Dehradun, Aug 1 (IANS) A cloudburst claimed two lives at Ghansali in Uttarakhand’s Tehri district as heavy rains throughout Wednesday wreaked havoc across the state.

The deceased have been identified as Bhanu Prasad, 50, and his wife Neelam Devi, 45. Their 28-year-old son Vipin sustained injuries after an eatery and a culvert near the Nautar stream washed away due to the cloudburst in Ghansali’s Jakhanyali.

A cloudburst also occurred near the Bhim Bali stream along the Kedarnath walking path, causing a landslide that damaged about 25 metres of the path. The temporary closure of the path left nearly 200 pilgrims stranded in Bhim Bali.

Emergency services, including SDRF, district police, and local officials, rushed to the spot following the cloudburst and shifted the stranded pilgrims to a safer site. No casualties have been reported yet in Bhim Bali cloudburst incident.

The continuous rainfall led to a sudden rise in the Mandakini River’s water level after which the authorities evacuated the Gaurikund temple and people were taken to a safer place.

The NDRF, SDRF, police, and other emergency services, including hospitals, are on high alert.

Rudraprayag District Magistrate Saurabh Gaharwar said that there was an incident of cloudburst at Bhim Bali on the Kedarnath walking path, causing a landslide that damaged about 20-25 metres of the path. About 200 pilgrims have been safely stopped at Bhimbali GMVN. There is no loss of life.

The water level of Mandakini river is increasing rapidly due to which Gauri Mata temple in Gaurikund has been evacuated and devotees have been shifted to a safer place, he added.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has spoken to the Disaster Management Secretary regarding the heavy rains in various areas of the state and took stock of relief and rescue operations.

–IANS

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Hyderabad, July 31 (IANS) Telangana’s new Governor Jishnu Dev Varma on Wednesday pledged to uphold the principles of fairness, integrity, and impartiality.

Hours after taking oath as the Governor, Varma said in a message that he would discharge his duties with diligence, ensuring that the democratic process and constitutional mandates are respected at all times.

Varma, a former Deputy Chief Minister of Tripura, said it is his privilege to serve the people of Telangana, a state renowned for its diverse culture, rich heritage, and unparalleled beauty.

“Telangana, nestled in the heart of India, is a land of vibrant life and promise. Our state is blessed with abundant natural resources, fertile agricultural lands, and a strategic location that makes it a hub for trade and commerce. The spirit of enterprise and innovation thrives in our people, known for their resilience, hard work, and determination,” he said.

Congratulating the Telangana government led by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, he said, “Together, let us embark on a journey of transformation, guided by democracy, justice, compassion, and the values of our great Constitution.”

“Our vision for Telangana is one of sustainable development, where economic growth goes hand in hand with social equity and environmental protection. Education and empowerment of our youth will be a primary focus, as they are our greatest assets. By providing quality education and opportunities, we can pave the way for a brighter future.

“Healthcare is another critical area. We must ensure that every citizen has access to quality healthcare services, including preventive measures and public health initiatives. Our agricultural sector, the backbone of our economy, also requires continued support and innovation.”

“I am deeply committed to promoting inclusivity and social justice. Our society can only thrive when every individual, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to succeed. We must work together to eliminate disparities and create an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered,” he said.

“I call upon all the citizens of Telangana to join hands in building a future that is inclusive, equitable, and sustainable. Let us create a society where every individual can thrive and prosper. By fostering unity and cooperation, we can overcome any challenges and achieve our collective goals,” the Governor added.

–IANS

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Bhubaneswar, Aug 1 (IANS) Misappropriation of funds to the tune of Rs 224.61 crore has been detected in various cooperative banks across Odisha. The irregularities came to fore during the financial audit of Odisha State Cooperative Bank (OSCB), 17 Central Cooperative Banks (CCBs), and 13 Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs) in the state.

The information has been shared by the state Cooperation Minister Pradeep Bal Samanta while answering a question asked by senior Congress leader Tara Prasad Bahinipati in the Odisha Assembly on Wednesday.

Samanta also told the Assembly that the audit found the involvement of as many as 1,704 people in the misappropriation of the funds.

He said that Rs 16.63 crore has been realised till date from the persons involved in the misappropriation of the funds over several crores.

The department has also issued directions for the recovery of another Rs 30.73 crore from 706 persons found responsible for the fraud.

Meanwhile, the Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Odisha, on Wednesday suspended the management committees of the Odisha State Cooperative Bank Ltd and Odisha Cooperative Housing Corporations Ltd under the Odisha Co-operative Societies Act, 1962 over misappropriation of funds.

The department in its orders said that management committees are acting in a manner prejudicial and detrimental to the interest of the Bank and its members as well as the members of its affiliated Cooperative Societies.

–IANS

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Jaipur, Aug 1 (IANS) Rajasthan unit BJP president and Rajya Sabha MP Madan Rathore has expressed concern over “the continuous increase in the number of cancer patients year after year across the country”.

Rathore raised the matter in the Rajya Sabha regarding the increasing number of cancer patients. He has also appealed to the Central government to provide affordable and accessible treatment to cancer patients.

In response to a question asked by Rathore in Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Pratap Rao Jadhav informed the House in a written reply that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is serious about health services.

“… especially for the treatment of serious diseases like cancer, Prime Minister Modi has provided relief to the people of the country by providing treatment under Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. Not only this, treatment is free or is being made available at concessional rates in the country’s district hospitals, medical colleges, central medical institutions like AIIMS.

“At the same time, to make medicines available to cancer patients at concessional rates, the maximum rate of 131 anti-cancer scheduled medicines has been fixed and, on the other hand, the trade margin of 43 anti-cancer non-scheduled medicines has also been limited. At the same time, 83 products are also being made available for the treatment of cancer at Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendras by the Central government,” the reply read.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 31 (IANS) Delhi Education Minister Atishi on Wednesday announced that all schools in the national capital — government and private — will remain closed on Thursday as heavy rains lashed the city and its peripherals, leading to waterlogging in many areas while spelling troubles for commuters.

Most parts of Delhi-NCR on Wednesday evening received heavy rainfall with roads getting flooded gradually, prompting people to run for cover as the traffic moved at snail’s pace in several areas.

In a post on X, Atishi wrote: “In light of very heavy rainfall today evening and forecast of heavy rainfall tomorrow, all schools – government and private – will remain closed tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that clouds have converged over the national capital from all four sectors, as it issued an advisory urging Delhi residents to avoid going out if not necessary.

“Clouds have converged over Delhi from all 4 sectors. Widespread Light/Moderate Rainfall with isolated Intense to very intense spell (3-5cm/hr) likely over Delhi during next 2 hours,” the IMD posted on X on Wednesday evening.

It has also forecast that rainy conditions will continue in the national capital till August 5.

As per the IMD, Mayur Vihar in East Delhi recorded 119 mm of rain between 8.30 a.m. and 8.30 p.m. on Wednesday, while 118 mm of rain was recorded by the National Centre For Medium Range Weather Forecasting in Noida.

Many airlines, including IndiGo, Air India, Vistara, and SpiceJet, have issued advisories about flights getting diverted and asking passengers to leave for airports early and keep checking the status of their flights.

Delhi Lt Governor V.K. Saxena has directed all the concerned officials to remain on alert and address issues in the waterlogging-prone areas, including areas where coaching centres are located.

“Have cautioned all officers to remain alert in light of the ongoing heavy downpour in Delhi. Apart from ensuring minimum inconvenience to people in general, they are advised to specifically address issues at sites prone to waterlogging, including coaching centres,” the L-G said in a post on X.

–IANS

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