Dubai Based Billionaire Ropes In India's Metro Man E Sreedharan To Rebuild Flood Ravaged Kerala
Kerala, August 25: Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, a Dubai based Indian origin billionaire entrepreneur and philanthropist who had earlier pledged Rs 50 crores to rebuilt flood ravaged Kerala has got one of India's most respected infrastructure experts to do the job.
Shamsheer, the founder and managing director of UAE-based VPS Healthcare said India's Metro Man E Sreedharan will be joining their task force to rebuild Kerala.
#MetroMan - Dr. E Sreedharan, we are humbled and delighted that you are joining our Task Force for #Kerala in spite of your busy schedule. Your experience and insights will be invaluable in helping shape the #recovery, #rebuilding and #rehabilitation programs. #rebuildingKerala pic.twitter.com/Jcgr1tyOdF
— Shamsheer Vayalil (@drshamsheervp) August 22, 2018
According to Shamsheer, Sreedharan will be a part of the group's activities related to rebuilding and rehabilitation in Kerala.
The announcement comes at a time when Kerala is trying to recover from the worst flooding in nearly a century which battered the entire state for nearly two weeks.
Though the flood waters have more or less receded, the damages suffered to the infrastructure is enormous.
AFP
Across the state, roads, bridges and other infrastructure have taken a massive hit and it is estimated that it will take at least a good few years to restore them and expenses running into thousands of crores.
Earlier, announcing a Rs 50 crore package for the state, the 41-year-old Kerala-born businessmen said the group will work in partnership with key stakeholders, including local authorities, and experts – in education, health care and housing — to use best practices and innovative strategies to ensure these vital ecosystems can recover quickly and efficiently.
He had also indicated that the money will be spent throughout the state and certain areas have already been identified for immediate help.
Shamsheer who is estimated to be worth $1.5 billion is regarded as one of the richest Indian businessmen in the Middle East.
Earlier this year Shamsheer and his wife Dr. Shabeena joined The Giving Pledge, a campaign founded by Bill Gates, Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett, to encourage the wealthy to contribute their wealth towards philanthropy.
He is also the son-in-law of MA Yousuf Ali, a successful Malayali businessman in the Middle East and the chairman and managing director of Lulu group who himself has donated Rs 5 crore to the flood relief in Kerala.
Courtesy: www.indiatimes.com
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2 Indians killed, 10 injured in drone attack on Oman's industrial hub of Sohar
New Delhi (PTI): Two Indian nationals were killed and 10 others injured in a drone strike in Oman's Sohar city on Friday that marked the first Indian fatalities on land since the Iran-US conflict erupted on February 28.
Joint secretary (Gulf) in the Ministry of External Affairs Aseem Mahajan confirmed the killing of the two Indians in Oman at an inter-ministerial media briefing on the crisis in West Asia.
He also said that 150,000 Indian nationals have returned to India from West Asia after the conflict began.
"I wish to share with you an incident that happened in Sohar city today. There was an attack and in this incident two Indian nationals have died," he said.
"We express our deepest condolences to their families. Of the 11 injured (in the attack), 10 are Indians. Out of them, five have been discharged after receiving treatment, and five others are receiving treatment in local hospitals," Mahajan said.
"None of them is reported to have serious injuries. Our mission is in close touch with the concerned company and local authorities and is rendering all assistance," he said.
While Mahajan did not provide specific details of the attack, the Oman News Agency (ONA) reported that two drones crashed in Sohar, with one hitting the Al Awhi Industrial Zone and claiming the lives of the two expatriate workers.
These latest casualties brought the total number of Indian fatalities in the West Asia conflict to five. While the strike in Oman marked the first deaths on land, three Indian sailors have previously been killed in attacks on merchant vessels since the conflict erupted on February 28.
In the last few days, India has ramped up its diplomatic efforts to ensure safety and security of 10 million Indian nationals living in West Asia.
India has also been making efforts to secure safe passage for over 20 Indian-flagged merchant vessels currently stationed on either side of the Strait of Hormuz.
In his remarks, Mahajan also said that 15 Indian crew members of the US-owned oil tanker Safesea Vishnu were safely evacuated to a hotel in Basra city.
The tanker came under attack near Basra in Iraq on Wednesday. An Indian crew member was killed in the attack.
Efforts were underway to transport the mortal remains of the deceased to India , he said.
Mahajan said the Indian mission in Basra is also trying to ensure safe repatriation of the 15 Indian crew members to India.
The senior official said 150,000 Indian nationals returned from West Asia.
Around 2,900 Indians returned from Qatar in Qatar Airways flights over the past few days, and 1,000 Indians who returned from Bahrain.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said 117 Indian nationals have crossed over to Armenia from Iran through land border crossings and several of them have returned to India already.
We told all sides to adopt the path of dioplomacy and dialogue to resolve it the conflict as soon as possible, he said at the briefing.
We are also talking to BRICS member states so that a consensus evolves on this issue, he said.
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