Following are the top stories at 2100 hrs:

Following are the top stories at 2100 hrs: NATION DEL29 LD FLOODS 157 dead in flood, rain-related incidents in south and west India Thiruvananthapuram/Mumbai: The death toll in Kerala floods mounted to 60 even as rains abated on Sunday after pounding the state for days, while the situation remained grim in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat where 97 people have lost their lives so far due to the monsoon fury. DEL35 FLOODS-2NDLD SHAH (RPT) Shah conducts aerial survey of flood-hit Karnataka, Maharashtra New Delhi/Bengaluru/Mumbai: Union Home Minister Amit Shah carried out an aerial survey of the flood-affected Belagavi district of Karnataka, and Sangli and Kolhapur districts in Maharashtra on Sunday, officials said. MDS22 KL-RAINS-LD RAHUL Rahul urges Ker govt, Centre to provide immediate aid to flood hit Kozhikode (Ker): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday urged the state and Central governments to provide immediate assistance to those affected by the floods in Kerala and promised to do everything possible to get the people back on their feet.

DEL33 INDO-PAK-ENVOY Indian envoy to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria returns New Delhi: Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria has returned to India, days after Islamabad expelled him following its decision to downgrade diplomatic ties over the withdrawal of special status to Jammu and Kashmir. DEL23 RAIL-SAMJHAUTA Railways cancels Samjhauta Express on Indian side of border after Pak's suspension New Delhi: The Indian Railways announced on Sunday that it has cancelled the Samjhauta Express train run at its end of the international border, days after Pakistan suspended services on its side. DEL27 JK-LD SITUATION Situation in J-K peaceful ahead of Eid, magistrates deployed to assist people Jammu/Srinagar: Ahead of Eid-ul Azha, banks, ATMs and quite a few markets remained open on Sunday in Kashmir and restrictions were eased allowing people to come out to shop, while the administration said it was taking steps to facilitate availability of food and other items and offering of prayers in mosques on Monday.

DEL3 KASHMIR-CRPF-HELPLINE CRPF's 'madadgaar' helpline in Kashmir notifies new number for people in distress New Delhi: A Srinagar-based CRPF helpline on Sunday notified a new number for people, especially Kashmiris, who require help for their families or are in distress post the abrogation of provisions of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. MDS14 TN-ART 370-LD VENKAIAH Abrogation of Art 370 need of the hour: V-P Venkiah Naidu Chennai: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday backed the scrapping of special status under Article 370 to Jammu and Kashmir, saying it was in the interest of the nation and should not be treated as a political issue.

MDS13 TN-ART 370 LD SHAH Art 370 removal will lead to end of terrorism in Kashmir: Shah Chennai: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday asserted that removal of special status to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution will put an end to terrorism and lead to progress of the region. DEL24 JAITLEY-HEALTH Arun Jaitley continues to be stable New Delhi: Former finance minister Arun Jaitley, who has been admitted to the AIIMS here, continues to be stable, sources at the hospital said on Sunday.

DEL4 CBSE-FEES-HIKE CBSE hikes exam fees for SC/ST pupils by 24 times, general category to pay double New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has increased the fees of Class 10 and 12 board examinations for SC and ST students from Rs 50 to Rs 1,200, while the amount has been doubled for those from the general category, who will now have to pay Rs 1,500. CAL7 WB-TMC-QUERIES Party facing hard time answering people's queries: TMC leader Kolkata: The TMC leaders and ministers, who have been visiting villages across the state as part of the party's mass outreach programme, are facing a tough time answering queries on "cut money" and corruption allegations, sources said here.

BUSINESS DEL16 BIZ-TRANSPORTERS Transporters' bodies put on hold buying new trucks; say biz environment unviable New Delhi: Two major transport industry bodies, All India Transporters Welfare Association (AITWA) and All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) have lashed out at the government saying the current policies are hurting the sector and making businesses environment unviable. DEL13 BIZ-BSNL-DUES Cash-strapped BSNL chasing dues of Rs 3,000 cr from biz clients New Delhi: Battling severe liquidity crunch, BSNL plans to aggressively chase outstanding dues from its enterprise clients and is hoping to recover the bulk of over Rs 3,000 crore receivables in the next two-three months, its chairman said.

FOREIGN: FGN33 PAK-KASHMIR Pak to observe its Independence Day as Kashmir Solidarity Day Islamabad: Pakistan will observe its Independence Day on August 14 as Kashmir Solidarity Day, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Sunday, amidst tensions with India after it revoked the special status to Jammu and Kashmir. FGN31 PAK-IMRAN-ROUHANI Pak PM Imran dials Iranian Prez Rouhani over Kashmir Islamabad: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday called Iranian President Hassan Rouhani as part of his outreach to the world leaders to apprise them about the situation in Kashmir, his office said..