In Uttarakhand, the Kedarnath Yatra has been temporarily halted due to landslides on the trekking path. Meanwhile, a coordinated effort by SDRF, NDRF, DDRF, Police and District Administration has successfully evacuated over 2000 people stranded along the Yatra route. Approximately 425 people from Bhimbali, Rambada and Lincholi were airlifted, while 1,100 others between Sonprayag and Bhimbali were safely rerouted yesterday. Chief Minister Puskar Singh Dhami conducted an aerial inspection of the affected area. He also held a ground inspection and took an overview of the various arrangements at the rescue camps.   Heavy rains on Wednesday night caused heavy damage to roads, footbridges, power and water lines, and agricultural land in the state. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is closely monitoring the situation arising from heavy rains and the ensuing disaster. The Prime Minister’s Office has been informed of the entire situation. The Air Force has deployed Chinook and MI-17 helicopters for rescue operations, and three ATF tankers have been sent. The Prime Minister’s Office has assured full support following the Chief Minister’s request.

BJP National President, J P Nadda met Prime Minister of Vietnam Pham Minh Chinh in New Delhi yesterday as part of the ‘KNOW BJP’ initiative. Mr Nadda offered condolences on the passing away of General Secretary Of Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong. Both the leaders reflected on the remarkable growth in bilateral ties between India and Vietnam over the past decade.   As the Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Mr Nadda proposed strengthening collaborations in the health sector with Vietnam. He emphasised the mutual benefits of sharing expertise and resources to improve healthcare outcomes in both countries. They also resolved to further enhance party-to-party relations through the exchange of delegations between BJP and Communist Party of Vietnam in the near future.

In 2024 Paris Olympics, Shooter Swapnil Kusale secured India’s third medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics shooting competition after finishing third in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions final at the National Shooting Center in Châteauroux.   The 28-year-old won bronze after finishing third with 195 in standing after 156.8 in the prone and 153.3 in the kneeling rounds. In the qualifying round, Swapnil had finished seventh with a total score of 590, including 38 inner 10s (Xs), from three positions.   He has become the first Indian shooter to win an Olympic medal in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions event. Indian men’s hockey team will take on Belgium in a group-stage match, having already qualified for the quarterfinals at Paris Olympics.   Later in the day, pugilist  Nikhat Zareen has her women’s 50kg Round of 16 bout at 2 PM, and in all-Indian badminton men’s singles round of 16 as Lakshya Sen faces HS Prannoy. Star badminton doubles duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will also be in action in their quarter-final.   P V Sindhu will also start her medal run today. Vikash Singh from India whose Olympic Dream came true after he completed and finished in 30th place in the Men’s 20 km walk race at the 33rd Olympiad in Paris.   Another Indian Boxer Nishant Dev also advanced to the quarter-finals in the men’s 71 kilograms Boxing event. Nishant defeated seventh seed Jose Tenorio of Ecuador via split decision in the round of sixteen.   The star Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain began her Paris Olympics campaign with an a tough  round of 16 win over Hofstad Sunniva in the women’s 75kg category yesterday, Lavlina faught like an old times of weight category, During the bout she took her time, choose when to close in and step back with her smooth foot wark  and never gave an impression that she in new entrant of Olympics 75 category.   The first event of the day, the men’s 20km race walk is underway after a delay due to inclement weather. India’s Vikash Singh currently stands 23rd, while Paramjeet Singh Bisht and Akshdeep Singh are 46th and 49th respectively.     Former world No. 1 Archer Deepika Kumari won two individual women’s archery matches to qualify for the pre-quarterfinals at Les Invalides yesterday.   Earlier, another Indian Archer Bhajan Kaurnotched back-to-back victories in the women’s individual event to advance to the pre-quarterfinals at the Paris Olympics in Paris on Tuesday.   So far, India have won two medals, both Bronze in Shooting. Manu Bhaker won a historic bronze in the women’s 10-meter Air Pistol event and then teamed up with Sarabjot Singh to win Bronze in the mixed-team event.

The Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill 2024 was introduced in the Lok Sabha today by Minister of State for Home, Nityanand Rai. The Bill seeks to amend the Disaster Management Act, 2005.   The bill is aimed to strengthen the efficient working of the National Disaster Management Authority and the State Disaster Management Authorities.   It will empower the authorities to prepare the disaster plan at the national level and state level instead of the National Executive Committee and the State Executive Committee.   The bill seeks to create a disaster database at the national and state level. The Bill has provisions for the constitution of Urban Disaster Management Authority for state capital and large cities having municipal corporations.   It also has provisions for the constitution of the State Disaster Response Force by the state government.   The bill intends to bring more clarity and convergence in the roles of Authorities and Committees working in the field of disaster management.   The Disaster Management Act, 2005 was enacted to provide for the effective management of disasters.   The purpose of the Act was to put in place necessary institutional mechanisms for drawing up and monitoring the implementation of disaster management plans.

Dr. VINAY YADAV, an accomplished Author, has authored Chemistry Textbooks specifically designed for Diploma Engineering courses in Assam. His teaching methodology is unique and innovative, aimed at mentoring NEET/JEE aspirants to help them achieve their academic goals. Dr. Yadav has a commendable track record of providing free educational support, including accommodation, to economically disadvantaged students for many years. His efforts have resulted in several of his students gaining admission to prestigious medical and engineering institutes, becoming successful professionals in various fields such as Medicine, Engineering, Government Services, and Research. In addition to his work with aspiring students, Dr. Yadav has also extended his teaching to remote and rural villages in the North East, where access to quality education is limited. His passion for teaching and spreading scientific knowledge led him to resign from his Central Government job at Indian Railways after nearly a decade of service. He also left a state government job after four years to fully dedicate himself to the field of education. Dr. Yadav's commitment to education goes beyond writing academic books; he actively teaches science and encourages the new generation to explore emerging fields like AI, Robotics, and other cutting-edge technologies in the scientific realm. Dr. VINAY YADAV's contributions to education and science have not gone unnoticed, as evidenced by his recognition with the Rabindra Ratna Puraskar 2024 Award by the Veyil Foundation. This prestigious award highlights his significant impact on the academic and scientific community, as well as his dedication to nurturing young minds and fostering a passion for learning. Dr. Yadav's journey is a testament to his unwavering commitment to education and his desire to make a positive difference in the lives of students, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds. His legacy as an educator and mentor continues to inspire future generations to pursue knowledge and excellence in the field of science.

