Silandhi River

Recently Tamil Nadu farmers have staged protests, opposing barrage construction by Kerala government across Silanthi River, tributary of Amaravathi River.

• Silanthi River is a tributary of Amaravathi River.
• It is located in Idukki district, Kerala.
• The check dam being built across the river aims to provide drinking water to the Vattavadi gram panchayat.
• Tamil Nadu farmers and opposition parties have been protesting against the project as it would affect agriculture in Tirupur and Karur districts.
• Amaravathi River – Is one among the main tributaries of the river Cauvery.
• It rises from Naimakad in the Western Ghats (Anaimalai) in Idukki District of Kerala State.
• The Amaravathi basin has two distinct topographical features.
• The hilly terrain occupies the southern, south-western and western part of the basin and the undulating plains.

Whooping Cough (Pertussis)

The cases of Whooping Cough are in rise in recent times in Europe and USA.

• Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious bacterial disease of the respiratory tract.
• It is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis.
• It occurs mainly in infants and young children.
• Pertussis spreads easily from person to person mainly through droplets produced by coughing or sneezing.
• The disease is most dangerous in infants and is a significant cause of disease and death in this age group.
• The first symptoms generally appear 7-10 days after infection and include mild fever, runny nose and cough, which typically develops into a paroxysmal cough followed by a whooping noise.
• Prevention – Pertussis can be prevented by immunization.
• The he three-dose primary series diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP3) (-containing) vaccines decrease the risk of severe pertussis in infancy.
• In 2022, 93% of the target population in the Western Pacific Region had received the recommended 3 doses of DTP-containing vaccine during infancy.
• WHO recommends the first dose be administered as early as 6 weeks of age; with subsequent doses given 4-8 weeks apart, at age 10-14 weeks and 14-18 weeks.
• Vaccination of pregnant women is effective in preventing disease in infants too young to be vaccinated.

Papua New Guinea

More than 300 buried in Papua New Guinea landslide recently.

• Papua New Guinea, island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean.
• It encompasses the eastern half of New Guinea, the world’s second largest island.
• Papua New Guinea stretches from just south of the Equator to the Torres Strait, which separates New Guinea from Cape York Peninsula to the south, the northernmost extension of Australia.
• Mount Ulawun is volcano in Papua New Guinea.
• Papua New Guinea sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, an arc of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean where much of the world’s earthquake and volcanic activities occur.

Alternative Voting Methods during Election

• The general rules established for voting under various sections of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (RPA) state that all voters must vote in person at their polling station on Election Day using EVMs.
• However, special exceptions are made for certain categories of voters to ensure that everyone gets to exercise their franchise.
• Special voters – It includes Persons employed in essential services (AVES) and Senior citizens.
• Service voters – It include only Persons with disability.
• Postal Ballots – Allows voters who cannot be physically present in polling stations to vote remotely, as specified in Section 60 of the RPA.
• This method differs from normal voting in three ways:
  1. Polling takes place outside the polling station;
  2. It takes place without EVMs.
  3. Polling takes place before the designated poll date in the constituency.
• Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) for Service Voters, speeds up the delivery of postal ballots.
• ETPBS features encrypted ballots sent electronically via a secure portal.
• While the ballot is transmitted electronically, voters return their completed ballots via post at no cost.
• Home Voting – Is allowed for senior citizens.
• Voting in a different polling centre – If a person on election duty is deployed in another constituency, then they are entitled only to a postal ballot.
• Proxy voting – Service voters in the Armed and paramilitary forces can vote either by proxy or postal ballot.
• Those who choose the proxy voting method are known as ‘Classified Service Voters’ (CSVs).
• They must appoint a local resident as their proxy.
• The proxy votes at the designated polling station and indelible ink is applied to their left middle finger to indicate proxy voting.

Virupaksha Temple

A portion of the Virupaksha temple in Karnataka collapsed following torrential rains recently.

• Virupaksha Temple is the 7th century Shiva temple in Hampi, Central Karnataka.
• It is a nationally protected monument and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Lord Virupaksha, also referred to as Pampapathi is the main deity in Virupaksha Temple.
• The Virupaksha temple gained prominence and underwent extensive expansion in the 14th century during the Vijayanagara Empire (1336 to 1646).
• It is a prime example of Dravidian temple architecture.
• It is characterised by its grand gopurams (towering gateways), the shikhara towering over the sanctum sanctorum, its intricate carvings and pillared halls.
• Virupaksha Temple complex is surrounded by three gopuras (towers).
• The main tower, on the east is an imposing structure, 9 stories, 50 meters tall, built in the 15th century.
• Eastern tower forms the main entrance to Virupaksha Temple.
• Eastern tower has extensive craftsmanship on each of its floors featuring hundreds of Hindu gods and goddesses.