Floods in South: Army begin rescue

Indian Army began the rescue operation on Friday
Saturday, October 03, 2009 (07:30:38)
Bangalore/Hyderabad: At least 130 people have been killed in Karnataka and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh in heavy rain since Wednesday and army boats and air force helicopters on Friday began to rescue hundreds of people marooned at several places. One hundred and four people have died in six north Karnataka districts and 26 in Andhra Pradesh in the torrential rain caused by a deep depression in the Bay of Bengal. Hundreds of people in the two states were trapped in flood waters and were waiting on rooftops and higher places to be rescued. Thousands more have been rendered homeless.

In Karnataka, the maximum number of 29 deaths were reported from Bijapur.

"Ovger 40,000 houses have been damaged," a spokesperson for the Karnataka revenue ministry told media.

He said five helicopters and 40 boats have been deployed for rescue and relief operartions. Over 85 relief centres have been set up, he added.

In Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister K. Rosaiah said the flood situation was grim and army personnel have been deployed for rescue operations.

Six helicopters have been pressed into service to rescue people. While four helicopters are being used to airlift the flood-hit in Kurnool district, two choppers were deployed in Mahabubnagar district. A helicopter rescued 15 people in the famous pilgrim town of Mantralayam.
Rain fury claims 130 in Andhra, Karnataka; Army begin rescue

Infrastructure India: A Long Road Ahead...When the cities will buckle?

Chennai- T. Nagar bursting at the seams by R. Sujatha
Traffic came to standstill, owing to festival shoppers’ crowd

— PHOTO: S.S.KUMARBUMPER TO BUMPER: Traffic on Bhashyam Street near the Panagal Park junction in T. Nagar on Friday.

CHENNAI: Shoppers who came to T. Nagar on Friday would have probably regretted their decision. Vehicular traffic in T. Nagar came to a standstill several times, thanks to the festival shopping crowd.

Police had a tough time regulating traffic as vehicles piled up along Venkatnarayana Road, G.N. Chetty Road, North Usman Road and Thyagaraya Road by noon.

Shoppers struggled to move around and autorickshaw drivers demanded exorbitant fare to drive through overcrowded streets. K. Saravanan, a car driver, said, “It took two hours to negotiate a two-km stretch from the Kodambakkam junction to T. Nagar. The traffic hold-up began at the Kodambakkam junction around 11 a.m. When we entered T. Nagar, it was 1 p.m.”

While MTC buses managed to wind their way slowly, cars, autorickshaws and two-wheelers clogged the roads. Traffic was heavy around the junctions near Kodambakkam-North Usman Road, Venkatnarayana Road-Burkit Road and Thyagaraya Road-Dr. Nair Road. Many who hired autorickshaws or cabs got off midway and tried to walk to the destinations.

At most places, pedestrians struggled to cross the road.

C.N.R. Selvaraj, who works in T. Nagar, said he had to wait for 10 minutes before he could cross G. N. Chetty Road near the Kannadasan statue. Though traffic police towed away vehicles from several roads, it did not deter many from parking along the road margins on other roads such as Thyagaraya Road and Bhashyam Street.

A commuter had a hard time bargaining with an autorickshaw driver for a trip from Coats Road to the Doraiswamy Road junction, a distance of about 1 km.

The driver demanded Rs.40. Another auto driver charged Rs.70 for a trip from Panagal Park to Trust Puram, three km away.

Sources in the Mambalam and Soundarapandianar Angadi police stations said there were no complaints of missing children. Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Shakeel Akhter said that since certain traffic regulations were introduced recently, it led to some confusion. By evening, motorists were getting familiar with the changes and the traffic flow became easier, he said.
Chennai- T. Nagar bursting at the seams: The Hindu
Related reading
Infrastructure India: A Long Road Ahead

IESM: Chairman's Desk- OROP goal is a long haul

Dear Colleagues,
We heartily welcome the following veterans click me from Bangalore who have joined the IESM family and compliment the motivator, the dynamic IESM Convener Karnataka, Colonel SS Rajan.

We continue receiving a large number of requests and messages relating to the IESM pension and the ECHS cells. These two newly created cells have been received well by the environment. With the dedicated experts involved in the running of these cells, one can hope for a high level of satisfaction.

With the seeming/ perceived lack of movement on the part of the government on OROP, an odd email received from veterans betrays a kind of despondency at the lull. We need to remind ourselves that OROP as an issue is over 25 years old. A long struggle was only to be expected – it is not a six-day war. The pace of tempo is bound to vary. However, the constitution of the Cabinet Secretary’s Committee, inclusion of the OROP in the Presidential address and earmarking of over Rs 2100 Crores in the current fiscal for ESM pensions are visible signs of progress and are the result of your struggle. We have to retain optimism and keep the pressure on.

Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM