Bogota, June 10: Colombian President Gustavo Petro has said that authorities found alive four children who survived a small plane crash 40 days ago and had been the subject of an intense search in the Amazon jungle that held Colombians on edge.
The children were alone when searchers found them and are now receiving medical attention, Petro told reporters upon his return to Bogota from Cuba, where he signed a cease-fire agreement with representatives of the National Liberation Army rebel group.
The president said the youngsters are an "example of survival" and predicted their saga "will remain in history." The crash happened in the early hours of May 1, when the Cessna single-engine propeller plane with six passengers and a pilot declared an emergency due to an engine failure. The small aircraft fell off radar a short time later and a frantic search for survivors began. The three adults were killed, and their bodies were found in the area.
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Bengaluru: Senior Congress leader and AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal has expressed regret over the manner in which the Karnataka government’s demolition drive in Kogilu village was carried out, saying the action should have been undertaken with greater caution and “compassion,” according to a tweet on Friday.
The demolition operation, led by the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) in Yelahanka’s Kogilu village, razed more than 200 homes and structures in Fakir Colony and Waseem Layout in the early hours of December 20 as part of an anti-encroachment drive. Authorities say the land was illegally occupied and has been earmarked for public infrastructure purposes, including waste management facilities. Residents and activists, however, allege that the action was executed without adequate notice or rehabilitation plans, leaving hundreds of families homeless and sparking protests in parts of the city.
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In his social media post, Venugopal said he had spoken to Siddaramaiah, Chief Minister of Karnataka, and D. K. Shivakumar, Deputy Chief Minister, regarding the demolition. He conveyed the All India Congress Committee’s “serious concern” that the operation should have been conducted with more sensitivity and that the human impact on affected families should have been central to planning.
Venugopal quoted the assurances he received from both leaders that they would “personally engage with the affected families,” establish a mechanism to address grievances, and “ensure rehabilitation and relief” for those impacted by the clearances.
Local residents and advocacy groups had criticised the drive for a lack of prior notice, claiming they were not given adequate time or information to vacate, despite living in the area for many years. Some said they held official identity documents and had invested significant resources in building their homes.
