Page 39 - Odisha

Odisha CM Patnaik reviews preparedness for floods as monsoon sets in

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday directed officials to remain prepared for floods with monsoon setting in over the state. Chairing a meeting of the State-Level Natural Calamity Committee, Patnaik said at least 24 districts were affected by heavy rains and floods last year. "The period from June to October is crucial for us, during which drought, flood or cyclone may occur," he said. He said the state managed the calamities successfully last year, and got an award from the Centre for it. "We should also remain prepared this year for any other kind of exigencies. Adequate measures must be taken in respect of early warning systems, rescue and relief operations, supply of drinking water, and health and veterinary services," Patnaik said. The Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and Fire Services should remain alert for immediate response at all times, he said. The control rooms in the districts should be functional round the clock, he said, adding that 'SATARK'

Odisha tragedy: Ex-controllers suggest CCTV surveillance for relay rooms

A section of retired chief train controllers has suggested that relay rooms, station control panels and divisional control departments should be brought under CCTV surveillance to enhance safety, minimise laxity on the part of employees and rule out the possibility of sabotage or foul play. They said that these are the most crucial areas that act as the heart and brain for the rail network but have never been under round-the-clock electronic surveillance. This will remain a chink in the armour of the railways whatever other safety measures it takes, they added. Their suggestion came weeks after an interference with the interlocking system, which is an automated signalling system, was suspected to have caused a triple train accident in Odisha's Balasore district which claimed more than 280 lives. Officials had also hinted at "sabotage" and tampering with the electronic interlocking system. Anil K Bharda, former chief train controller, Mumbai Division, Central Railway Zone, said, "The

Odisha CM Patnaik sanctions Rs 20 cr for Aahaar programme in state

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has sanctioned Rs 20 crore from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund to the state-level 'Aahaar' committee, an official said on Thursday.

Monsoon hits Odisha, heavy rains likely over next 4-5 days, says IMD

Monsoon set in over parts of Odisha on Thursday, due to which heavy rains are likely in the state over the next four-five days, the weather office said. The southwest monsoon has covered parts of Malkangiri, Koraput and Gajapati district, and the conditions are favourable for further advancement during the next two days, it said. Fairly widespread to widespread rain and thundershower are likely during the next four-five days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. "Temporary water logging is likely in some low-lying areas, and traffic congestion in urban areas," it said, advising farmers to prepare for sowing of paddy crops and take precautionary measures for lightning strikes. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely on Friday in Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Puri, Ganjam and Kandhamal, it said. Thunderstorm with lightning is also likely in Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj, it added. State capital Bhubaneswar rece

Rs 2 cr announced for development of villages near Odisha accident site

Vaishnaw announced Rs 1 crore from his MP local area development (LAD) fund and another Rs 1 crore from Railways funds for the development of Bahanaga village and the hospital there

Looking forward to yoga day celebrations, interaction with leaders: PM Modi

He will attend Yoga Day celebrations at the UN headquarters on June 21. PM Modi will then travel to Washington DC and will receive a ceremonial welcome at the White House on June 22

Jagannath Rath Yatra 2023 begins in Odisha's Puri, PM extends greetings

The Jagannath Rath Yatra 2023 begins today in Odisha and Ahmedabad. The Rath Yatra will commence on June 20 at 10:04 pm and will end on June 21 at 7:09 pm.

All wings of govt must work in tandem to realise objectives: Odisha CM

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday said that the government is driving transformative governance to fulfil the dreams of the 4.5 Crore people of Odisha.Speaking on the orientation programme for officers who joined state government in various departments, he said, "We are building infrastructure, transforming schools, providing health security, attracting investments and taking many other initiatives. Our objective is to make Odisha one of the top states of India when we will be celebrating 100 years of the formation of Odisha in 2036."He emphasised that in this journey of transformation, all the wings of government must work in tandem to realize our stated objectives.Advising the new officers joining the State government to follow the 5T initiative of governance mechanism, he said, "To use technology to reach out to people faster, work as a team with a focus on the timeline, and maintain transparency through your work. The outcome will definitely be transformative."Underlining ...

India wins Intercontinental Cup 2023, Odisha CM announces Rs 1 crore reward

India wins Intercontinental Cup for the second time, defeating Lebanon by 2-0 last night at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneshwar. The Odisha CM announced Rs 1 crore reward to the Indian team.

Vaishnaw on 3-day visit to Odisha, to visit Balasore accident site

Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will arrive here Monday evening for a three-day visit to Odisha.

4 wagons of goods train on way to Vedanta plant derail in Odisha's Rayagada

Four wagons of a goods train got derailed in Rayagada district of Odisha on Saturday. There was no official confirmation from the East Coast Railway about the incident.

