Floods ravage Pak, leaves 30 dead, thousands displaced
Lahore, Aug 30: At least 30 people died in the last 24 hours as a “historic flood” caused massive devastation in Pakistan’s Punjab province, prompting the authorities to deploy explosives and breach embankments to protect cities from floods. Torrential rains since Saturday morning in major cities of Punjab province added to the misery of the people, especially the flood-affected ones, and the situation is likely to worsen as there is a forecast for heavy downpours till September 2. Pakistan’s most populous province, Punjab has been reeling under severe floods for almost a week and at least 1,700 villages across the province, including the Sikh sacred site of Kartarpur, are inundated. About 842 people have died in monsoon-related incidents since the start of the monsoon and flooding in the country on June 26, as per the National Disaster Management Authority. (PTI)
Ukranian Prez Zelenskyy dials PM Modi
Tianjin (China), Aug 30: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday conveyed to Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that India supports all efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine. In a phone conversation initiated by Zelenskyy, Modi reaffirmed India’s steadfast and consistent position for peaceful settlement of the conflict. The conversation came two-days ahead of Modi’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in this Chinese city. “Thank President Zelenskyy for his phone call today. We exchanged views on the ongoing conflict, its humanitarian aspect, and efforts to restore peace and stability. India extends full support to all efforts in this direction,” Modi said on ‘X’.” An Indian readout said Modi reaffirmed India’s “steadfast and consistent position” for a peaceful settlement of the Ukraine conflict and support for efforts aimed at the earliest restoration of peace. (PTI)
Mob sets fire to Indonesian regional parl building, 3 die
Jakarta, Aug 30: An angry mob set fire to a local parliament building in an Indonesian provincial capital, leaving at least three people dead and five others hospitalised, officials said. The blaze in Makassar, the capital city of South Sulawesi province, began late Friday. Television reports showed the provincial council building ablaze overnight, causing the area to turn an eerie orange colour. Rescuers retrieved three bodies by Saturday morning, while five people were hospitalised with burns or with broken bones after jumping from the building, said Fadli Tahar, a local disaster official. Protesters in West Java’s Bandung city also set a regional parliament ablaze on Friday, but no casualties were reported. In Surabaya, Indonesia’s second-largest city, protesters stormed the regional police headquarters after destroying fences and torching vehicles. Security forces fired tear gas and used water cannons, but demonstrators fought back with fireworks and wooden clubs. Calm largely returned to Indonesia’s capital on Saturday as authorities cleaned up burned-out cars, police offices and bus shelters that were set ablaze by angry protesters. (AP)