Page 19 - Gujarat

News updates: Union WCD Minister criticises Bengal CM, urges her to focus on women's safety

Latest news updates: Catch all the news developments from around the world here

Rain fury subsides in Gujarat but flood-like situation persists in parts

The situation in rain-battered Gujarat improved slightly on Thursday as the rainfall activity subsided, but Vadodara and some other parts of the state are still reeling under a flood-like situation due to overflowing rivers while the authorities continue the rescue and relief operations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to state Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel for the second consecutive day and took stock of the situation. He also asked the CM to ensure that proper steps are taken to prevent the spread of diseases post floods. Rain-related incidents have claimed the lives of 26 persons in three days till Wednesday, the authorities said earlier. More than 18,000 people have been relocated and around 1,200 people rescued from flood-affected areas in the state. In some cases, choppers were used by the security forces to take people to safer locations, State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) said in its latest update. Vadodara, the worst-hit city due to recent downpour, heaved a sigh

Gujarat rains: 28 dead due to heavy rainfall in state, IMD issues red alert

Gujarat rain update: Several districts in the Saurashtra region, including Devbhoomi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Rajkot, and Porbandar, experienced rainfall ranging from 50 mm to 200 mm on Wednesday

Gujarat rains: 15 dead due to heavy rains in state, IMD issues orange alert

Gujarat rainfall update: As many as 15 people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents across the state and over 23,000 people have been evacuated so far

19.3% drop in particulate pollution in 2022 adds 51 days to life expectancy

India recorded a significant 19.3 per cent drop in particulate pollution in 2022 compared to 2021, the second-highest reduction in the world after Bangladesh, adding an average of 51 days to the life expectancy of every citizen, according to a new report. The annual report, "Air Quality Life Index" 2024, by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) also said that Indians are likely to lose 3.6 years of life expectancy if the country fails to meet the World Health Organisation's annual PM2.5 concentration standard of 5 micrograms per cubic metre. The researchers attributed the decline in particulate levels in India and other South Asian countries primarily to favourable meteorological conditions and a reduced number of thermal inversions -- when a layer of warm air traps cooler air near the ground, causing pollution to build up. PM2.5 concentrations in India in 2022 were around 9 micrograms per cubic metre, 19.3 per cent lower than 2021. The most significant ..

7 killed, 15,000 relocated, 300 rescued in Gujarat rain-related incidents

Heavy showers continued to lash parts of Gujarat on Tuesday, with at least seven persons dead in rain-related incidents, while more than 15,000 were evacuated and over 300 rescued in different districts as administration carried out relief and rescue operations on a large scale. While rain intensity reduced on Tuesday compared to a day ago, affecting mainly districts in the Saurashtra region, administration carried out rescue and relief operations on a large scale, shifting thousands of people to shelters. Six Army columns were deployed for rescue operations -- one each in Devbhoomi Dwarka, Anand, Vadodara, Kheda, Morbi, and Rajkot districts -- while 14 NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) platoons and 22 of SDRF were supporting authorities in disaster management efforts, the government said in a release. Seven persons have lost their lives in rain-related incidents since Monday. Four persons were killed in wall collapse incidents in Gandhinagar, Kheda and Vadodara districts, ...

Seven killed in rain-related incidents in Gujarat, over 6,000 relocated

At least seven persons have died in rain-related incidents in different parts of Gujarat, and heavy showers continued to pound the state for the third consecutive day on Tuesday, throwing normal life out of gear and flooding low-lying areas, officials said. More than 6,000 persons have been relocated to safer places as water levels in dams and rivers rose amid incessant rainfall, they said. According to officials, seven persons lost their lives in rain-related incidents on Monday. Four persons were killed in wall collapse incidents in Gandhinagar, Kheda and Vadodara districts, while one person died after a tree fell on him and two others drowned in Anand district. The administrations of Panchmahal, Navsari, Valsad, Vadodara, Bharuch, Kheda, Gandhinagar, Botad and Aravali districts shifted hundreds of people to safer locations as a precautionary measure amid flooding in low-lying areas as water levels rose in rivers and dams. In Panchmahal, the district administration shifted around

Gujarat rains: IMD issues 'red' alert, NDRF teams deployed. Top updates

Gujarat rains: The India Meteorological Department has predicted heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in several districts of Gujarat until August 29

3 dead after heavy rains flood Gujarat's low-lying areas, hundreds shifted

Incessant heavy showers battered several parts of Gujarat on Monday, inundating low-lying areas, with three persons dying and seven missing in rain-related incidents and hundreds shifted to safer places. The administration is geared up for more showers as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of heavy to very heavy rains with isolated extremely heavy rains in several districts of the state till Thursday morning. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel held a virtual meeting with district collectors, superintendents of police, and senior civic officials of all major cities to review the current situation. The state education department has declared a holiday for primary schools across the state on Tuesday. Seven persons are missing after a trolley tractor carrying them got swept away while passing through an overflowing causeway in Halvad taluka of Morbi district. According to officials, they remained untraceable despite a nearly 20-hour search operation involving the Nationa

IMD issues heavy rainfall warning for Gujarat as floods displace hundreds

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has also issued a 'high risk' alert for flash floods in the met subdivisions of east Rajasthan, West Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat in the next 24 hours

Tractor-trolley sweeps in flooded river in Gujarat; 10 rescued, 7 missing

A search operation by NDRF is underway in Gujarat's Morbi district to trace seven persons swept away along with their tractor trolley while crossing a flooded causeway on a river amid heavy rains, an official said on Monday. Ten out of 17 persons on board the tractor-trolley were rescued in an overnight operation near Dhavana village. "The tractor-trolley carrying 17 persons swept away when it was passing through a causeway (over a river) near Dhavana village in Halvad taluka of Morbi district at around 9 pm on Sunday. Ten persons were rescued while seven others are missing," said Morbi fire officer Devendrasinh Jadeja. State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel are conducting a search operation, he said. Several parts of Gujarat were battered by heavy to very heavy rains in the last 24 hours till 6 AM on Monday, forcing authorities to shift hundreds of people to safe places after low-lying areas in Navsari and Valsad districts were .

Amit Shah speaks with Gujarat CM in wake of heavy rainfall, assures aid

India Meteorological Department gave detailed information about the forecast of heavy to very heavy rains in Gujarat during the next week

Suchi semicon plans $100 mn investment into OSAT plant in Gujarat

The company has planned the project in five phases. In the first phase, starting in November this year, it will focus on creating chips that will power legacy devices

India's second 700 MW nuclear power KAPS-4 starts ops at full capacity

India's second home-built 700 MW nuclear power reactor at Kakrapar Atomic Power Station (KAPS) in Gujarat on Wednesday started operating at its full capacity, the plant operator said. The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) said Unit 4 at KAPS had been operating at 90 per cent capacity before raising it to full power of 700 MWe. "The full power operation of KAPS-4 after the smooth operation of its twin unit KAPS-3 at full power demonstrates the strength of the first of a kind indigenous 700 MW Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) design," the NPCIL said. The KAPS-4 unit achieved first criticality on December 17 last year and commenced commercial operations on March 31. The power level of the unit, which commenced commercial operation on March 31, 2024 was raised in line with the permissions of the regulatory authority, the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB). India is building 14 more 700 MW nuclear power reactors of the same design which are expected to commenc

Guj CM okays Rs 381 cr for building road from Vadodara to Statue of Unity

CM Bhupendra Patel has approved the construction of this high-speed corridor to make it easier for tourists to reach the Statue of Unity, save time and fuel and boost the tourism development of the en

India's first indigenous semiconductor chip will be made in Gujarat: CM

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Thursday said India's first indigenously developed semiconductor chip will be manufactured in the state, which has so far attracted an investment of Rs 1 lakh crore in electronics and chip manufacturing sectors. He was addressing a gathering in Nadiad town of Kheda district in the state after hoisting the national flag on the occasion of Independence Day. "The 10th edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit held earlier this year was instrumental in attracting new investment in emerging sectors like AI and semiconductor," he said. "We have so far attracted an investment of Rs 1 lakh crore in the electronics and semiconductor sector and India's first semiconductor chip will be manufactured in Gujarat," he said. On the occasion, he announced a significant increase in the monthly income limit set earlier by the state government for people wanting free ration under the Centre's Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY). At present, a

Arunachal's capital, Itanagar to get ropeway, electric buses soon

Arunachal Pradesh's capital, Itanagar, is set to improve its urban transport infrastructure with the introduction of a ropeway system and electric buses. The Mayor of Itanagar Municipal Corporation (IMC), Tamme Phassang, said on Tuesday night that discussions for the installation of the ropeway system are in the final stages. The IMC is engaging with companies based in Hyderabad and Gujarat to finalise the project, he said. The proposed ropeway will offer a scenic and efficient transport route connecting key areas of the city, operating between Lobi in Division 4, the Secretariat, Ganga Market, Chimpu and vice versa. In addition to the ropeway, the IMC is collaborating with Arunachal Pradesh State Transport Services (APSTS) to operate 10 electric buses in the capital city, with the potential for future expansion, he said. It will depend on the success of the trials, he said. "These developments demonstrate IMC's dedication to modernising its transport network and promoting sustai

Suicide helpline of Gujarat diamond industry gets 1,600 calls since launch

A suicide helpline number launched on July 15 by the Diamond Workers Union Gujarat (DWUG) has received more than 1,600 distress calls from those in the sector, a functionary associated with the initiative said on Monday. Citing media reports, DWUG vice president Bhavesh Tank said 65 diamond workers have committed suicide in Surat in the last 16 months, most of them taking the extreme step due to hardships caused by salary cuts and loss of jobs, a result of the slowdown in the industry. Surat is among the premier centres of the sector, with about 90 per cent of the world's rough diamonds being cut and polished here by around 10 lakh workers employed in more than 2,500 units. "We launched a suicide helpline number on July 15. So far, we have received more than 1600 calls with many of them saying they are on the brink of ending their lives due to financial stress. Most of those who call have been rendered jobless in the last few months. They also call in distress looking for ...

Gujarat Congress launches Nyay Yatra for victims of state's major tragedies

The Gujarat Congress on Friday launched a 14-day 'Nyay Yatra', a foot march, here to seek justice for the victims of four major tragedies that took place in the BJP-ruled state over the last five years. The Bharatiya Janata Party was shielding the real culprits of these incidents including the recent Rajkot game zone fire, it alleged. Congress Legislative Party leader in the assembly Amit Chavda, Seva Dal president Lalji Desai and MLA Jignesh Mevani launched the campaign. The march will cover nearly 350 kilometers before reaching Gandhinagar on August 23, said party spokesperson Manish Doshi. Family members of the deceased from these tragedies -- 2019 Takshashila fire incident in Surat, Morbi bridge collapse of 2022, and this year's Vadodara boat capsizing incident and TRP game zone fire in Rajkot -- will join the the Yatra, he said. Mevani said that nearly 200 people died in these incidents due to the rampant corruption under the BJP government. "We are taking out this Nyay Yatr

Andhra Pradesh govt abolishes two-child policy for local body elections

The two-child policy was introduced in the then unified Andhra Pradesh in 1994, barring candidates with more than two children from local body elections