Expatriates from Bhatkal, DK, Kasaragod stranded in war-torn Yemen

[email protected] (CD Network)
March 31, 2015

Mangaluru, Mar 31: As bombings by the Saudi-led 10-country coalition on rebel Houthis in Yemen continued for the sixth day, distressed Indians in Aden sent out SOS cries for help from the Indian government.

They said the Indian Embassy was concentrating on rescuing Indians from the Yemeni capital Sana’a but had ignored the plight of the 550 Indians in Aden.

Six from Bhatkal stranded in Aden

Among those who stranded in Aden include six persons from Bhatkal including three children and one person from Kasaragod.

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Mohammed Yunus Shabandri, who has been staying in Yemen's Aden with his family for several years, has urged Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah to exert pressure on the union government to ensure safety and security of helpless expatriates from Karnataka stranded in Yemen.

Shabandri’s family, comprising his wife and three children and one his friend from Bhatkal, Shaikh Ruknuddin are staying together in Aden. 34-year-old Jinto Joseph from Odayanchal in Kasaragod district also among dozens of Keralites stranded in Aden.

Many of the Indian expatriates stranded in Aden said the Indian Embassy had not looked beyond Sana’a, where its offices are located. They were asked by Embassy officials how they would reach Sana’a to be considered for rescue, sources said.

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Smoke billows after an airstrike in Sana’a. This photo was sent by Bengalurian Ravi Kumar, who is stranded in war-torn Yemen.

For Indians, getting from Aden to Sana’a now is almost impossible. In normal times, Aden to Sanaa, which is 450 km away, is 12 hours by road and an hour by air. No flights are operating from the Aden airport while Sana’a airport operates for three hours each day.

Apart from businessmen and professionals, Aden has at least 45 Indian nurses, all from Kerala. While 20 nurses in the government hospital are on duty (according to government instructions), 25 nurses working in a private hospital are also stranded in Aden. The nurses’ only hope of escape, a risky one, is to take a ship from Aden port, 20 minutes away from their hospital.

DK youth stranded in Sana’a

On the other hand family members of Rajesh, a youth from Kadaba village in Puttur taluk of Dakshina Kannada district, who is stranded in Sana’a for almost a week, has blamed the Indian government for its “tardy response to the crisis.”

Family members of Rajesh said that he and his colleagues were awaiting a rescue operation. “Why can’t they rescue the Indians in helicopters and bring them to safety?” asked the frightened family members.

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News Network
March 26,2024

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Mangaluru: Officials from Cyber Economic and Narcotics Crime Police Station in Mangaluru have arrested a man for allegedly engaging in an online fraud by deceiving a person on the pretext of offering a part-time job. The arrested is Saddam Gauri alias Bavuri, 30, from Rajasthan.

City police commissioner Anupam Agrawal said the CEN police received a complaint regarding an online scam related to a part-time job offer.

Police registered a case under sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the IT Act, along with IPC Section 420. The complainant had received a link via WhatsApp from an unknown number, purportedly offering a part-time job opportunity.

Upon clicking the link, the complainant was instructed to complete certain tasks to earn money. However, during the process, the complainant incurred a loss of Rs 1.1 lakh.

Following an investigation into the matter, the CEN police successfully arrested the suspect and presented him before the court. In the course of arrest, police seized two mobile phones, eight debit cards, four bank cheque books, Aadhaar card, PAN card, and other relevant documents from the accused.

The arrest was made possible through the efforts of CEN station inspector Shyam Sundar and his team, under the guidance of City Crime Records Bureau (CCRB) ACP Ravish Nayak and DCP Siddharth Goyal.

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News Network
March 15,2024

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Bengaluru, Mar 15: Work from home to using toilets in malls, residents of India's 'Silicon Valley' Bengaluru are exploring all options to combat the unprecedented water crisis. People across various neighbourhoods have been forced to order food from restaurants and take bath on alternate days due to the water scarcity.

Even those in high-rise apartments equipped with water harvesting systems now find themselves reliant on water tankers for basic needs, leading to stringent usage restrictions.

