Kochi l thursday l august 28, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 16 l LATE city EDITION 2030 Mega Event gets cabinet approval, paves way for bid Narendra Modi Stadium Ahmedabad will be CWG’s host city The cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, okayed sports ministry’s proposal for submission of the bid. According to a PIB statement, “the cabinet gave its approval to sign the Host Collaboration Agreement (HCA) along with required Guarantees from concerned Ministries, Departments and Authorities and sanction of required grant-in-aid to Gujarat” Days after the Indian Olympic Association general body approved 2030 CWG bid, Union cabinet gave its endorsement on Wednesday ioa to submit the bid papers before aug 31 ■ ■ This paves the way for IOA to submit the bid papers before the August 31 deadline. It is expected to do so in the next 48 hours Ahmedabad is an ideal host city offering world class stadiums, cutting-edge training facilities. India to host disciplines like hockey, shooting, wrestling, archery not included by Glasgow in 2026 | P11 72 Number of countries expected to participate in 2030 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 Outreach in 40 nations to Vaishno Devi route landslide toll now 34 380 students ease textile sector stress trapped by flood F aya z w a n i @ Srinagar Bid to cushion it from US tariff blow as it employs 45 million people D i pa k M o n d a l @ New Delhi With textiles emerging as the worst-hit sector under the US’s reciprocal tariff regime, the government is moving in “war mode” to cushion the blow to the industry that employs over 45 million people. Government sources told this newspaper that 40 key importing countries have been identified as part of efforts to diversify India’s textile exports. These markets, spread across North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Oceania, together account for nearly three-fourths of global demand for textiles and apparel. “Dedicated outreach programmes are being designed to expand India’s modest 5-6% market share in these economies, with particular emphasis on apparel, home textiles, technical textiles, and handicrafts,” a government source said. The diversification exercise began a few months ago, and exports to these countries have already shown an uptick. Will address theaterisation dissonance in best national interest: CDS M AYAN K SIN G H @ Mhow Amid apparent dissonance in the armed forces regarding creation of integrated theatre commands, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan, the seniormost Indian military officer, on Wednesday said it will be addressed keeping the best national interest in mind. While Air Chief Marshal A P Singh opined at the Ran Samwad here that the armed forces shouldn’t come under any pressure to roll out theatre commands, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi said the opposite: “We are committed to synergising our command control communications and combat capability with the Indian Army and Indian Air F o r c e . F u l l s t o p, period.” In his closing address, Navy Chief Adm Gen Anil Dinesh Tripathi Chauhan and Air Chief Marshal A P Singh said, “As a CDS (Chief of Defence Staff), I actually set out to promote jointness among the three services. And today, I can say with some kind of pleasure and confidence that we can speak about our differences in a very conducive environment, and with openness to different views without temperatures being risen,” he said. “There could be a difference among the three services, but yet we are able to listen to that point. I think that thing is very important,” he said. 16 pages, including 4 pages of KOCHI Express Russian oil not the lone deal-breaker: US Russian oil purchase was not the only India-US dealbreaker, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said as he hinted that India’s delaying tactics in the trade deal may have resulted in the 50% tariff. He, however, said: “I think at the end of the day, we’ll come together.” According to the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence & Statistics (DGCIS), textile exports touched $3.10 billion in July 2025, a 5.37% rise yearon-year. Between April and July 2025, cumulative exports stood at $12.18 billion, up 3.87% over the same period last year. Special focus is being placed on Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with partner nations, including the recently signed India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Export Promotion Councils, in coordination with Indian missions abroad, will spearhead targeted promotion drives to position India as a reliable source of quality sustain, able, and innovative textiles while reducing overdependence on a handful of traditional markets, officials said. The US, India’s largest textile export market, accounted for $10.8 billion or 35% of shipments last year. But with apparel exports now facing a 63.9% duty, Indian exporters are at a 30-35% price disadvantage compared to competitors such as Bangladesh, Vietnam, Mexico, and Central American nations. Industry insiders have warned that if the tariffs persist, the apparel sector alone could witness to 15-20 lakh job cuts. To counter this, four industry-led committees have been formed to recommend timebound measures covering fiscal, banking and credit support, structural reforms in the value chain, and cost competitiveness through innovation. The toll in the landslide on a route to the Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra in Jammu’s Reasi district, rose to at least 34 people, with 23 others being reported missing. Most of the dead were pilgrims. Days of heavy rainfall have battered Jammu, causing landslides and flash floods that damaged roads, bridges, houses and vital infrastructure. The latest landslide struck near Inderprastha Bhojnalaya at Ardhkuwari cave temple en route to the shrine on Tuesday evening. The Army National and State , Disaster Response Forces, along with the police and civil agencies, launched rescue operations soon after. Officials confirmed 34 people had died and 23 were injured. The injured were shifted to different hospitals for treatment.