Rain continued to batter several districts across Tamil Nadu on Friday and the Thamirabarani river was in spate due to continuous downpour in the southern districts. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin called up the collectors of Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, and Thoothukudi districts and enquired with them about the damage caused by the rain and the steps being taken to ensure people's safety. "I enquired with the district collectors and district monitoring officers about the relief work being carried out to protect the people from the heavy rain," the Chief Minister said in a post on the social media platform X. He instructed the official to take adequate precautions, and have sufficient stock of the essential commodities and medicines. "The three southern districts are experiencing heavy rain. State Ministers and senior officials have been dispatched to the respective districts to monitor the relief and rescue activities," Stalin told reporters after visiting the 24-hour State Emergency Operations Centre at Ezhilagam, here. He was in constant touch with the Ministers and officials and was closely monitoring the situation. "There is no major damage at present. The state government is ready to deal with the present situation," he said. Reservoirs and tanks across the state were fast filling up due to copious inflows and as of today, 90 reservoirs have a combined storage of 83.61 per cent, according to the Water Resources Department. In Chennai, six lakes, which are the source of drinking water supply, have a combined storage of 87.69 per cent i.e. 11,587 Mcft against the total capacity of 13,213 Mcft (million cubic feet). Of them, about 16,500 cusecs of surplus water is being discharged from the Poondi 500 cusecs from Redhills, and 4,500 cusecs is being released from the Chembarambakkam lake. The Thoothukudi district administration has issued a flood warning in the Srivaikuntam and Eral areas owing to the heavy inflows into the Thamirabarani river. People in low-lying areas have been advised to shift to safe places. Due to a torrential rain upstream of Thamirabarani, a flood warning was issued to all villages and towns situated on the banks of the river, the administration said. The revenue officials have been instructed to evacuate the people from all vulnerable places in Srivaikundam and Eral. Police and Fire and rescue services personnel have asked people to shift to safer areas. In Maduranthakam in neighbouring Chengalpattu district, a private bus that got stranded in rainwater had to be towed to safety by the police and public. None of the passengers in the bus or its crew were injured. While a house collapsed in Suthamalli in Tirunelveli district and a Primary Health Centre in Vadakarai in Tenkasi district was inundated following overnight rain, rainwater entered the Sankaranarayana temple in Sankarankoil. The IMD has forecast heavy rain in 14 districts due to a well-marked low-pressure area over the Southwest Bay of Bengal off Sri Lanka coast, which lay over the Gulf of Mannar and neighbourhood. The system is very likely to continue to move west-northwestwards towards South Tamil Nadu and weaken gradually into a low-pressure area during the next 12 hours, the IMD said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
13 December,2024 11:09 PM IST | Chennai | PTICongress MP Shashi Tharoor on Friday urged Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to arrange special trains from cities such as Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi to Thiruvananthapuram so that Keralites working and living outside the state can return home for the holidays. In his letter to Vaishnaw, Tharoor said the festive season witnesses a significant increase in travel as people return home to celebrate with their families. He stressed the need for special train services from major cities such as Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi to Thiruvananthapuram during the upcoming holidays, Christmas and New Year. "Regular train-services often face excessive demand, leading to overbooked trains and inconvenience for passengers. Many travellers, including students, professionals and families, are unable to secure tickets due to this surge," the MP from Thiruvananthapuram said. "To address this issue and provide relief to travellers, I humbly request the Ministry of Railways to arrange special trains between these cities and Thiruvananthapuram during this period," Tharoor said. These additional services will not only alleviate passenger traffic but also ensure safe and comfortable travel for all, he added. "Your prompt consideration of this request will greatly benefit numerous citizens and make their festive season more joyous," Tharoor said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
13 December,2024 11:02 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIHaryana Agriculture Minister Shyam Singh Rana on Friday inaugurated the 21st livestock census campaign at the government veterinary hospital in Radaur. The event marked the official launch of a state-wide door-to-door survey to collect extensive data on domestic animals and poultry. Highlighting the importance of the livestock census since its inception in 1919, Rana stated, "Conducted every five years, this census serves as the backbone of policy formulation and implementation in the livestock sector". He said the survey would gather data on various livestock species, including cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats, pigs, camels, and horses, along with poultry birds. Additionally, it will provide detailed information about dairy equipment owned by citizens engaged in animal husbandry, crucial for shaping effective policies and programmes, he said. Rana detailed the robust veterinary infrastructure developed across Haryana, with 1,079 veterinary