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Sikkim flash flood death toll rises to 26; 142 people still missing

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ANI
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Sikkim flash flood death toll rises to 26; 142 people still missing 2

The State Disaster Management Authority has said that the death toll from flash floods in Sikkim has reached 26, with 142 people still reported missing.

As per the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) report of October 6 at midnight, the death toll was registered at 26. It said 2413 people have been rescued, and 1203 houses have been damaged in the flash flood.

The glacial-fed Lhonak Lake in north Sikkim triggered a flash flood in Teesta river basin on October 4.

A total of 1173 houses were severely damaged. 2413 people were rescued and 26 persons were injured. Due to flash floods in the Teesta River basin, 13 bridges were washed away. A total of 6875 people are living in 22 relief camps. 25,065 people have been affected by the flood read the statement from Sikkim Disaster Management Authority.

Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang chaired a high-level meeting at his official residence in Mintokgang on Friday yesterday evening. The meeting was attended by Director General of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) Lt. Gen. Raghu Srinivasan, Chief Secretary of the Government of Sikkim, VB Pathak, DGP Sikkim, AK Singh, Deputy GOC of the 17 Mountain Division, DIG of ITBP, Chief Engineer of BRO, Swastik, Deputy Commandant ITBP, and senior officers of the State government and the Army.

In a statement the CM said the State Government, in collaboration with Sikkim Urja Limited, has formulated a special financial relief package for the disaster-stricken areas of the state.

“We have allocated a relief package of Rs 25 crore for Mangan District and Rs 15 crore each for the districts of Gangtok, Pakyong and Namchi. This allocation is in addition to the relief aid provided by both the state and the central government,” he said in the statement that has been posted on Facebook.

The Sikkim Government, he said will offer subsidies to those who transport essential commodities, vegetables, and other food items to our state. This measure aims to ensure that the additional expenses incurred due to longer travel routes do not inflate the selling prices for local residents.

CM Tamang has warned against stockpiling and overcharging of goods. “Those found in violation of these regulations will face the permanent revocation of their licenses,” the chief minister said.

The chief minister said that his government is committed to exploring all possible avenues to restore road and network connectivity in the severely affected regions of Mangan District, which are currently completely cut off from the rest of the state.

He said that priority was given to open the road connectivity up to Chungthang, while the road from Naga to Toong will be constructed subject to the availability of land as soon as possible.

He stated that in the face of the calamity that has ravaged several parts of the State while disrupting normal life, numerous officers, personnel from the National Disaster Management Authority and the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) and dedicated volunteers are tirelessly engaged in rescue and relief operations.

As per ITBP, the people evacuated safely, were totally cut off for last three days because of the deluge caused by a glacial lake outburst.

Taking to social media platform, X, ITBP said, “In the recent flash flood, 68 persons were stranded at the height of 16000 feet, totally cut off for the last 3 days in North Sikkim. #Himveers of ITBP rescue team, launched a massive rescue operation and evacuated all the 68 persons safely.” According to Sikkim Chief secretary, as many as 3,000 people including tourists, drivers and motorcyclists have been stranded in Lachen and Lachung areas.

Due to the glacial lake outburst flood and flash floods, there was a sudden surge in flows in the Teesta River, which washed away several bridges, parts of NH-10, the Chungthang Dam and has impacted several small towns and several infrastructure projects in the upper reaches of the river valley in Sikkim.

The Sikkim government has set up 18 relief camps in Singtam, Rangpo, Dikchu and Adarsh Gaon which have faced most of the damages. However, due to a lack of connectivity with Chungthang, the relief camps there are being set up by the Indian Army and other paramilitaries.

Israel: IDF declares ‘readiness for war’ after rocket attacks from Gaza

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ANI
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Image: AP

The Israel Defense Forces on Saturday declared a state of readiness for war following a massive barrage of rockets from the Gaza Strip and the infiltration of Hamas terrorists into Israel, The Times of Israel (TOI) reported.

“The IDF declares a state of readiness for war,” the army said in a statement.

“There has been widespread rocket fire into Israeli territory from Gaza, and terrorists have infiltrated Israeli territory through various entry points. Residents in the south and centre of the country are required to be in close proximity to protected areas, and those in the Gaza periphery should remain within a secure space,” the IDF added in its statement.

