Uttarakhand:heavy rains hit normal life in Chamoli district

President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday conferred the National Florence Nightingale Award 2020 to Deputy Director General of Military Nursing Service Brig S V Saraswati. She has been conferred the award in a virtual ceremony for her immense contribution to the MNS as nurse administrator. Brig Saraswati as a renowned operation theatre nurse, has assisted in more than 3,000 lifesaving and emergency surgeries and has trained residents, operation room nursing trainees and auxiliary staff in her career.  National Florence Nightingale Award is the highest national distinction a nurse can achieve for selfless devotion and exceptional professionalism.

-Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday virtually flagged-off the dwarf container train service from Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT). With this, the first consignment of laden Dwarf containers from Dwarf container depot (DCD) at the port was moved by train to ICD Kanpur. The port is set to gain steadily from the implementation from the Dwarf container train services from JNPT, as the rail movement of EXIM cargo through double stacked dwarf containers would offer competitive cost advantage to the EXIM community, resulting in an increase in port cargo traffic via rail route. The ‘Dwarf Containers’ are lesser in height by 660 mm than normal ISO containers, giving them a logistical edge. The Low height of dwarf container loaded on trailers can pass through rural, semi urban and urban roads, through limited height subways and level crossing in electrified sections. The ‘Dwarf’ containers provide a 67 percent increase in volume when double-stacked and can carry a weight of 71 tons, against 40 tons by an ISO container. In addition, Indian Railways has offered 17 percent discount on haulage cost compared to double stack ISO container trains, resulting in an overall 33per cent discount to shippers making Indian Railways competitive. Thus the rail movement of cargo through Dwarf containers has the potential to lower the EXIM logistics costs, making Indian exports globally competitive. Speaking at the inaugural event, the Minister said, the commencement of Dwarf container train services from JNPT is a pivotal step towards streamlining the rail movement of EXIM cargo via double-stacked dwarf containers. He said, this will give the EXIM community a competitive cost advantage by lowering hinterland logistical costs, while simultaneously enhancing rail-cargo traffic at JNPT. He added that Dwarf containers are port-friendly and can be manufactured in India at a cost-efficient price point, thereby opening-up opportunities for Make in India.

-In an effort to galvanize States to work towards ensuring safe food for citizens, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya released Food Safety and Standards Authority of India FSSAI’s 3rd State Food Safety Index to measure the performance of States across five parameters of food safety in New Delhi on Monday. The Minister felicitated nine leading States and UTs based on the ranking for the year 2020-21 for their impressive performance. This year, among the larger states, Gujarat was the top ranking state, followed by Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Among the smaller states, Goa stood first followed by Meghalaya and Manipur. Among UTs, Jammu and Kashmir, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and New Delhi secured top ranks. On the occasion, Mandaviya flagged off 19 Mobile Food Testing Vans Food Safety on Wheels to supplement the food safety ecosystem across the country taking the total number of such mobile testing vans to 109.

-Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Virendra Kumar said that the Centre has been extending all cooperation to border states to fight against the drug menace. Talking to newspersons in Guwahati, Kumar said,border states like Rajasthan, Punjab and Sikkim, among others, the problem of drugs is a major issue of concern. He said that the Assam government here  is already fighting against  it and the his ministry would extend  full support. The minister further said that  emphasis is being given on employment generation through skill development especially for Divyangas and  transgenders. Kumar said that 10 crore Divyangas have been benefited through various camps organized by his ministry across the country.

-In Uttarakhand normal life has been disrupted following heavy rains in Narayanbagad of Chamoli district. As per reports, few huts of BRO laborers have been damaged due to mudflow. No casualty was reported in the incident so far today. District administration and NDRF are engaged in relief and rescue operations. District Magistrate Himanshu Khurana said that the Border Roads Organization (BRO) has opened the Karnprayag highway for traffic movement. Financial loss is still being assessed by the district administration. Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for heavy rainfall in Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Nainital, and Bageshwar districts in the coming 24 hours.