Tamil Nadu: 16 dead in blaze at firecracker factory in Virudhunagar; PM announces ex-grata of Rs 2 lakh
India
Updated: Friday, February 12, 2021, 21:55 [IST]
Chennai, Feb 12: As many as 16 people were reported dead and 33 injured after a massive fire broke out at a firecracker factory in Virudhunagar in Tamil Nadu on Friday.
The injured have been admitted to the Sivakasi government hospital.
The incident took place while the staff of the Virudhunagar- based private firecracker factory was mixing some chemicals to produce fireworks.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his grief over the incident and has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the kin of the deceased from the Prime Minister s National Relief Fund (PMNRF). Rs 50,000 will be given to those injured in the incident, the PM said.
As the water level in the Dhauli Ganga river surged on Thursday, rescue operations have been temporarily halted at the tunnel in Tapovan where more than 30 people are thought to be trapped for over four days since the glacier disaster.
Andolanjeevi row: After Chidambaram, now Rahul Gandhi takes a jibe
India
Updated: Wednesday, February 10, 2021, 19:02 [IST]
New Delhi, Feb 10: After P Chidambaram, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has joined the exchange of andolanjeevi jibes, used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi two days ago in parliament over the protest by farmers against the three new farm laws.
The word andolanjeevi could be seen as referring to people who often participate in mass mobilisation.
Rahul tweeted in Hindi, Crony-jeevi, he who is selling the country.
Earlier, Chidambaram tweeted he was a proud andolan jeevi (someone who thrives on protests) and accepted the term as a badge of honour saying , I am a proud andolan jeevi. The quintessential andolan jeevi was Mahatma Gandhi.
Vijayanagara becomes Karnataka s 31st district, Hosapete to be its headquarters
India
Published: Tuesday, February 9, 2021, 16:26 [IST]
Bengaluru, Feb 09: Karnataka government on Monday issued an official notification announcing Vijayanagara as the state s 31st district, which was carved out of the ore-rich Ballari district.
Hosapete is the headquarters of the new Vijayanagara district.
Vijayanagara will have six taluks namely Hosapete, Kudligi, Hagaribommanahalli, Kotturu, Hoovina Hadagali and Harapanahalli.
The iconic cluster of monuments at Hampi or Hampe, a UNESCO world heritage site, will be part of the new district Vijaynagara.
The Yediyurappa government s plan to create Vijayanagara district had run into opposition, especially from within the ruling BJP.
Uttarakhand glacier burst: Rescue operations can possibly take 24-48 hours, says NDRF
India
Published: Monday, February 8, 2021, 16:41 [IST]
Chamoli, Feb 08: The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Director on Monday informed rescue operations in Uttarakhand, after the glacier burst in Chamoli district, may continue for 24 to 48 hours. There s accessibility issue because it is a tough terrain. By road, only two teams could manage to reach.the remaining teams were airlifted. It s difficult to predict how long, added the NDRF Director. Rescue operation underway in 2.5 km long tunnel. The problem lies with debris which s gradually being cleared. 27 people have been rescued, 11 are dead, 153 are missing, and out of 153, 40-50 are stuck in the tunnel and for the rest, there is a possibility of being washed away in Uttarakhand, he added.