Death toll rises to 291 in Odisha's Balasore three-train train accident

The death toll from a three-train crash in Odisha's Balasore reached 291, officials said on Saturday

Odisha triple train accident: Death toll increases to 291, says official

The death toll in the Balasore train accident mounted to 291 after a passenger from Bihar succumbed to his injuries at SCB Medical College Hospital here on Saturday, officials said. The passenger was identified as Sahil Mansur (32) of Roshanpur in Bhagalpur district of Bihar. He was undergoing treatment at the ICU of trauma care, hospital sources said, adding that the patient was also suffering from a kidney-related ailment. He was also under dialysis, they said. SCB Medical College Hospital Superintendent Dr Sudhansu Sekhar Mishra said the patient died due to cardiac arrest. He had multiple injuries both internal and external and also had renal issues. Mishra said of the 205 patients admitted at the SCB medical college hospital, 46 patients are still under treatment which included 13 patients in ICU. "Of the 13 patients in ICU, the condition of two to three people remain critical," he said, adding that the condition of the remaining patients was stable. On Friday, Prakash Ram, 22,

85 Odisha NDRF rescuers undergo assessment for PTSD, found 'okay'

Eighty-five NDRF personnel who were part of the Odisha train accident rescue operations underwent a psychological assessment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on Friday, with an official saying they have been found to be "okay". The federal contingency force has made it mandatory for its personnel to undergo a counselling session to check for PSTD once they come back from operations in which they have seen people suffering from grievous injuries, screaming with pain and had to retrieve dead bodies. The assessment was conducted by experts from the AIIMS-Kalyani in West Bengal. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) had deployed nine teams, drawn from its battalion bases in Mundali in Odisha and Kolkata, for rescue operations on June 2 following the three-train accident that claimed 290 lives and injured over 1,000. "Experts from the AIIMS located at Kalyani (in West Bengal's Nadia district) spoke to the 85 rescuers who were part of the rescue operation following the tra

Odisha Triple Train Accident: Death toll increases to 290, says official

The toll in Bahanaga Bazar train disaster rose to 290 after a 17-year-old resident of Bihar succumbed to his injuries in SCB Medical College and Hospital here on Friday, officials said. Prakash Ram, who was travelling in the ill-fated Shalimar-Chennai Coromondel Express on June 2 when it met with the accident, was undergoing treatment at the surgery ward of the state-run hospital, he said. He had sustained severe head and leg injuries, besides internal injuries and was admitted to the hospital in a critical condition. A portion of his left leg was amputated below the knee but his condition deteriorated during the past few days, the hospital authority said. It informed the local police about the death and the body will be handed over to Prakash's family after post-mortem. Hospital superintendent Sudhanshu Sekhar Mishra told PTI that the doctors had carried out a second amputation above the left knee three days ago as the patient had suffered from infection after blood transfusion.

Sukesh asks Vaishnaw to accept Rs 10 cr donation for Odisha tragedy victims

Conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar has written a letter to Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw urging him to accept a donation of Rs 10 crore as a contribution towards victims of the Odisha train tragedy

PM Modi greets people on Raja Parba festivities being held across Odisha

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday greeted people on the ongoing Raja Parba festivities being held across Odisha and wished for happiness all around. Raja Parba is a three-day-long festival that celebrates womanhood. "Greetings on the ongoing Raja Parba festivities being held across Odisha. May this auspicious period bring with it an abundance of good health and prosperity. May there be happiness all around," Modi said in a tweet.

Cong highlights Railway Board member's letter, asks if CBI will probe it

Even as CBI is probing Balasore train accident, Cong raised questions on five cases highlighted in a letter by a Railway Board member and asked whether the agency will probe this too

Tata Steel plant steam leak: 2 in intensive care, 16 remain hospitalised

Two persons injured in an accidental steam leak at Tata Steel's Meramandali plant in Odisha's Dhenkanal district remain in intensive care while 16 others remain hospitalised, a company statement said. The steam leak occurred at around 1 PM on Tuesday during inspection work at the plant and affected workers and engineers. "Of the 18 burn cases admitted to a private hospital in Cuttack, two remain in intensive care... The other injured persons are in stable condition, receiving continuous, high-quality care. "Another person initially admitted for a panic attack at the incident site, is now in good health and expected to be discharged shortly," Tata Steel said in a statement. Dhenkanal SP Gyanaranjan Mohapatra on Tuesday said that around 19 persons were injured in the incident. The injured persons were immediately shifted to the Occupational Health Centre inside the plant premises and then to Cuttack for further treatment.

Make arrangements for Ratha Jatra in Puri keeping in mind hot weather: CM

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday directed officials to make arrangements for devotees during Ratha Jatra keeping in mind the prevailing hot weather in Puri. Attending a meeting of the Ratha Jatra Coordination Committee through the virtual mode, he said it must be ensured that devotees return from the festival with a feel-good experience. "We must give special attention to the devotees coming from across the country and abroad, and ensure that they return with feel-good factor," Patnaik told the meeting. Maintaining that Lord Jagannath is the biggest identity of Odisha, he said rituals at proper time should be ensured so that the festival, which will be starting on June 20, passes off smoothly. He appealed to everyone, including the servitors of the 12th-century shrine, to extend support so that the festival is held smoothly. Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Ranjan Das said preparations were underway, and the administration was