Day: August 3, 2015

IMPHAL, Augst 3: The Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh spoke to the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Anandiben Patel and the Chief Minister of Manipur, Okram Ibobi Singh and enquired about the rescue and relief operations going on in the wake of floods and landslides respectively. He assured of full Central support to overcome the disaster situation, informed a PIB press release.

The Ministry of Home Affairs is regularly monitoring the flood situation in various parts of the country and extending necessary assistance in this regard, it said.

In Gujarat, 14 Districts and population of about 40 lakhs have been affected in recent floods due to heavy rainfall in the last few days. More than ten lakhs food packets have been airdropped/ distributed to the flood victims. Temporary relief camps have been set up in affected areas and peoples are accommodated on need basis. A total of 17 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed for rescue and relief operations in Gujarat, it continued.

The statement added the Minister of State for Home Affairs, ShriHaribhaiParathibhaiChaudhary has visited the state for two days to assess the situation and oversee the rescue and relief operations.

In Rajasthan, so far 28 deaths have been reported, out of which 12 people lost their lives during past few days owing to very heavy rainfall and flood like situation in many parts of the state. Rajasthan has experienced excessive rainfall in most of its districts. Some of the districts are facing flood situation due to extremely heavy rainfall. The situation is grim particularly in districts of Jalore, Jhalawar, Baran, Sirohi, Barmer and Dungarpur, accordingto the statement.

It added, apart from State Disaster Response Force, Police, RAC etc., at present 08 teams of NDRF are deployed for rescue and relief operations. So far more than 630 peoples have been rescued from various districts in Rajasthan. Relief materials have been distributed to the affected population.

Further according to the statement, in West Bengal, 48 deaths have been reported from various parts of the state during the floods owing to lightening, wall collapse, electrocution, snake bite and drowning. As reported by State government due to cyclone KOMEN, heavy to very heavy rainfall occurred at isolated places in almost all South West Bengal districts. So far 12 districts consisting of 210 blocks and 9691 villages have been affected due to floods. A population of 36,90,627 are affected. State Govt has deployed 121 boats for rescue and relief operations. A total of 5672 cattle is also lost in the floods. Due to floods, State Govt. has established 1537 relief camps and 214306 peoples have been accommodated. 204 medical teams have also been deployed. So far 402600 water pouches have also been distributed.

The PIB statement also said that in Odisha, 07 districts of Odisha namely Jajpur, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Bhadrak, Balasore, Jharsuguda and Deogarh are affected. A total of 05 people lost their lives and 644 villages and population `“ 480399 are affected. ODRAF units are carrying out relief and rescue operations. So far 1574 peoples have been evacuated to safer places. 7 relief camps have been opened and 55 peoples have been accommodated. 132 boats have been deployed for rescue operations.

In Manipur, about 20 villagers of Joumol Village in District Chandel have been swept away by landslide on 01/08/2015 at about 0630 hours including 12 houses. This village is located about 96 KMs from Tengnoupal HQ of which 83 Kms track/road is motorable. Rescue operations are going on. Reportedly one villager has been rescued, it said.

Two teams of NDRF have been earmarked for rescue and relief operations in Village Joumol. Of these one team comprising of 22 rescuers have been airlifted in the morning while the other team is likely to reach by late evening, it added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/mha-monitors-flood-situation-in-various-parts-of-the-country/

IMPHAL, August 3: Altogether 11 students were injured six of them said to be seriously as students protested the opening of schools before the government implemented the Inner Line Permit System or a similar legislation in the State.

A group of students from several schools stormed the Old Secretariat Building threatening to submit their textbooks to the State Education minister Moirangthem Okendro, which resulted in a fierce confrontation between the agitating students and the security forces manning the building. The incident occurred around noon.

Two students were arrested by the police during the confrontation but were reportedly released in the evening.

It may be mentioned that educational institutes in the Greater Imphal areas were re-opened from today after being left closed since July 9 in the wake of the death of class XI student Sapam Robinhood on July 8.

Meanwhile, as news of the confrontation spread, people came out to the streets immediately and imposed road blocks at several places in the State capital.

The protesting students condemned the government`™s inaction to take action against the police personnel involved in the death of Ananda Higher Secondary School student Sapam Robinhood and the delay in introduction of the ILPS or a similar Act in the State.

Around 40 students from several higher secondary schools of the State had gathered at the Nupi Lal memorial Complex and tried to storm the secretariat building.

They came shouting slogans that they do not want education if the situation in the State was improved, and tried to storm the Secretariat building with the design of submitting their textbooks to the Education minister.

However, noticing the student protestors the security personnel manning the gate of the secretariat building closed the gate.

Nevertheless, the students tried to force their way in resulting in the police-student confrontation.

In their effort to control the students, the police resorted to lathi-charging. The students also tore their text-books and threw them at the gate.

Meanwhile, women-folk who were staging sit in protest supporting the present ILPS movement in the State, on hearing of the incident imposed road blocks at different places.

At Palace Gate, womenfolk blocked the Wangkhei-Palace Gate road by sitting across the road.

Road blocks were also witnessed at Uripok and Naoremthong area.

According to the NNN, immediately on hearing the news of the agitation and attack on the students, womenfolk who were staging sit-in-protests at Uripok and Naoremthong area came out to the street and started agitating in a stronger form.

They blocked all kind traffic movement in the Uripok-Kangchup Road. Also, large number of women and members of youth club, Nongmeibung also started agitating by blocking the road at Konung Mamang and Old Checkon crossings, an NNN report said.

Locals of Wangkhei Angom Leikai and Andro Parking formed human chains and shouted slogans demanding the implementation of ILP system and seeking justice for the killing Sapam Robinhood, the report continued.

The NNN report also said that a student of Ananda Singh Higher Secondary School identified as Surjit was severely hurt during the police-student clash as he was kicked in the chest by police personnel.

He is currently under medical intervention at JNIMS Hospital, the report continued.

Two girl students, Thokchom Monika of TG School and Heisnam Roshni of Ibotonsana Girls`™ School, were also injured due to lathi attack from the police, it said.

The two students are currently hospitalised at RIMS Hospital. Some other students were also injured, and they were discharged from the hospital after being provided with first aid, it continued.

The NNN report also said that students of Ananda Singh School locked the entrance gate of the school condemning the forced re-opening of the school.

Later, locals of Nongmeibung, where the school is situated came in and guarded the school to avoid any unwanted incidents, the report continued.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/students-injured-in-police-action-fresh-agitations-erupt/