Ukraine would die in a week, if Western military aid stops, says Russian President Putin

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ANI
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Ukraine would die in a week, if Western military aid stops, says Russian President Putin 5

As the West continues to provide aid for war-torn Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed that Ukraine would not survive for more than “a week” without Western military and financial aid, reported Al Jazeera.

Putin made this claim on the same day when the European Union official warned that the bloc could not replace the funding gap if the US’s support dries up for Kyiv.

Earlier this week, US President Joe Biden said that he “does worry” US support for Ukraine might get derailed.
Putin while speaking at the meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club, said that Ukraine was being propped up “thanks to multi-billion donations that come each month”.

“If one just stops, it will all die in a week,” Putin said.

“The same applies to the defence system. Just imagine the aid stops tomorrow. It will live for only a week when they run out of ammo,” he added.

Additionally, Putin further noted that Ukraine had lost over 90,000 troops since Kyiv’s counteroffensive against Russian forces till date.

Moreover, while addressing a meeting of the European Political Community (EPC) in Spain on Thursday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that the EU could not replace the US as Kyiv’s primary donor.

At a meeting of the European Political Community (EPC) in Spain on Thursday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the EU could not replace the US as Kyiv’s primary donor.

“Can Europe fill the gap left by the US? Well, certainly Europe cannot replace the US,” Borrell said.

Moreover, the EU and the US, which includes most NATO members are crucial in Ukraine’s fight against Russia.
Over this period of time, the EU and its member states have promised over USD 100 billion of aid to Ukraine, including financing weapon deliveries.

Meanwhile, Washington has committed USD 43 billion in military assistance, whereas, Congress has approved USD 113 billion, including humanitarian aid.

However, following the weekend deal struck with opposition Republicans to avert the US government shutdown, the new US funding for Ukraine has been at a standstill.

Following the US House of Representatives on Tuesday voted to oust Republican Kevin McCarthy as Speaker, it has made the Ukraine support even more uncertain.

Hours after the short-term spending bill was passed to avoid a government shutdown, US President Joe Biden assured that Washington will “not walk away” from supporting Ukraine, CNN reported.

“I want to assure our American allies and the American people and the people of Ukraine that you can count on our support. We will not walk away,” CNN quoted Biden as saying.

Moreover, some of the hardliners also want US aid to Ukraine to cease, according to Al Jazeera.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking to the meeting in Spain of European leaders on Thursday expressed concerns about Washington’s “political storms” but noted that he was confident that he still had US bipartisan backing.

Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron reassured Zelenskyy of further support and pledged “tireless” support for Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron reinforced that message in a meeting with Zelenskyy, pledging “tireless” support for Ukraine.

26 students from Meghalaya stranded in Sikkim, evacuated: Official

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PTI
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meghalaya, sikkim, flash floods, sikkim floods
26 students from Meghalaya stranded in Sikkim, evacuated: Official 7

Twenty-six students from Meghalaya stranded in flash flood-hit Sikkim have been successfully evacuated and they are on their way to Shillong, an official said on Saturday.

These 26 students left Majitar in Sikkim in five vehicles and they reached Siliguri in West Bengal around Friday midnight, the official involved in the rescue operation told PTI.

“A bus was then arranged for their transport from Siliguri to Shillong on Friday night itself,” he said.

To help those stranded in Sikkim, the Meghalaya government activated a helpline number 1800 345 3644, the official said.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said on X, “A bus with 26 students from Meghalaya left Majitar in Sikkim via Siliguri last evening, has crossed Kokrajhar and is on its way to Shillong. Glad to see our students safe.”

He said the Meghalaya students studying in Sikkim have contacted him for support to return back home due to the current situation in Sikkim.

A cloudburst over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim in the early hours of Wednesday triggered the flash flood in the Teesta river in which twenty-six people including seven Armymen were killed and 142 people missing.

More than 1,200 houses were damaged in the flash flood which also washed away 13 bridges in the picturesque Himalayan state.

AIADMK going solo is to protect TN people’s rights: Palaniswami

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PTI
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AIADMK going solo is to protect TN people’s rights: Palaniswami 9

The AIADMK decided to separately face the 2024 Lok Sabha polls only to protect the rights of the people of Tamil Nadu, party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami said on Friday.

