Death toll from landslide in Kinnaur district rises to 17

Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur on Friday launched the nationwide programme of Fit India Freedom Run 2.0 from Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi. The programme was organized throughout the country, as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations. Along with Delhi, Fit India Freedom Run 2.0, the programme was also organised in 75 other iconic locations across the country.The iconic locations include Chandrashekhar Azad Park, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, the Cellular Jail, Port Blair in Anadaman and Nicobar Islands, Kaza post in Himachal Pradesh, Gateway of India in Mumbai, Chitralekha Udyan in Tezpur, Assam, Attari Border, Leh and Chennai . Fit India Run events was organized by CRPF, CISF, ITBP, NSG, SSB, BSF, Railways and Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan in the iconic places. Mr Thakur virtually interacted with participants from across the country.

-Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday launched a series of major events to mark 75th anniversary of India’s Independence being celebrated as Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. These events to be organized by the Armed Forces and other organisations of Defence Ministry. The events include hoisting of national flag at 75 places, army expedition to 75 mountain passes, Jan Sampark Abhiyan among others. A book ‘Deeds of Gallantry’, commemorating India’s victory in the 1971 war, was unveiled by the Defence Minister. The book highlight 20 selected battles and valour of Indian soldiers. He paid homage to all the brave hearts who sacrificed their lives for the country. Remembering Kargil war hero, Captain Vikram Batra, Mr. Singh said bravery and deep-rooted passion of the gallant heroes will always be an inspiration for generations to come. He assured the nation that the Armed Forces are fully equipped to deal with any challenge that endangers the safety, security, unity and integrity of the nation.

-The Assam Assembly on Friday passed the Cattle Preservation Bill, 2021 aimed at regulating slaughter, consumption and transportation of cattle in the state. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, after introducing the bill in the house,  pointed out that the legislation seeks to ensure that permission wasn’t granted to areas that are predominantly inhabited by Hindu, Jain, Sikh and other non-beef eating communities or places that fall within five- kilometre radius of a temple, satra or any other institution as maybe prescribed by the authorities. He said that exemptions might be granted for certain religious occasions. The opposition parties demanded the bill to be sent to the Select Committee. But when their demand was rejected, opposition Congress, AIUDF and CMI P legislators walked out. After that , the bill was passed on voice vote.

-The death toll from a landslide at Negulsari in Kinnaur district has risen to 17, with 13 people still missing and feared dead. The district administration has also released the details of the missing person. Search and Rescue operation resumed early today in full swing to trace the missing people who are buried under the debris. Four more bodies have been recovered from the incident site today. Falling of shooting stones and sliding of rubble is hampering the search operation. So far, 13 people have been rescued in this incident. Meanwhile, Search operation has been suspended for today due to falling of shooting stones.

-Maharashtra Government has announced the Centralised Online Admission Process for class eleven students. In a tweet, state education minister Varsha Gaikwad said that online admission process will begin from Saturday for Mumbai Metropolitan Region and areas within municipal corporation limits in Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad, Nagpur, Amravati and Nashik. For all other regions, the offline admission process will be initiated at the college level.This comes days after the Bombay High Court struck down Maharashtra Government’s notification to conduct an offline Common Entrance Test for junior college admissions and asked the government to begin the admission process at the earliest. Accordingly, the government said that admissions will be given on the basis of class ten marks. Tll 22nd August, students can login on the web portal https://11thadmission.org.in to register their details and fill up the Part 1 of the admission form. The Part 2 or the college option form can be filled and submitted from 17th to 22nd August. While the provisional general merit list will be displayed on 23rd August, the first list of college allotments will be displayed on 27th August. Admitted students will have to confirm their seat by 30th August. In view of COVID-19, the state education department has instructed colleges to collect admission fees only through digital payment modes. Display of vacancy list for second round will be done on 30th August itself, following which further schedule will be declared.