U’khand reserves 33% seats for women in cooperative societies The Pushkar Singh Dhami-led government’s decision aims to ensure women’s participation in the cooperative sector Decision to benefit 55 lakh women: govt With the landmark decision, Uttarakhand has become the first state in India to approve a 33% reservation for women in cooperative societies. The govt expects the move will end the male dominance in cooperatives | p10 vijayawada l wednesday l july 31, 2024 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late city EDITION ive erat o o p c i et y c o s This is expected to encourage women’s participation in the cooperative sector and promote their leadership, setting an example for other states to follow — Dhan Singh Rawat, state cooperative minister CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI 125 killed in landslides Over 90 still missing after two pre-dawn landslips rock Kerala’s Wayanad dist NDRF, Army and Air Force pressed into rescue ops Over 480 rescued Kerala declares two-day state mourning Horror story 1 Wayanad dist has been experiencing torrential rain for past three days, with rivers in spate and low-lying areas inundated 2 A baby being rescued by the NDRF team from Mundakkai in Wayanad district on Tuesday | E Gokul Modi dials Vijayan, offers all help PM Modi spoke to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and offered all help from the Centre to the State. He also announced aid of `2 lakh from the PM’s relief fund to the next of kin of the deceased & `50,000 for injured Rahul raises the issue in Lok Sabha Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi raised the issue in the House, stressing the need for mapping of landslide-prone areas & taking mitigation measures. He & his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, will visit Wayanad soon NGT takes note, puts Kerala on notice The southern bench of the National Green Tribunal decided to take up a suo-motu hearing into the Wayanad landslides. The bench directed the Kerala counsel to collect data on trigger points like roads, buildings & quarries in and around the affected villages Bids invited to build Unity Mall in Vizag EX P RESS N EWS SERVICE @ Kalpetta IN possibly the worst natural calamity that has ever hit Kerala, two massive landslides within a span of two-and-a-half hours devoured Chooralmala and Mundakkai in Wayanad district, leaving at least 125 dead and nearly 90 missing, in the wee hours of Tuesday. As many as 481 people have been rescued. Of them, 113 are under treatment. So far, 48 bodies have been identified. The torrent was so strong that several bodies were recovered from Pothukal in Malappuram, 10 km from the epicentre of the landslide. Most of the victims were washed away in sleep as the landslides occurred at 1.30 am and 4 am. Huge boulders and uprooted trees gushed downwards to Chooralmala from Mundakkai, causing severe damage. The heavy surge of water from the hilltop changed of the Madras Regiment, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) from different parts of Kerala, Air Force from Coimbatore and Fire and Rescue and police took part in the rescue operations that was temporarily halted in the night due to bad weather. Four relief camps have been opened to shift the survivors. The injured have been admitted to various hospitals in Wayanad. Bodies of the victims are kept at the Community Health Centre in Meppadi and WIMS Hospital. A special team of forensic doctors from Kozhikode has reached Wayanad to expedite the post-mortem of recovered bodies. DNA tests will be conducted on unidentified bodies. A police official said 32 bodies and several body parts were recovered from the banks of Chaliyar in Malappuram. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said all possible efforts will be taken to rescue the stranded people and to recover bodies from the debris. @ Vijayawada U s h a P e r i @ Visakhapatnam A video of an elderly woman crossing a stream in a large aluminium vessel in Alluri Sitarama Raju district went viral on social media platforms, drawing attention to the region’s challenging conditions. Devamani, an 80-year-old resident of Gunjivada in Pedabayalu mandal, required medical care, but was too ill to cross the stream on her own. Water flow in the stream between Gunjivada and Jamiguda villages was high due to the rains that had recently lashed the district, making it difficult for people to cross it on foot. Vanthala Satya Rao, a villager, helped Devamani cross the stream and reach the Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Pedabayalu mandal. Gunjivada, an interior village in Pedabayalu mandal, is home to nearly 110 families. It lacks adequate connectivity despite having basic infrastructure. Elaborating on their challenges, villagers told TNIE, “This is the only way to reach the mandal headquarters in Pedabayalu. During other seasons, crossing the stream is easier due to lower water levels. However, during the rainy season, we are forced to swim across the stream to reach Jamiguda village and then proceeding to the mandal headP4 quarters.”  