Citing the state-specific stand taken on the Cauvery issue by the Congress and BJP in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, Palaniswami said this is the politics of national parties. The voice of Tamil Nadu people would echo in the Parliament and only to safeguard the rights of the people of the state, his party decided to separately fight the LS polls, he told reporters.

His party’s stand is all about protection of the rights of Tamil Nadu and its people.

Answering questions related to his party snapping ties with the BJP and the scope for again joining hands with the saffron party, the leader of opposition said the AIADMK’s stand has already been made very clear and there is no point in discussing the matter again and again. The party’s priorities underlined by the former CM includes the protection of the rights of Tamil Nadu, the minorities and ensuring the state’s growth.

The AIADMK would bat for all such goals with the new dispensation –whichever party may be at the helm– at the Centre, he said.

The AIADMK, TN’s principal opposition party, last month walked out of the BJP-led NDA alliance and had said it would lead a separate combine in the Parliamentary election next year.

Delhi Police bust fake currency racket inspired by ‘Farzi’ web series, 5 held

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ANI
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Delhi Police bust fake currency racket inspired by 'Farzi' web series, 5 held 11

The Delhi Police has arrested five persons for allegedly running a fake currency racket inspired by the web series ‘Farzi’ and seized over Rs 19 lakh worth counterfeit notes from them, officials said on Friday.

The gang allegedly ran a fake currency printing unit in Ajmer and circulated them in Delhi NCR, they added.

The arrest was made by Delhi Police following a tip-off that two people involved in the circulation of fake notes would come near Akshardham Temple to deliver a consignment, Special Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ravindra Singh Yadav said.

A trap was laid and the gang’s kingpin Sakoor Mohammad (25) was arrested with his aide Lokesh Yadav (28). High quality fake currency notes equivalent to Rs 6 lakh in the denomination of Rs 500 were recovered from their possession, he added.

During the interrogation, Mohammad told the police that he had received the fake notes for circulation from Himanshu Jain (47), Shiv Lal (30) and his brother Sanjay Godara (22), the police said.

He also said that he along with Radhey and Shivlal set up a unit for printing fake Indian currency notes (FICN) at a rented house in Rajasthan’s Ajmer, the Special CP (Crime) said.

At the instance of Mohammad, raids were conducted in Ajmer and the remaining three — Jain, Lal and Godara — were also arrested, the police said.

The equipment used for printing fake notes were recovered from them, high quality fake notes equivalent to Rs 19,74,000, two cars and three mobile phones were recovered from them, they said.

Mohammad was a painter and went to Ajmer in 2015 for preparation of competitive exams. He got inspired to print and circulate fake currency notes from the web series ‘Farzi’, they added.

His accomplice Lal, too, went to Ajmer in 2011 for preparation of competitive exams. He was in debt and conspired with Mohammad and Radhey to open the FICN unit, the police said.

Lal’s brother Godara, who went to Ajmer in 2018 for preparation of competitive exams, was tasked with cutting of printed sheets of the notes. Jain was tasked with looking for customers, while his friend Lokesh handled delivery of the fake notes, they added.

Efforts are underway to trace Radhey and arrest him, the police said.

Christian prayer hall vandalised in Thane; objectionable words written on door

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ANI
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Afternoon Default Fallback
Christian prayer hall vandalised in Thane; objectionable words written on door 13

A prayer hall of the Christian community was allegedly vandalised by unidentified miscreants in Maharashtra’s Thane city, police said on Friday.

The incident occurred at a premises used as a prayer hall by the community in the Tulsidham locality of the city, an official said.

Based on a complaint, an offence under Section 295A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code was registered on Thursday, the official said.

The complainant stated that when she reached the prayer hall on Thursday morning, she found mud smeared on the entrance board of the premises and the cross was also defaced.

Some window panes were smashed, and wires of the air conditioner and electric meters were damaged, the official said, adding that a banner with objectionable words was put up on the door of the premises.

The police are probing the matter and no arrests have been made in this connection so far, he said.

RBI maintains status quo in policy rate, flags inflation concern

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ANI
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RBI maintains status quo in policy rate, flags inflation concern 15

The monetary policy committee of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in its October review meeting unanimously decided to keep the policy repo rate unchanged at 6.5 per cent, thus maintaining status quo for the fourth straight occasions.

While deliberating the policy statement Friday morning, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said the central bank is concerned and it has identified high inflation as a major risk to macro-economic stability and sustainable growth.

