Aged couple rescued at Kandanakolli: Centenarian Kaveramma survived in flood
Kodagu disaster
Madikeri, August 23: Though the entire village was sunk in the slur due to flood situation which caused deaths, this centenarian survived against all odds.
One hundred and three year old Kaveramma was not in a position to walk at her house at Mukkodlu. Because of the heavy rains, she was under the care of neighbours. As the entire village was marooned, even the villagers have failed to protect her. As the rain subsidized in the district for the last two days, the rescue operations gained momentum. On Thursday, villagers and rescue teams have rescued Kaveramma who was in a helpless condition at her home. She was unable to walk. Rescue teams have taken her to the district hospital where she is recuperating.
The rescue operation was continued even on Thursday. NDRF, police, fire brigade and local people have rescued an aged couple from a house at Kandanakolli near Hemmettalu. Due to landslide, the road connectivity was cut and for the last four days, aged couple -Palani and Shanta- was trapped inside the house. As there was no mobile connectivity, they were unable to contact. In fact, the couple who suffered from hunger and illness has lost hopes living. Even the local people believed that they were in relief camps. But noticing their absence in any of the relief camps, a team of youth traced them trapped in the line house. Later, they informed the district administration and police department. On Thursday morning, the NDRF, fire brigade and police teams have reached Kandanakolli through Makkandur Meghattalu, along with the local youth and succeeded in rescuing the couple. Now, the couple was admitted to the district government hospital.
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.
EAM Jaishankar holds talks with EU counterparts in Brussels, discusses Iran conflict
New Delhi (PTI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with his counterparts from the 27 member states of the European Union (EU) in Brussels focusing on global flashpoints in Ukraine and West Asia as well as ways to deepen India's relations with Europe.
Jaishankar is on a two-day visit to the Belgian capital at the invitation of EU Foreign and Security Policy Chief Kaja Kallas to attend a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council of the bloc.
It is the first high-level visit from India to Brussels headquartered EU after the two sides firmed up a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in January.
The external affairs minister held separate meetings with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and his counterparts from Germany, Greece and Belgium.
"A new chapter in India-EU ties has opened up in 2026," Jaishankar said in an apparent reference to the outcomes reached by the two sides in their summit meeting in January in New Delhi.
"The Foreign Ministers coordinate translating the various agreements into outcomes. Our conversation today therefore covered trade, investment, technology, mobility and defence in particular," he said on social media.
"The stronger convergence between India and EU in a multipolar world is also expressed in closer consultations. Discussed the West Asia conflict, the Ukraine situation and the Indo-Pacific in today's gathering," he said.
Apart from the FTA, the India-EU summit produced a plethora of other outcomes including a security and defence partnership and a comprehensive framework for cooperation on mobility.
The Foreign Affairs Council discussed how to better protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, including possible contributions by the EU's naval mission Aspides, and a European security strategy, Kallas told reporters.
Global oil and gas prices have surged after Iran has virtually blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow shipping lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman that handles roughly 20 per cent of global oil and LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas).
The West Asia region has been a major source of India's energy procurement.
The closure of the strait is hurting the global economy and it is helping Moscow fund its war, Kallas said, days after the US temporarily lifted sanctions on procurement of Russian crude oil.
She said the focus on the Middle East should not take the focus away from the war in Ukraine, and the easing of US sanctions on Russian oil sets a "dangerous precedent".
Following his meeting with Von der Leyen, Jaishankar said her highly successful state visit to India in January marked a "turning point" in India-EU ties. "We are following up vigorously on it."
Von der Leyen said that the two sides had concluded a free trade agreement, "the mother of all deals", and signed the Security and Defence Partnership.
"Now we are focused on efficient implementation, to deliver for the people of Europe and India as soon as possible," she said.
"We also discussed developments in the Middle East and in Ukraine. De-escalation, stability and energy security are our shared objectives," she added.
After his talks with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, Jaishankar said they exchanged notes on the conflict in West Asia.
"A valuable exchange of notes on the conflict in West Asia. Also took stock of the progress of our bilateral relations following the State visit of @bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz to India," he said.
