Heavy rains: Nethravati river flowing at danger level
Mangaluru, Jul 10: The water level in the Nethravati river in Bantwal taluk of Dakshina Kannada (DK) district has risen to the danger level of 8.5 metre on Sunday.
The water level, which stood at 6.8 metre on Saturday rose considerably in the evening and at Uppinangady, it touched the danger level Sunday morning, official sources said.
All low-lying areas of the river basin in Bantwal have been inundated in the heavy rains lashing the district for the past few days.
The district administration has taken steps to shift people living in the locality to safer places. Areas including Panemangaluru, Kanchikar market, Jakribettu, Kaikunje Bastipadpu are submerged.
Bantwal taluk tahsildar Smitharamu and police officials are camping in the affected areas and taking up precautionary measures, the sources said.
Boats, diving experts and fire service personnel have been called to the area in view of the red alert in the region issued by the meteorological department till Tuesday.
Meanwhile, sea erosion worsened in several parts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi. Heavy destruction to coast occurred at Sashihithlu, Uchchila, Ulla and Batpady in DK district, while areas including Maravanthe, Kaup, Padubidri, Shiroor and Kirimanjeshwara in Udupi were also affected.
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India, Italy to boost defence industrial framework for co-production of military hardware
New Delhi (PTI): India and Italy on Thursday resolved to develop a defence industrial framework for co-production of military hardware, a move that came as both nations navigate an evolving security landscape, including the ongoing crisis in West Asia.
The decision to bolster bilateral defence and strategic ties was reached during talks between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Italian counterpart Guido Crosetto in New Delhi.
Following the meeting, the two sides unveiled a bilateral military cooperation plan (MCP) 2026-27 regarding military engagements between the armed forces of both the countries.
"We discussed a wide range of regional and global issues including the current situation in West Asia," Singh said on social media.
"We also discussed the avenues to further develop mutually beneficial defence industrial cooperation under India's Atmanirbhar Bharat programme and Italy's defence cooperation initiative," he added.
The defence ministry said Singh and Crosetto reiterated that the India-Italy strategic partnership is based on shared values of peace, stability, freedom, and mutual respect.
"Convergence between both the ancient seafaring nations on various key maritime issues was also highlighted including information exchange through Information Fusion Center-Indian Ocean Region, Gurugram," it said.
Prior to the meeting, the Italian defence minister laid a wreath at the National War Memorial, and paid homage to the bravehearts who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation.
Crosetto also inspected the tri-service Guard of Honour.
Under the broader framework of defence ties, both sides have been looking at boosting cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region with an aim to increase interoperability and cooperation.
The two sides have been exploring avenues for enhanced partnerships and dialogue among public and private stakeholders, focusing on technology collaboration, co-production and co-development of defence platforms and equipment.
