WEDNESDAY 31 JULY 2024 www.thestatesman.com Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR SC EX-JUDGE LOKUR TO HEAD PROBE PANEL AGAINST KCR BIDEN CALLS FOR U.S. TOP COURT REFORM TO 'RESTORE FAITH' P9 SENSEX 81,455.4099.55 WEATHER Generally cloudy sky. Light to moderate rain / thundershower very likely to occur. Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 32 °C and 27 °C respectively. RAINFALL: 44.3 mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 95 % P4 NIFTY 24,857.3021.20 P5 GOLD 68,950210 ` vs $ 83.72 Wayanad devastated by landslides,123 dead Rescuers racing against time amid rought weather; dozens of people missing Min. 76 % Max: 31.9 °C (-0.6) SUN RISES 05:7 hrs MOON RISES 00:5 hrs INDIA BLOC DEMANDS RELEASE OF KEJRIWAL, STAGES PROTEST Min: 26.6°C (+ 0.0) SUN SETS 18:19 hrs MOON SETS 14:2 hrs TEMPERATURE New Moon on 04 August THUMBNAILS ACHUTHANANDAN KUNIYIL India's Manika Batra and France’s Prithika Pavade in action during their Women's single Round of 32 Table Tennis match in the ongoing Olympic Games 2024, in Paris on Tuesday.  ANI SC grants bail to TMC leader Anubrata Mondal STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 30 JULY The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted bail to Trinamul Congress (TMC) leader Anubrata Mondal, accused in an alleged cattle smuggling case. He was arrested in August 2022 by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the case. Mondal will however remain in jail for the time being as he was also arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) which is also investigating the matter along with CBI. Granting bail to Anubrata Mondal, a Bench of Justice Bela M. Trivedi and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma saddled the TMC leader with the conditions that he surrender his passport and cooperate with the ongoing trial and that he will not influence witnesses. (Page 3) THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, 30 JULY assive landslides wreaked havoc in Wayanad district of Kerala, leaving at least 123 people, including children, dead, and many people missing. More than 100 people were undergoing treatment at various hospitals. Heart-wrenching scenes of persons looking for their loved ones among the injured and the dead were seen at hospitals in Meppadi and Kalpetta and other places in the district. Government sources said 123 people have been killed so far in the tragedy. As many as 128 people were under treatment in various hospitals. Of the bodies recovered, some bodies were found in the Chaliyar River, which flows into the neighbouring Malappuram district. M I am deeply anguished by the Three landslides hit Meppadi, Mundakkai massive landslides near Mepand Chooral Mala within a span of 4 hours, padi in Wayanad. My heartfelt condoleaving these areas devastated. Rescue work was launched by multilences go out to the bereaved ple state and Central agencies, but was families who have lost their hampered by bad weather and the loved ones. I hope those still sweeping away of a bridge that cut off trapped are brought to safeMundakkai from the rest of the district RAHUL GANDHI ty soon The river carried 26 bodies, or rather parts of human bodies mutilated in the landslide, for around 25 km to Pothukallu near Nilambur in Malappuram district. Wayanad was devastated by three landslides that occurred at Meppadi, Mundakkai and Chooral Mala within a span of 4 hours. The first landslide occurred in Mundakkai town at around 1 a.m. on Tuesday during heavy rain, washing away houses and families. While rescue operations were going on, a second landslide struck near Chooralmala School at around 2 a.m. A third landslide occurred at around 4 a.m. Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha villages were the areas hit by the landslides. Mundakkai town was completely swept away. Swollen water bodies changed their course and flowed through inhabited areas, resulting in more destruction. Huge boulders rolled down the hills and hindered the path of rescue workers. Rescue operations have been launched with the assistance of various agencies, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). Besides NDRF, the state government has also deployed disaster response teams from the police and the fire force to carry out rescue and search operations. The Indian Army is carrying out rescue operations alongside the NDRF and other agencies. Rescue operations were facing obstacles as Mundakkai, where one of the major landslides occurred, has been cut off from the rest of the district after the only bridge