Ankola: No negligence or delay in rescue operation, CM asserts after visiting landslide-hit area
Ankola (Karnataka), Jul 21: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday inspected the rescue operations on National Highway 66 near Shirur here where a massive landslide took place last week, and instructed officials and the rescue teams to hasten the work, as heavy rains are pounding the region.
Asserting that there has been no negligence or delay by his government in conducting the rescue, he said military personnel have joined the efforts. He said he had also ordered that the families of those who died in the landslide be given Rs 5 lakh compensation.
"Due to a land slide on NH 66 on July 16, about 10 people were missing. Out of them, seven bodies have been recovered, three are still missing, and rescue operations are going on. Forty four personnel from SDRF (State Disaster Response Force) and 24 from NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) are a part of the rescue operation," Siddaramaiah said.
Speaking to reporters after inspecting the landslide spot amid heavy rains, he said 44 personnel from the military have also joined today, while the Navy has been assisting in the operations from day one.
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"Vehicles, including an empty gas tanker and a filled one (controlled release of gas has been done now) were washed away in the landslide. A tea shop was there at the spot and five members of the family (who ran it) have died in the incident... I have asked the district administration and the district in-charge minister to swiftly complete the rescue operations, as there are heavy rains," he said.
He said he was unable to visit the spot earlier as the assembly is in session.
Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, Uttara Kannada District In-charge Minister Mankal S Vaidya, legislators from the district and senior officials, among others, were present during the chief minister's visit and inspection.
Under the supervision of Vaidya, the district administration is taking all the necessary measures, the CM said. The compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the families of each deceased has been given, Siddaramaiah added.
"In case more bodies are recovered, the families will also be given Rs 5 lakh compensation," he said.
Responding to a question on searching for bodies in the nearby river and the river bed areas, Siddaramaiah said that the Army and Navy have been requested to scan the river.
Asked whether unscientific road work may have caused the landslide, he said the work was done done by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). "After the rescue operation is completed, we will look into the matter and if anyone is wrong action will be taken against them....I will also speak to the Union Road Transport Minister to set right the road work and take action against those responsible."
To a question about a lorry driver from Kerala missing after his truck was caught in the massive landslide and officials and media from that state reportedly accusing the Karnataka government of taking too long for the rescue work, Siddaramaiah said his government has not caused any delay.
"Everything is going on at a swift pace. A person named Arjun from Kerala is said to be missing. ...officials and media from Kerala might have come. But without any neglect or delay, we are doing all the work at a fast pace," he said.
Reporters pointed out to the CM that a report was submitted to the government a year ago about possible landslides at 34 other spots, including where it has now taken place, and asked why no action was taken. The CM said in the one year since his government came to power, there were no rains due to drought last year and no such landslides happened earlier.
"We will take necessary action at such spots," he said.
Revenue Minister Gowda clarified that the rescue operation will not continue during night time.
Siddaramaiah responded to a question, saying he doesn't want to politicise the matter and acknowledged that central teams such as NDRF, SDRF and Navy are working together.
"I don't want to indulge in any blame game or mudslinging. People have died. I pray to the almighty to give strength to their families. Our compensation will not bring the dead back to life. This is an incident that has occurred naturally. We will try to rescue anyone alive; if not at least get their dead bodies back whether it is on land or from the river," he said.
Alternative arrangements to house affected villagers in nearby areas will also be made, he added.
ಉತ್ತರ ಕನ್ನಡ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆ ಅಂಕೋಲಾ ತಾಲೂಕಿನ ಶಿರೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಗುಡ್ಡ ಕುಸಿದು ಹಲವರು ಸಾವಿಗೀಡಾದ ಸ್ಥಳಕ್ಕೆ ಇಂದು ಭೇಟಿನೀಡಿ, ರಕ್ಷಣಾ ಕಾರ್ಯದ ಪರಿಶೀಲನೆ ನಡೆಸಿದೆ.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) July 21, 2024
ಮಣ್ಣಿನಡಿ ಮುಚ್ಚಿ ಹೋಗಿರುವ ರಸ್ತೆಯ ಎಡಭಾಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಪಾಯಕಾರಿ ಗುಡ್ಡವಿದೆ. ಬಲ ಭಾಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಭೋರ್ಗರೆದು ಹರಿಯುತ್ತಿರುವ ಕಾಳಿ ನದಿ ಇದೆ. ಜೊತೆಗೆ ನಿರಂತರವಾಗಿ ಸುರಿಯುತ್ತಿರುವ… pic.twitter.com/qvFjF8vWK6
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Efforts of party cadres will be rewarded on May 4: DMK chief Stalin
Chennai (PTI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday said that the efforts made by his party cadres during the Assembly elections would be rewarded on May 4.
The counting of votes for the Assembly elections held on April 23 will be taken up on May 4.
"We are set to reap the rewards of the hard work put in by our party cadres on the coming fourth (May 4 counting day). There is absolutely no change in this and not even the slightest deviation," Stalin said at a May Day event here.
"There is no need for anyone to assume that I am speaking merely on the basis of exit polls," he added.
Stalin, who is also DMK chief, said that "good news" would come for those eagerly waiting for the election results.
Stating that the DMK governance is based on philosophy and principles, Stalin said, "This will continue."
He recalled the pivotal role of the then Chief Minister C N Annadurai, who first declared May Day as a government holiday, and subsequently, late CM M Karunanidhi, who was instrumental in extending it as a paid holiday across the nation.
"Responding to the request of Kalaingnar (Karunanidhi), the then Prime Minister V P Singh accepted the plea and declared it (May 1) a paid government holiday not merely for Tamil Nadu, but for the entire nation," Stalin said.
