New Delhi, Sep 3: Reviewing the flood threat in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah ordered swift evacuations and relief measures on Wednesday.

Convening an emergency meeting to review the situation arising from incessant rains across Jammu and Kashmir, CM Omar directed the administration to intensify its ground response, clear waterlogged areas, ensure the supply of essential services such as power, water, and healthcare, and facilitate the timely evacuation of residents from critical zones.

He instructed divisional and district administrations to work in close coordination with disaster response agencies, the Police and Health Departments, and to maintain readiness for any eventuality.

The CM directed that an adequate stock of ration, fuel, medicines, and drinking water be made available in vulnerable areas, with emergency medical teams kept on standby.

He has been taking hourly updates on rising water levels in Jhelum and its tributaries, status of power and water supply, and road connectivity, and has directed concerned departments to ensure that advance warnings are issued to the general public about any eventuality and for the administration to provide timely help and assistance to people.

Appealing for public cooperation, CM Omar urged people to follow advisories, avoid unsafe areas, and report emergencies promptly.

He said that the government was closely monitoring the situation and was committed to mitigating hardships.

“The safety and well-being of our citizens is our priority. I appeal to the public to stay vigilant, extend cooperation to the administration. Together, we will overcome this challenge,” he said.

The CM directed officials to provide regular updates and reaffirmed that all possible measures were being taken to ensure relief and the safety of the affected families.

Earlier, Minister Sakina Itoo and Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani briefed him on the latest situation in Kashmir, while Ministers Javed Ahmad Rana and Satish Sharma reported on conditions in the Jammu division, including flash floods, road blockages, and vulnerable habitations near riverbanks and landslide-prone areas.

New Delhi, Sep 3: The Ministry of Civil Aviation, in partnership with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and with support from the European Union, has released a feasibility study on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) for India.

Prepared under ICAO’s ACT-SAF Programme, the study evaluates India’s potential to produce and use SAF, examining feedstock availability, production pathways, infrastructure, and policy readiness. It adapts international best practices to India’s context and sets a roadmap for adoption.

The report was unveiled at a two-day workshop in New Delhi, attended by ICAO, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), DGCA, government departments, and industry representatives. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu highlighted SAF’s role in decarbonizing aviation, reaffirming India’s blending targets of 1% by 2027, 2% by 2028, and 5% by 2030. He noted India’s vast resources—over 750 million metric tonnes of biomass and 230 million tonnes of surplus agricultural residue—position the country to meet domestic demand and become a global exporter.

India has already achieved key milestones, including certifying Indian Oil Corporation’s Panipat Refinery as the first SAF producer and designating COTECNA Inspection India Pvt. Ltd. as the first certification body. SAF production is expected to cut crude oil imports, reduce emissions by up to 25 million tonnes annually, and boost farmers’ incomes through biomass-based value chains. Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha emphasized India’s progress, with 88 airports running entirely on green energy, while DGCA chief Faiz Ahmed said the study would guide India’s SAF policy as passenger traffic is projected to double to 500 million by 2030. The SAF study marks a major step toward building a sustainable aviation ecosystem and positioning India as a global leader in green aviation.

New Delhi, Sep 3: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah felicitated personnel of the CRPF, Chhattisgarh Police, District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the Cobra force in New Delhi for their role in the recently concluded “Operation Black Forest” on Karreguttalu hill.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai and Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma were also present. The operation, described as the largest anti-Naxal offensive carried out in the region, resulted in the dismantling of a key Maoist base camp.

Despite the challenging terrain, summer heat and the threat of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), security forces succeeded in destroying the Naxalite supply chain and material dumps established on the hill.

Shah said the success of the operation would be remembered as a defining moment in the history of anti-Naxal efforts. He reiterated that the government’s strategy remained firm: Naxalites must either surrender, be apprehended, or be eliminated. He also underlined the government’s commitment to freeing India of Naxalism by March 31, 2026. The Home Minister noted that decades of Naxal activity had inflicted severe damage on underdeveloped areas, disrupting education, healthcare and the implementation of welfare schemes. With sustained operations, he said, security forces had paved the way for new opportunities and development in a region home to 65 million people, stretching from Pashupatinath to Tirupati. Shah added that the Modi government was taking steps to support security personnel who had suffered injuries in counter-insurgency operations, stressing that their welfare remained a priority alongside the goal of eradicating left-wing extremism.