Flood situation worsens in Karnataka, one dead
Bengaluru: One person was killed while scores of houses collapsed in parts of Karnataka as the flood situation worsened in the southern state on Tuesday. Schools were shut and bus and train services cancelled due to the heavy downpour, coupled with water released from dams in neighbouring Maharashtra, official sources said.
Belagavi bore the brunt as water from the Koyna dam in neighbouring Maharashtra gushed into the Krishna river.
According to police, a 25-year-old man was killed at Hoskote in Bylahongal taluk of Belagavi district when the wall of his house crashed on him. Besides the Krishna river, the Markandeya, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha and Bheema rivers are in spate, wreaking havoc in many parts of the state. Water from the Markandeya river gushed into Gokak and Hukkeri in Belagavi, reports said.
The districts hit due to the torrential rains and subsequent flooding are Belagavi, Vijayapura, Yadgiri, Raichur, Bagalkot, Hubballi-Dharwad, Shivamogga, Udupi, Dakshina Kananda, Kodagu and Uttara Kannada.
Landslips were reported from some affected districts, leading to disruption in the road and rail networks.
Many schools were shut in Hubballi-Dharwad, Shivamogga, Belagavi, Mangaluru, Udupi, Vijayapura, Yadgiri, Raichur and Kodagu, official sources said.
The gates of the barrages and the Almatti dam built across the Krishna river and its tributories in Karnataka were opened due to heavy inflows. While thousands of hectares of land have been submerged, the National Highway-4 from Pune to Bengaluru was cut off at Belagavi.
The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) cancelled many buses from Belagavi to Pune. The huge inflow into the Krishna river forced the Basava Sagara dam authorities in Vijayapura to open 21 of its 31 gates, official sources said.
Train services were also hit due to the floods. In a statement, the South Western Railway said services between Londa and Tinai Ghat stands suspended till the situation returns to normal.
A defence spokesperson said 15 Army columns from Dakshin Bharat area, each comprising 60 jawans, besides NDRF, SDRF, police and home guards have been deployed for rescue and rehabilitation work.
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MEA reports more than 200 Indians enlisted in Russian military since 2022; 26 deaths confirmed
More than 200 Indian nationals have joined the Russian armed forces since 2022, with 26 are confirmed dead, MEA—The Ministry of External Affairs have informed the Upper house of the Parliament: Rajya Sabha.
In a written response, the Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, has stated that at least 202 Indians are reported to have joined the Russian army. Among these recruited personnels, 26 have lost their lives; while, seven individuals have been reported missing by Russian authorities. He added that the remains of two deceased Indian nationals were cremated in Russia.
Singh noted that the sustained diplomatic efforts by the Indian government have led to the early discharge of 119 individuals. He further added that the discussions are going smoothly with the Russians to secure the release of the remaining personnel, with efforts underway to facilitate the early discharge of 50 more Indian nationals.
According to the minister, the Union government is in contact with Russian authorities to ensure the safety, welfare, and prompt return of Indian citizens serving in the Russian army. The issue, he said, is being addressed at multiple levels, including interactions between senior leaders, ministers, and officials of both countries.
The said disclosure was made in response to queries raised by Saket Gokhale, the MP of Trinamool Congress, and Randeep Singh Surjewala, the MP of INC, regarding the number of Indians allegedly recruited into the military service in Russia; Along with the details of deaths and missing persons reported since 2022.