to the area was swept away. According to reports, around 400 families are stranded in the region following the collapse of the bridge in Chooralmala town. This bridge was the only access to Attamala in Mundakkai and its collapse has severely hampered rescue operations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who expressed distress over the lives lost in the disaster, announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF for the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000. (Turn to Page 4) Two killed after Howrah-Mumbai Mail derails in Jharkhand NISHAT NIZAMI CM blames Centre for repeated disasters KOLKATA, 30 JULY Two persons were killed and eight were injured after 18 coaches of the 12810 HowrahCSMT Mumbai Mail was derailed near Barabamboo station in Chakradharpur Division in the wee hours today. The incident took place at around 3.43 a.m at Potobera village in Saraikela Kharsawan after the train hit the wagons of a goods train that had also derailed a few minutes before. The side collision occurred as some of the derailed wagons of the goods train in the Down line were lying on the tracks of the Up line. The accident occurred in the stretch between two stations. The incident claimed the lives of P Bikash and Ajit Kumar . Samal, both hailing from Rourkela in Odisha. Both passengers were said to have been trapped inside the coaches in the mishap. Eight passengers were injured in STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Chief minister Mamata Banerjee today yet again expressed her resentment on the recurring incidents of train mishaps and loss of lives and blasted the Centre for its apathetic attitude, which she said, was solely respon- sible for the recurring disasters. The chief minister later took to X and said: “Another disastrous rail accident Howrah-Mumbail mail derails in Chakradharpur division in Jharkhand today early morning, multiple deaths and huge number of injuries are the tragic consequences. (Page 2) its destination covering a long distance of around 1959 kilometres and passing through five states, namely West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra in a journey of about 32 hours and 22 minutes. Today, the train had just reached about 300 kilometres from Howrah when the passengers felt a jerk in the coaches. Recounting the horror to the media, the train manager of 12810 Howrah-CSMT Mum- bai Mail, Mohammad Rehan, said: “Suddenly the train shook and I was thrown from my feet. I learnt from the train driver that the train had derailed. I got down and saw that passengers were also deboarding. It was very dark and nothing could be seen.” He also said that at the time of the accident, the train was moving at a speed of 120 kmph. As learnt from sources, the railways has initiated a CRS inquiry on the matter. (More reports on Pg 2) KOLKATA, 30 JULY the accident and shifted to Chakradharpur Railway Hospital and CHC Khutpani. However, the nature of their injuries was minor and none of them were critical, according to the South Eastern Railway authorities. As learnt from the zonal railway, all the eight injured in today’s incident were from West Bengal. Most of the injured were in the third and second AC coaches. In terms of damage, it was the engine and air-conditioned coaches of the train that were mangled the most in the side collision. The loco pilot of the train escaped the mishap unhurt, according to Railway sources. The Railway minister, AshwiniVaishnaw has announced the payment of rupees 10 lakh enhanced ex-gratia to the victims to the next of kin of each deceased as a special case on humanitarian grounds. Those with grievous injuries will get a sum of rupees five lakhs and rupees one lakh will be paid to each of the persons who sustained simple injuries. Notably, the 12810 HowrahCSMT Mumbai Mail reaches After CM’s intervention, Tolly impasse expected to be resolved soon STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, 30 JULY The impasse in the Tollywood film industry that has brought shooting of movies and television serials to a halt is expected to be settled soon after a meeting at Nabanna, the state administrative headquarters between film directors and chief minister Mamata Banerjee today. After the meeting, actor and MP Dev alias Deepak Adhikari tweeted that the impasse has been resolved and film shooting will resume from Wednesday. “Thanku didi @MamataOfficial Hopefully everything will be resolved by evening N will resume shooting from tomorrow Thanks to all the Technicians, producers, directors n all the stakeholders,” he tweeted.