Floods kill 17 in Pak’s Punjab
LAHORE, Aug 28: At least 17 people have died in the past 24 hours as floods submerged hundreds of villages across Pakistan’s Punjab province. Catastrophic flooding in the Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab rivers has triggered mass evacuations, damaged infrastructure, and inundated millions of acres of agricultural land in the province of over 130 million people. Officials said the unusually high water levels in the three rivers were caused by heavy rains combined with excess water released from India’s dams. The Punjab Emergency Services Rescue 1122 reported that seven people died in Sialkot, four in Gujrat, three in Narowal, two in Hafizabad, and one in Gujranwala. India has opened all the gates of its Thein Dam on the Ravi River, prompting the Punjab administration to call in the Pakistan Army in eight districts to assist civil authorities in rescue and relief operations. The provincial government estimates that around one million people have been affected so far. Floodwater submerged the entire complex of the Kartarpur Corridor, including the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, and officials fear damage to the structure, the Sikh holy book, and relics. (PTI)
B’desh reports 432 new dengue cases, total tops 30,000
DHAKA, Aug 28: Bangladesh has reported 432 dengue cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the total confirmed cases in 2025 to 30,376, according to local media. No new fatalities were reported during this period, with the number of deaths remaining at 118. Dengue is a viral infection spread from mosquitoes and is more common in tropical and subtropical climates. The most common symptoms are high fever, headache, body aches, nausea, and rash. Most patients recover within one or two weeks, but some develop severe cases that require hospital care. The changing nature of dengue has made it more challenging to treat patients, with more patients becoming critically ill. Portable ultrasound and bedside haematocrit machines are crucial for quick diagnosis and effective treatment decisions. He advised people to remain vigilant and seek medical attention without delay in case of fever. (IANS)
US church shooter sent hate message targeting India
NEW YORK, Aug 28: A transgender shooter, Robin Westman, attacked a Catholic church in Minneapolis, killing two children and three elderly worshippers, and injuring 17 others during a school mass. Westman, a former student of the church school, had scrawled hate messages on her weapons, including “Nuke India” and “Kill Donald Trump,” targeting various groups including Indians, Catholics, Jews, and African Americans. She died by suicide after the attack. The FBI is investigating the incident as a hate crime and act of domestic terrorism. The attack, the second by a transgender individual on a Christian institution in two years, sparked national outrage. Pope Leo and Donald Trump offered condolences, while violence continues to rise in Minneapolis, with multiple shootings reported that week. (IANS)