Eateries are mulling over use of disposable cups, glasses and plates to avoid excess use of water.

Educational institutions are also feeling the pinch. Recently, a coaching centre in the city asked its students to attend classes online due to an 'emergency' for a week. Similarly, a school on Bannerghatta Road was also closed, asking students to attend classes online just like they did during the Covid pandemic.

Residents have come with up new methods to try and conserve water. With temperature rising, it is difficult to avoid a daily shower but they are left with no option but to take bath on alternative days, said Sujatha, a resident of KR Puram.

"What to do? Clean vessels, cook food, wash clothes....so, we have started using paper plates, that way we have cut down on our water usage. And we order food twice a week. We are using the washing machine only once in a week now," she said.

Some others have resorted to visiting a mall to take a shower or use the toilet facilities.

Lakshmi V, an IT professional living in Singasandra, has been requesting her firm to allow WFH option so that she and her family can temporarily shift to her native place in Tiruchirapalli in Tamil Nadu until the situation becomes better.

"If the situation persists, we are thinking of seeking a work from home option. We are planning to move to our native place in Tamil Nadu temporarily till rain arrives here," she said.

Bengaluru primarily gets its water supply from two sources - Cauvery river and groundwater. For most non-drinking uses, recycled water processed by sewage treatment plants is used. With no rain for a while now, the primary sources have been stretched to their limits. Bengaluru needs 2,600-2,800 million litres of water daily, and the current supply is half of what's required. The result is a daily struggle for the city's residents.

The brunt is also being borne by people living in the outskirts of Bengaluru, especially in 110 villages that were merged with the city in 2007.

The crisis has also turned into a political battle between the state's ruling Congress government and the opposition BJP with Lok Sabha just weeks away. While the BJP has held several protests blaming the government, the Congress has accused the BJP-ruled federal government of not providing financial assistance to drought-hit Karnataka.

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News Network
March 14,2024

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Mangaluru, Mar 14: “Hindutva is my commitment and development is my priority,” said Indian army veteran and entrepreneur Captain Brijesh Chowta after the BJP high command announced a ticket to him from Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha constituency.

Known as a BJP stronghold, Nalin Kumar Kateel has served as the MP of this constituency for the past 15 years.

Soon after the announcement was made, 42-year-old Chowta, who is also the BJP state secretary from Dakshina Kannada constituency, sought the blessings of his parents and went to Shree Sharavu Mahaganapathi Temple and visited the war memorial to offer tributes.

A BSc graduate from St Aloysius College, he completed his executive business Management program from the Indian Institute of Management, Indore.

He was commissioned into the 7th battalion of the 8 Gorkha Rifles and served in counter-insurgency operations in Assam and Manipur and was part of Elite Ghatak team. He also served as the adjutant to the battalion. He has been associated with the BJP since 2013. He is the president of Mangaluru Kambala and organiser of Mangaluru Lit Fest.

“Humbled and grateful to our party seniors led by our commander-in-chief PM Narendra Modi for giving me this opportunity to be our party’s candidate and representative of his work and vision in Dakshina Kannada. I pledge to continue to work with even greater rigour for the welfare of our region and people driven by the mantra of ‘Nation First’. I humbly bow down to all our karyakartas & everyone who stood by me & toiled with me to make this happen. Our task has just begun, as we work towards making Dakshina Kannada the number one in the state,” Captain Chowta said on X.

Kateel welcomes change 

Meanwhile, sitting Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel has welcomed the party’s decision to field Capt Brijesh Chowta as the BJP candidate for Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha constituency.

He said the change aligns with the party’s strategy of fostering new talent to broaden its base and activities. He hoped that he will win by a margin of more than 3 lakh votes.

Soon after the list was announced on Wednesday, the three-time MP told reporters that he has brought projects worth about Rs 1 lakh crore during the last 10 years, under the Modi government.

He thanked the party for giving him a big responsibility of leading the party in the state. “I have worked honestly,” he said.

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