2100 HRS.
19th June, 2013
- Prime Minister announces 1000 crore rupee relief and rehabilitation package for flood affected Uttarakhand; Two lakh rupees each granted to the families of those killed.
- Kailash Mansarovar yatra cancelled due to rain and flood.
- Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar wins vote of confidence post alliance break-up with BJP.
- Afghanistan government suspends bilateral security agreement talks with the United States following their announcement of talks with Taliban.
- Chasing South Africa's 175, England were 135 for two in 30 overs at the Oval, when reports last came in.
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The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today announced a one thousand crore rupee package for disaster relief for the flood affected people of Uttarakhand. The relief and rehabilitation package was announced by the Prime Minister in New Delhi, soon after conducting an aerial survey of the flood ravaged areas of the state, along with UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
Ex-gratia assistance of Rs. 2 lakh each to the families of those who have lost their lives and Rs. 50,000 each to those who have been injured will be provided from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF). Further, we will also provide from the PMNRF ex-gratia assistance of Rs.1 lakh each to those whose houses have been completely destroyed and Rs. 50,000 each to those whose houses have been damaged. I have decided to provide an amount of Rs.1000 crore to Uttarakhand for disaster relief,
The Prime Minister put the death toll at 102 on the basis of latest estimates and said that loss of lives could eventually be much higher as many more are feared dead. He said, over ten thousand people have been rescued so far and are being provided food, clothing and shelter while many persons still remain stranded. Dr. Singh said about 5500 Jawans and Officers of the Army, 3000 men of the Border Roads Organisation and 600 ITBP personnel are engaged in relief and rescue work. Besides, thirteen teams of the National Disaster Response Force are also deployed. The Air Force has deployed 18 helicopters and a C-130 aircraft. The State Government is also utilizing the services of private helicopters for relief work.
More than 7000 Army and central Para military personnel fanned out across the districts of Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Uttarkashi and Pithoragarh in order to rescue and provide relief to stranded people by unprecedented flood. Army assistance Centres at Harsil, Rudraprayag, Joshimath, Mana, Gagriya, Govindghat and Dharchula have been providing shelter, food, first aid and fresh water to hundreds of pilgrims stranded at various locations due to torrential rain and swollen rivers. Evacuation of pilgrims is presently under way at several places. Several State Governments have provided financial assistance to the Uttarakhand Government for relief and rescue operations. With Sunil Shukla this is Sanjeev Sundriya AIR News Dehradun.
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An estimated 50 thousand people are stranded at several places in the flood affected areas including on the routes of Four Shrine- Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. A Large number of Sikh devotees are also stranded in the Hem Kund Sahib a famous Sikh Shrine.
138 deaths are reported in flood related incidents. Rudraprayag district is the worst affected. The Kedarnath shrine and Rambara in Rudraprayag district bore the brunt of the torrential rain.
The Help line numbers are 0135-2717300, 2716201, 2710925, 09411112985, 09412054085. State Government has also put the names of people rescued from flood hit areas on State Police website: uttarakhandpolice.uk.gov.in. Army and ITBP have also set up help line numbers for flood affected people.
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The Congress Core Group met today at the Prime Minister's residence in New Delhi to discuss flood situation in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. Briefing reporters after the meeting, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said all efforts are being made to rescue people in the affected areas of Uttarakhand. He said, a control centre is being set up in Badrinath for rescue operations and the Home Ministry is in constant touch with the local authorities.
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Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced an economic assistance of five crore rupees for the flood affected people of Uttrakhand. The state government has set up a control room in New Delhi for the help of its residents who are stranded in Uttarakhand. The telephone number of this control room is 011-23019800. The state government has also set up a control room in Bhopal. The phone number of this control room is 0755-2556422.
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The Government has cancelled the Kailash-Manasarovar Yatra of pilgrims covered under the batch number 2-10 of this year due to torrential rain and flooding in Uttarakhand. An External Affairs Ministry release said that restoration work may take up to one month to complete. It said, the Yatris desiring to obtain further information, may contact the Ministry at e-mail ID sochina@mea.gov.in or call on telephone number 23014900.
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Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has won the vote of confidence in the state assembly. Kumar got 126 vote while 24 votes went against the motion.
The Congress which has four members in the assembly, voted in favour of the trust motion. Former alliance partner BJP walked out from trust vote after accusing Nitish Kumar of betraying the peoples mandate. The ruling JD(U), which has 118 MLAs in the 243 member assembly, required the support of four more MLAs to prove its majority.
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The Congress today said that it supported the JD(U) government in Bihar to keep communal forces out. Briefing reporters in New Delhi, party spokesperson P. C Chako said, the Congress took a unilateral decision and there was no deal with JD(U) on this issue. He dismissed the allegation that supporting JD(U) government is political opportunism.
