Spain hit by devastating floods; At least 158 dead, several missing
Valencia: Flash floods in Spain have resulted in the tragic loss of at least 158 lives, with numerous individuals still missing. Over 1,000 soldiers from Spain’s emergency response unit have been deployed to the hardest-hit areas.
Cars are stacked upon each other, resembling fallen dominoes, while uprooted trees, downed power lines, and debris litter the streets, which are engulfed in mud in Valencia, located south of Barcelona on the Mediterranean coast, reported the Associated Press on Friday.
Luís Sánchez, a welder, recounted the harrowing experience of witnessing bodies floating in the water and attempting to rescue those trapped in their vehicles on the flooded V-31 highway. "The firefighters took the elderly first when they could get in. People were crying all over; they were trapped," he told the news organisation.
The floods transformed narrow streets into treacherous traps, destroying homes and businesses, and sweeping away people, cars and everything else in its path. Bridges have been destroyed, and roads are now unrecognisable.
In a televised address, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed solidarity with those affected, stating, "All of Spain weeps with all of you. We won't abandon you." He emphasised that the disaster is not over and pledged to mobilise all necessary resources for this tragedy.
This flood marks one of Spain’s deadliest natural disaster since 1973, when approximately 150 people lost their lives in the southeastern provinces of Granada, Murcia, and Almería.
Scientists warn that extreme weather events like the storm that struck Valencia are becoming increasingly severe, prolonged, and frequent due to human-induced climate change.
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Adani Group emerges lowest bidder for Bengaluru’s 16.75-km tunnel road project
Bengaluru: The Adani Group has become the lowest bidder for both packages of the proposed 16.75-km tunnel road project in Bengaluru, according to sources familiar with the bids opened by Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Ltd (B-SMILE).
According to a report published by Deccan Herald on Monday, the government estimated the entire project to cost Rs 17,698 crore, while the Adani Group has quoted Rs 22,267 crore. The ports-to-power conglomerate’s bid is about 24% higher for the first package and 28% higher for the second than the government’s estimates, a gap that could prompt authorities to seek the state Cabinet’s approval on the tenders’ fate.
M Maheshwar Rao, Chief Commissioner of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), who is also the Managing Director of B-SMILE, declined to comment.
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In all, four infrastructure companies had participated in the tenders for the project, which has been proposed under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) model, with 40% funding from the government and the remaining investment to be raised by the private concessionaire.
During the technical evaluation, the Adani Group and the Hyderabad-based Vishwa Samudra Engineering Ltd qualified for the financial round.
According to the report, Dilip Buildcon was disqualified due to a clause that bars firms linked to collapsed bridges or tunnels, while Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) was rejected because its joint venture (JV) partner did not meet technical requirements.
With only two companies left in the fray, the Adani Group emerged as the lowest bidder, ahead of Vishwa Samudra.
The tunnel project officially named the North–South underground corridor, is part of the Congress government’s ambitious to ease Bengaluru’s traffic congestion by building two major underground roads (totalling 40 km) along with 13 flyovers and elevated corridors.
The project is the brainchild of Deputy CM D K Shivakumar, who is also the Bengaluru development minister.
The proposal, however, has faced criticism and political opposition, especially from senior BJP leaders, who object to the alignment that requires acquiring six acres of Lalbagh Botanical Garden, a historic green space.
As per the report, Urban mobility experts have also warned that the tunnel corridor may clash with the alignment of Namma Metro’s Phase 3A, possibly affecting the metro expansion.
