Elderly woman earns praise for averting train mishap in Mangaluru
Mangaluru (PTI): A 70-year-old woman from Mandara in the city has won all praise for her great presence of mind that helped avert a train mishap near here recently.
Railway police sources said the incident occurred on March 21 at around 2.10 pm when the woman, Chandravathi, who was outside her house noticed a tree fall over the track between Padil and Jokatte.
Chandravathi, who knew that the Matsyagandha Express from Mangaluru to Mumbai would pass that way, rushed inside her house, brought out a red cloth and waved it to the loco pilot of the oncoming train.
The loco pilot, who noticed it, sensed danger and slowed down the train which stopped just near the place where the tree had fallen on the track.
Later, the Railway personnel and local people reached the place and ensured that the tree was cleared from the track.
The elderly woman was felicitated on Tuesday by Railway police at a function attended by senior officials.
Chandravathi, who recollected the incident, told reporters that as soon as she noticed the tree falling on the track, she rushed home with an intention of conveying the information to someone.
By that time, she heard the train's horn and realised that there was no time to waste and rushed out with a red cloth. She ran towards the track and waved the cloth.
Chandravathi said she did not have time to think about the heart surgery she had undergone recently while running towards the track.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Andhra CM promises housing for all poor by 2029
Amaravati (PTI): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday said his government will ensure housing for all the poor before 2029 and allocate housing plots for those who do not own land.
Addressing the Assembly, the Chief Minister urged eligible beneficiaries who have not received a house to apply, assuring that both the central and state governments would take the responsibility for providing housing to all.
“We will not only build houses for all the poor before 2029 but also provide housing plots to landless people,” said Naidu, adding that the government intends to build houses for all the poor.
Noting that the state government aims to allot housing plots to all before 2029, Naidu said it will build apartments if housing plots were not available.
Ahead of Ugadi festival in 2026, the CM said the government will organise three lakh house warming ceremonies under welfare housing, vowing to organise 10 lakh such events within 2026.
On agriculture, Naidu said the southern state accounts for 10 percent of agricultural production at the national level.
He outlined a five-pronged approach of water security, demand-driven crops, food processing, marketing and government support to develop agriculture.
In fiscal 2025 – 26, the CM said Rs 13,772 crore has been earmarked for free power to agriculture, and a financial aid of Rs 20,000 per annum is being given to farmers under Annadata Sukhibava welfare scheme.
According to him, only Rs 7,500 was given to farmers during the previous YSRCP regime. He highlighted that the TDP-led NDA government is offering more than double that amount.
The TDP supremo also announced plans to expand AI agronomist and farm mechanisation services on a large-scale.
Noting that Rs 14,230 crore investments have flowed into the food processing sector, Naidu said the government is concentrating on this front.
Observing that 15 lakh acres are under natural farming in 8,168 villages, he said the target is to expand it to 50 lakh acres.
Besides setting up a large cocoa city near Eluru, he said the government will provide power at Rs 1.5 per unit to aquaculture, among other initiatives.
Assuring continued support, Naidu said his government would stand by farmers in all circumstances and also extend assistance to tenant farmers.
Meanwhile, Irrigation Minister N Rama Naidu informed the House that water would be supplied up to Anakapalli by June 2026 through Polavaram left main canal.
He also said that the government has allocated Rs 600 crore in FY27 budget for Sujala Sravanti project in North Andhra.
The House was later adjourned till Wednesday, March 4.
