets.

Sources said Khan has evaded at least ten ED summons since he was last questioned in the case in April.

The legislator and his party broke the news first with Khan posting at 6:29 AM on his X handle that an ED team has reached his house in Okhla area to arrest him.

AAP MP Sanjay Singh too posted a video.

On X, AAP leader Manish Sisodia said the only work left for the ED is to “suppress every voice raised against the BJP and break it”.

Those who do not break, are arrested and put in jail, he alleged.

CM Siddaramaiah

Mysuru: An RTI activist, Gangaraju, has filed a complaint against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, alleging involvement in a scandal related to the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA). Following the complaint, Gangaraju reported receiving life threats and has requested the Chief Minister’s office to assign a gunman for his protection.

In letters addressed to the Chief Minister’s office and the city police commissioner, Gangaraju expressed concerns for his safety after accusing Siddaramaiah of involvement in the MUDA scam. He urged the authorities to provide him with personal security.

In response, police authorities have reportedly increased patrols near Gangaraju’s residence and placed a beat book there for regular monitoring. However, they informed him that if he wishes to have a gunman, he would need to arrange one through the government by paying the required fee, as per the rules.

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday directed Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) to reconduct the Gazetted Probationers’ examination within two months, following outrage over alleged inappropriate Kannada translation of questions.

He said those responsible for these lapses have been relieved of their duties.

“In the light of reports of inappropriate Kannada translation of questions in the KPSC Gazetted Probationers’ examination, I have directed KPSC to reconduct of the examination within 2 months to ensure fairness to all candidates,” Siddaramaiah said in a post on ‘X’.

“The upcoming examination will be conducted with the utmost responsibility and accountability following all due diligence. We remain committed to upholding the integrity of our recruitment processes,” he added.

There have been allegations of “poor and erroneous” translation from English to Kannada, in the question papers of preliminary examination conducted on August 27 for filling 350 gazetted probationary officer posts in the State, which had led to confusion among Kannada-medium students.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has expressed serious concerns over the practice of demolishing homes linked to accused or convicted individuals in criminal cases, commonly referred to as ‘bulldozer justice.’ During a hearing, the court questioned the legality of such actions, emphasising that demolitions should only occur if the property is illegal.

Justice BR Gavai, part of the bench, stated, “How can a house be demolished just because it belongs to an accused or even a convict?” The court hinted at establishing pan-India guidelines to streamline demolition procedures, ensuring actions align with municipal laws.

The bench, also comprising Justice KV Viswanathan, stressed the importance of due process, suggesting that before any demolition, proper notices should be served, and legal remedies should be provided.

Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave, representing the petitioner, urged the court to curb the growing trend of ‘bulldozer justice.’ Solicitor General Tushar Mehta clarified that no property should be demolished solely because of criminal accusations against the owner, further stating that the issue was being misrepresented in the court.

The court will continue hearing the matter on September 17, seeking suggestions to address the issue comprehensively.