Nine dead, 3 missing as rains pound Karnataka
Bengaluru, Jul 24: Nine people have died and three were missing in Karnataka so far,with torrential rains battering several parts of coastal, malnad and north-interior region of the state, causing flood like situation and landslides, officials said on Saturday.
A total of 31,360 people have been evacuated from low lying areas, while 22,417 people are taking shelter in 237 relief camps that have been opened by the government.
According to data shared by the State Disaster Management Authority, 283 villages in 45 taluks have been lashed by rains, affecting a population of 36,498.
Among the deaths reported since July 22, four are from Uttara Kannada district, two from Belagavi and one each from Chikkamagaluru, Dharwad and Kodagu.
Landslides have occurred at seven locations in Uttara Kannada, four in Chikkamagaluru, three in Kodagu and one each in Shivamogga and Hassan districts.
Over 2,600 houses have been damaged, and 78 animals have died in rain-related incidents.
An estimated 58,961 hectares of agricultural crops and 1,962 hectares of horticulture crops have been damaged due to rains and floods, which has also damaged over 555 km of road, more than 3,500 electric poles and 342 transformers.
According to the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Management Centre, Uttara Kannada, Shivamogga, Belagavi, Hassan, Chikkamagaluru, Dharwad, Dakshina Kannada and Kodagu districts received widespread heavy to extremely heavy rains on Saturday.
Kudumallige of Tirthahalli taluk in Shivamooga received the highest of 355 mm rainfall.
In a single day on Saturday, 59 TMC of cumulative inflow was received in 13 major reservoirs of the state.
Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, who spoke to Deputy Commissioners of affected districts this morning, directed in-charge Ministers to stay put in their respective districts and monitor the relief and rescue operations there.
He will be travelling to rain and flood affected border district of Belagavi in north Karnataka on Sunday, to assess the situation there.
Seven National Disaster Response Force and 15 SDRF teams, along with fire and emergency services, a navy helicopter and coastguard personnel have been deployed for relief and rescue works.
Gram Panchayat's disaster management teams are also engaged in the work, State Disaster Management Authority sources said.
According to sources, 100 people were rescued in Sankeshwar town of Belagavi, 15 people at Kumta in Uttara Kannada, four people and some animals in Soraba taluk of Shivamogga , among others.
Revenue Minister R Ashoka, who visited affected areas in Hassan district, said Deputy Commissioners have been directed to provide compensation under NDRF funds.
A sum of Rs 5 lakh will be paid as compensation to those who lost their houses and an initial payment of Rs 10,000 will be provided as a temporary relief,he said.
Officials have been instructed not to take leave and attend to people's needs and safety.
With several dams in the state and neighbouring Maharashtra reaching the brim, water is being released into the rivers, inundating low-lying and river banks areas.
Scattered to widespread and light to moderate rains are likely at isolated places and heavy rains are likely over coastal and adjoining parts of malnad and Belagavi districts till August 3, officials said.
Isolated to scattered and moderate rains are likely in remaining parts of the state.
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EAM Jaishankar meets Jamaican PM, gifts over 10 BHISHM Cubes
Kingston (PTI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness and discussed ways to further deepen "political, economic and people-to-people cooperation."
Jaishankar also conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Holness.
"Pleased to call on Prime Minister @AndrewHolnessJM in Kingston. Conveyed the greetings of PM @narendramodi," Jaishankar posted on X.
"Discussed deepening our political, economic and people-to-people cooperation. Value his commitment towards further strengthening India-Jamaica relations," the post further read.
Also, the external affairs minister handed over 10 BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita & Maitri) Cubes as a gift to Jamaica.
"Formally handed over 10 BHISHM Cubes as a gift from India to Jamaica, in the presence of PM @AndrewHolnessJM, Health Minister @christufton and FM @kaminajsmith," Jaishankar posted on X.
"The BHISHM Cube mobile hospital system, designed for rapid deployment, will help Jamaica during disasters and emergencies. The gift of these cubes is a statement of friendship, a commitment to disaster preparedness, and an outcome of innovation," the post said.
Jaishankar arrived in Kingston on Saturday evening, marking the first leg of his nine-day tour of Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, aimed at further strengthening India's strategic and cultural ties with the Caribbean nations.
Earlier in the day, he interacted with the Indian diaspora and discussed India's ongoing transformation in infrastructure, human development and technology-driven governance and entrepreneurship with them.
He also highlighted the cricket bond between both countries as India gifted a scoreboard to Jamaica.
A scoreboard was dedicated at Sabina Park in Kingston. It is the home of the Jamaica cricket team and is the only Test cricket ground in the Caribbean island nation.
The minister expressed hope that the new scoreboard would witness many memorable innings, including those symbolising the enduring friendship between the two countries.
Cricket has long been a strong cultural bridge between India and Jamaica, which is part of the West Indies cricket team.
Jamaican players, including Chris Gayle, Courtney Walsh and Michael Holding, have played a major role in shaping the legacy of West Indies cricket in the international arena, contributing to its dominance in earlier decades and its continued global appeal.
