Rahul pens letter to PM Modi, urges release of funds

Agencies
August 11, 2018

New Delhi, Aug 11: As torrential rains continue to lash Kerala, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi apprising him of the situation and urging the latter to release sufficient funds immediately to the Kerala government for their relief and rehabilitation efforts.

Flash floods, caused by incessant rains, have wreaked havoc in several districts of the state, killing nearly 30 people since July end.

Rahul wrote, "The most severe disaster to have struck the state in the last five decades this natural calamity resulted in massive economic and human losses."

He said that the fishermen community were the most affected group due to flash floods and landslides caused due to heavy downpour.

"At a time when the fishing industry is yet to recover from the adverse impact of Ockhi cyclone, this disaster has a deadly blow, especially to fishermen," Rahul continued.

He added, "The widespread destruction of critical public infrastructure like power supply lines and roads will only prolong the recovery process. At this juncture, it is critical to acknowledge the looming humanitarian crisis facing Kerala."

The Congress president expressed hope that the Centre would extend cooperation with the Kerala government and provide funds to facilitate the relief efforts.

Earlier today, the Kerala government said that the families of people who died due to flood in the state, will receive compensation of Rs. 4 lakh each. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also directed the authorities to disburse cash compensation of Rs. 10 lakh each to those who suffered damages to their homes or farms.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has geared up to face the challenges arising due to floods and landslides and has mobilised all its resources and also airlifted eight self-contained teams to supplement the deployment in Kerala.

Presently, 14 self-contained teams of NDRF are deployed in various parts of flood-hit districts - Thrissur, Ernakulam, Alappuzha, Wayanad, Kozhikode and Idukki.

The teams are engaged in rescue and evacuation operations with full zeal and commitment at various flood-affected villages - Kuttiyadi and Kakkayum in Kozhikode district, Manikkashrey in Idukki district, and Ooralli, Kurichiyar Mala and Pozhuthana in Wayanad district.

The NDRF team operational in Kabini River has rescued six people and operations are still in progress at various sites.

Yesterday, the NDRF teams commenced rescue and evacuation operations at Payyampalli village under Taluka Mananphuedy and rescued seven people and evacuated seven others. In addition, three persons were evacuated at Cherutheri Bridge on Periyar River. So far, the NDRF teams have rescued seven persons, evacuated 398 persons and 12 livestock in Kerala.

In view of possible inundation, the NDRF teams are kept on standby in vulnerable locations and keeping a close vigil over the development of the situation. Additional teams are also kept as standby at nearest NDRF battalion, Arrakonnam and would be mobilised, if required. The NDRF Director General is personally supervising the ongoing rescue operations.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert (heavy to very heavy rainfall in most places) for Idukki and Wayanad till August 14 and orange alert (heavy to very heavy rainfall in isolated places) till August 15. The agency has issued a red alert for Kannur till August 13 and orange alert till Aug 15.

Red alert has been issued for Ernakulam, Palakkad, Malappuram and Calicut till August 12 and orange alert for these places till August 14. An orange alert has been issued by the IMD for Kasaragod till August 13.

Apprising the current situation, Union Minister KJ Alphons told ANI, "11 out of 14 districts of Kerala are under water. The Centre has sent armed forces and they have been on ground for past three days and have been helping the state government administration. NDRF teams have also been sent. Prime Minister Modi has also spoken to the Kerala Chief Minister about this."

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News Network
June 7,2020

Bhopal, June 7: In a shocking incident of medical cruelty, an 80-year-old man was tied to a hospital bed in Madhya Pradesh after he allegedly failed to make payment of fees for his treatment. The incident took place at the City Hospital in Shajapur.  

The hospital, however, claimed that he was having convulsions and as a result had his hands and legs tied so that he could not hurt himself.

The man’s family members have accused the hospital authorities of resorting to the heinous act after they failed to pay a fee of Rs 11,000 for his treatment at the. 

“We had deposited a bill of Rs 5,000 at the time of admission but when the treatment took a few more days, we did not have the money to pay the bill,” his daughter told the channel.

The hospital, however, maintained that the man was shackled because he was suffering from an electrolyte imbalance. “He was having convulsions because of electrolyte imbalance,” an unidentified doctor said. “We tied him so that he could not hurt himself.” 
The doctor claimed the hospital had waived off the man’s bill on “humanitarian grounds”.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan took cognizance of the matter and promised strict action against the hospital authorities. 

The Shajapur administration has also ordered an inquiry and has sent a police team to the hospital for investigation, the district collector told media persons.

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Agencies
April 24,2020

New Delhi, Apr 24: The Jamia Coordination Committee (JCC) on Friday accused Delhi Police of framing two of its members - Meeran Haider, Safoora Zargar, along with student leader Umar Khalid, as part of "an imaginary conspiracy behind the recent North East Delhi riots".

While Haider was arrested on April 2, Zargar was taken in custody on April 10 for their alleged involvement in fuelling the riots.

"These arrests by the police have little ground, and the charges seem to have no rhyme or reason. Safoora was even granted bail in the case she was initially arrested in, following which she was arrested and had heavier charges placed against her," the JCC said in a statement.

Meeran, Safoora and Umar have been charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), which allows curbing of fundamental rights in order to protect the sovereignty of India. The JCC, however, claimed that in this case, the Act is being used to suppress their voices.

"This Act has been used against many activists working to protect constitutional morality, a list which now includes members of the JCC, a wholly constitutionalist collective of students and alumni," the JCC said, defending its members.

JCC maintained it had no role in Delhi riots, but apprehended that more people will be arrested by the Delhi Police as part of its conspiracy against students and protestors.

"It is almost certain that more protesters will be framed and arrested in the conspiracy invented by the Delhi Police. JCC reiterates that it played no part in the riots, and this fact will be proved before any court of law," it said in a statement.

It also demanded political parties, and university administration take a stand for the two accused JCC members and student leader Umar Khalid.

The JCC came into existence after a violent face-off between Delhi Police and unruly anti-CAA protestors left Jamia Millia Islamia vandalised. It was after this, that a group of students from the Jamia Millia formed it to decide upon the future course of actions in protest against the CAA and the police action.

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News Network
March 29,2020

Theni, Mar 29: A young man under home quarantine for coronavirus after return from Sri Lanka suddenly ran out of his house and fatally bit a 80-year old woman in his neighbourhood in a village near here, police said on Saturday.

The woman with injuries in her neck was hospitalised late Friday after the incident but died on Saturday without responding to treatment, they said.

The man, a resident of Jakkamanayakanpatti and engaged in seasonal business in clothing, was overpowered and handed over to police, who arrested him and investigations were on.

He had recently returned from Sri Lanka and directed to remain under quarantine by health authorities as per the protocol for foreign returnees to check coronavirus spread.

He came out of his house on Friday evening and all of a sudden, denuded himself and began running through the street.

Shocked family members including his father gave a chase even as he caught hold of Nachiyammal, seated on her house’s front yard and bit hard her neck.

The man’s kin overpowered him and admitted the woman to nearby Bodi Government Hospital where doctors on Saturday said she succumbed to her injuries, not responding to treatment. Health authorities were unavailable for comments immediately.

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