India has a total of 2,760 licensed blood banks
New Delhi: India has a total of 2,760 licensed blood banks, with the state of Tamil Nadu, at 304, possessing the highest number, according to the National Health Profile data released here by the health ministry. Of the total number of blood banks in Tamil Nadu, 181 are private and 96 are being run by the state government. The southern state is followed by Maharashtra with 297 blood banks and Uttar Pradesh (240). India’s north-eastern states have the lowest number of blood banks with Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur having 76, 6, 10 and 5 blood banks respectively, the data shows. Among the total number of licensed blood banks in India, 1,564 are run privately and 981 by the Government, showed the data released on Tuesday. (IANS)
Army officer killed during exercise
Jaipur: An army major was killed in an “accident” during a training exercise in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district, an official said on Wednesday. The incident took place around 7 p.m. on Tuesday when a training exercise was going on in Pokhran in the district, over 400 km from here. “Major Dhruv Yadav died during a training exercise due to an accident near Pokhran yesterday (Tuesday),” defence ministry spokesman Lt. Col. Manish Ojha told IANS over phone from Jodhpur. He said an inquiry has been ordered. (IANS)
Telangana legislature pays homage to Abdul Kalam
Hyderabad:The Telangana legislature on Wednesday paid homage to former president of India A.P.J. Abdul Kalam who died in July. Members from all parties in both the houses of the state legislature recalled the great services rendered by Kalam to the country both as a scientist and as the president. On the first day of the monsoon session, both the houses paid tributes to the former president. A minute’s silence was also observed as a mark of respect. Moving a condolence resolution in the assembly, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao said Kalam’s death was a great loss to the nation and to the defence sector. He noted that despite coming from a poor family, Kalam with his sheer hard work and determination achieved great heights and went on to occupy the highest constitutional post. The chief minister said Kalam left his indelible mark through his contributions in whatever position he served the nation. Recalling the late leader’s close association with Hyderabad, Rao said the state government had already requested the central government to name Defence Research Development Laboratory (DRDL) in the city after Kalam. (IANS)
26 UP districts face fear of drought
Lucknow: With a poor monsoon season, as many as 26 districts of Uttar Pradesh face a fear of drought, officials said on Wednesday. According to the state government, only 12 districts in the state have received normal rainfall this season, while 24 districts have received 60-80 percent rain. As many as 27 districts have received less rainfall, averaging between 40-60 percent. Of the 75 districts in the state, 12 districts have been hit severely by the scanty rains and have only received less than 40 percent rainfall this monsoon season. The poor rains come as a double whammy for the state’s farmers who faced large-scale destruction of crops due to unseasonal rains in February and April this year. Principal Secretary (Revenue) Suresh Chandra has sought details from the district officials on the “ground situation”. The districts which have had less than 50 percent rainfall are Lucknow, Fatehpur, Kaushambi, Kanpur rural, Amethi, Rae Bareli, Ambedkarnagar, Etah, Hathras, Farukkhabad, Rampur, Lalitpur, Mau, Sant Kabirnagar, Unnao, Hamirpur, Deoria, Chitrakoot, Maharajganj, Mainpuri, Auraiyya, Pilibhit, Kanpur city, Mahoba, Agra and Kushinagar. (IANS)
Bull fights can fetch good revenue for many farmers: Parsekar
Panaji: Showing complete support for bull fights in the state, Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said that the sport can be promoted as a major tourist attraction if brought under the ambit of law and thus can help several farmers to eke out a living. “If bull fights (dhirio) are brought within proper purview of law, it can be a tourist attraction. It can fetch good revenue for the farmers,” Parsekar told reporters today. The Chief minister has been accused of favouring bull fights which took place in his constituency last Sunday. Parsekar denied that he had patronised bull fights but conceded that it is a tradition in his constituency to hold such fights during Ganesh Chaturthi festival. “Bull fights have always been traditional sports. Due to certain legalities, it ran into trouble. But the traditions cannot die away. We had discussed this issue on the floor of the House and a committee has been formed. I am waiting for the report from the committee,” Parsekar said. Parsekar said the aim is to ensure that we hold bull fights without committing cruelty on the animals. He said that several bull owners have been taking care of the animals without committing any cruelty to them. (PTI)
Couple jumps off train after wife molested
Alipurduar (WB): A couple along with their baby suffered serious injuries when they jumped off a train near Dima station after the wife was allegedly molested and an attempt made to rape her by a group of men, railway police said today. Ashabul (32) and his wife (25) carrying their 10-month-old daughter jumped off the Mahananda Express in a jungle after the wife was molested and an attempt was made to rape her by a group of about 10 to 12 drunkards in a general compartment of the train last night, they said. They were spotted by Rjabhatkhawa forest officials and after being informed railway police admitted them to the Alipurduar Railway hospital. Railway police is investigating the incident. (PTI)
Flood alert sounded in Kashmir Valley
Srinagar: A flood alert was on Wednesday sounded in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag, Pulwama and Srinagar districts as Jhelum River crossed the danger mark. The river crossed the danger mark at Anantnag’s Sangam. “Due to incessant rains since Tuesday, water level at Sangam in Anantnag crossed 21 feet today (Wednesday) morning,” an official told IANS here. “A general alert has been sounded in Anantnag, Pulwama and Srinagar districts. All field staff connected with flood duties have been directed to remain at their places of posting and not leave the station till further orders,” he added. “People living near the river banks are advised to take precautions till the weather improves,” the official said. After the devastating floods of September 2014, people living in low lying a reas of the Kashmir Valley, especially Srinagar, have been living in the horror of another flood. (PTI)