(Photo) Film directors had gone on a strike after a walkout by film technicians on from the set of director Rahool Mukherjee on Saturday. Subsequently, all shooting for serials and movies in Tollywood has stopped. Even on Tuesday, the stale- mate in Tollywood didn't end. Finally, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee intervened and summoned a meeting at Nabanna to resolve the stalemate. Actor Prosenjit Chatterjee, Dev, and director Goutam Ghose were present at the meeting. According to sources at Nabanna, Miss Banerjee called up actor and Trinamul MP Dev to resolve the situation in Tollywood. After that, Dev went to Prosenjit Chatterjee's house and brought him to meet the Chief Minister. It is believed that Mamata Banerjee has sent a message to resume shooting. Minister Aroop Biswas and his brother, Federation of Cine Technicians and Workers of Eastern India (FCTWEI)’s president Swarup Biswas, were also present at the meeting. On Tuesday, every shooting floor remained empty. No unit has given a call time today either. The gates of almost every studio, including Technicians, NT 1, Bharatlakshmi, and Dasani 1, were closed. Shooting for mega serials usually starts in the morning at the Technicians studio. Due to the directors going on strike, no unit of Bengali films, serials, or series has scheduled any shooting today. CMYK MEN’S BOXING: PANGAL ELIMINATED IN FIRST ROUND P12 SILVER 84,500500 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 77.510.41 Toast of the nation: Manu first Indian to win two medals at same Olympics post-Independence S S RAMASWAMY Whenever I leave India for any competition, the only thing in my head is to give my best and to do everything possible to maintain my performance. The Olympics is a special stage, with so many people watching it.... PARIS, 30 JULY Shooting ace Manu Bhaker today became the toast of the country for the second time in three days by making Olympic history as the first Indian to win two medals in the same edition of the Games post-Independence. The 22-year-old Haryana-born sharpshooter clinched the 10m air pistol mixed team event’s bronze medal with fellow Haryanvi Sarabjot Singh, who is also 22 years old. The Indian pair outfoxed their South Korean rival pair of Oh Ye Jin and the left-handed Lee Wonho 16-10 in the bronze medal match. Jhajjar-born Manu has already pocketed the individual bronze in the same shooting event at the Chateauroux Shooting Centre outside Paris two days ago, which was also the first Olympic shooting medal won by an Indian woman. “The feeling is surreal. I had not hoped to win MANU BHAKER Shooters Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh pose for a photograph with the national flag on winning the Bronze medal in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event at the Olympic Games 2024, in Paris on Tuesday.  ANI two medals in a single Olympics. Now I am looking forward to the next (third) one,” said Manu after completing her feat. She was referring to her chance of picking up a third medal in Paris, in the 25m air pistol event in which she is competing on 2 August (qualification). The finals of that event are scheduled for the next day. The sharpshooter has now entered the country’s Olympic history books as only the third athlete after Independence to clinch two medals and the only one to do so at the same Olympics. Wrestler Sushil Kumar had won a bronze medal in 2008 Beijing and converted it to silver four years later in London. Later shuttler P V Sindhu won silver in Rio in 2016, followed by a bronze in Tokyo in the last Games. She is bidding for her third medal here. (More reports on Pg 12) LS okays `48.21 lakh cr Union Budget 2024-25 AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 30 JULY The Lok Sabha on Tuesday approved the Rs 48.21 lakh crore Union Budget for 2024-25 aimed at giving a major push to job creation with a focus on the country’s youth, empowering women and improving the incomes of farmers. The Union Budget and the Budget for J&K, which was also tabled on Tuesday, were passed by a voice vote by the Lok Sabha. The relevant appropriation bills were also passed by the lower house. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has fixed the fiscal deficit at 4.9 per cent of GDP despite higher allocations for social welfare schemes due to robust tax collections in a fast-growing economy. Replying to the debate on the budget, she said the fiscal deficit would be brought down further to below 4.5 per cent by 202526 as the government would stick to the fiscal consolidation path.