THE HEADLINES:
- Flash floods triggered by cloudburst cause extensive damage in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand; At least four people dead and several missing.
- Relief and rescue operations being carried out on war footing in affected areas; Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah take stock of the situation.
- India and Philippines adopt a five-year plan of action to guide bilateral cooperation under elevated strategic partnership.
- Parliament approves extension of President’s rule in Manipur for a further period of six months.
- Russia backs India over oil imports, saying sovereign nations have right to choose trading partners independently.
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A devastating flash flood in Uttarakhand, triggered by a cloudburst in the upper catchment area of the Kheer Ganga river, caused large-scale destruction in Dharali village in Uttarkashi district today. Following the cloudburst, the Kheer Ganga river swelled suddenly, resulting in wide-spread damage. According to the District Emergency Operations Center, heavy debris in the Dharali market area has severely damaged buildings, hotels, and shops. District Magistrate Prashant Arya said, based on preliminary reports, at least four people have lost their lives and several people are reported missing.
Relief and rescue operations are being carried out on war-footing with the help of the Army, SDRF, NDRF, district administration, and other concerned teams.
Talking exclusively to Akashvani News, Secretary of Disaster Management, in the state, Vinod Kumar said, the administration remains fully alert and is providing all possible assistance to the affected citizens.
President Droupadi Murmu has expressed condolences to the families affected in the tragic clouburst incident.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Uttarakhand Chief Minister on the incident and took stock of the situation. Mr Modi said, rescue teams are working in every possible manner under the supervision of the state government.
Mr. Shah said, three nearby Indo Tibetan Border Police teams and four National Disaster Response Force teams have been dispatched to the site and the teams will engage in rescue operations.
Our correspondent has the details:
“Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stated that teams from the district administration, Indian Army, NDRF, and SDRF are engaged in relief and rescue work in the affected areas. People are being shifted to safer locations on a priority basis, and the situation is being continuously monitored.
The Chief Minister also reviewed the relief and rescue operations being carried out in Dharali from the State Emergency Operations Center in Dehradun. The Indian Air Force has been contacted for support, and beds have been reserved in nearby government hospitals as well as AIIMS Rishikesh. A sufficient number of ambulances have been made operational. Local residents are being shifted to safer locations as a precautionary measure. Sakshi Singh, Akashvani News, Dehradun.”
Meanwhile, Army said more than 20 civilians have been safely evacuated. The injured are receiving timely and effective medical attention at the Indian Army’s medical facility in Harshil. The Army swiftly mobilised 150 personnel, who reached the site within 10 minutes and immediately launched rescue operations.
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In Himachal Pradesh, heavy rainfall has disrupted normal life in several parts of the state. Rain-related incidents have so far claimed 194 lives, while 36 people are still reported missing. We have a report:
“Continuous rainfall has caused rivers and streams in Himachal Pradesh to swell. In Mandi district, the water level of the Kol Dam has risen, and the management has issued a warning regarding the release of excess water. Similarly, due to the rising water level of the Beas River, additional water is being released from the Pandoh Dam. In Kinnaur district Sutlej River is also in spate. The state government has issued a strict advisory for locals and tourists to stay away from rivers and streams. Meanwhile, the Meteorological Centre in Shimla has issued a warning for heavy to very heavy rainfall across all twelve districts of the state during the next twelve hours. Ritesh Kapoor, Akashvani News, Shimla.”
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast very heavy rainfall over Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh during next three days. Similar weather conditions have been forecast for Tamil Nadu and Kerala during next five days with isolated extremely heavy rainfall over Kerala till tomorrow.
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India and the Philippines have agreed to elevate bilateral cooperation to the level of strategic partnership. The decision was taken during bilateral talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Philippine President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr in New Delhi today.
In joint press statement after the meeting, Prime Minister Modi said, India and Philippines adopted the five-year plan of action for the period of 2025 to 2029 to guide cooperation under the elevated strategic partnership during the bilateral talks.
Mr Modi asserted that the two countries remain committed to peace, security, prosperity, and a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region.
Mr Modi expressed gratitude to the Philippines Government for strongly condemning Pahalgam attack and standing with India in its fight against terrorism.
Speaking on the occasion, Philippines President, said that both India and Philippines have agreed to level up collaborations in Defence and Security.
