National
BMC records show 295 fires in Mumbai in two months
Mumbai, March 5 (IANS) As many as 295 fires have erupted in Mumbai since the devastating blaze in Kamala Mills Compound on December 28, according to official records of the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation released on Monday.
Accessing the BMC data on all fires in the city in 60 days between December 29, 2017 and February 28, 2018, Mumbai Congress President Sanjay Nirupam said the figures clearly point at “negligence” on the part of the BMC and urged direct intervention of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the alarming matter.
“I have been constantly demanding a proper investigation into the Kamala Mills Compound fire of December 28, last year, in which 14 persons were killed, but that has not happened.
“Shockingly, now it is the BMC’s own data on the number of fires since then has exposed its continuing casual approach which has made the country’s commercial so unsafe,” Nirupam said.
“The BMC’s figures show that there were an average of around five fire incidents daily, many with fatalities, in the past 60 days since the December 28 blaze in the Kamala Mill Compound, totalling to a staggering 295. This stunning data proves that the fire department of the BMC has virtually gone ‘defunct’ now,” he added sharply.
Worse, he said, was the fact that the civic body has not yet learnt its lessons from so many blazes and “Mumbaikars continue to live on a razor’s edge” as the fire department is not interested in securing the lives of the people.
Attacking the civic body ruled by the Shiv Sena, Nirupam pointed out that if proper and timely safety checks had been conducted, and if the BMC “was not as corrupt as it is”, then such fires would not occur with such shocking regularity.
Questioning the efficiency of BMC Commissioner Ajoy Mehta, the city Congress chief reiterated that the probe into the Kamala Mills Compound fire should be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
“Since it is being handled by the BMC Commissioner, how will the truth ever come out? We want to know if he will suppress the truth about that incident and hide the frequency of these fire incidents,” he said.
Nirupam urged Fadnavis to immediately intervene into the matter and ensure that Mumbaikars are safe from such incidents.
–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.