Latest news with #AapdaMitra
Time of India
3 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
No toxic materials in sea, clean-up underway: Kanyakumari collector
Kanyakumari: Experts have confirmed that no toxic substances were detected in the sea along the Midalam and Kodimunai coasts after debris from the sunken cargo vessel MSC Elsa 3 washed ashore, Kanyakumari district collector R Alagu Meena, said in a statement on Tuesday. The statement followed a site inspection and expert assessment initiated under the directive of chief minister M K Stalin. The cargo vessel, which sank off the Kochi coast on May 25 due to an engine failure, had several containers that drifted with the current and eventually reached the Kanyakumari shoreline. Items found along the coast included plastic pellets, wooden boxes, and cashew nut sacks. The collector stated that teams of experts found no contamination in seawater, ruling out the presence of any toxic materials. The retrieved items are currently secured under the jurisdiction of respective panchayats, municipalities, and town panchayats. One entire container was handed over to the Tuticorin customs department for further investigation. In the meantime, clean-up operations are being carried out in full swing by the disaster management department's Aapda Mitra volunteers, local officials, civic bodies, and elected representatives. The administration is also conducting public awareness campaigns in coastal fishing villages to ensure residents remain informed and calm. Authorities assured the public that the situation is under control and that necessary measures are being taken to restore normalcy along the affected coastal stretches.
Times of Oman
2 days ago
- Climate
- Times of Oman
India: Over 10,000 shifted to safer locations amid torrential rainfall in Tripura
Agartala: Over 10,000 people have been shifted to safer locations across Tripura as torrential monsoon rains battered the state over the past 48 hours, officials said on Sunday. Triggered by intense moisture incursion, the heavy to extremely heavy rainfall has disrupted connectivity, inundated low-lying areas, and forced thousands into relief camps, even as authorities brace for more downpours in the coming days. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Agartala, has issued a red alert across all districts of Tripura after incessant monsoon rains battered the state over the past 48 hours. Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, intensified by strong moisture incursion, has severely disrupted connectivity and forced thousands into relief camps. In a release issued by the IMD, active monsoon conditions are forecasted to persist, with a high likelihood of further heavy rains today and tomorrow. In response, state authorities have mobilised rescue teams and activated emergency protocols. Bodhjung Nagar in West Tripura recorded the highest rainfall in the last 24 hours at 198.5 mm, followed by Kailashahar in Unakoti (192.2 mm), Jirania in West Tripura (175.5 mm), and Agartala (140 mm). A total of 14 rescue teams--11 in West Tripura and 3 in Unakoti--comprising personnel from NDRF, SDRF, Assam Rifles, Fire Services, Civil Defence, Bharat Scouts, and Aapda Mitra volunteers have been deployed. Sixty relief camps have been established across West Tripura, Khowai, Unakoti, and North Tripura, currently sheltering approximately 2,800 families and over 10,600 people. Numerous roads in North Tripura, Unakoti, Dhalai, and West Tripura were temporarily blocked due to landslides and fallen trees. Quick response units from SDRF, the Forest Department, and PWD have cleared many of the affected routes. Preliminary reports show that 201 houses have been damaged, with 92 severely and 109 partially damaged, mostly in Gomati, Khowai, Sepahijala, and North Tripura. The Howrah River in Agartala reached 10.91 meters at 5 PM, crossing the danger level, although it has shown a receding trend over the past hour after remaining stagnant since morning. In Agartala city, stormwater drainage systems comprising 17 pump houses effectively cleared water stagnation within 2 to 3 hours despite high-intensity rainfall in a short period. Tripura Chief Minister, along with senior officials including the MP (Rajya Sabha), Mayor of Agartala, Revenue Secretary, DM and SP of West Tripura, visited several affected areas and relief camps including those at Chandrapur, Pratapgarh English Medium School, Vivekananda School, Pragati School, Tulsibati School, and B. R. Ambedkar School. Authorities have advised citizens to stay calm, avoid venturing near rivers and low-lying areas, and follow instructions from local administrations. The state government continues to work in close coordination with all departments to ensure relief, rehabilitation, and risk mitigation efforts are carried out efficiently and effectively.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Govt ramps up safety & relief measures
T'puram: As monsoon arrived early and caused widespread damage across Kerala, govt stepped up its preparedness, focusing on monsoon safety, disaster response and getting ready for school reopening on June 2. On Thursday, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan warned that rising river and stream water levels from heavy rain made it unsafe to bathe in them. At present, 1,296 people are housed in 59 relief camps across state. Authorities have identified areas prone to landslides and flooding—especially riverbanks, low-lying zones and ESAs—and advised residents to move to safer places or relief camps. Emergency operations centres are functioning 24 hours at district and taluk levels. Alongside traditional warning systems, alerts are being issued through sirens and hooters under state disaster management authority's 'Kavacham' early warning network. Civil defence, Aapda Mitra volunteers and other emergency personnel are on standby and panchayat-level emergency response teams have been activated, he said. Nine NDRF teams are being deployed as part of monsoon action plan and they are positioned in Idukki, Malappuram, Kasaragod and Thrissur. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like People Born 1940-1975 With No Life Insurance Could Be Eligible For This Reassured Get Quote Undo By June 1 additional teams will be deployed at Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam, Kozhikode and Wayanad. These teams will remain in their districts throughout monsoon, he added. The CM urged the public to stay alert, especially at night when uprooted trees or damaged power lines may lie across roads or waterlogged areas. Those stepping out early for newspaper delivery, rubber tapping or other essential duties should take extreme caution. Suspicious or damaged power lines should be reported immediately to KSEB office or by calling 9496010101, he said. Residents associations and local communities can share rain updates via WhatsApp groups. Households and institutions must do necessary cleaning and drainage work to avoid health and safety issues, he added. The CM warned of intense rain, possible cloudbursts and flash floods. Heavy winds and soil saturation may trigger landslides and urban waterlogging. People living in homes with weak structures or unstable roofs are advised to stay vigilant and relocate if necessary, he added.
