Agra on the edge, schools to remain closed today
The region had taken the worst beating in May 2 storm
AGRA: In view of another storm alert in Agra, the district administration has ordered closure of all schools on Tuesday. Earlier, the additional district magistrate (city) KP Singh had ordered school closure for students till Class 8, but later amended the directive to include all students.
On Sunday, the office of the district magistrate had issued an alert for yet another thunderstorm on May 8.
The district has already suffered storms on April 11 and May 2, which resulted in 63 deaths and left dozens injured.
The advisory issued by the district magistrate’s office said: “Alert is being issued to ensure preparedness for any untoward situation and precautionary measures are being circulated in the larger interest of denizens. Denizens are advised to avoid driving during the storm, and if in movement, to follow traffic norms.
Denizens are advised to cooperate with the police and the administration, and ensure basic precautionary measures for adverse weather conditions.”
Speaking to HT, ADM (city) said, “School principals are asked to strictly follow orders. A copy has been issued to the district inspector of schools (DIOS) and the basic shiksha adhikari (BSA) for complete compliance. Any violation will invite action against the schools concerned.”
THE DISTRICT HAS ALREADY SUFFERED STORMS ON APRIL 11 AND MAY 2, WHICH RESULTED IN 63 DEATHS AND LEFT DOZENS INJURED
BABBAR VISITS STORM-HIT AREA,
State Congress president Raj Babbar visited the areas affected during the thunderstorm here on Wednesday.
He met the injured admitted in surgery ward of SN Medical College Hospital and assured them all support on behalf of Congress party but criticized the low amount of compensation for houses damaged in the storm.
Babbar moved through villages worst affected by thunderstorm on Wednesday and met the families who lost their kin in weather -related tragedies..
Babbar criticised the way cheques for monetary relief were distributed to dependents of those who died in the thunderstorm.
“A single cheque was first handed over by the SDM of the area and then taken back for being handed over by deputy chief minister the next day and again by the chief minister when he came later. This was not proper and the compensation of R 5200 for damage to a house is too small. It would hardly be of any help to those who lost their houses in the storm,” he said..
“There should have been a more humane approach in assessment of loss and distribution of relief amount, as the tragedy is immense in magnitude,” said Babbar.
Replying to a question, Babbar confidently claimed that development work and peoplecentric schemes of the Congress regime in Karnataka would bring party back to power.