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New Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
CS tells officials to gear up for monsoon eventualities
VIJAYAWADA: Chief Secretary K Vijayanand instructed officials to ensure comprehensive preparedness for the southwest monsoon season, emphasising proactive measures to mitigate disasters like cyclones and floods. During a video conference held at the State Secretariat on Thursday, he engaged with various State departments, alongside representatives from the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF), and other Central government bodies, to review monsoon readiness. He stressed the need for advanced action plans to address potential heavy rains or cyclones. He urged the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and other departments to anticipate risks such as overflowing rivers, streams, and canals, and to collaborate with Vassar Labs for effective planning. He directed the SDMA and Real-Time Governance Society (RTGS) to coordinate with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for enhanced disaster management. He emphasised minimising loss of life and property during calamities, calling for the timely restoration of normalcy through department-specific action plans. The Water Resources Department was instructed to strengthen flood embankments, stockpile sandbags, and intensify floodplain patrolling. The Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department was tasked with keeping JCBs, cranes, and power shovels ready to clear fallen trees and restore traffic on major roads. The Panchayat Raj & Rural Development (PR&RD) Department was directed to ensure standby generators for water supply schemes and leak-free pipelines, while the Municipal Administration Department was asked to complete desilting of urban drains and canals. The Energy Department was told to stock standby generators, tree cutters, and electricity poles, and the Medical and Health Department was to ensure adequate medicine supplies and raise public awareness about preventing infectious diseases in flood-prone areas. The Civil Supplies Department was instructed to maintain sufficient stocks of essential commodities at MLS points. He directed Revenue Principal Secretary G Jayalakshmi to circulate GO No. 1 and GO No. 13, which outline increased compensation for disaster victims, to all departments. He recommended biweekly departmental reviews to ensure effective disaster preparedness.
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Issue orange alerts too: IMD to state disaster mgmt
1 2 Ranchi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD), Ranchi, urged the state disaster management authority (SDMA) to broadcast messages for orange alerts too. At present, the SDMA issues alert only when IMD gives red warning. Red warning means people should take action for safety, orange signifies that they should be alert, and yellow for staying watchful. The IMD spreads information related to weather through various modes, including the Sachet and Damini apps, bulk messages to SDMA through telecom companies, Kirshi Vigyan Kendras, common service centers and farmer's call centres. The warnings related to a particular area are sent to the mobile phone numbers registered in that area. Orange and red alerts were sent till 2024. The incharge of IMD- Ranchi, Abhsihek Anand, said, "It would be safer if yellow and orange alerts are also broadcasted through mobile phones. Lightning, thundering, and gusty wind predicted during yellow and orange alerts could lead to loss of life and requests have been sent by the IMD in other states also." SDMA secretary Rajesh Sharma said, "We have asked the IMD-Ranchi for an example when the orange alert have led to losses. The issue of messaging alerts would be decided by the National Disaster Management Authority. Once we get an example, we will send a request to the NDMA for issuing orange alerts also." The state is experiencing thunder, lightning, and gusty win for the past several days, which has killed dozens of people, damaged houses and uprooted trees.
New Indian Express
26-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Containers from capsized cargo ship wash up along Kollam coast
KOLLAM: Several containers from the cargo vessel MSC Elsa 3, which capsized off the coast of Kochi, washed ashore along various parts of the Kollam coast on Monday morning. An alert has been issued for Kollam, warning that more containers may continue to drift ashore. So far, eight containers have been found along the Kollam coastline. The first container was spotted around midnight at Cheriyazhikal in Karunagappally. Subsequently, more containers were found at Parimanam beach in Chavara, Shakthikulangara, and Madamma Thop, also in Shakthikulangara. Containers were also discovered in the Neendakara Altaramoodu area. Fishermen were the first to notice them and alerted authorities. A team of experts led by District Collector N Devidas inspected the sites. All containers recovered so far have been found empty. The district administration has urged residents in vulnerable coastal areas to evacuate and shift to safer locations. The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) has strictly warned the public not to approach or touch any containers or floating objects. Residents are advised to report any sightings of containers by dialling the emergency number 112.
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
50-year-old woman killed in lightning strike in Kalamassery
Kochi: A 50-year-old woman died in a lightning strike in Kalamassery on Friday night. The deceased was identified as Laila, of Veluthedathu house in the Kalamassery municipality limit. She was struck by lightning while she was getting down from the car at her house. Her husband Abbas suffered burn injuries in the incident. The couple were returning home after attending a wedding. This is the seventh lightning strike death this year. As per the data from state disaster management authority (SDMA), 13 people, including three women, died in lightning strikes in 2024. Of the seven deaths this year, three are women. Meanwhile, IMD issued a yellow alert for Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur, and Wayanad districts for Sunday. A yellow alert has been issued for Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur and Palakkad districts for Monday. The maximum temperature in the past 24 hours was recorded in Kozhikode at 35.5 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature was in Thiruvananthapuram at 24.2 degrees. IMD also issued a warning for fishermen for squally weather with wind speeds of 35 kmph to 45 kmph, gusting to 55 kmph, likely to prevail along and off the Kerala coasts from Sunday to Tuesday.
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Tiger kills man inside rubber estate in Kerala's Malappuram
Kozhikode: Residents took out a protest march on Thursday morning after a tiger attacked and killed rubber tapper Gafoor Ali (43) at a rubber estate in Adakkakundu near Kalikavu in Malappuram. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now They blamed forest department for failing to act even after confirming the presence of a tiger in the area three months ago. Gafoor is survived by his wife, three children and his mother, who is recovering from a stroke. The tiger attacked Ali, a native of Kallamoola in Chokkad panchayat, around 7.15am while he was tapping rubber inside an estate at Ravuthar Kunnu, around 3km away from the forest boundary under Karuvarakundu forest station limits. Abdul Samad, a fellow rubber tapper who saw the attack, said the tiger jumped on Ali from behind, bit his neck and dragged him away. "It happened all of a sudden. I saw a large tiger leap, bite his neck and drag him away. He let out a single cry and then there was silence," he said, adding that he shouted for help but there were no houses nearby. Later he phoned others and people arrived at the spot. They followed the trail of blood and found the body around 200m away from the spot where the tiger had attacked Ali. Forest officers said the tiger had eaten part of his body. The estate is owned by Edakkadamban Nazeer Hussain. The incident led to widespread protests and angry people prevented anyone from shifting Ali's body. Wandoor MLA AP Anilkumar said he had alerted the divisional forest officer about tiger presence around three months ago and had also raised the issue in the assembly and informed forest minister AK Saseendran. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The protesters demanded an enhanced compensation, a permanent govt job for a family member and added that the tiger must be shot. They ended the protest after three hours when DFO Dhanik Lal gave an undertaking that apart from the compensation of Rs 10 lakh, SDMA would be urged to provide an additional sum of Rs 4 lakh. Considering the family's hardship, the wife would get a temporary job immediately and a recommendation will be given to the govt to give her a permanent government job. Gafoor was laid to rest at Kallamoola Juma Masjid burial ground. A 25-member team from Wayanad and Palakkad were deployed to capture the tiger. Cages were deployed and kumki elephants will also be roped in for the operation. Saseendran said forest veterinarian Arun Zachariah will be a part of this team. The minister said that tiger presence was reported in the area two months ago and forest department had undertaken a vigil then. He added that CCF (Northern Zone) Deepa KS was asked to submit a report on the incident.
