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New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Climate
- New Indian Express
1,300 families take shelter as floods swamp Tripura; waterlogging paralyses Agartala, IMD warns of more rain
AGARTALA: Around 1,300 families have taken shelter in government-run relief camps across West Tripura district following incessant rainfall over the past two days that has triggered severe flooding in several parts of the region. "Incessant rainfall over the past two days has led to severe flooding across various parts of West Tripura district. As a result, nearly 1,300 families have been shifted to government shelter homes for safety. The state government is closely monitoring the flood-affected areas," Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said in a Facebook post on Sunday. The Chief Minister added that the district administration has deployed teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), civil volunteers, and other agencies to assist in rescue and relief operations. "Several localities in Agartala have also experienced heavy waterlogging, prompting authorities to activate water pumps to drain out the accumulated water. Officials are urging residents in flood-hit areas to follow government advisories and relocate to designated safe zones," the CM said.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Ludhiana conducts mock drill to tackle drone attacks at Dholewal Military Complex
A mock drill as part of the second statewide civic defence exercise, codenamed Operation Shield, was held at Dholewal Military Complex in Punjab's Ludhiana late Saturday evening. The exercise was aimed at evaluating and ensuring quick access of relief and emergency response teams to military installations during drone attacks, as well as to equip the public with the skills to handle crises effectively. The drill commenced at 8 pm with an alarm, prompting swift coordination among multiple agencies, including the Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), fire brigade, district administration, municipal corporation (MC), police, health department, civil defence, National Cadet Corps (NCC), Nehru Yuva Kendra and others. Organised by the district administration in collaboration with defence authorities, the exercise simulated a real-time emergency response. Subdivisional Magistrate (Ludhiana East) Jasleen Kaur Bhullar said an incident command post was promptly established within the complex where nodal officers from participating departments convened. The fire brigade and NDRF conducted demonstrations on management techniques, while other teams showcased methods for rescuing and treating individuals during emergencies, emphasising life-saving protocols. Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain emphasised that the drill was designed to raise public awareness and ensure readiness for any district-wide emergency. Before the mock drill, the administration had urged residents to remain calm, clarifying that this is a routine preparedness drill in compliance with the Ministry of Home Affairs' mandate following the Pahalgam terror attack. This was the second such drill in Punjab, following the one held on May 7. That mock drill was conducted nationwide shortly after Operation Sindoor, India's military operation under which the armed forces targeted terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people were killed in South Kashmir.
The Star
2 days ago
- Climate
- The Star
Indian monsoon floods kill at least 22 people in the north-east
A member of National Disaster Response Force distributes drinking water to a resident after heavy rains flooded the area around her home, in Guwahati, India, Saturday, May 31, 2025. - AP GUWAHATI: Landslides and flash flooding triggered by days of torrential monsoon rains in India's north-east have killed at least 22 people, officials said Saturday (May 31). Five people, including three from a single family, were killed on Saturday when their homes were buried in a mudslide in Assam state's Guwahati city, an official flood bulletin said. In neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh state, which borders China, seven people were killed on Friday when their vehicle was swept away by floodwaters. Two others drowned in a separate incident in the state. Eight people were killed in the states of Mizoram, Tripura and Meghalaya in the last 24 hours due to floods and mudslides brought on by the rains, according to official figures. Meanwhile in Assam, authorities disconnected the electricity in several areas to reduce the risk of electrocution, state Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. Heavy rains also led to flooding in many urban areas of Assam's capital city of Guwahati, leading to long power outages Friday night and prompting authorities to shut schools and colleges on Saturday. India's weather agency has forecast more heavy rains in the region in the coming days. India's annual June-September monsoon season offers respite from intense summer heat. But the rains that are crucial for crops planted during the season often cause extensive damage, particularly in the north-east, which is considered one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change. Scientists say monsoons are becoming more erratic because of extreme weather and global warming, leading to frequent landslides and flash floods in India's Himalayan north. - AP
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Mock drills: India to conduct ‘Operation Shield' in these states; check all details
India will carry out major mock drills on May 31 in disticts of states adjoining the western border of the country as part of a countrywide emergency preparedness programme titled Operation Shield , according to an official statement. The states where drills will take place include Rajasthan, Haryana, and Jammu and Kashmir. In Punjab, the drill has been scheduled separately for June 3. The Punjab government wrote to the Centre requesting the alternate date, citing that its civil defence personnel were currently attending training sessions being conducted by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). Gujarat will also conduct the mock drills, according to media reports. The coordinated drills aim to assess how well prepared both the local administration and the civilian population are to respond in the event of emergencies such as air strikes or bombings. These will be full-scale simulation exercises designed to test the operation of control rooms, the effectiveness of air raid warning systems, and the capabilities of civil defence services. Areas of focus include the functioning of wardens, firefighting teams, rescue units, depot management, and evacuation plans. Live Events Sirens will be sounded during the drills and the entire emergency preparedness system will be observed closely. The Ministry of Home Affairs has given responsibility for overseeing the drills to the Directorate General of Fire Services and Home Guards. The goal is to address serious weaknesses in civil defence systems that were revealed during an earlier exercise held on May 7. This latest round of mock drills, under the name Operation Shield, will involve emergency simulations in the border districts of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, and Chandigarh. The drills will include blackout protocols, air