Addressing the media, Secretary (East) in External Affairs Ministry Periasamy Kumaran said, India and the Philippines concluded and exchanged 14 MoUs across various sectors after the talks between the two leaders.
Mr Kumaran stressed that direct flight connectivity between India and the Philippines is likely to be operationalized in the coming months. He said that India has announced gratis e-tourist visa for Philippines nationals. He added that the Philippines has made visa-free entry possible for Indian tourists for up to a period of 14 days.
The state visit of Philippines President Marcos commenced yesterday and continue till 8th of August.
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Proceedings of both the Houses of Parliament were stalled following uproar by the opposition parties over various issues including demand for discussion on Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise of electoral roll conducted in Bihar. The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha witnessed an adjournment before finally being adjourned for the day.
Amid din, Lok Sabha passed the Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Bill, 2024.
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The Parliament has given its nod to the statutory resolution regarding the extension of President’s rule in Manipur for a further period of six month with effect from the 13th of this month. The Rajya Sabha today adopted the statutory resolution with voice vote. The Lok Sabha had already given its approval to the statutory resolution regarding the extension of President’s rule in Manipur last week.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai moved the resolution seeking approval of the House for the extension of President’s rule which was imposed in Manipur on the 13th of February this year.
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The last rites of former Chief Minister of Jharkhand and Rajya Sabha MP, Shibu Soren, were performed with full state honours at his native village in Nemra in Ramgarh district of Jharkhand today. The veteran Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader passed away at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in the National Capital yesterday. Several political leaders attended the funeral ceremony.
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President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have expressed grief over the demise of former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik. The 79-year old leader passed away in New Delhi today after a prolonged illness.
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The Defence Acquisition Council under the chairmanship of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today approved various proposals amounting 67 thousand crore rupees. Procurement of these equipment for the Army, Air Force and the Navy will enhance the capabilities of the three services.
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Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan has emphasised the need to adopt disruptive technologies, rethink legacy structures, and prioritise synergy among the three services to address today’s security challenges. He made these remarks while addressing the inaugural edition of the Annual Trident Lecture Series, organised by the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies in New Delhi. General Chauhan also underscored the importance of technological convergence and integrated operations to ensure national security in the current environment.
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Pakistan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party today launched a nationwide protest marking the second anniversary of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s arrest. PTI workers and activists took to the streets across the country claiming that at least 300 PTI activists have been arrested in Lahore in raids conducted overnight. In a message posted on PTI’s X account, party chief Imran Khan denied any wrong doing and termed the cases registered against him, including that of terrorism or disclosure of official secrets, as politically motivated.
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Russia has rejected recent US remarks against India over its oil imports, asserting that sovereign nations have a right to choose their trading partners independently. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, addressing a press briefing in Moscow today, slammed the United States for pressuring India, calling such actions illegitimate. He emphasized that each country has the right to pursue trade relationships based on national interests. The remarks follow US President Donald Trump’s warning to raise tariffs on India for purchasing and reselling Russian oil.
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Benchmark domestic equity indices fell amid investors’ caution regarding US President Donald Trump’s renewed tariff threat over India’s imports of Russian oil. We have a report:-
“Sensex shed 308 points, or 0.38 per cent to close at 80 thousand 710. Nifty fell 73 points, or 0.3 per cent to settle at 24 thousand 649. The broader market also fell today. BSE Mid-Cap index lost 0.14 per cent, and the Small-Cap index slipped 0.27 per cent. In the foreign exchange market, the rupee close at 87 rupees and 80 paise against the US dollar. Gouran Dhawan Lal, For Akashvani News.”
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In Tennis, three-time champion Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the Cincinnati Open. The Serbian, who has not competed since his semi-final run at Wimbledon in July, pulled out citing a non-medical reason. The World Number 6 is next scheduled to play at the US Open, where main-draw action begins 24th of this month.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:-
- Flash floods triggered by cloudburst cause extensive damage in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand; At least four people dead and several missing.
- Relief and rescue operations being carried out on war footing in affected areas; Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah take stock of the situation.
- India and Philippines adopt a five-year plan of action to guide bilateral cooperation under elevated strategic partnership.
- Parliament approves extension of President’s rule in Manipur for a further period of six months.
- Russia backs India over oil imports, saying sovereign nations have right to choose trading partners independently.
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