Tremors in some parts of Malnad: Few houses damaged
Chikmagaluru, August 24: Though the rains subsidised across the district except moderate rains in malnad region, the people have been experiencing tremors and landslides in some parts due to which farmers and people are panic.
A week before, the rains wreaked havoc in the district, but it is now subsidised for the last five days. But the series of calamity was not stopped. Landslides are being happened in Koppa, Sringeri, NR Pura and Mudigere taluks and roads were blocked. As a result, houses developed cracks and people experienced tremors in some parts and this has caused panic among farmers and people in rural areas of the region.
On Thursday night, it rained in Mudigere taluk, but it was drizzling in the morning. Cracks developed in the house belonging to Krishnaiah in Bogase village in the taluk and the family members are under panic of losing their house. In Charmadi Ghat, the vehicular movement is getting tough due to drizzling and fog.
Sringeri taluk also got rains on Thursday night. Some houses in Heggaru, Adige Bailu, Hiregadde and other villages in the taluk and Someshwara Khan in Koppa taluk have developed cracks and landslidings were reported in some parts. Utensils and materials fell down due to landslides. Tremors are happening in Megunda, Kove, Basarikatte and Doobla villages in Koppa taluk. But the locals expressed their anger against the officials for not visiting their places despite such incidents.
With the respite in rains in Malnad region, agriculture activities picked up. Grafting and spraying of pesticides in coffee plantations were picked up. Farmers have started spraying pesticides in areca plantations too. Paddy transplantation work is in the final stage in some of the taluks. Due to heavy rains against normal rainfall in the Malnad region, it would affect the coffee, areca, pepper and other crops and farmers are looking for compensation.
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SC asks states to treat rising child trafficking cases as grave; seeks coordinated action
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court has voiced grave concern over rising cases of child trafficking, saying gangs are operating across the country and if States and Union territories do not take immediate action, thing will go beyond control.
The court said only the state government and its home department can act vigilantly in this regard.
“As a court we can monitor, but ultimately the action has to be on the part of the state government, the police, and other agencies. Therefore, this is our humble request”, a bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and K V Viswanathan said during the hearing of a plea on Wednesday.
The bench was irked over the "lackadaisical" approach of several states and UTs in implementing a 2025 judgment aimed at dismantling organised trafficking networks.
Justice Viswanathan said the retrieval of children in some cases proves the problem can be tackled, but it requires a level of political and administrative will which is lacking at present.
The verdict, delivered on April 15, 2025, had mandated several institutional reforms, including completion of trials in trafficking cases within six months on a day-to-day basis.
It had also directed strengthening of Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) and improving investigation standards.
Besides asking for setting up of state-level committees to monitor vulnerable trafficking hotspots, it had asked the authorities to treat missing children cases as trafficking unless proven otherwise.
Earlier, the bench had termed the compliance reports filed by a few states as "nothing but an eye wash."
On Wednesday, the bench noted that Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Haryana, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Odisha, and Punjab had still failed to file reports in the prescribed format.
When the home secretary of Madhya Pradesh offered an apology for the lapse, the bench granted a "final opportunity" but warned that continued failure would lead to states being officially branded as "defaulting".
The bench noted that at least 15 states are yet to constitute review committees mandated to identify and monitor trafficking-prone areas.
The matter will now be heard on April 29.