hospitals, 1,796 dispensaries, seven veterinary polyclinics, and 41 para-clinical institutions. This network, combined with the state-owned livestock farm in Hisar, has significantly improved disease prevention and treatment, leading to unprecedented growth in livestock productivity, he said. "Thanks to government initiatives and progressive efforts by livestock owners, Haryana's annual milk production has reached 119.65 lakh tonnes. The state boasts a per capita daily milk availability of 1,098 grams, more than double the national average of 459 grams," according to an official statement. However, Rana urged stakeholders to aim higher. "We must strive to increase milk productivity to match the advanced levels of developed nations." The government has allocated Rs 30 crore for free veterinary medicines in 2024-25 to benefit livestock owners. The minister reiterated the government's commitment to supporting rural livelihoods and enhancing Haryana's position as a leader in the dairy and livestock sectors. With this comprehensive census, Haryana aims to set a new benchmark in data-driven livestock management, ensuring sustainable development and prosperity for its rural economy, he added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
13 December,2024 10:56 PM IST | Chandigarh | PTIIndia on Friday described the recent murder of three Indian students in Canada as "terrible tragedies" and said its high commission in Ottawa has taken up the matter of safety of Indians with the Canadian authorities. The safety, security and welfare of Indian nationals in Canada remains of utmost importance to us, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. New Delhi has demanded a thorough investigation into the killing of the three Indians. "In the last week or so we have had unfortunate tragedies. Three Indian students have been murdered. We are saddened at these terrible tragedies that have struck our nationals in Canada," Jaiswal said at his weekly media briefing. "We extend our deepest condolences to the grieving families. Our High Commission and Consulates in Toronto and Vancouver are extending all possible help in the matter," he said. Jaiswal said the Indian missions in that country are in touch with the local authorities for thorough investigation of the incidents. India's call for safety of Indians in Canada and demand for thorough investigation into the murders of three students came amid frosty ties between the two countries. "Issues faced by them, especially Indian students, are raised by our high commission and Consulates with the relevant Canadian authorities on a regular basis," he said. "We have also issued an advisory for our nationals and Indian students to exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant in view of the deteriorating security environment in Canada as a result of the growing incidence of hate crimes and criminal violence," Jaiswal added. According to official data, over 400,000 Indian students are studying in Canada. In October, India-Canada ties nosedived sharply after Canada linked Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Verma and some other diplomats to the murder of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year. India strongly rejected all the allegations made by Ottawa in connection to the case and subsequently recalled the high commissioner. The Canadian government had said the Indian envoy and a few other diplomats were expelled from the country. New Delhi expelled Canadian Charge d'Affaires Stewart Wheeler and five other diplomats following the allegations by Canada. Asked about reports in Canadian media about instances of Indian high commission in Ottawa refusing visas to certain individuals, Jaiswal described them as a "disinformation" campaign. "We have seen the said media report. It is yet another example of Canadian media's disinformation to malign India," he said. "Granting of Indian visas is our sovereign function and we have the legitimate right to deny visas to those who undermine our territorial integrity," he said. "The commentary that we see in the Canadian media on this matter is akin to foreign interference in India's sovereign affairs," Jaiswal added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
13 December,2024 10:39 PM IST | New Delhi | PTISri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will be on a state visit to India from December 15-17, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday. According to news agency ANI, during his visit, Dissanayake will meet President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While addressing a weekly media briefing on Friday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that it will be President Dissanayake's first visit to India after the recently concluded presidential and parliamentary polls in Sri Lanka. Jaiswal also informed that Dissanayake will participate in a business event in Delhi. "The President of Sri Lanka, His Excellency Anura Kumara Dissanayake, will visit India on a state visit on 15-17 December, 2024. This will be the first visit of President Dissanayake to India after the recently concluded presidential and parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka. During the visit, President of Sri Lanka will meet Rashtrapatiji and also hold discussions with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest," Jaiswal said, according to ANI. "President of Sri Lanka will be participating in a business event in Delhi. He will also visit Bodh Gaya. The visit of President Dissanayake to India shall further strengthen the multi-faceted and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries," he added. In a press release, MEA said that Sri Lanka is India's closest maritime neighbour in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and holds a central place in Prime Minister's vision of 'SAGAR' (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy. Earlier in October, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on President Dissanayake in Colombo. The two leaders discussed ways to deepen cooperation and strengthen bilateral ties to benefit the people of India and Sri Lanka, ANI reported. A month before that, PM Modi extended his regards to Dissanayake and congratulated him for his win in the Sri Lankan Presidential election. Congratulating Dissanayake, PM Modi said that the island country holds a special place in India's Neighbourhood First Policy and Vision SAGAR. Fifty-five-year-old Dissanayake, of the leftist Janatha Vimukthi Peremuna party, was declared the winner of the election in Sri Lanka in September. (With ANI inputs)
