Depression formed, Kerala Govt steps up vigil
Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 6 : The Kerala government Saturday stepped up its vigil in view of the possibility of heavy rains following formation of depression over south-east and adjoining east-central Arabian Sea.
According to the IMD, the depression is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm in the next 24 hours and move northwestwards towards South Oman and adjoining Yemen coasts during the next five days.
In view of the IMD's cyclone forecast, Additional Chief Secretary, Disaster Management Department has opened a special coordination cell with officials from Kerala state disaster management and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
The cell will function overnight in the Government secretariat.
The government is also closely monitoring the water levels in various dams in the state.
Shutters of around 22 dams including Cheruthoni, part of the Idukki reservoir, Malamapuzha, Neyyar, Kallada and Pamba have been opened to release water as a precautionary measure in view of the heavy rain forecast.
The sea condition is expected to become rough to very rough from Saturday over southeast Arabian sea and adjoining central Arabian Sea and fishermen have been advised not to put out to sea.
Kerala had been devastated by floods in August this year leaving a trail of unprecedented destruction and had forced people to take refuge in relief camps.
The South-west monsoon had claimed 493 lives in the floods, the worst in the last 100 years.
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Bengaluru family attempts to send man in 'parcel' to protest high bus fares ahead of Ugadi, Ramzan
Bengaluru, Mar 18 (PTI): A family allegedly attempted to send an elderly man in a "parcel" through a courier service in protest against high bus fares ahead of Ugadi and Eid-ul-Fitr, police said on Wednesday.
The incident occurred in the Vyalikaval area of central Bengaluru on Tuesday evening, they said.
According to police, the family approached a private courier centre claiming they wanted to parcel the man as a symbolic message to the public over rising fares in both private and government buses.
Startled by the request, the courier staff alerted the police.
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During the inquiry, the elderly man's daughter said the act was staged as a protest and to create a social media reel. As part of the stunt, the family had placed the elderly man inside a gunny sack, a senior police officer said.
Police said the situation turned serious when the man experienced breathing difficulties inside the sack. Subsequently, the family apologised to the police and the public for their actions.
The officials warned that the act could have endangered the man's life and attracted serious legal consequences.
"No legal action was taken against them. However, the family was let off with a warning after issuing a video apology and were strictly cautioned against such dangerous stunts in the future, the officer added.
