Kerala landslides: 93 people dead, 128 injured, says Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan
Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 30: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Tuesday that 93 people died and around 128 were injured in the massive landslides in the northern Wayanad district, leaving behind a trail of destruction and despair.
Vijayan said that of the dead, 34 bodies were identified and 18 were handed over to families.
The CM also said that 16 bodies were recovered from the Chaliyar river at Pothukal village in the district. Besides that, body parts were also recovered by those carrying out search and rescue operations, he said.
Vijayan said that the initial landslide occurred around 2 am and the next one hit around 4.30 am, leaving hundreds trapped beneath the debris and many more being swept away.
The landslides occurred when the villagers were sleeping, catching them off-guard and resulting in the high number of casualties, he said.
Many could be trapped inside or swept away, and we will continue rescue efforts, he said.
Vijayan said 45 camps have been set up in the district and around 3,069 people have been rehabilitated there.
The Kerala CM also appealed for contributions to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) to support those affected by the landslide and to help rebuild the impacted area.
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Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar appointed new NCW chairperson
New Delhi, Oct 19: Former head of Maharashtra State Commission for Woman Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar has been appointed the ninth chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW) succeeding Rekha Sharma, according to an official order.
The appointment made under Section 3 of the National Commission for Women Act, 1990, will be for a period of three years or until she reaches the age of 65, whichever comes first, a government notification issued on Saturday said.
Rahatkar's tenure will begin with immediate effect. The announcement will also be published in the Gazette of India.
Reacting to her appointment, Rahatkar said in a post on X, "I sincerely thank the Honorable Prime Minister @narendramodi, National President @JPNadda, and Union Home Minister @AmitShah for appointing me as the Chairperson of a constitutional and legislative body like the National Commission for Women (NCW)."
"I will faithfully carry out this very important responsibility. The goal is to steer towards women-led development by enhancing women's capacity, opportunities, and quality of life in various dimensions such as education, health, employment, and social participation," she added.
In addition to the appointment of Rahatkar, Archana Majumdar has been officially named a member of the NCW for a tenure of three years, as per a notification issued by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
The NCW, a statutory body, is empowered to work towards the advancement of women's rights. Its mandate includes reviewing the constitutional and legal safeguards provided for women.
According to a statement issued by the Women and Child Development Ministry, Rahatkar has demonstrated leadership skills across various political and social responsibilities.
During her tenure as the chairperson of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women from 2016 to 2021, she spearheaded initiatives like "Sakshama" (support for acid attack survivors), "Prajwala" (linking self-help groups to Central government schemes), and "Suhita" (a 24x7 helpline service for women).
She also worked on legal reforms focusing on issues like Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO), anti-triple talaq cells, and anti-human trafficking units.
Rahatkar also introduced digital literacy programmes and launched a publication named "Saad" dedicated to women's issues.
As the mayor of Chatrapati Sambhajinagar from 2007 to 2010, Rahatkar implemented significant developmental projects related to healthcare and infrastructure.
She holds a bachelor's degree in physics and a master's degree in history from the University of Pune.
Rahatkar also authored several books, including "Vidhilikhit" and "Aurangabad: Leading to Wide Roads".
Her contributions to women's empowerment have earned her several recognitions, including the National Law Award and the Savitribai Phule Award from a national literary council.
https://t.co/kEi0O3YXP4 pic.twitter.com/PhyzFpfdCC
— Vijaya Rahatkar (@VijayaRahatkar) October 19, 2024
