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Harvey leaves cities devastated, threatens flooding in US
Washington, Aug 27 (IANS) Harvey, which made landfall on Texas’ Gulf coast as the most powerful storm to strike the US in 12 years, has left cities devastated and threatened to bring flooding with water as high as 1.3 metres.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Saturday said in the state capital Austin that authorities’ primary concern was the “potential for very dramatic flooding”, EFE News reported.
He said Harvey had already caused severe flooding in the coastal city of Corpus Christi, with half-metre-high water, and caused isolated flooding of up to 40 cm in Houston.
Abbott said nearly 300,000 people in Texas were without power and it could take days for electricity to be restored.
Harvey left one person dead in the coastal town of Rockport, Mayor Charles “CJ” Wax said on Saturday.
Officials said 12 to 14 persons in Rockport suffered minor injuries due to the hurricane, which made landfall with maximum sustained winds of 209 km (130 miles) per hour.
Residents witnessed widespread devastation, with streets converted into veritable rivers, trees uprooted, traffic signs knocked down, buildings destroyed and boats overturned.
Wax said Harvey, which has been downgraded to a tropical storm, had caused “widespread devastation”, adding that some homes and businesses had been heavily damaged or completely destroyed.
The Miami-based National Hurricane Centre in its advisory said Harvey was “barely moving” and that torrential rains would continue.
The National Weather Service has advised Houston residents to avoid travelling. Three to four inches of rain was reported within an hour in the region.
Thousands of passengers on several Carnival cruise ships were stranded and unable to return to the Galveston in Texas.
The port of Galveston, where some Carnival cruise trips begin and end, was closed because of the storm.
Other Carnival cruises also changed plans with the port closed. The Carnival Freedom and Carnival Valor cruise ships remained at sea away from the storm, and each made a brief stop in New Orleans to replenish fuel, fresh water and food supplies, Carnival said in a statement.
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement said about 25 per cent oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico had been halted due to the hurricane.
“It is also estimated that approximately 25.94 percent of the natural gas production of 3,220 million cubic feet per day, or 835 million cubic feet per day in the Gulf of Mexico has been shut-in,” a BSEE report said.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.