NEWS

New Delhi: Central team reached Thiruvanthapuram this morning to assess damages caused by Cyclone Ockhi, which struck the coastal districts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu on November 30th. In the disaster 74 persons lost their life and still around 150 fishermen are reported to be missng in Kerala.

The Central team, consisting of disaster management experts, led by Additional Secreatary of Ministry of Home Affairs , Vipin Mallik, is presently visiting the worst hit Vizhinjam nd Ponnthura regions of Thiruvananthapuram .The team did preliminary discussion with the District administrations and other officials.

They will be also be visiting Kollam , Alapuzha, Ernakulam , Thrissur and Malappuram districts of Kerala and Kanyakumari in Tamilnadu.The team will be present for 4 days in the state and is scheduled to have detailed discussion with the state administration and forces.

The visit is after the Centre’s affirmation of considering the relief package demanded by the state , during the visit of Prime Minister a week ago.

New Delhi: The main opposition DMK has constituted a three-member committee to identify the reasons for its failure in the high-stake RK Nagar byelection.

Rival AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran, who contested as an independent, won the by poll securing 89,013 votes against ruling AIADMK nominee and nearest rival E Madhusudhanan's 48,306 votes.

DMK's N Maruthu Ganesh came third securing 24,651 votes, in the process, losing deposit.

New Delhi: Himachal Pradesh chief minister-designate Jai Ram Thakur has made it clear that "tired and retired" officials re-employed by the previous Congress regime will be asked to leave immediately after his government is formed.
Former CM Virbhadra Singh had re-appointed many retired officials and the BJPat that time had questioned his government's decision, alleging that "tired and retired" people were running the Himachal administration.

Thakur, who will be the first leader from Mandi to head the administration in Himachal, said he is finalising the names for his cabinet. "New cabinet will have experienced leaders and some new faces," he said.

New Delhi: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has asserted that music should be used for national integration and for spreading humanity.

Naidu, while speaking at an awards function organised by MLA and Mumbai BJP unit chief AshishShelar in Mumbai said, "We believe in Manavseva, madhavseva, which means we believe service to people is service to God. This is the message our forefathers have given us." 

At the event, the Shelar'sorganisation, Spandan Arts, presented the Mohammed Rafi award to late musician Shrikant Thackeray, father of MNS chief Raj Thackeray.