13 December,2024 09:44 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentOne person died after a massive fire broke out in a sofa manufacturing unit in Pune district of Maharashtra, the officials said on Friday, reported the PTI. The deceased, a 45-year-old man, died in the blaze that had broken out on Friday, an official said. The incident took place in Kondhwa Budruk in Yewalewadi at 1:30 pm and the deceased has been identified as Harun Hamad Khan, he added. The blaze was doused in an hour, the fire brigade official informed. Local residents said that the fire started when a small cylinder exploded while welding work was underway at the unit. "Khan was found at the site with severe burn injuries. He died while undergoing treatment at a nearby hospital. The cause of the fire is being probed," the official added, as per the PTI. Four-storey building collapses in Mumbai's Bhendi Bazar Meanwhile, a four-storey building located in the densely populated Bhendi Bazar area of South Mumbai partially collapsed in the early hours of Friday, according to officials. No casualties or injuries were reported in the incident, they said. The incident took place at approximately 12:30 am on Nishanpada Road near Khoja Jamat Khana. The Husainibai Building, situated at 40 Tan Tanpura Street, was an unoccupied structure that had been deemed dilapidated and unsafe prior to the collapse, as per PTI reports. The Mumbai Fire Brigade received an alert about the incident around 12:06 am and rushed to the site. According to PTI, five fire brigade vehicles, along with personnel from the building department, were deployed to the location to carry out search-and-rescue operations and clear the debris. Although the structure was vacant at the time, officials took no chances and thoroughly inspected the site for any trapped individuals or hazards. The locals, alarmed by the incident, gathered in large numbers near the collapsed building. A fire brigade official said, "The building was already vacated as it was in a dilapidated state. Thankfully, this ensured that there were no injuries or casualties. Our personnel, along with building department staff, are working on clearing the rubble." The exact cause of the collapse is yet to be determined. (with PTI inputs)
13 December,2024 07:30 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondentAt least 51 people were arrested, and three cases registered so far in connection with the violent protests that broke out in Maharashtra's Parbhani city over vandalising of a replica of the Constitution, police said on Friday, reported the PTI. The Parbhani violence erupted in the central Maharashtra after a glass-enclosed replica of the Constitution near Dr B R Ambedkar's statue outside the Parbhani railway station was vandalised on the evening of December 10. A bandh to protest the vandalism took a violent turn on Wednesday when a mob indulged in arson and vandalised shops, vehicles and even the district collector's office. "We have so far registered three cases in connection with the violence, and 51 people have been arrested. The number can go up as the investigation is underway, and we are going through some videos," the official said, according to the PTI. The police have not deployed any teams to find persons involved in the violence, he said. The official said the city is peaceful now, and no new incidents of violence have been reported. Prohibitory orders banning gathering of more than five persons continue in the city, police said. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Jadhav slammed the BJP, questioning where leaders of the saffron party were when the violence erupted in Parbhani. Speaking to reporters, Jadhav said, "The incident in Parbhani is unfortunate. Finding the person who orchestrated the incident is also a part of the investigation. There were so many people on the road at the time. How could someone vandalise the replica (of the Constitution? The administration should help those who suffered losses in the violence during the protest, he said," as per the PTI. "Where did the BJP people go when violence erupted in Parbhani and rioting started? Merely giving speeches and gaining political mileage is easy. But the consequences are tough to handle. When vehicles were being vandalised, where did these leaders go?" Jadhav said. He further criticised BJP leaders for demanding a case against him. "I was in Delhi and was not involved in any incident. Responsible public representatives should not talk in such a manner," the Sena (UBT) leader said. (with PTI inputs)
