1. Cyclonic Storm, Heavy Rains to Lash Gujarat This Week
Gujarat, which has been seething this summer with the thermo-meter going past 45 degrees Celsius for days together in cities like Surendranagar even in June, is in for the other extreme this week.
The weathermen have warned of heavy rainfall and a cyclonic storm, particularly in Saurashtra and Kutch, this week due to a depression in the Arabian Sea.
After an emergency meeting with India Meteorological Department officials, the relief commissioner and the revenue secretary, the state government advised fishermen not to venture into the sea.
(Source: DNA)
2. Fire at Surat Private School, No Casualties Reported
A fire was reported at a private school in Surat city, on Monday morning (10 June). School authorities immediately shifted students to safety and no casualties were reported. The officials of the Fire & Emergency Services also immediately brought the fire under control.
The fire was reported at the Raychand Dipchand School in the walled city of Surat at around 8:20 am. As soon as the fire was detected, school authorities shifted the students to a safer place. As soon as the news of the fire spread, anxious parents rushed to the school.
Schools in Gujarat reopened Monday after summer vacations, and the incident comes close on the heels of the fire at a private coaching centre in the city on 24 May that left 22 students dead.
(Source: Indian Express)
3. Narayan Lallubhai Patel's Reign Ends in Unjha APMC, Asha Patel Bags 10 Seats
Narayan Lallubhai Patel's over two-decades of reign over Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) of Unjha came to an end on Monday, 10 June, after his son Gaurang Patel lost in the elections. Vikas Panel, led by Unjha MLA Asha Patel bagged 10 seats, and independents won remaining two, while Gaurang Patel's Vishwas Panel failed to get even a single seat. Unjha is Asia's largest trading market for cumin and isabgul and is one of the prestigious APMCs in Gujarat.
Election of 12 directors was held on 9 June, and the results were declared Monday by designated election authorities. The Vikas Panel won ten seats while the independents bagged the rest two, said election officer Pratik Upadhyay.
Gaurang Patel, who has been the chairman of the Unjha APMC for the last eight years, also lost, while Dinesh Patel, leader of Vikas Panel got elected.
(Source: DNA)
4. On Heavy Rainfall Alert, Guj Deploys NDRF in Coastal Saurashtra
Gujarat has been put on alert following IMD prediction of the deep depression in the Arabian Sea developing into a severe cyclonic storm and causing heavy rainfall in the coastal areas in the coming days, a senior official on said Monday, 10 June.
With the warning of a heavy rainfall in parts of Gujarat, the state government has decided to deploy NDRF personnel in coastal areas of Saurashtra and Kutch from Tuesday morning. The government will also put the Army, the Navy and the Coast Guard on alert.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning of heavy rains with winds blowing at the speed of over 110 kms on 13 and 14 June in coastal areas of Saurashtra and Kutch.
(Source: PTI)
5. Housing Loan Growth Drops to 8.7%, Value Falls by 15%
The rush to buy houses in Gujarat has slowed down in the year 2018-19, according to a recent banking report. However, the loan amount disbursed actually shrunk by 15.13 per cent. A section or realtors say, this is a reflection of shortage of liquidity affecting overall economy in general and real estate sector in particular and slowing down of finance for real estate projects. Another section feel that the numbers indicate that the demand for affordable segment is on a rise.
According to the report of State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) for the January-March 2019, Gujarat witnessed fresh loan 65,031 loan accounts during the quarter, higher than 57,163 fresh accounts in the same quarter in the previous fiscal.
(Source: DNA)
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