911 houses damaged due to natural calamities in Dakshina Kannada since April: DDMA
Mangaluru: A total of 911 houses in Dakshina Kannada district have suffered damage due to natural calamities over the past two and a half months, according to data from the Dist]rict Disaster Management Authority (DDMA).
Citing figures reported by The Hindu, the DDMA stated that between April 1 and June 18, 829 houses were partially damaged, while 82 homes were completely destroyed. Of these, 126 homes, including two fully damaged, were affected in the month of June alone. In April and May combined, 705 houses were partially damaged and 80 houses fully damaged.
In addition to residential losses, agricultural and horticultural lands have also suffered. Horticultural crops spread across 5.384 hectares and agricultural crops over 2.43 hectares were reported damaged due to rains during the period.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) noted that the southwest monsoon arrived early this year, entering Kerala on May 24 — about a week ahead of its typical onset — and subsequently advancing over coastal Karnataka and parts of interior south Karnataka.
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Mamata demands PM's apology over 'Bankim da' remark in Lok Sabha
Cooch Behar (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that he has insulted novelist Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay by calling him "Bankim da".
Addressing a rally in Cooch Behar district, Banerjee said the PM was not even born when the country achieved Independence and yet chose to address one of Bengal's greatest cultural icons casually.
"You did not even show him the minimum respect he deserves. You should apologise for this, to the nation," she said.
The flashpoint was PM's reference to the author during a discussion in Lok Sabha on Monday to commemorate 150 years of the national song, Vande Mataram, written by Chattopadhyay.
TMC MP Saugata Roy objected to the use of the suffix 'da' and urged the PM to say 'Bankim babu' instead.
Modi immediately accepted the sentiment, saying, "I will say Bankim 'babu'. Thank you, I respect your sentiments," and asked in a lighter vein whether he could still address Roy as 'dada'.
Targeting the BJP, Banerjee claimed that it will destroy Bengal's culture, language and heritage if it comes to power in the state.
She also claimed that the assembly elections in the state will be declared soon after publication of the final electoral rolls following the SIR exercise, so that no one can challenge it in court.