13 December,2024 06:48 PM IST | Parbhani | mid-day online correspondentThe Supreme Court on Friday said that the plea concerning the verification of electronic voting machines (EVMs) should be directed to the same bench that issued a key ruling in April, which rejected calls to revert to traditional paper ballots, reported news agency PTI. When the plea on EVMs came up for hearing, Justices Vikram Nath and P B Varale told petitioner's counsel senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, "Why don't this matter go before the same bench?" Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing the petitioners, said that the April judgment dealt with various concerns about EVMs. Justice Nath reiterated the need for continuity by stating, “That is what I am saying. It (plea) should go before the same bench.” The bench further said, "To our understanding, the reliefs claimed by means of this petition under Article 32 of the Constitution of India would require interpretation/modification/implementation of the directions issued by this court vide judgement dated April 26, 2024 ..." In its April 26, 2024 ruling, the Supreme Court dismissed allegations of EVM manipulation as "unfounded." The court confirmed that EVMs were “secured” and eliminated issues such as booth capturing and false voting. Nonetheless, the court did allow candidates who finished second and third in elections to request the verification of microcontroller chips in five percent of EVMs within their assembly constituencies, contingent upon a written request and payment to the Election Commission. The new petition, filed by former Haryana minister Karan Singh Dalal and five-time MLA Lakhan Kumar Singla, seeks compliance with the directives issued in the April 26 judgment related to the case of ‘Association for Democratic Reforms versus Union of India.’ Both petitioners finished with the second-highest votes in their respective constituencies, and they are asking the Election Commission to establish a clear protocol for examining the original "burnt memory" or microcontroller of various EVM components, including the control unit, ballot unit, VVPAT, and symbol loading unit. It asked the apex court registry to place the papers of the case before Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna for passing appropriate orders on whether the petition would be listed before the same bench or another bench, stated PTI. The petitioners argue that the Election Commission has not implemented any policy for verifying the burnt memory, which has left the verification process ambiguous. They noted that the existing standard operating procedures only involve basic diagnostic tests and mock polls, without addressing potential tampering of the burnt memory. The petitioners are not contesting the election results directly but are advocating for a more stringent verification mechanism for EVMs. Separate election petitions challenging the results are pending before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, PTI stated. The petitioners have requested the Supreme Court to mandate the Election Commission to complete the verification process within eight weeks. The backdrop of this plea follows the recent Haryana assembly elections, in which the BJP secured 48 out of 90 seats. (With inputs from PTI)
13 December,2024 02:21 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentCongress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday said had it not been for the Lok Sabha election results, in which the BJP scraped through to victory, the government would have started work on changing the Constitution, reported news agency PTI. Participating in a debate on the Constitution in the Lok Sabha, she said the Constitution was a protective shield of justice, unity and freedom of expression but the government made every effort to break it during the past 10 years. "This government is working to weaken the reservation policy through lateral entry and privatisation. Had the Lok Sabha election results not come as they have, the government would have started the work on changing the Constitution," Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, reported PTI. "The truth is that they are chanting 'Constitution' because they realised that the people of this country will keep the Constitution alive," said the Lok Sabha member from Wayanad. She said the people were demanding a caste-based census and even the ruling party was talking about it because of the election results. "When the entire opposition called for a caste-based census, they talked about cattle and 'mangalsutra' getting stolen," the Congress MP said in an apparent reference to the Lok Sabha election campaign, reported PTI. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won 293 seats in the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year. The BJP won 240 seats on its own against the halfway mark of 272. Rajnath Singh slams Congress, says it tried to destroy Constitution's basic principles Senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh on Friday said the Congress could never tolerate independence and autonomy of institutions and always tried to destroy the basic principles of the Constitution. Initiating a debate in the Lok Sabha as the House took up a two-day "Discussion on the Glorious Journey of 75 Years of the Constitution of India", the defence minister said the contribution of several leaders in the making of the Constitution was deliberately ignored and hit out at the Congress, asserting that "a particular party" always tried to "hijack and appropriate" the framing of the Constitution. "On many occasions, the Congress has disrespected the Constitution and its spirit. It could not tolerate the independence and autonomy of institutions. It always tried to destroy the basic principles of the Constitution," he alleged. "Talk of protection of the Constitution does not seem appropriate coming from it. These days, I see many opposition leaders keep the Constitution in their pockets. Actually, this is what they have learnt from childhood, they have seen their families keep the Constitution in their pockets for generations," he said. But the BJP always bows before the Constitution and has never played with the independence and autonomy of institutions, Singh asserted. (With inputs from PTI)
