National
16 killed as boat capsizes in Krishna river in Andhra (Second Lead)
Vijayawada, Nov 12 (IANS) At least 16 tourists, including nine women and two children, were killed and eight others went missing as a boat capsized in the Krishna river near here, in Andhra Pradesh’s Krishna district on Sunday, officials said.
The boat overturned at Ibrahimpatnam Ferry Ghat around 5.20 p.m. There were 41 tourists on board belonging to a private operator and returning from Bhavani Island to Pavitra Sangam, or holy confluence of Krishna and Godavari rivers.
Locals and rescue workers rescued 15 people. Krishna District Collector B. Lakshmikantham said nine persons were admitted to hospitals. The condition of one of the injured is stated to be critical.
Home Minister N. Chinnarajappa, who rushed to the site, said 16 bodies had been recovered while the search was on for the missing.
The National Disaster Response Force personnel joined divers in the rescue operation, which was hampered due to the darkness after sunset.
The tourists, most of them hailing from Ongole town in Prakasam district of the state, were returning to Pavitra Sangam for performing some religious rituals at the end of their day-long trip to Bhavani Island.
Chinnarajappa said 32 members of the Ongole Walkers’ Club were among those on board. He announced Rs 8 lakh compensation each to the families of the deceased.
Overload is believed to be the cause of the accident, he said, adding that the private company also did not have permission to operate the boat.
Survivors said they boarded the private boat as the boats of the Tourism Department were not available. They also complained that there were no life jackets on the boat.
The District Collector said a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder was booked against the company operating the boat.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has expressed shock over the accident and ordered a probe by a senior police officer.
–IANS
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National
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.