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Delhi L-G, Kejriwal Address Joint Press Meet On Flood Situation

By LokMarg 14th July 2023

The ongoing flooding woes in the national capital brought Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, who have been trading barbs in the recent past, together as the two briefed the media jointly on the previaling situation, saying, “We need to work as a team”.

Flanked by CM Kejriwal, ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj, L-G Saxena on Friday inspected a flooded stretch near Vikas Bhawan, ITO where a drain regulator was damaged.
The L-G was responding to minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, who said the NDRF team reached the spot only on Friday, even after several requests to the officers last night.

“Thank you, the situation would have been better had the NDRF reached the spot last night itself,” Bharadwaj said.

L-G Saxena said, “I would like to tell you that this is not the time to resport to a blame game or point fingers at each other. Right now, we need to work as a team. I, too, can say a lot of things but this isn’t what we should do at this time.”

Meanwhile, at the joint press briefing, CM Kejriwal said people, who have been grappling with flooding woes over the last couple of days, will get a measure of respite soon, as the rising waters of the Yamuna was receding slowly but surely.

“…water flooded different areas due to many reasons. Here, the flooding took place because of a breach (of drain regulator) while at Raj Ghat, it was a caused due to backflow of water from a drain. Several other places were flooded due to the backflow of the Yamuna waters. However, the people will get some respite soon as the Yamuna waters have started receding,” the CM said.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Delhi’s Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Atishi said the water level of the Yamuna was receding gradually at a rate of 0.1 metre and will it take another day for normalcy to be restored.

Atishi said no individual could be blamed for the prevailing situatuion as it is the fallout of incessant and heavy rainfall over North India.

“However, there’s good news now as the water levels have started receding. It was stable between 1pm and 7pm yesterday and is receding gradually now. However, since it is receding at a rate of 0.1 metre, it will, perhaps, take another day’s time for the waters go down entirely and for the situation to return to normal. Water entered several areas as the drains were overflowing and there was backflow from the Yamuna. Pumping out the water is not an option as it would have to be discharged into the Yamuna itself, which is already in spate. The situation cannot be blamed on any individual as it is the result of incessant and heavy rainfall over North India. However, the good thing is that the water is receding slowly,” Atishi said.

Earlier, speaking on the flood situation in the national capital, Special CP, Traffic, Surender Singh Yadav, said, “As many as 4,500 police personnel have been deployed in all the affected areas of Delhi. The movements of the Kawariyas are also being monitored. We have been informed that there’s been a decrease in water level at Kashmiri Gate and other areas. But the Ring road area towards Wazirabad is still flooded. We are trying to open the Bhairon Marg by this evening.”

Meanwhile, India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday predicted that Delhi will likely receive light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms over the next 4-5 days. (ANI)

Amit Shah Hails NDRF Role In Amarnath Yatra Safety

By LokMarg 9th July 2023

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday hailed the National Defence Response Force for providing a safe Amarnath Yatra to every pilgrim.

Taking to Twitter Amit Shah tweeted, “The NDRF and the SDRF have always stood tall in service to the nation and humanity despite all odds. Their role has been crucial in fulfilling our goal of providing a safer Amarnath Yatra to every pilgrim.”

“Sharing a photograph of an SDRF Jawan carrying a lady yatri on his back for 3 km through the unforgiving terrain of the Himalayas on her way back from the holy shrine. I applaud them for being the beacon of safety for the citizens,” Shah tweeted.

Earlier today, the annual Amarnath Yatra resumed on the Pahalgam route following an improvement in weather conditions, officials said.

The Yatra on the other route, Baltal, is yet to resume.

Earlier, the Yatra was halted since Friday due to bad weather conditions in Jammu and Kashmir.

Authorities on Sunday stopped a batch of devotees at the Jammu Base camp due to the closure of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.

Following the suspension of the Yatra, 6,000 Amarnath Yatra pilgrims were stranded at Ramban, officials said.

At least 80 people from Karnataka were trapped in the Panchtarni, six km away from the Amarnath cave following the adverse weather conditions, said the Karnataka government on Saturday.

Deputy Commissioner Ramban, Mussarat Islam told ANI that the administration is taking all steps to ensure that the pilgrims do not face any problems.

The official further informed that Jammu Srinagar National Highway (NH44) remains closed for vehicular traffic at Ramban due to a landslide.

At least 67,566 pilgrims visited the Amarnath cave shrine since the beginning of the Yatra on July 1.

About 18,354 pilgrims on July 5 left for the Amarnath cave shrine both from the Baltal base camp and Nunwan base camp performed the darshan.

“These include 12483 males, 5146 females, 457 children, 266 sadhus, and 2 sadhvis,” an official statement said earlier this week.

