Facebook donates Rs 1.75 crore for Kerala flood victims
New Delhi, Aug 20: Social networking giant Facebook is donating $250,000 (nearly Rs 1.75 crore) for relief work in Kerala, which has been battered by torrential rains, floods and landslides, leaving over 300 dead amid massive destruction, the company said on Monday.
Facebook will donate the money through the Community Resilience Fund for GOONJ -- a Delhi-based non-profit organisation that is leading the relief and recovery efforts in the impacted localities.
"In the last few days, Facebook along with the power of the community, has helped reach out to people through features such as Live, creating Page, joining community and raising funds," a Facebook spokesperson told IANS.
"The smallest of all things we have done is that our global community has contributed $250,000 for Goonj fund," she added.
Kerala has seen unabated rains since August 8, causing one of the worst floods in its history that has until now claimed over 300 lives and rendered thousands homeless.
People across Facebook have created "Groups", "Live Videos" and "Pages" to raise funds to mobilise support and help the worst affected.
The groups created include those facilitating communication and relief to victims, such as coordinating transportation and medical attention; IT professionals gathering information about people who need to be rescued and sharing it with emergency officials and doctors who are offering medical tips to those affected by the floods.
On August 9, the Facebook community activated its feature "Safety Check", allowing people to let their friends and family know that they were safe.
The "Help and the Crisis Donate Button" on the platform has garnered more than 1,300 posts from the affected areas. The posts were asking for help and also for offering things like shelter, food, water, transportation and volunteer work.
So far, nearly 500 people have donated using the Crisis Donate Button.
Importantly, several people who were left stranded used Facebook Live to ask for rescue after being unable to reach authorities.
More than 1,200 people have used Facebook's "Community Help" to ask for and request help, including food, water, transportation and shelter.
The disaster maps on Facebook have helped National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and relevant NGOs to mobilise rescue and support efforts.
These Maps track people's movement and demarcate between the affected (flood-hit) and safe zones. This has also helped the government to identify places, where rescue and relief is required.
"Facebook is the largest community of volunteers, donors, and activists coming together to make the world a better place. We will continue to monitor and assess needs in the region. Together, the Facebook community is championing humanity and helping those in distress," the networking giant said in a statement.
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Background of Delhi Assembly breach accused under scanner, booked for attempt to murder
New Delhi (PTI): The man behind the security breach at the Delhi Assembly on Monday is believed to be a supporter of the 2020-21 farmers' agitation with some history of mental health issues, with sources saying his background has raised multiple lines of inquiry for investigators.
Sarabjeet Singh, a 37-year-old resident of Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh, was apprehended two hours after he drove an SUV through one of the boundary gates of the assembly and placed a flower bouquet in the speaker's vehicle parked on the porch. He has been booked forattempt to murder, among other charges.
According to preliminary findings, Sarabjeet left his home on April 1 and remained largely untraceable for five days before the incident. In this period, he contacted his family only once and did not disclose his location or travel plans.
"He travelled to Bareilly on April 2 and subsequently reached Delhi on the day of the breach," the source said.
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He also said that his family members told police that he becomes "difficult to control during such periods of illness" and that he often does not respond to family members during such episodes.
However, police said the exact state of his mental health is still being assessed as part of the ongoing probe and a medical examination is awaited.
The source said Sarabjeet was an active supporter of the farmers protest and had shared multiple posts on social media expressing solidarity with farmer leaders who died during the agitation. Several of these posts and videos were later deleted.
Investigators are also examining videos in which he is allegedly seen driving the same SUV at extremely high speeds, reportedly exceeding 150 kmph on empty roads. The vehicle, bearing a Uttar Pradesh registration number, was purchased recently in February.
On the day of the incident, Sarabjeet is believed to have acted alone. He drove the SUV at a high speed, rammed through Gate No. 2 of the assembly premises to enter the complex. He then allegedly placed a bouquet and garland inside the official vehicle of Speaker Vijender Gupta and briefly sat inside the car before fleeing through the same gate.
Police said the accused has not yet disclosed the motive behind his actions. His movements, call records and digital footprint are being analysed to determine whether he was influenced by any person or group.
He was eventually apprehended along with two other persons from a police picket near a nala in the Roop Nagar area after an alert was issued across the city.
"All individuals are currently being questioned, and further investigation is underway," read the statement.
Delhi Police, in a statement, said that at around 2.10 pm, a white SUV forcefully entered the premises of the Delhi Assembly through Gate No. 2. "One individual, alighted from the vehicle and proceeded towards the porch area carrying a bouquet and a garland (mala) of marigold flowers. It is pertinent to mention that the Vidhan Sabha was not in session at the time," read the statement of the Delhi Police.
The accused drove the vehicle in a dangerous manner with apparent intent to run over security personnel on duty, thereby endangering their lives, a senior police officer said. When security staff tried to catch Sarabjeet, he fled.
A case has been registered at Civil Lines under appropriate sections of law, including attempt to murder, criminal trespass with preparation to commit offence, use of criminal force against a public servant, and Section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, along with other relevant provisions pertaining to obstruction of public servants in discharge of duty.