Mapping tragedy Epicentre of the landslides received 572 mm rainfall in 48 hrs KERALA Wayanad Landslide origin Mundakkai Chooralmala Manu pens Paris epic T HERE was a time, not too long ago, when India would start holding its breath right after the opening ceremony, wondering when that elusive Olympic medal would come. When it came, it would spark wild celebrations. Indeed, until 2008, only once in the history of independent India had its Olympians come home with more than a single medal. If anyone needs any more evidence that those times are long past, then just look at Manu Bhaker. Most athletes spend years training, hoping and praying for an Olympic medal. A TNIE @ olympics select few get their wish. There’s a more exclusive Indian club; athletes who win multiple Olympic medals across their career. With two medals Indraneel Das in three days, Manu has founded another club — Paris first from Independent India to win multiple medals in a single Olympics. Unless one extends the definition of being an Indian to include Norman Pritchard who competed under the flag of British India in 1900, Manu is in a league of her own. For a nation that won only two medals in Rio in 2016, Manu’s achievement transcends reality and borders fantasy “The . feeling is still surreal. I did not think I would be winning two medals in one Olympics,” said Manu after winning the bronze medal with Sarabjot Singh in the mixed More on P11 10m air pistol event.  3 Another landslide at 4 am (trigger spot yet to be ascertained) diverts River Iruvazhinji, resulting in flash floods washing away Chooralmala village, 3 km away. Bridge connecting Chooralmala destroyed, stranding hundreds Manu Bhaker (L) and Sarabjot Singh won bronze in mixed 10m air pistol event on Tuesday | Express Govt to go for `1.3L cr vote on account Woman crosses gushing stream in cooking vessel Express News Service The State government on Tuesday invited tenders for the construction of Unity Mall, a platfor m to promote local handlooms and handicrafts. The mall will be built at Madhurawada in Visakhapatnam in an area of five acres. As part of its scheme for Special Assistance to States for capital investment 2023-24, the Centre had allocated an interest-free loan of `172 crore for the construction of Unity Mall. Handlooms and Textiles Commissioner G Rekha Rani said the tender documents have been filed for judicial preview. The estimate contract value was put at `109.62 crore and the work should be completed within two years after awarding it. A convention centre will be built in the Unity Mall for State, cultural and corporate funcP4 tions.  the nature of the tiny Iruvazhinji river, submerging everything on its both banks. Several houses were destroyed, a temple and a mosque were submerged, and a school building was severely damaged. Heavy rains and the presence of mud, huge pieces of rocks and trees made rescue operations difficult. Scores of earthmovers were brought in to remove the mud and rocks. Bodies were taken out of the mud with great difficulty Around 250 people . were stranded at Mundakkai as the bridge that connected the area was washed away. Rescue workers tried to reach them using the ropeway but the exercise was time-consuming. Possibility of another landslide also slowed down rescue operations. They were finally rescued on Tuesday evening after the Army constructed a make-shift bridge across the river. Personnel from 122 Infantry Battalion of Territorial Army Around 1.30 am on Tuesday, massive landslide occurs at Mundakkai in Meppadi grama panchayat. Gushing waters and debris sweep away the entire village H ER - STOR Y Express News Service @ Vijayawada Previous govt tabled `2.86L cr interim Budget The interim Budget, presented by the previous YSRC govt before the elections for I2.86 lakh crore, will culminate on July 31. This is perhaps the first time two vote on accounts will be presented The State government is set to introduce an ordinance for a vote on account for a sum of `1.3 lakh crore. According to sources, the government may opt for the vote on account for a period of two months and subsequently, present the full Budget in the Assembly in September. The ordinance was report- edly circulated online for the approval of Cabinet Ministers. It is likely to be sent to the Gover nor for his consent on Wednesday . The interim Budget, tabled by the previous government, will culminate on July 31. The current TDP-led NDA government has opted for another vote on account as it is yet to get clarity on the State Finances, sources explained. Sources said the ordinance has been drafted to get approvals for demands and grants for 40 departments. Allocations are also expected for commencing the operation of Anna Canteens, under which food will be served to the poor at `5 per meal. It has been learnt that matching grants for various Central government schemes might be earmarked in the ordinance, so that the projects can be P4 grounded.  No State deprived of funds, says FM in Lok Sabha M o n i k a Ya d a v @ New Delhi Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday sought to emphasise that no state was denied funding in the General Budget, while replying to a discussion in the Lok Sabha. Sitharaman termed as misleading claims by the Opposition that if any state is not named in the Budget speech, then it does not get any budget- ary allocation. She recalled that previous Budgets presented by the UPA, too, did not include the names of all states. “I have been picking up on Budget speeches since 20042005, 2005-2006, 2006-2007, 20072008 and so on. The Budget of 2004-2005 did not take the name of 17 states. Did money not go to those 17 states?” she asked. Later, the Lok Sabha approved the `48.21-lakh crore Budget. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman replies to the debate on the Budget in the Lok Sabha | PTI Mocking the UPA, Sitharaman said leaders educated at prestigious institutions like Harvard and Oxford were in charge during the UPA government but failed to recognise the right time to withdraw stimulus measures, resulting in high inflation from 2009 to 2013. In contrast, she stated that inflation under the NDA government has not been as severely impacted by Covid-19.