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Business Standard
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
India trains 1,700 Aapda Mitras for civil defence amid border tension
As border tensions with Pakistan intensify, the Indian government has strengthened its civil defence strategy by training over 1,700 Aapda Mitra volunteers. The large-scale training programme, held at Delhi's Siri Fort Auditorium, is a joint initiative by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and the Indian Red Cross Society. The initiative, which aims to improve grassroots readiness, trains civilian volunteers in essential emergency response skills such as evacuation protocols, first aid, and firefighting. These trained Aapda Mitras will assist civil defence forces in strengthening community resilience during natural disasters and security emergencies. — NDMA India | राष्ट्रीय आपदा प्रबंधन प्राधिकरण ???????? (@ndmaindia) May 9, 2025 This push for grassroots preparedness comes at a time of heightened alert following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which left 26 people dead. In retaliation, India launched Operation Sindoor, a series of precision air and missile strikes that destroyed nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Tensions escalated further on Thursday night when Pakistan attempted retaliatory drone and missile strikes on multiple Indian military installations. According to the Defence Ministry, 'The Pakistani military on Thursday night attempted to target Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bathinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai and Bhuj.' The Indian armed forces successfully intercepted the attacks and launched a counteroffensive, deploying kamikaze drones to destroy a Pakistani air defence system in Lahore. Sirens and explosions were reported in Akhnoor, Samba, Baramulla, and Kupwara, as Indian forces maintained a high-alert aerial vigil along the border. The Defence Ministry confirmed the attempted strikes targeted 15 cities across northern and western India, including key locations in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also addressed the escalating conflict, stating, 'No limit will become an obstacle to protecting India's sovereignty and the nation is fully prepared for such responses.' He emphasised India's preference for peace and dialogue but warned against mistaking restraint for weakness. 'However, if anyone tries to take advantage of this restraint, they will face quality action. We are fully prepared for such responsible responses in the future as well,' he added. [With agency inputs]
Hindustan Times
08-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Gautam Budh Nagar: Volunteers to get disaster response training
Noida: To develop a community-led disaster resilience, a group of 100 volunteers from Gautam Budh Nagar will undergo a 12-day residential training that is designed to prepare interested youth into capable first responders in their local areas during any calamity or disaster. In total, 4,800 'Aapda Mitras' will be trained in two phases across 48 districts of the state. Each district has nominated 100 participants, officials said. (HT Photo) In total, 4,800 'Aapda Mitras' will be trained in two phases across 48 districts of the state. Each district has nominated 100 participants, officials said. At the Collectorate premises in Surajpur, Greater Noida, district magistrate Manish Kumar Verma on Wednesday flagged off the volunteers who will undergo training under the 'Aapda Mitra' scheme, a central government initiative launched by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to train community volunteers as first responders during natural and man-made disasters. 'Preparedness at the community level is the backbone of effective disaster response. The Aapda Mitra initiative empowers our youth to act swiftly and responsibly in times of crisis. I congratulate all the selected volunteers and hope they serve as inspiring role models in their communities,' the DM said. To be held in Lucknow from May 8 to 20, the training is part of a state-wide programme led by the Uttar Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (UPSDMA), in accordance with standards laid out by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), New Delhi. The volunteers include enthusiastic youth from the NCC (national cadets corps), Prantiya Rakshak Dal (PRD), and local community groups like Mangal Dal, all selected to act as first responders during natural or man-made disasters, officials added. The programme is being executed locally under the coordination of Omkar Chaturvedi, a district disaster management specialist, who said the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) will provide hands-on training in essential emergency response skills, including swimming, rescue techniques, first aid, CPR (a life-saving emergency procedure), and more. 'The initiative aims to build a strong network of community-level responders who can immediately step in to help during any disaster. The training will equip them not only with life-saving skills but also with a sense of responsibility toward their communities. From life-saving techniques like CPR and first aid to rescue operations and swimming, the Aapda Mitras will be fully equipped to respond to emergencies in their local areas,' he added. All selected Aapda Mitras will receive a certificate and official identity card upon successful completion of the training, a government-issued Emergency Responder Kit, an insurance policy for safety during deployment, full arrangements for travel, lodging, meals, and training materials, all facilitated by SDRF Lucknow, officials said.
