Mumbai, July 8 (IANS) In view of the forecast of heavy rains, civic authorities have ordered all schools and colleges in Mumbai and Thane to remain shut on Tuesday, officials said late on Monday.

This will be the second consecutive day that all educational institutions in Mumbai will remain closed as a precautionary measure, given the heavy rainfall that claimed one life on Monday.

Mumbai, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, and coastal Konkan were battered by heavy rains since early Monday, disrupting normal life. The forecast for Tuesday is also heavy to very downpours in these regions, besides similar warnings for other parts of the state as all agencies went into a high alert mode.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 8 (IANS) Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his official residence for a ‘private engagement’.

“PM Modi welcomed by President Vladimir Putin of Russia at his official residence at Novo-Ogaryovo for a private engagement,” MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal wrote on X.

He said that the meeting was between two close friends and trusted partners. “An occasion for the two leaders to cherish & celebrate friendship,” the Spokesperson said.

Earlier, PM Modi arrived to a ceremonial welcome at the Vnukovo-II International Airport in what is his first visit to the Russian capital since 2015. He was received by Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov.

On Tuesday, PM Modi will interact with the Indian community in Russia, lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Kremlin and thereafter visit the Rosatom pavilion at an exhibition venue in Moscow.

These engagements will precede a restricted level talk between the PM Modi and President Putin, which will then be followed by delegation-level talks.

“I look forward to reviewing all aspects of bilateral cooperation with my friend President Vladimir Putin and sharing perspectives on various regional and global issues,” PM Modi said in his departure statement before leaving New Delhi.

He spotlighted that the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia has advanced over the past 10 years, including in the areas of energy, security, trade, investment, health, education, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.

–IANS

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Guwahati, July 8 (IANS) A marginal improvement was reported in the overall flood situation in Assam, but the situation remained serious with six more deaths in five districts on Monday while around 19 lakh people remain affected in 27 of the state’s 35 districts, Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) officials said.

According to the officials, over 24.20 lakh people in 30 districts had been affected till Friday.

ASDMA officials said that on Monday two people drowned in Dhubri while one each died in Goalpara, Golaghat, Sivasagar, and Sonitpur.

With Monday’s deaths, the toll has mounted to 72 across different districts. The flood water also submerged over 49,014 hectares of crop area in 3,154 villages under 27 districts while over 15.18 lakh domestic animals have also been badly affected, the ASDMA officials stated.

Out of the 27 flood-affected districts, Dhubri, Morigaon, Cachar, Darrang, Dibrugarh, and Barpeta are the worst-hit.

The Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger level at Neamatighat, Tezpur, Guwahati and Dhubri, while Burhidihing, Subansiri, Dikhou, Disang, Kopili, Sankosh, Barak and Kushiyara rivers are near the danger level in many places.

ASDMA officials also said that the district administrations have set up 543 relief camps to provide shelter to over 48,000 people, while 298 more relief distribution centres are functioning in different districts. Several teams of the National and State Disaster Response Forces, accompanied by volunteers from various NGOs, have also been deployed for the rescue and relief operations.

A large area of the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) has been submerged and park authorities have intensified efforts to rescue the animals and to prevent poaching. KNPTR Director Sonali Ghosh said that so far, 99 wild animals have been rescued while 137 animals, including deer, rhino, and hog deer, have drowned in flood waters.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is regularly reviewing the flood situation in the state, on Monday said that the Health Department has been conducting regular health camps and providing all necessary medicines and essential items for the people. “Due to the ongoing Assam floods, many people are affected and are being sheltered in relief camps set up across the state. To ensure good health and hygiene, Team Assam is conducting regular health camps and providing all necessary medicines and essential items for the people”, he said in a post on X.

Special care is being taken to ensure that women’s and children’s health is ensured and sanitary napkins, baby food, medicines, etc are being distributed for their use, he added.

–IANS

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Amaravati, July 8 (IANS) Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy said on Monday that Andhra Pradesh has no opposition as Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Jan Sena leader and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and opposition YSR Congress leader Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy are all on the side of the BJP.

He said state Congress president Y. S. Sharmila is the only opposition who will fight on behalf of the people.

Addressing a meeting organised by Sharmila in Mangalagiri to pay tributes to her father and former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR) on his 75th birth anniversary, he said: “The BJP is in power in Andhra Pradesh. BJP means Babu, Jagan and Pawan. There is no opposition in Andhra Pradesh. Babu, Jagan and Pawan are all supporters of PM Modi.”

He predicted that Congress will come to power in Andhra Pradesh in 2029 and Rahul Gandhi will become the Prime Minister of the country.

“Those who take forward YSR’s aspirations are only the true heirs. Those who are doing politics in the name of YSR are not his successors,” he said in an apparent attack on YSR’s son and former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Revanth Reddy said though 15 years have passed since the passing away of YSR, people remember the great leader.

The departed Congress leader left an indelible mark and he will remain in the hearts of the poor forever, he said.

“YSR ‘s absence is visible in Telugu states. The Congress leader maintained a huge fan following in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana,” he said.

Revanth Reddy revealed that when he was a member of the Legislative Council (in undivided Andhra Pradesh), he used to be well prepared to speak to draw the attention of then CM YSR.

“YSR also encouraged me by answering my questions in the House. He strongly believed that the leadership would be strengthened only when the newcomers were encouraged. Leaders should learn from YSR how to respect the opposition leaders,” he said.

The Chief Minister said YSR was known for standing by his word and never going back on it.

“People will support the struggle by the leaders at the right time. Today, Sharmila is playing the role which YSR played in 1999,” he said.

Stating that he came to the meeting along with Cabinet colleagues to extend full support to Sharmila, he said: “Some people are talking about a by-election to the Kadapa Parliamentary seat. I am ready to campaign for Sharmila if there is a by-election.”

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, and ministers Ponnam Prabhakar and P. Srinivas Reddy also addressed the meeting.

–IANS

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Bhopal, July 8 (IANS) On the last day of the campaign for by-election in the Amarwara assembly seat of Chhindwara on Monday, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav slammed the Congress, accusing it of running a narrative to “divide” the Hindu community for their vote bank policy.

Addressing a public gathering in Amarwara, the Chief Minister said that the Congress leaders sitting in Delhi compare Hindu community with “terrorists”. They also question why sadhu-sanyasi (priests) support the BJP’s ideology.

“Sadhu-Sanyasi gives blessings to the BJP because we respect them. Our culture is to respect priests like God and in return, we receive blessings from them. Congress leaders compare the Hindu community with terrorists, but their (Congress) plan to divide the people won’t be successful,” the Chief Minister said.

He also expressed confidence in winning the Amarwara by-election scheduled to take place on July 10. The Chief Minister said the BJP will win Amarwara like it won Chhindwara Lok Sabha seat recently. “The way people are responding to the BJP’s development works, I am sure that we will win Amarwara like Chhindwara Lok Sabha,” he added.

The by-poll in Amarwara was necessitated after Congress MLA Kamlesh Shah resigned from the Assembly and party’s primary membership and joined the BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Shah has won the Amarwara seat for three consecutive terms, and the BJP has fielded him as its candidate for by-poll.

The Congress has fielded a new candidate – Dheernsha Invati to take on the BJP’s Kamlesh Shah. The Congress under the leadership of its new state head Jitu Patwari carried out an aggressive campaign in Amarwara.

The result of the by-election will be announced on July 13.

–IANS

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