Ankola Landslide: One truck located in Gangavali River, says Minister Krishna Byre Gowda
Bengaluru: Karnataka Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda announced on Wednesday that a truck has been located in the Gangavali River amid the ongoing search for 3 victims who went missing after a landslide in Shirur on July 16. One among them is truck driver Arjun, a native of Kerala.
Minister Byre Gowda confirmed on X that a truck has been definitively identified in the river, and naval deep divers will soon attempt to anchor it. A long boom excavator is being used to dredge the river, while an advanced drone-based Intelligent Underground Buried Object Detection system has been deployed. The Coast Guard will conduct a helicopter search for any bodies in the water, he said.
Update on operation at Shiroor landslide.
— Krishna Byre Gowda (@krishnabgowda) July 24, 2024
One truck has been definitively located in the water and that the naval deep divers will attempt anchoring shortly.
The long arm boomer excavator will be used to dredge the river.
Advanced drone based Intelligent Underground Buried…
The search for the victims, now in its ninth day, intensified with the arrival of a long boom excavator at the Gangavali River, where a sonar signal had detected metal parts. The excavator will remove mud from a depth of 60 meters. Additionally, a state-of-the-art radio frequency scanner is set to aid in locating Arjun and two other missing individuals.
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The Navy and disaster management forces are employing advanced technology, including sonar and radar, in the search operations. Former army officer M Indrabalan will also join the mission with sophisticated surveillance equipment. Four expert teams from the National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Surathkal have also arrived to assist.
The Karnataka government clarified that there was no delay in initiating the rescue mission for Arjun. The search began immediately after the complaint was received on the night of July 19, with operations starting on July 20. The Karnataka High Court has also been informed of the rescue effort.
The landslide, which occurred on National Highway 66, led to significant damage and injuries. Rescue operations commenced shortly after the incident, with efforts involving national and state disaster management forces, the fire services, the navy, and local authorities. The government had initially warned against moving the soil quickly to avoid triggering further landslides.
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Parliament passes Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025
New Delhi (PTI): Parliament early Friday passed the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, after it was approved by the Rajya Sabha.
The Lok Sabha had on Thursday approved the Bill after over a 12-hour debate.
In Rajya Sabha, the Bill got 128 votes in its favour and 95 against after all the amendments moved by the opposition were rejected.
In the lower house, the bill was supported by 288 MPs while 232 voted against it.
Participating in a debate in the Rajya Sabha, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the Bill was brought with a number of amendments based on suggestions given by various stakeholders.
"The Waqf Board is a statutory body. All government bodies should be secular," the minister said, explaining the inclusion of non-Muslims on the board.
He, however, said the number of non-Muslims has been restricted to only four out of 22.
Rijiju also alleged that the Congress and other opposition parties, and not the BJP, were trying to scare Muslims with the Waqf Bill.
"You (opposition) are pushing Muslims out of the mainstream," he added.
He said for 60 years, the Congress and others ruled the country, but did not do much for Muslims and the community continues to live in poverty.
"Muslims are poor, who is responsible? You (Congress) are. Modi is now leading the government to uplift them," the minister said.
According to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Waqf tribunals will be strengthened, a structured selection process will be maintained, and a tenure will be fixed to ensure efficient dispute resolution.
As per the Bill, while Waqf institutions' mandatory contribution to Waqf boards is reduced from 7 per cent to 5 per cent, Waqf institutions earning over Rs 1 lakh will undergo audits by state-sponsored auditors.
A centralised portal will automate Waqf property management, improving efficiency and transparency.
The Bill proposes that practising Muslims (for at least five years) can dedicate their property to the Waqf, restoring pre-2013 rules.
It stipulates that women must receive their inheritance before the Waqf declaration, with special provisions for widows, divorced women and orphans.
The Bill proposes that an officer above the rank of collector investigate government properties claimed as Waqf.
It also proposes that non-Muslim members be included in the central and state Waqf boards for inclusivity.
