Bantwal: Prominent poet and socio-religious leader Haji G Abdul Khader (87), who also founded Hajjaj group of companies, passed away on Monday morning at a private hospital in Mangaluru.

A resident of Golthamajal near Kalladka, Abdul Khader was also a prominent writer and author.

Abdul Khader served as the president of Kalladka Juma Masjid for a long time, he was fondly known as “Abbonu Haji” for his contributions in social, educational and literary fields. He was admitted to a private hospital in Mangaluru owing to serious illness.

Abdul Khader was a prominent writer and poet of both Kannada and Beary literature and a lot of his works have been published in various magazines, while he has also penned a few books by himself.

He has also served as the President of Kannada Sahitya Sammelan of Bantwal Taluka and has also been awarded for his work by Taluka and District Sahitya Sammelan.

Abdul Khader is also a recipient of Karnataka Beary Sahitya Academy Award and was also a prominent social worker.

He played a significant role in developing Kalladka Juma Masjid and Golthamajal Juma Masjid. He also established ‘Gem Public School’ and rendered education to thousands of students of the state and also played a key role in establishing Government High School in Golthamajal village.

Hajjaj group organises Kabaddi tournaments wherein players and teams from all the communities take part and raise over the lines dividing people on the lines or caste, communities and religions.

Abdul Khader is survived by his wife, six sons and five daughters. Family sources informed that his funeral prayer and rites will take place on Monday 5.pm at Kalladka Juma Masjid.

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New Delhi (PTI): Approximately 13 lakh litres of packaged drinking water -- 'Rail Neer' -- are being supplied to train passengers across the railway network daily, the government informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.

Apprising the Lower House about the Indian Railways' endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations, the government also provided zone-wise details of the water vending machines (WVMs) installed there.

"To ensure the quality of drinking water being made available at the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken.

"Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended to promptly," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while responding to a question raised by BJP MP Anup Sanjay Dhotre seeking to know the supply of drinking water at railway stations across the country

"Complaints regarding deficiency in services, including water supply, are received through various channels such as public complaints, web portals, social media, etc. These complaints are received at various levels, including the Railway Board, zonal railways, division office, etc.," Vaishnaw said.

"The complaints so received are forwarded to the concerned wings of Railways and necessary action is taken to check and address them. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, a centralised compendium of these is not maintained," he added.

Providing zone-wise details of water vending machines, the minister said 954 such machines have been installed across railway stations.

"The Indian Railways also provides safe and affordable packaged drinking water bottles -- Rail Neer -- approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in trains and at stations," Vaishnaw said.

"Approximately, 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer are being supplied per day to the travelling passengers in trains and at stations across the Indian Railways network," he added.