4 dead in Karnataka due to heavy rain
Bengaluru, Aug 16 : Four people have died due to the heavy rain lashing the coastal and south interior districts of Karnataka over the past few days, an official said on Thursday.
"Two persons in Kodagu district, which has been badly affected by flood and landslides due to heavy rains, and one person each in Shivamogga and Udupi districts have died owing to the rains," a statement from Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy's Office said.
Details of the deceased were, however, not mentioned.
The coastal districts of Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada, and the south interior districts of Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan and Shivamogga have been witnessing heavy rainfall leading to flooding and landslides.
"The state will release Rs 200 crore fund to take up relief measures in the rain-hit districts," the statement added.
So far, 29 relief camps have been opened across Kodagu, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada, Shivamogga, Hassan and Davanagere districts by the officials, housing 1,755 people rescued from flood-hit towns and villages.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed for rescue and relief operations in the severely affected regions of Kodagu, Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada and Mysuru.
With several people being stranded due to rain and floods, the southern state has sought the Indian Army's help in rescue operations.
"Though helicopters were ready for rescue operations, they could not take off due to rough weather," the statement added.
Over the last 24 hours, parts of Kodagu and Dakshina Kannada district received extremely heavy rain measuring over 24 cm, according to a weather advisory from the Bengaluru division of the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The coastal district of Udupi received heavy rain upto 11 cm, Uttara Kannada 17 cm, south interior districts of Shivamogga 20 cm and Chikkamagaluru 6 cm.
The districts in the northern part of the state, which have been facing a rainfall deficit, have also received light to moderate rainfall.
Due to the heavy rain, landslides were reported since early this week in several parts of the state, particularly on the Bengaluru-Mangaluru route, leading to several state-run buse services and trains suspending services on affected routes.
The Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority has warned the coastal and south interior districts to brace for heavy rain in the next four days.
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Opposition will question govt at all-party meet about Trump's claims on brokering ceasefire: Kharge
Kalaburagi (PTI): Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday said that the opposition will question the government at the all-party meeting, regarding US President Donald Trump's claims that his administration helped broker a "ceasefire" between India and Pakistan.
The Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha said he will urge the government to call an all-party meeting soon, to discuss the latest developments in border tension between India and Pakistan, including "ceasefire".
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "Trump is saying things to claim credit. These people (PM and central government) are saying no. It is a sensitive matter. When an all-party meeting is called, we will discuss — what’s the matter, what happened and what were the telephone talks— and ask all these things”.
In response to a question whether PM Modi gave in to Trump's mediation, he said "It won’t be right for me to speak about it now. We have our party meeting today. I’m going for that. I will ask (centre) to call an all-party meeting, let’s see what they will do."
India and Pakistan reached an understanding on Saturday to end the military conflict after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes.
Indian government sources have been maintaining that the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions, and no third party was involved.
There was no reference to trade in talks between top leaders of India and the US during the India-Pakistan military conflict, government sources said on Monday after American President Donald Trump claimed that he pressured New Delhi and Islamabad to stop hostilities by threatening to cut trade with both countries.
The source-based clarification came after Trump on Monday said he forced the two countries to stop the hostilities by using the trade card.
Kharge and his party have already demanded that the central government convene a special session of Parliament to discuss the Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor, and the latest developments in cross-border firing, including the recently announced "ceasefire".
