21 dead after landslide in China’s Gansu

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Tanchang, July 8 (IANS) Rescue operations have been completed at the site of a landslide in Tanchang County, northwest China’s Gansu Province, which left 21 people dead and seven injured, local authorities said on Wednesday.

The injured, who are being treated in local hospitals, are in stable condition, the Longnan municipal government said at a press conference.

The landslide struck Renzang Village of Nanhe Township in Longnan City at around 6:56 a.m. on Tuesday, trapping 33 people. Five people were rescued unscathed.

Multiple rescue teams, including emergency, fire and police personnel, were swiftly deployed to the scene in the wake of the disaster.

The Ministry of Natural Resources had activated a Level III geological disaster defense response, and sent a special working group to guide on-site rescue and relief efforts, Xinhua news agency reported.

A total of 345 rescuers and 10 search dogs had been deployed for the ongoing search efforts. Xinhua reporters observed excavators clearing earth, ambulances parked nearby, and multiple rescue teams carrying out search, rescue and resettlement work.

According to the Gansu provincial health commission, four emergency medical teams, including intensive care, trauma treatment and pediatric care units, along with 13 medical workers, had been dispatched to the county.

Three specialists in intensive care, orthopedics and general surgery from Gansu Provincial People’s Hospital had also been sent to guide on-site treatment. Local authorities had opened green channels for medical treatment and set up a remote consultation platform to facilitate the rescue work.

China is highly prone to landslides primarily because roughly 69 per cent of its territory is mountainous or plateau terrain with highly active tectonic plates, fragile soil types, and intense monsoon rainfall.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Sep 30 (IANS) Police have deepened the investigation into the death of Uttarakhand journalist Rajiv Pratap after his family alleged foul play in his disappearance and subsequent recovery.

Pratap, who had been missing since the night of September 18, was found dead under unclear circumstances in Uttarkashi district. His body was retrieved on September 28 from the Joshiyaara Barrage, also known as Joshiada Lake, by search teams.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Janak Singh Panwar confirmed the recovery, while Superintendent of Police Sarita Doval stated that the post-mortem indicated internal injuries typically associated with accidents. However, she acknowledged that the family had presented new facts, prompting a more intensive probe into the case.

Pratap’s disappearance had raised concerns from the outset.

On September 19, a day after he went missing, his car was found abandoned on the banks of the Bhagirathi River, deepening the mystery.

His family consistently suspected foul play and urged authorities to investigate thoroughly. Their concerns were echoed by the Indian Institute of Mass Communication Alumni Association (IIMCAA), which confirmed his death in a social media post and called for transparency in the probe.

“We expect police to come clean with transparency in this case,” the association stated, expressing grief and solidarity with the bereaved family.

Alok Pratap Singh, brother of independent journalist Rajiv Pratap, has raised doubts over the circumstances of his death, claiming that the injuries sustained by Pratap do not match a car accident and alleged that he had been receiving death threats in recent months. He said his brother, who had been missing since the night of September 18, had faced pressure to delete stories exposing poor conditions at the district hospital.

Rajiv Pratap was an alumnus of IIMC and had been actively running a digital news platform called Delhi Uttarakhand Live. Known for his sharp reporting and commitment to public interest journalism, his sudden death has left the media fraternity in shock.

Journalists across the region mourned his loss, remembering him as a dedicated professional who upheld the values of truth and accountability.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed deep sorrow over Pratap’s death and ordered a thorough and impartial investigation. His directive aims to address the concerns raised by the family and ensure that all aspects of the case are examined without bias.

The IIMC Alumni Association also paid tribute to Pratap, noting his contributions to journalism and the void his passing leaves in the media landscape.

“May God grant peace to Rajiv and strength to family members and friends to bear this loss,” the association wrote. As the investigation continues, questions remain about the events leading to Pratap’s death.

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BJP slams Kharge for terming Operation Sindoor as ‘small war’

Indore, May 20 (IANS) The BJP on Tuesday criticised Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge for referring to Operation Sindoor as a ‘small war’, accusing him of politicising a matter of national concern.

Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya led the attack, asserting that national security should not be used as a political tool.

Vijayvargiya said, “Kharge is a senior leader, and I don’t want to criticise him personally. But one must remember—when it comes to the nation, politics should take a back seat. Unfortunately, some are politicising issues where unity should prevail.”

He cited an example to support his stance, recalling how former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had supported India’s position at the United Nations during a crisis in Jammu and Kashmir, despite being in the Opposition.

“I remember Sharad Pawar saying on Monday that when PV Narasimha Rao was PM and India faced international pressure over human rights in Kashmir, he sought Vajpayee’s support. Vajpayee rose above politics and represented the country with dignity at the UN. Pawar himself was part of that cabinet and acknowledged it. That’s the kind of approach we need—nation first, not party first,” he added.

Vijayvargiya urged political leaders to act responsibly in matters concerning national security.

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Kharge, while addressing the Samarpane Sankalpa rally in Karnataka earlier in the day, slammed the Centre over the April 22 terror attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam, where 26 Indian tourists lost their lives.

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Although the highest number of 152 foreign criminals was arrested in 2022, the police have nearly reached that figure within the first five months of this year.

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These arrests include foreign nationals accused of committing various criminal offences in Delhi.

Police officials reported that a Chinese national was arrested at Indira Gandhi International Airport in May for allegedly stealing debit and credit cards from passengers on an international flight.

In 2021, only 78 foreign nationals were arrested by the Delhi Police — the lowest number in the last five years. Following this, police increased their surveillance of foreign nationals and accelerated arrest operations.

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