Meanwhile, BJP said that JD(U) has shown its true colour after taking support from Congress. Party Spokesperson, Meenakhi Lekhi told reporters in New Delhi that JD(U) has become a victim of the Congress' conspiracy.
JD(U) has again shown its colour in the present incarnation by being party to the conspiracy of the Congress Party because it is with the Congress support that they have actually come in the assembly.
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The Human Resource Development Ministry will set up a state-of-the-art system to monitor the mid day meal scheme on a real- time basis. The scheme which covers more than ten and a half crore school children will be monitored through an Inter Voice Response System on a daily basis. The details of the number of children being provided food in every school will be uploaded from every school under the system. If any, problem occurs, it can be fixed by taking corrective action through the district administration.
Our correspondent reports that the mid day meal scheme is the largest school nutrition programme to promote school participation and prevent drop out rate in the country.
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The Afghan government has decided to suspend bilateral security agreement talks with the United States. A brief press release issued by the Afghan President's office in Kabul today did not mention the reason behind the postponement of the dialogue clearly, but said in view of the contradiction between the acts and the statements made by the United States in regard to the peace process, the Afghan government has suspended the negotiations.
Afghan government has decided to suspend bilateral security talks with the United States following opening of an office by the Taliban in Doha and announcement of direct talks by the United States with the insurgent group yesterday. Afghanistan is standing at the turning point of its history. The international troops have handed over responsibility of the last 95 districts of the country to Afghan forces. RAJENDRA UPADHAYA, air news,KABUL
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External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid has reached the Iraq Capital Baghdad on a two-day visit to strengthen ties with the oil-rich country. Mr Khurshid will hold talks with his Iraqi counterpart Hoshiyar Zebari and discuss bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest. During his talks with Iraqi leadership, he is expected to discuss the issue of import of oil from Iraq which has emerged as India's second largest crude oil supplier, replacing Iran.
An External Affairs Ministry statement said, the visit is expected to add an impetus to the bilateral relations and elevate ties to a higher level for mutual benefit of their people.
The visit assumes significance in the wake of the fact that India and Iraq share their views on a host of regional and international matters, Iraq has become the second largest supplier of oil to India and the potential for Indian companies in the post war massive reconstruction program in Iraq is immense because of a lot of goodwill towards India. The two countries have age old historic and cultural ties and people to people contact has further cemented these bonds. Although the presence of Indian companies in Iraq is limited because of security concerns, they are welcome in Iraq and can explore options in hydrocarbons, oil exploration, construction, power, electronic goods, machinery parts, pharma sector and several others."ATUL TIWARI, air nEWS,Baghdad
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In Iraq, five persons including the leader of a local political party and four of his relatives were killed in a suicide bomb blast in Al Hadar town in Mosul. The incident took place late last night when a suicide bomber blew himself up at a social gathering in Al Hadar town in Mosul where Yunus al-Ramah, head of the United Iraq party was hosting a get together at his home on the eve of provincial elections.
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THE WORLD OF BUSINESS
The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange rose a modest 22 points, or 0.1 percent, to close at 19,246, today, as investors awaited the outcome of the two-day meeting of the US central bank. The Nifty at the National Stock Exchange rose 9 points, or 0.2 percent, to 5,822. The rupee ended 7 paise stronger, at 58.70 against the dollar. Gold fell 80 rupees, to 28,400 rupees per ten grams in Delhi. But silver ruled flat at 44,600 rupees per kilo.Pradeep Kumar, AIR News
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The CEO of Prasar Bharati, Mr. Jawahar Sircar has assured that more creativity and professionalism would be brought in the working style of both AIR and Doordarshan. Speaking at a meeting with senior officials in Chennai, he said that team work was the formula for success in an institution and suggested that cordial atmosphere between seniors and new entrants would yield necessary results.
Speaking to newsmen after unveiling the memorial Pillar commemorating 75 years of exemplary service of All India Radio-Chennai, Mr. Sircar said that it was a proud moment for the people of Chennai since AIR is one of the oldest broadcaster in India and the World.
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Replying to South Africa's total of 175, England were 147 for three in 33 overs in the first semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy cricket tournament at the Oval, when reports last came in.
Earlier, South Africa ed a remarkable late recovery, as they posted 175 all out, after being down in the dumps at 80 for 8. Left-hander David Miller scored a brilliant 56 not out. Miller was ably supported by tail-ender Rory Kleinveldt, who scored 43. Both added 95 runs for the ninth wicket in 16 overs, with the proteas posting 175 in 38.4 overs. For England, Stuart Broad and James Tredwell bagged the maximum of 3 wickets each. England had won the toss and elected to field first.
In the second semi-final tomorrow, India will clash with Sri Lanka at Cardiff at 3 PM Indian time.
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