Orange alert: Karnataka State Disaster Management cell issues animated advisory
Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) has issued a series of animated shorts in Kannada advising people of appropriate measures to take during extreme temperatures to keep oneself safe.
"Karnataka has not seen such extreme temperatures and heat waves in the recent past. So, we wanted to ensure a wider reach for safety measures, therefore we decided to issue them in a reader-friendly format," said an official from KSNDMC.
Meteorological Centre Bengaluru, Indian Meteorological Department, had issued a five-day heat wave warning, lasting till April orange alert, for parts of Karnataka.
"In places like Bagalkote, Vijayapura, Kalaburgi, Yadgir, Raichur, Koppal, Ballari, Tumkur, Mandya, Gadag, Davangere and Chitradurga, the temperature is likely to touch 40 degrees Celsius tomorrow," said C P Patil, director of the centre.
On April 25, these places recorded a maximum temperature of 39 degrees Celsius. Orange alert would mean increased likelihood of heat illness symptoms in people who are exposed to sun for a prolonged period of time as well as those who do heavy manual work.
According to Patil, coastal Karnataka will also have very hot and humid weather conditions, making it very uncomfortable for people there.
"It's best for children and old people to avoid exposure to heat in coastal areas too," added Patil. In places where heat wave is predicted, people are advised to avoid direct exposure to sunlight between 12 noon and 3pm.
"When they go out, it is best to use protective goggles, an umbrella or a hat. Also aerated drinks must be avoided since they cause dehydration. Best to drink water as much as possible, even if you don't feel thirsty," said M Rajavel, head of LACD, Meteorological Centre, Bengaluru.
People are also advised not to leave the children or pets inside parked vehicles. The maximum and minimum temperatures of Bengaluru are very likely to be around 37 degree Celsius and 23 degree Celsius respectively for the next 48 hours, said Patil.
Hassan recorded the highest jump from its normal minimum temperature. It recorded 22.6 degrees Celsius, about 2.8 degrees more than usual.
According to IMD, on April 29 light rain is also very likely in isolated places over Bidar, Kalaburgi, Yadgir, Vijayapura, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, Kodagu, Mysuru, Mandya and Chitradurga districts.
On April 30, light rain is predicted again for Bidar, Kalaburgi, Yadgir, Vijayapura, Raichur, Koppal, Ballari, Chikkamagaluru, Tumkur, Chikkaballapura, Bengaluru Rural, Bengaluru Urban and Kodagu districts.
Incidentally, KSNDMC has also issued a series of animated advisory for lightning safety.
"We also update temperature every 15 minutes in our X handle in coordination with IMD," added the KSNDMC official.
ವಿಪರೀತ ತಾಪಮಾನದಿಂದ ನಿಮ್ಮನ್ನು ರಕ್ಷಿಸಲು ಈ ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕ ಜಾಗೃತಿ ವಿಡಿಯೋಗಳನ್ನು ವೀಕ್ಷಿಸಿ ಮತ್ತು ನಿಮ್ಮ ಆರೋಗ್ಯವನ್ನು ಕಾಪಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳಿ
— Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (@KarnatakaSNDMC) April 25, 2024
Watch these public awareness videos to protect yourself from extreme temperatures & take care of your health#ರಣಬಿಸಿಲು #ಬಿಸಿಗಾಳಿ #ಸುರಕ್ಷಿತವಾಗಿರಿ #ಮುನ್ನೆಚ್ಚರಿಕೆವಹಿಸಿ pic.twitter.com/OIQT48nUrz
#Stayhydrated #DrinkWaterStayHealthy #StayIndoorsStayCool #BeatTheHeatIndoors #StayCoolStayInside pic.twitter.com/pB7zn45LPb
— Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (@KarnatakaSNDMC) April 25, 2024
#HeatwaveHealthcare #BeatTheHeatWithCare #HeatwaveMedicalSupport #HeatwaveFirstAid #HeatwaveSafetyCare #HeatwaveHealthTips #animalcare pic.twitter.com/PgTTbL3Z5g
— Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (@KarnatakaSNDMC) April 25, 2024
25 ರಿಂದ ಏಪ್ರಿಲ್ 29 ರವರೆಗೆ: #ಬಿಸಿಗಾಳಿ ನಿಂದ ತೀವ್ರ ಬಿಸಿಗಾಳಿ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಒಳನಾಡಿನ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಹೆಚ್ಚಾಗಿರುವ ಸಾಧ್ಯತೆಯಿದೆ, ಮತ್ತು ಕರಾವಳಿ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಬಿಸಿ ಮತ್ತು ಶುಷ್ಕ ವಾತಾವರಣವು ಹೆಚ್ಚಾಗಿರುವ ಸಾಧ್ಯತೆಯಿದೆ
— Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (@KarnatakaSNDMC) April 25, 2024
ಆರೆಂಜ್ ಅಲರ್ಟ್ ಘೋಷಣೆ
ಮೂಲ:IMD#ರಣಬಿಸಿಲು #ಸುರಕ್ಷಿತವಾಗಿರಿ #ಮುನ್ನೆಚ್ಚರಿಕೆವಹಿಸಿ @KarnatakaVarthe pic.twitter.com/Gs7AycqX3S
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ED arrests Sandeepa Virk, 'cosmetologist' for alleged money laundering
New Delhi, Aug 13 (PTI): The Enforcement Directorate said on Wednesday it has arrested a woman, who claims to be an actor and a cosmetologist, under the anti-money laundering law in a case of alleged fraud and misrepresentation.
The agency said the purported links of the woman, Sandeepa Virk, with a Reliance Group executive, Angarai Natarajan Sethuraman (President, Corporate Affairs), are also under its scanner. Sethuraman, in a statement, denied any connection with Virk or any transactions related to her.
Virk was taken into custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on Tuesday after searches were conducted against her and her associates in Delhi and Mumbai over the last two days.
A special court sent her to the ED's custody till August 14, the agency said. The woman claims to be the owner of a skin care products selling website named hyboocare.com, which the ED claimed was a "front" for money laundering.
She and her associates are being probed for allegedly exerting undue influence through "misrepresentation" and "defrauding" individuals by soliciting money under false pretences.
According to an Instagram ID of Virk, she is an actor and entrepreneur and the founder of the said website.
The federal agency said in a statement that the woman was also "in touch with" Sethuraman, former director of erstwhile Reliance Capital Limited.
She was communicating with him regarding "illegal liaisoning", the ED claimed, adding that the searches at Sethuraman's residence "confirmed" these allegations.
"Besides, diversion of funds for personal benefit has also been unearthed during the course of the search action," it said.
The ED alleged that public money worth about Rs 18 crore belonging to Reliance Commercial Finance Limited (RCFL) was disbursed to Sethuraman in 2018 by "flouting" prudent lending norms.
The funds were lent under terms that allowed a deferment of the principal amount as well as the interest, with multiple waivers granted and no due diligence conducted, it said.
The ED claimed that besides this, a home loan of Rs 22 crore was provided by Reliance Capital Limited by "violating" the prudential norms. "A large part of these loans are seen to have been eventually siphoned off and remained unpaid," it alleged.
Sethuraman, in a statement, dismissed the allegations as "baseless". He denied any connection with Virk or any transactions related to her.
Detailing about Virk's web portal, the agency said it purportedly sold FDA-approved beauty products. However, the ED said the products listed on the website have been found to be non-existent and the portal lacks a user registration option and is plagued by persistent payment gateway issues.
A scrutiny of the website uncovered minimal social-media engagement, an inactive WhatsApp contact number and an absence of transparent organisational details, all of which reinforce the finding of "non-genuine" commercial activity, the ED claimed.
"These factors, including limited product range, inflated pricing, false claims of FDA approval and technical inconsistencies, indicate that the website serves as a front for laundering funds," it said.
Another social media-hosted bio data of the woman said she is a certified cosmetologist.
The ED said several "incriminating" documents were seized during the searches and the statement of a man named Farrukh Ali, stated to be an associate of Virk, was recorded.
The money-laundering case stems from an FIR lodged by the Punjab Police.
Sethuraman said that the home loan he received from Reliance Capital was granted following due process and was secured by the property offered as collateral.