The total number of yatris who performed Darshan since the beginning is 67566. More yatris will visit the shrine in the coming days,” it added.

The 62-day-long Shri Amarnath Yatra will culminate on August 31, 2023. (ANI)

6 NDRF Teams Deployed In TN After Heavy Rainfall Alert

By LokMarg 6th December 2022

In a wake of heavy rainfall on December 8, six teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed in Tamil Nadu.

The teams of the NDRF will be deployed in Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, and Chennai.
“In view of the IMD alert with respect to Low pressure has formed over South Andaman Sea. It is likely to move West-northwest wards and concentrate into a Depression over the Southeast Bay of Bengal, therefore six teams from NDRF Arokkonom are detailed to the following districts of Tamil Nadu as requested by the Director of Disaster Management Govt. of Tamil Nadu,” the NDRF official said on Tuesday.

All the NDRF teams are self-contained and equipped with Flood Rescue equipment, Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue equipment, appropriate communication equipment, and suitable personal protective equipment.

“Our 24×7 control room in Arakkonam is closely monitoring the situation round the clock and all efforts are being made in close collaboration with Tamilnadu state administration,” the official further said.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), heavy rains are predicted to lash Tamil Nadu and Puducherry from December 7-9 due to low pressure over the southern part of the Andaman Sea and adjoining areas under the influence of a cyclonic circulation over the South Andaman Sea and adjoining equatorial Indian Ocean-Strait of Malacca.

As per IMD, a trough is present from the Comorin area to the north Kerala coast at 0.9 km above the mean sea level.

Thereafter, the ‘low-pressure area’ is likely to continue to move west north-westwards, and reach the Southeast Bay of Bengal, near north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts by December 8 morning, the release further stated.

IMD also informed us about the rainfall situation for the next three days.

On December 6, light to moderate rain will likely occur at one or two places over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal area.

On December 7, light to moderate rain is expected in many places. Also, isolated thunderstorms and lightning is likely to occur over the coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal area.

While light to moderate rain with thunderstorms and lightning is likely to occur at one or two places over interior Tamil Nadu, heavy rains are likely at isolated places over Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Pudukkottai districts of Tamilnadu and Karaikal.

On December 8, light to moderate rain is expected in many places with isolated thunderstorms and lightning likely to occur over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal areas.

Other than this, heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Villupuram, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, and Pudukkottai districts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal. (ANI)

9 Arrested In Morbi Bridge Tragedy

By LokMarg 31st October 2022

Nine persons including officials of Oreva, the company that renovated the bridge, ticket sellers, and security men have been arrested for the Morbi bridge collapse in Gujarat.

“We arrested nine people after filing FIR under various sections of IPC. The arrested includes the managers of Oreva company and ticket clerks,” said Ashok Yadav, IG, Rajkot range.
“As and when we get evidence, police will nab the accused further. We have also formed a Special Investigation team pertaining to the incident,” he added.

More than 134 people died and about 100 people were injured due to the collapse of the suspension bridge over the Morbi Macchu river on Sunday.

The Gujarat Police has filed a First Information Report under IPC sections 304 and 308 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) in the bridge collapse tragedy.

The Gujarat government has constituted a five-member committee headed to probe the bridge collapse incident.

“An unfortunate incident took place in Morbi, we pay our condolences. We filed an FIR under various sections of IPC against all the accused to take stringent action. Police & locals mobilized and helped in the rescue operation,” the IG said.

“An FIR has been registered against the maintenance and management agencies of the bridge, under Sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), and 114 (abettor present when offense is committed) of the India Penal Code,” said Morbi B Division Police Inspector, Prakashbhai Dekavadiya.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Morbi in Gujarat on Tuesday, the state chief minister’s office announced today.

Prime Minister Modi, who is in Kevadia said that rescue operations were underway and there would be no laxity in rescue and relief efforts.

“The Gujarat Government has been carrying out relief and rescue operations since yesterday. Centre too is extending all help to the State Government,” PM Modi said.

Briefing mediapersons here, Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi said, “The death toll in the Morbi hanging bridge collapse incident has gone up to 132. The Chief Minister has constituted a high power committee yesterday itself while leaving Ahmedabad. All officers, posted at different locations, were asked to report at Morbi by 2 am. The investigation is going on.”

The Gujarat Home Minister further informed that a criminal case has been registered in connection with the incident.

“An investigation has begun today under the leadership of Range IGP,” Sanghavi said. Everyone worked all through the night. The Navy, NDRF (National Disaster Relief Force), Air Force and Army arrived at the spot quickly. More than 200 persons have worked the entire night for search and rescue operations,” Sanghavi said.

