Karnataka CM Yediyurappa directs in-charge Ministers to stay put in rain-hit districts
Bengaluru: With torrential rains battering several parts of coastal, malnad and north-interior Karnataka, causing flood like situation and landslides, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Saturday directed district in- charge Ministers to stay put in their respective districts and monitor the relief and rescue operations there.
The Chief Minister will himself be travelling to rain and flood affected border district of Belagavi in north Karnataka on Sunday, to assess the situation there.
"The Chief Minister this morning spoke to district in- charge Ministers and Deputy Commissioners of various districts and gathered information about the rain and flood situation there.
He has directed the in-charge Ministers to stay put in their respective districts," the CMO said in a statement, which also informed about Yediyurappa's travel to Belagavi on Sunday.
According to the information from the State Disaster Management Authority, till last evening, 131 villages in 18 taluks of the state have been affected by rains and floods, and 16,213 people have been affected and three people have died, while two were missing.
Hundreds of houses have been damaged and 8,733 people were evacuated.
As many as 4,964 people were taking shelter in 80 relief camps till last evening.
The Chief Minister had held a virtual meeting with the district officials of Belagavi, Uttara Kannada, Shivamogga, Haveri, Chikkamagaluru and Dharwad, on Friday evening and had directed them to relocate the residents of low-lying villages along the river banks.
With several dams in the state and neighbouring Maharashtra reaching brim, water is being released into the rivers, inundating lowliying and river banks areas.
Rescue and relief teams like NDRF, SDRF, fire department personnels have been pressed into service in affected regions, officials said.
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At least 17,000 security personnel to be deployed for Champions Trophy in Pakistan
Lahore, Jan 22 (PTI): At least 17,000 security personnel would be deployed for the ICC Champions Trophy matches in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi from February 19.
According to sources, the Punjab government has started preparations to provide security round the clock for the participating teams, covering the team hotel as well as the match venues in Lahore and Rawalpindi.
“The Punjab government will deploy some 12,500 officers and other security personnel for the matches and for the teams,” an official said.
He added that 7,600 police and security personnel including special commandos will be on duty for matches in Lahore, while 4,500 officers, including 411 from the Special Branch, will oversee security in Rawalpindi.
The official said that snipers and aerial monitoring will be carried out during the tournament with support from the Army if required.
He said the paramilitary Rangers personnel would be on active duty with the police.
In Karachi, a spokesperson for the Sindh police said that the commissioner had already held meetings to oversee security arrangements for the matches at the National Stadium.
“Plans are being drawn up and at least 5000 or more security personnel including units of the Sindh police would be deployed for the matches, on routes and at team hotels.”
Pakistan hosted the Asia Cup in 2023 but staged only four games with all the other matches held in Sri Lanka after India refused to send its team to Pakistan which they have also done for the Champions Trophy.
This time the PCB will be hosting a minimum of 11 Champions Trophy matches and perhaps even the final and before that it will host New Zealand and South Africa in a short tri-series in Lahore and Karachi. India will their games in Dubai.
Karachi will not only host the opening match of the Champions Trophy on February 19 but also two games of the tri-series on February 12 and 14.