In Uttarakhand, heavy rains have caused landslides in hilly areas, waterlogging, and rising water levels in major rivers of the state. Rain-related incidents claim six lives in the state.   In Bhilangana block of Tehri district, three people have died due to rain-induced landslides, while two children were killed in a roof collapse incident in Roorkee tehsil, Haridwar district.   On the other hand, as a precautionary measure, 200 pilgrims have been halted at safer locations due to partial damage of a 25-meter stretch of the Kedarnath yatra route at Bhimbhali.   The damage was caused by a landslide triggered by heavy rain last night. In light of the weather alert, registration processes for Chardham yatra at the centers in Haridwar and Rishikesh will be suspended today.   The NDRF, SDRF, police, and other emergency services, including hospitals, are on high alert.   Rudraprayag District Magistrate Saurabh Gaharwar said that there was an incident of cloudburst at Bhim Bali on the Kedarnath walking path, causing a landslide that damaged about 20-25 metres of the path.   Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has spoken to the Disaster Management Secretary regarding the heavy rains in various areas of the state and took stock of relief and rescue operations.

Delhi Government has announced all private and government schools in the national capital will remain closed today in view of heavy rains lashed the city last night and its peripherals, leading to waterlogging in many areas in Delhi. In a social media post, Delhi’s Education Minister Atishi said that the decision was taken after heavy rainfall caused waterlogging and spelling troubles for commuters in the city, and the weather agency has predicted heavy rainfall will continue today over Delhi. Many airlines, including IndiGo, Air India, Vistara, and SpiceJet, have also issued advisories about flights getting diverted and asking passengers to leave for airports early and keep checking the status of their flights.   Delhi LG Vinai Kumar Saxena has also cautioned all officers to remain alert in view of the heavy downpour in the city. In a social media post, Mr. Saxena said that officers have been advised to address issues at sites prone to waterlogging, including coaching centres.  Heavy rainfall lashed various parts of the National Capital Delhi yesterday. The rainfall brought much-needed respite to the people from hot and humid weather. The heavy downpour caused waterlogging in different areas affecting traffic movement. The weather department has forecast light to moderate rain in Delhi during the next five days. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that clouds have converged over the national capital from all four sectors, as it issued an advisory urging Delhi residents to avoid going out if not necessary. It has also been forecast that rainy conditions will continue in the national capital till the 5th August.

In Kerala, the death toll in the massive landslide that took place in Wayanad district has gone up to 48. The figure is likely to go up further, as more bodies are believed to be trapped under several layers of mud and debris in the affected region. 122 persons injured in the mishap have been admitted to various hospitals in Wayanad. Official sources said over 100 persons are reportedly missing. Defence sources in Kochi said a team of 30 specialist swimmers from the Indian Navy are being deployed in the region. Two helicopters from Air Force Station Sulur in Coimbatore will be reaching Wayanad soon. Around 200 Army personnel from DSC Centre Kannur and the Terriorial Army Battallion in Kozhikode have also been dispatched to the site.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal today hit out against Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over his allegation of the Government’s mishandling of the economy. He said that the NDA inherited and transformed a fragile economy into the top five economies in the world. Briefing media in New Delhi, Mr. Goyal alleged that under the UPA regime, the growth rate went from eight percent to 4.4 percent with inflation at spiralling heights. He added that under the UPA regime, the country was beleaguered with high fiscal deficits, high inflations, low growth, very low foreign exchange reserves, and corruption, but now the world is looking up to India to lead economic growth of the world. The Minister also said that the government has strengthened the macroeconomic fundamentals and the country will soon become the third biggest economy in the world based on GDP.

Para swimmer Jiya Rai has become the world’s youngest and fastest female para swimmer to swim solo across the English Channel successfully. The 16-year-old covered the 34 km stretch, from Abbots Cliff in England to Pointe de la Courte-Dune in France, in 17 hours and 25 minutes on Sunday and Monday. She is an international open water para swimmer with a world record in open water swimming. Despite having a disability, she has many inspiring achievements to her credit, including swimming across Palk Bay earlier. Jiya Rai is a recipient of many international and national awards including the prestigious Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMB) – 2022 the highest award for citizens below 18 years of Age. She has dedicated her exceptional conquest of the English Channel to raising awareness about autism. She is the daughter of a naval personnel serving in Mumbai. The Indian Navy and the Mumbai-headquartered Western Naval Command have congratulated her for the feat and extended best wishes.

Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh have expressed condolences to the families of bereaved who lost their lives due to a landslide in Wayanad. In a social media post today, Mr Shah said that NDRF is conducting search and rescue operations on a war footing. He added that the second team is on its way to further strengthen the response operation. Mr Shah also extended prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured. Expressing anguish over the loss of lives in the incident, the Defence Minister extended prayers for the safety and well-being of everyone.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has announced financial assistance of 10 lakh rupees to families of the students who lost their lives in the IAS coaching centre flooding incident in the National Capital Delhi. Three IAS aspirants lost their lives due to water logging in the basement of a coaching centre in Old Rajinder Nagar, Delhi on Saturday.