“Indian Army is fully committed to assisting civil admin & all other agencies for HADR (Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief) ops to prevent loss of lives, treatment of survivors & further retrieval of remaining bodies as part of search ops,” as per sources.

The columns immediately got into the NDRF, SDRF & state fire services boats & assisted in search operations. Four medical columns assisted in the treatment of survivors in three hospitals viz. the govt civil hospital, Krishna hospital, and Ayush hospital, as per sources. (ANI)

Some Mischievous Men Were Shaking Ropes Of Bridge: Morbi Survivor

By LokMarg 31st October 2022

A survivor of Gujarat’s Morbi bridge tragedy, while recounting the harrowing moment, on Monday said that some mischievous people were shaking the ropes of the bridge before it came down killing about 132 people and injuring over 100.

“It happened around 6.30 pm. Some mischievous men were shaking the ropes of the bridge. Three times a noise came from it before it collapsed,” said Ashwin Mehra, a survivor.

When asked how he survived the tragedy, he said, “I held on to branches of nearby trees and eventually escaped. I had my friend Prakash with me and he also survived.”

He sustained injuries in his leg and back. He is undergoing treatment at a government hospital.

All the injured survivors of the Morbi bridge collapse incident are admitted to GMERS General Hospital.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Morbi in Gujarat on Tuesday, the state chief minister’s office announced today.

According to the latest estimates, at least 132 people, including women and children, were killed and over 100 are receiving treatment for their injuries sustained after a cable suspension bridge in Morbi town collapsed on Sunday, plunging people, into the Machchhu river.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Kevadia said that rescue operations were underway and there would be no laxity in rescue and relief efforts.

“The Gujarat government has been carrying out relief and rescue operations since yesterday. The Centre to is extending all help to the state government,” PM Modi said.

“The state government has constituted a committee to investigate this incident. I assure the people of the country that there will be no laxity in rescue and relief operations,” PM Modi said.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Monday held a review meeting and took stock of the ongoing rescue operation after the suspension bridge over the Machchhu river collapsed on Sunday.

The CM gathered the necessary details from the rescue team. He reached Morbi last night and has been looking after the search and rescue operation since yesterday. He gave necessary guidance to the local administration.

Rescue and relief work is being carried out by the NDRF team after the Morbi cable bridge tragedy Sunday evening.

The Gujarat Police has filed a First Information Report under IPC sections 304 and 308 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) in the bridge collapse tragedy. The Gujarat government has constituted a five-member committee to probe the bridge collapse incident.

“An FIR has been registered against the maintenance and management agencies of the bridge, under Sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), and 114 (abettor present when the offense is committed) of the India Penal Code,” said Morbi B Division Police Inspector, Prakashbhai Dekavadiya. (ANI)

28 Mountaineering Trainees Trapped In Avalanche At Danda-2 Peak

By LokMarg 4th October 2022

As many as 28 people are feared trapped in an avalanche that hit Draupadi’s Danda-2 mountain peak in Uttarakhand, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Tuesday.

Rescue operations are underway to rescue the trapped, all trainees of the Nehru Mountaineering Institute of Uttarkashi.
According to preliminary reports avalanche hit the team around 9 AM today.

“Information about 28 trainees of Nehru Mountaineering Institute being trapped following an avalanche in Draupadi’s Danda-2 mountain peak has been received. Rapid, relief and rescue operations underway by the district administration, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel,” CM Dhami said.

“Rapid relief and rescue operations are being carried out by the district administration, NDRF, SDRF, Army and ITBP personnel along with the team of NIM to rescue the trainees trapped in the avalanche in Draupadi’s Danda-2 mountain peak at the earliest,” tweeted the chief minister Dhami.

A SDRF team left from Sahastradhara helipad in Dehradun has rushed to rescue the trainees trapped in an avalanche for rescue work.

CM Dhami said that he has spoken to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and requested for help from the army to speed up the rescue operation.

“He has assured us to give every possible help from the Centre. A rescue operation is being conducted to bring out everyone,” Dhami said.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also took to Twitter and expressed his anguish to the loss of lives and consoled the bereaved families who lost their family members.

“Deeply anguished by the loss of precious lives due to landslide which has struck the mountaineering expedition carried out by the Nehru Mountaineering Institute in Uttarkashi. My condolences to the bereaved families who have lost their loved ones,” Rajnath Singh said in a tweet.

“Spoke to CM Uttarakhand, Shri @PushkarDhamiand took stock of the situation. Rescue operations are underway to help the mountaineers who are still trapped. I have instructed the IAF to mount the rescue and relief ops. “Praying for everyone’s safety and well-being,” Singh said. (ANI)