1. Hyderabad ‘Scores’ Highest in Swine Flu Cases
In this year, the highest number of swine flu cases in Telangana were reported from the Hyderabad, Medchal, and Rangareddy districts, with Hyderabad at double the number than others.
Out of the total 728 cases which were recorded by the State Health Department’s Epidemics Cell, 310 cases were from Hyderabad, 137 from Rangareddy while 127 of them were from Medchal district, said the latest statistics. Out of all the samples tested, 18.5 percent tested positive.
While officials from the Health department earlier said that while they expected the numbers to spike during the monsoons, due to cold temperatures being favourable for the virus to spread, the upward trend was not found to be true this year.
(Source: The New Indian Express)
2. 12 Days After Two Indians Died Aboard Iran Ship, Kin Seek Govt Help
On 24 November, two Indians on board Ali 25, a ship that was docked in a port in Iran, died in a fire accident. But 13 days since the incident, the bodies of Mohan Venkata Appala Naidu (25) from Visakhapatnam and Vikas from Haryana have not been brought back to India.
Now, Mohan’s family has written to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, asking India to speak to Iranian officials and help bring his body back.
Mohan and Vikas died reportedly because of a short circuit in the ship at the Asaluyeh port in Iran. Mohan’s family has alleged negligence on the part of the company, and have appealed to Indian authorities to intervene. “My life is totally devastated and it is not possible for me to keep waiting every day to see my son for the last time,” Mohan’s mother Pilla Bhavani has written in her letter to Sushma Swaraj, “I humbly request you to understand my plight as a mother and I kindly request you to take up this matter with the Iranian government and officials to send the body of my son without any delay.”
(Source: The News Minute)
3. Varun Gandhi Offers a Rural Manifesto
Member of Parliament from Sultanpur (UP), Varun Gandhi, on Wednesday, 5 December, shared his ideas for an economic and social transformation of the country at the launch of his book ‘A Rural Manifesto’ in Hyderabad.
The book was peppered with anecdotes, statistics, success stories and information unearthed using RTIs, and presented before students at the Shilpakala Vedika auditorium.
“The British created irrigation facilities in Western Maharashtra and Southern Gujarat. Vidarbha was ignored. Now, cotton farmers have 100% irrigation facilities in Gujarat, while Vidarbha has 9% irrigation. The result is that Vidarbha has the highest suicide rates in the country in farm sector. We need to think differently to solve this problem,” said Mr. Gandhi.
(Source: The Hindu)
4. Winter Is Likely to Be Warmer Than Usual in Telangana
This winter is likely to be warmer than usual, according to India Meteorological Department’s ‘Seasonal outlook for the temperatures during December 2018-February 2019’.
Minimum temperatures across the State are already above normal, including in Hyderabad where the minimum temperature was 18 degree Celsius on Tuesday, 4 December, two degree Celsius above normal. In Bhadrachalam, it was 3 degree Celsius above normal at 20 degree Celsius.
(Source: The New Indian Express)
5. Pawan Kalyan Leads a Protest Over Drought in Andhra’s Rayalaseema Region
Actor-politician and Jana Sena Party Chief Pawan Kalyan led a protest at Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday, 4 December, against the drought situation in Rayalaseema. The farmers in the Rayalaseema districts had been neglected due to internal differences of the ruling dispensation, the Jana Sena Party founder said.
"For generations together, the rulers have neglected the Rayalaseema region, forcing thousands to migrate to other states in search of livelihood. I appeal to the people not to bear the injustices anymore," Kalyan said in a statement.
The Rayalaseema region comprises four districts – Kurnool, Kadapa, Anantapur and Chittoor. The region has several drought-prone areas and witnesses farmer suicides and mass migrations annually.
(Source: The News Minute)
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