Shivamogga: Girl swept away in flood water
Rains continue to wreak havoc in Western Ghats
Shivamogga: With the rains wreaking havoc in several places in Western Ghats range in the district, major rivers are flowing above the danger mark. Normal life was paralysed in Thirthahalli and Hosanagr taluks. Amidst this, a school girl washed away in flood water in a stream in Thirthahalli taluk on Monday.
When the girl identified as Ashika (14) of Kendalubailu Doddamane near Agumbe tried to cross the foot-bridge across a stream, she slipped into the flowing water and washed away. She was studying in 9th standard at Guddekere government high school. Because of heavy rains, schools and colleges in the taluk were declared holiday on Monday. But unaware of the holiday, she has gone to the school. After she came to know about the holiday, she returned home. While going back home, she tried to cross the stream over the foot-bridge, but slipped into the water and swept away, it is said.
Sources also said that the incident happened when her mother was accompanying her at that time.
The taluk officials and senior police officers rushed to the spot and began searching operation to trace the body of the girl. Because of heavy rains, the searching teams were finding it difficult to continue the search operation.
Though the rains gave some respite in other parts of the district, he continued to lash in the Western Ghats range in the district.
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Sanjay Raut demands re-election, alleges irregularities in EVMs during Maharashtra polls
Mumbai, Nov 25: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Monday demanded a re-election in Maharashtra using ballot papers, claiming there were irregularities with the electronic voting machines (EVMs).
Talking to reporters, Raut alleged several complaints about EVMs malfunctioning and questioned the integrity of the recently held elections.
The BJP-led Mahayuti won 230 out of 288 seats in the assembly elections, while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi managed 46 seats, with Shiv Sena (UBT) winning just 20 out of 95 seats it contested.
"We have received nearly 450 complaints regarding EVMs. Despite raising objections repeatedly, no action has been taken on these issues. How can we say these elections were conducted fairly? Hence, I demand that the results be set aside and elections be held again using ballot papers," Raut said.
Citing some instances, he said a candidate in Nashik reportedly received only four votes despite having 65 votes from his family, while in Dombivli, discrepancies were found in EVM tallies, and election officials refused to acknowledge the objections.
The Sena (UBT) leader also questioned the credibility of the landslide victories of some candidates, saying, "What revolutionary work have they done to receive more than 1.5 lakh votes? Even leaders who recently switched parties have become MLAs. This raises suspicions. For the first time, a senior leader like Sharad Pawar has expressed doubts about EVMs, which cannot be ignored."
Asked about the MVA's poor performance in the elections, Raut rejected the idea of blaming a single individual.
"We fought as a united MVA. Even a leader like Sharad Pawar, who commands immense respect in Maharashtra, faced defeat. This shows that we need to analyse the reasons behind the failure. One of the reasons is EVM irregularities and the misuse of the system, unconstitutional practices, and even judicial decisions left unresolved by Justice Chandrachud," he said.
Raut stressed that though internal differences might have existed within the MVA, the failure was collective.
He also accused the Mahayuti of conducting the elections in an unfair manner.
"I cannot call the elections fair given the numerous reports of discrepancies in EVMs, mismatched numbers, and vote irregularities across the state," Raut said.