raid siren tests, and mock evacuations to test coordination and response time across agencies. Simulated scenarios will involve drone or missile strikes. Emergency medical teams, blood transport units, and communication hotlines between local administrations and the Indian Air Force will be activated. Civil defence volunteers from the National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Service Scheme (NSS), and Bharat Scouts and Guides will also take part. The Civil Defence Department in Rajasthan has already started issuing instructions to all districts, with special focus on those that share a border with Pakistan. A mock drill and blackout exercise is planned across all 41 districts of Rajasthan, including border areas like Jaisalmer, to prepare for emergency responses in case of an airstrike or wartime scenario. Ahead of the drill, the Jaisalmer district administration completed all required arrangements, and Civil Defence teams held training sessions under the supervision of qualified officers. ANI, citing official sources, reported that the mock drill in Jaisalmer is set to begin at 5:00 PM. However, the exact location has not been disclosed for security reasons. As part of the preparations in Jaisalmer, six locations were selected for setting up airstrike warning sirens. A total of 72 Civil Defence personnel were deployed to operate the systems. These sirens will be used during the blackout phase to recreate the environment of an actual air attack. The drills will simulate air attack conditions and will be carried out at two to three locations in each district. In the evening, a blackout will be enforced as part of the drill, and residents have been encouraged to actively participate. In Haryana, a complete blackout will be carried out at all key and strategic points, with the exception of emergency and essential services. The Haryana government has scheduled a major civil defence exercise under Operation Shield for May 31, covering all 22 districts of the state. The aim is to improve the state's emergency readiness and response systems. The mock exercises in Haryana will take place on May 31 from 5 PM to 9 PM. Officials said the blackout will begin at 8 PM and continue until 8:15 PM. They also clarified that the exercises are routine drills and should not cause alarm among the public. Sumita Misra, Additional Chief Secretary of Haryana's Home Department, said on Friday: 'The exercise aims to test existing emergency mechanisms, improve coordination between the civil administration, defence forces, and local communities and to identify areas that need to be strengthened, thus ensuring swift and effective response during any crisis.' She said that there are currently about 32,000 Civil Defence Volunteers in the state, who will also take part in the exercise. These activities follow the earlier nationwide drill Operation Abhyas, also organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs and held on May 7. That drill coincided with the launch of Operation Sindoor , a military response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. Operation Sindoor led to the destruction of nine high-value terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and the elimination of more than 100 terrorists. Authorities have said that mock drills like these are important for strengthening the country's emergency response systems. What is Operation Shield and why is it being conducted now? Operation Shield is a full-scale emergency preparedness exercise involving airstrike and missile strike simulations across India's border states. It aims to test coordination among civilian and military agencies and plug gaps found in earlier drills. Which states are participating in the Operation Shield mock drills? The large-scale mock drills are being conducted in Rajasthan, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Gujarat, Punjab, and Chandigarh. Punjab will hold its drill on June 3 due to an ongoing NDRF training programme. What will residents experience during the blackout and siren drills? Citizens in the affected districts will hear air raid sirens and experience a planned blackout lasting up to 15 minutes. Mock evacuations and rescue missions will also be carried out as part of the simulations. How is Operation Shield linked to recent security operations? The May 31 drills follow Operation Abhyas and Operation Sindoor, launched earlier in May. Operation Sindoor was a retaliatory military strike destroying terror bases in Pakistan and PoK after the April 22 Pahalgam attack. (with inputs from agencies)
Time of India
3 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Torrential rains, landslides in coastal Karnataka leave 4 dead
Heavy rains and landslides across Karnataka 's coastal Dakshina Kannada district have claimed four lives, officials said on Friday. On Thursday night, a landslide struck a home at Montepadavu Kodi near here, trapping five people under debris, they said. According to officials, a woman and her child were pulled from the debris and hospitalised in critical condition. However, another child of the woman was found dead. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo Heavy rains overnight triggered a landslide around 4 am, collapsing the house where six members of the Poojary family were asleep. Among the deceased were three-year-old Aryan and his two-year-old brother Aarush. Their grandmother, Prema Poojary, also died in the incident. Live Events Ashwini, their mother, tried to shield the children with her body as a wall came crashing down. Eyewitnesses said she was found under the debris, unconscious but still clutching her children. "I don't care what happens to me, please save my children," she had reportedly pleaded as neighbours attempted a risky rescue amid continuing landslides. However, Ashwini's husband Sitaram narrowly escaped by rushing out after hearing the landslide while his father Kantappa Poojary who sustained injuries, was rescued by locals and admitted to a hospital, a senior official said. A video taken by locals showed the harrowing moments. The younger child, Aarush, was seen trying to crawl out from the rubble, while Aryan had already succumbed. Local rescue efforts had to pause due to unstable ground conditions until professional teams arrived. Heavy rains and the limited access to the site had hampered rescue operations . The National Disaster Response Force ( NDRF ), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local police were involved in the rescue operations. In another incident at Deralakatte in Mangaluru , a compound wall collapsed on a house on Friday morning, killing a six-year-old girl identified as Fatima Naeem. Authorities have issued warnings for vulnerable zones in the region, as intermittent rains continue to batter the coastal belt. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, after receiving a full briefing on the landslides and wall collapses in Dakshina Kannada district due to overnight rains, instructed district in-charge Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao and Dakshina Kannada District Deputy Commissioner to immediately visit the spot, inspect, take necessary action and report back to him. The CM issued the instructions during the review meeting with Deputy Commissioners of all districts and CEOs of Zilla Panchayats at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru.