13 December,2024 02:20 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentMore than six prominent Delhi schools in received bomb threats via email on Friday morning, triggering immediate security protocols, reported news agency ANI. According to ANI, the schools that received the threats included the Bhatnagar Public School in Paschim Vihar, Cambridge School in Srinivaspuri, Delhi Public School in East of Kailash, Delhi Public School in Defence Colony, Delhi Police Public School in Safdarjung Enclave and Venkatesh Public School in Rohini. The bomb threat email received by the schools said, "This email is to inform you that there are many explosives in your school premises and I am sure that you all do not check your student's bags frequently when they enter the school premises. A secret dark web group is involved in this activity and many red rooms also. The bombs are powerful enough to destroy the buildings and harm people." "It is confidential that the bombs will be blasted on the 13th of December or the 14th of December. But, surely, the bombs are planted right now. But it is super confidential that it will blast on 13th December or 14th December. We're pretty sure that you don't check your students' backs while they enter your school premises to start their school day, and you all schools have similar school timings. Reply back to this email for our demands, otherwise, the bombs will be detonated," said the mail, reported ANI. The Delhi Fire Brigade and police teams swiftly responded to the alerts, conducting thorough checks of the Delhi schools to ensure the safety of students and staff. After a meticulous search, authorities confirmed that no suspicious items were found, reported ANI. Over 40 Delhi schools receive bomb threats, ransom demand of USD 30,000 On December 9, over 40 schools across Delhi received bomb threats via email, with the sender demanding a ransom of USD 30,000. The threat warned of bombs hidden inside several school buildings and claimed that if the ransom was not paid, the bombs would detonate, causing injuries to those present. According to Delhi Police, the email, which was sent at approximately 11:38 pm on December 8, stated: “I planted multiple bombs (lead azide, explosive compound used in detonators) inside the building. I planted multiple bombs inside the building. The bombs are small and hidden very well. It will not cause much damage to the building, but many people will be injured when the bombs detonate. You all deserve to suffer and lose limbs. If I do not receive USD 30,000, I will detonate the bombs.” The schools that received the threats were Mother Mary's School, the British School, Salwan Public School, and Cambridge School. Mother Mary's School confirmed receiving the email on the morning of December 9, prompting the immediate dispersal of students as a safety precaution. The school management advised parents to collect their children from their respective bus stops or directly from the school. The school also assured parents they would be updated on the situation through the bus route in-charges. Earlier on November 19, the Delhi High Court instructed the Delhi Government and Delhi Police to develop a comprehensive action plan, including a detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to address bomb threats and related emergencies.The court has set a deadline of eight weeks for the completion of these directives. (With inputs from PTI)
13 December,2024 02:08 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentSenior BJP leader Rajnath Singh on Friday said the Congress could never tolerate independence and autonomy of institutions and always tried to destroy the basic principles of the Constitution, reported news agency PTI. Initiating a Constitution debate in the Lok Sabha as the House took up a two-day "Discussion on the Glorious Journey of 75 Years of the Constitution of India", the defence minister said the contribution of several leaders in the making of the Constitution was deliberately ignored and hit out at the Congress, asserting that "a particular party" always tried to "hijack and appropriate" the framing of the Constitution, reported PTI. "On many occasions, the Congress has disrespected the Constitution and its spirit. It could not tolerate the independence and autonomy of institutions. It always tried to destroy the basic principles of the Constitution," he alleged, reported PTI. "Talk of protection of the Constitution does not seem appropriate coming from it. These days, I see many opposition leaders keep the Constitution in their pockets. Actually, this is what they have learnt from childhood, they have seen their families keep the Constitution in their pockets for generations," he said during the Constitution debate, reported PTI. But the BJP always bows before the Constitution and has never played with the independence and autonomy of institutions, Singh asserted. He pointed out that the Constitution talked about religious freedom and it had been specified that the state would not have a religion but be secular. "This was stated by those who were dubbed communal by people of the Congress," he said, reported PTI. The Constitution is an expression of the general will of the people, Singh said. "Our Constitution touches upon social, economic, political, cultural life and shows the way for nation building. It is a roadmap for giving India its place on the world stage... It is the outcome of a series of historical events," he said, reported PTI. "We must also remember those who were not part of the Constituent Assembly but their ideas are part of it (Constitution) and they played an important role. We must remember Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bhagat Singh, Veer Savarkar and several other such icons whose ideas strengthened the Constitution," Singh said, reported PTI. (With inputs from PTI)
13 December,2024 01:41 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