“My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover at the earliest. The administration is assisting all those affected. My prayers for everyone’s safety and well-being,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X. Chief minister Omar Abdullah said, “We are sad that about 29-30 people have lost their lives in Katra.” He, however, questioned why officials had not stopped pilgrims despite warnings. “We had been war ned about inclement RAHUL BOOKED ON CHARGES OF STALKING, INTIMIDATION Express News Service @T’Puram/Kochi Fresh trouble is brewing for Rahul Mamkootathil with the crime branch registering a case against him for allegedly stalking women on social media and sending messages and making phone calls threatening a woman to terminate pregnancy. The development came just hours after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan termed as “serious in nature” the complaints against the Palakkad MLA and said the police will take whatever legal action is possible against him. The case was registered on Wednesday under BNS sections 78 (2) (stalking a woman), 351 (criminal intimidation) and Kerala Police Act 120 (O) (causing annoyance through any means of communication), on complaints received by the state police chief. A first-time conviction under BNS section 78 (2) can fetch three years’ imprisonment plus fine, while repeat offend- ers can get a prison term of up to five years with fine. Conviction under BNS section 351 can attract a two-year sentence or fine, or both. Crime branch DySP C Binu Kumar wil probe the allegations. The state police will register fresh cases if complainants come forward. Earlier addressing the media, Pinarayi said, “There is already a public opinion that such a person should not continue to hold the post. Still, he (Rahul) clings on. Many allegations have come up, including an audio clip in which a woman is being compelled to undergo abortion with a threat of murder. This shows how criminalminded he is.” He said politics and politicians traditionally commanded respect in Kerala, but incidents like these eroded that trust. “There were some cases in the past, but nothing to this extent. When such things happen, stern action is needed. But in this case, no such step was taken (by the Congress) due to vested inter● More on P4 ests,” he said.  bjp leader rejects charges Palakkad: BJP state vicepresident C Krishnakumar on Wednesday dismissed sexual assault allegations raised by a woman from Palakkad, describing them as baseless and politically driven | P4 Politics and politicians commanded respect in Kerala, but incidents like these eroded that trust. When such things happen, stern action is needed. But here, no such step was taken Pinarayi Vijayan Flawed probe leads to acquittal 20 years on, 74-yr-old mother denied justice in son’s murder away during the pendency of the case. The court, which also set aside the Prabhavati Amma was crestfallen on conviction and three-year imprisonment Wednesday . awarded to three other cops — T K HariShe could not believe the police offic- das, T Ajith Kumar and E K Sabu — said ers convicted for the brutal custodial tor- “a flawed and tainted investigation” by ture and murder of her son the CBI eventually led to the Udayakumar 20 years ago would “failure of the prosecution walk free. case.” “I feel no one has a heart anyA scrap shop worker, Udayakumore. Even the (Kerala) High mar, then 28, and his friend Court has no heart. If it did, it Sureshkumar were picked up by would not have spoken these Jithakumar and Sreekumar words and let them walk free,” from Sreekandeswaram park in the 74-year-old, emotional and Prabhavati Amma the capital on September 27, livid, told the media hours after 2005. the HC acquitted former civil police ofThey were taken to Fort police station, ficers K Jithakumar and S V Sreekumar and later to a CI’s office. As per the CBI, and set aside their death sentence in the Udyakumar was subjected to third demurder of Udayakumar in police custo- gree torture on the allegation that the dy at Fort police station in Thiruvanan- `4,000 found in his possession was ● More on P4 thapuram in 2005. Sreekumar passed stolen.  E x p r e s s N e w s S e r v i c e @T’Puram/ Kochi saved in Punjab H a r p r e e t b a j w a @ Chandigarh 1 weather days in advance. Why were pilgrims allowed on the track? Why weren’t they stopped and kept safe?” Abdullah asked. While Jammu has taken much of the beating from incessant rains, Kashmir is also facing flood threats as water has begun flowing over the danger mark in Jhelum in south Kashmir and Srinagar. In Anantnag, water entered houses in many areas, while a locality in the Rajbagh area of uptown Srinagar was submerged. All educational institutions in Jammu and Kashmir will remain closed on Thursday and all exams have been postponed. 2 1) Aerial view of an area affected by heavy rainfall in Jammu; 2) students trapped at a school in Punjab being rescued | Pti 41 killed in J&K amid record 380 mm rains The total toll due to heavy rains in Jammu and Kashmir climbed to 41 on Wednesday. Jammu received a record 380 mm rainfall in 24 hours between Tuesday and Wednesday morning, breaking the previous record of 270 mm rainfall recorded in 1988, an official said. The flood situation remained grim in eight districts of Punjab—Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, and Fazilka—on Wednesday, with the key rivers Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej in a furious spate, and water levels at key reservoirs breaching the danger mark. Rescue works progressed at a rapid pace. In Gurdaspur, more than 380 students and 70 staff trapped by rising floodwaters at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya were rescued by the district administration teams, with the support of BSF and the NDRF. The school premises were submerged under 4 to 5 feet of water from the Ravi river. The rescue operation was delayed as vehicles could not reach the school due to flood-inundated roads. In Pathankot, the Army rescued 22 CRPF personnel and 53 civilians, including 50 staffers of Madhopur Headworks. Three floodgates at the barrage were washed away by the gushing waters.