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California wildfires toll reaches 40
San Francisco, Oct 15 (IANS) The toll from massive wildfires raging across California has increased to 40 with thousands more ordered to evacuate from Santa Rosa city as a new blaze threatened the area, police said.
The police said evacuations were ordered on Saturday for areas in northeastern Santa Rosa, a city of about 175,000 people roughly 50 miles northwest of San Francisco, reports CNN.
A large part of the city was evacuated earlier when wildfires began tearing through Northern California on October 8.
The new blaze threatening Santa Rosa erupted on Friday along state Highway 12 between two other wildfires that have been burning for days, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Santa Rosa Mayor Chris Coursey told CNN on Saturday that firefighters “have a handle” on the fire.
The outbreak of wildfires has become one of the deadliest in the state history, according to Cal Fire.
More than 200 people have been reported missing since the fires began.
According to state authorities, many of the victims were so badly burned, their bodies were reduced to ash and bones.
In some cases, dental records, fingerprints, tattoos and serial numbers on hip implants were used to identify the victims.
The 50,000-plus acre Atlas fire in Napa and Solano counties was 45 per cent contained on Saturday morning — up from 3 per cent two days earlier, CNN quoted Cal Fire as saying.
The 46,000-plus acre Nuns fire in Sonoma was 10 per cent contained.
The 35,000-acre Tubbs fire in Napa and Sonoma was 44 per cent under control. The 34,000-acre Redwood and Potter fires in Mendocino County were 20 per cent contained.
At least 16 wildfires have burned more than 214,000 acres throughout California, and if any new fires start.
Already, about 100,000 people have been evacuated from the fires, which have destroyed an estimated 5,700 structures.
–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.