Das added the monetary policy committee is committed to align India’s headline inflation at 4 per cent level.

Also, the governor noted 5 out of the 6 MPC members are for remaining focused on “withdrawal of accommodation” in monetary policy stance so as to ensure the inflation progressively aligns with the target, while supporting growth.

The three-day bi-monthly monetary policy committee (MPC) meeting of the RBI began on Wednesday, with financial market participants closely monitoring the outcome and the policy stance of the central bank for fresh cues.

RBI typically conducts six bi-monthly meetings in a financial year, where it deliberates interest rates, money supply, inflation outlook, and various macroeconomic indicators.

RBI in its past three meetings – April, June, and August — held the repo rate unchanged at 6.5 per cent. The repo rate is the rate of interest at which RBI lends to other banks.

A relative decline in inflation, barring the latest spike, and its potential for further decline may have prompted the central bank to put the brake on the key interest rate. Inflation has been a concern for many countries, including advanced economies, but India has largely managed to steer its inflation trajectory quite well.

Barring the latest third straight pause, the RBI raised the repo rate by 250 basis points cumulatively to 6.5 per cent since May 2022 in the fight against inflation. Raising interest rates is a monetary policy instrument that typically helps suppress demand in the economy, thereby helping the inflation rate decline.

Headline inflation in India rose to 7.8 per cent in July due to a surge in prices of food items like wheat, rice and vegetables, including tomatoes, to later fall to 6.8 per cent in August. Inflation data for September is due in next few days.

Election Commission to hear pleas by NCP factions over party name, symbol row

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ANI
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Election Commission to hear pleas by NCP factions over party name, symbol row 17

The Election Commission of India will hear the plea of both factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Friday over claims about the party name and symbol.

One faction of the NCP is led by Sharad Pawar and the other by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

Ajit Pawar earlier in July approached the Election Commission, staking claim to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the party symbol amid a feud between the faction led by Ajit Pawar and that by party supremo Sharad Pawar.

Later, the Election Commission wrote to both factions of the party acknowledging the split and also directed both Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar to share documents submitted to the polling body, with each other.

Today is the first hearing of the case before ECI.

In July, the Commission also issued a show-cause notice to the NCP group led by Sharad Pawar following a petition filed by the Ajit Pawar faction.

The petition claimed that Ajit Pawar should be declared NCP president and should be allotted the party’s symbol as per the provisions of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.

NCP MP Supriya Sule earlier this month said that there is no internal conflict in the party adding Sule further said that the party was founded by senior leader Sharad Pawar and it is obvious that the symbol should remain with him.

“There is no fight in the NCP… The party was established by Sharad Pawar 25 years ago. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, everyone knows NCP means Sharad Pawar. The NCP national president is Sharad Pawar, and the Maharashtra state president is Jayant Patil. There is no question of it (the symbol) going away. The party was made by Sharad Pawar, so the symbol should remain with him; it is obvious,” Supriya Sule said while speaking to reporters in Nagpur.

While Ajit Pawar had said that he would accept the final decision by the polling body.

“Election Commission will give the final decision… After getting the dates, both sides will be represented before the Election Commission. I will accept the final decision that comes after that,” he said.

Ajit Pawar had filed the petition before the ECI on June 30, and while he was sworn in as deputy chief minister on July 2, his notice reached the ECI office on July 5.

Ajit Pawar had submitted the petition along with affidavits of MPs, MLAs, and MLCs to support his claim.

Freebies ahead of polls: SC takes note of PIL, seeks responses from MP, Rajasthan govts

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PTI
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Freebies ahead of polls: SC takes note of PIL, seeks responses from MP, Rajasthan govts 19

The Supreme Court on Friday sought the response of the Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan governments to a PIL alleging the distribution of freebies to voters ahead of assembly polls in both states.

A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra also issued notices to the Centre, the Election Commission, and the Reserve Bank of India on the PIL, which also alleged that taxpayers’ monies are misused by the two state governments to lure voters.

“There can be nothing more atrocious than the government distributing cash before the polls. This is happening every time and the burden is ultimately on the taxpayers,” the lawyer representing the petitioner said.

“Issue notice. Returnable in four weeks,” the bench said.

The court took note of the PIL filed by Bhattulal Jain and ordered that it be tagged with a pending plea on the issue.

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