LIVE
Wed, 07 June 2023
Chopped body of woman found in flat near Mumbai
Timeline Refresh
23:57 Dedicated valet services launched at Mumbai airport's car parking
The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai launches its dedicated valet services at the multi-level car parking facility.
This offering is CSMIA's stride towards enhancing passenger satisfaction.
Flyers can now effortlessly entrust their vehicles to the valet attendants upon their arrival at P10, Terminal 2.
This service can be availed by registering at the counter in front of Gate No. 3 and 6 for as low as Rs 300.
The cars will be parked by trained, amiable, and uniformed valet drivers in a safe and secure allocated space.
The introduction of valet parking marks a significant milestone in the airport's ongoing efforts to redefine excellence in customer service.
The valet services aim at saving time of passengers by providing a quick and efficient parking solution.
23:50 Chopped body of woman found in flat near Mumbai
The body of a 36-year-old woman, chopped into several pieces, was found in a flat on the seventh floor of a building in the Mira-Bhayandar area of Thane district near Mumbai on Wednesday night, the police said.
The victim, Saraswati Vaidya, was in a live-in relationship with a man, identified as Manoj Sahani (56), and the couple has been residing in the flat since the last three years, a senior official at the Naya Nagar police station said.
The police were alerted by local residents who complained of a foul smell emanating from the flat, he said.
A team rushed to the spot and found the decomposed body of the woman which was cut into several pieces, said the official.
He said police have taken into custody two suspects and they are being interrogated.
The official did not reveal the identity of the suspects or a possible motive behind the murder. A probe was underway. -- PTI
File image
22:57 Goods train derails in Assam, none injured
A goods train derailed in Assam's Kamrup district on Wednesday but no injuries were reported, a railway official said.
The incident took place near Boko when 20 wagons of the coal-laden train jumped the tracks at Singra near Boko, he said.
The derailed wagons were at the centre of the train which had a total of 60 wagons, the official said.
The train was bringing coal to Tetelia in Kamrup Metropolitan district from Asansol in West Bengal.
The cause of the derailment was yet to be ascertained and senior railway and police officials were camping at the spot, he said.
Four passenger trains in the Rangia-Lumding section were cancelled but express trains were not affected as rail traffic in the section was lean and confined mostly to goods trains, the official said.
Restoration work has begun and the plying of trains is expected to resume soon, the official added. -- PTI
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee meets an injured person/ANI
22:42 Govt hiding truth about Odisha train crash: Mamata
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday hit out at the BJP-ruled Centre alleging that there were attempts to suppress the cause of the train accident in Odisha.
The Central Bureau of Investigation was engaged to probe into the June 2 triple train crash but pieces of evidence have already been removed, Banerjee claimed.
She was speaking at a programme organised by the West Bengal government to hand over cheques and appointment letters to the next of kin of those residents of the state who were killed or injured in the accident that occurred in Balasore district of Odisha.
The chief minister said that 103 people of West Bengal were killed in the incident and 86 of them could be identified so far.
She also said that 172 suffered major injuries while 635 had minor injuries.
"There are attempts to suppress the reason behind the Balasore accident, while Delhi has sent the CBI to 14-16 municipalities," Banerjee said. -- PTI
File image
22:24 Live TV interview helps Nepali couple reunite with son hurt in Odisha crash
A live television interview of a Nepali couple aired from one hospital helped it find out its minor son who was injured in the June 2 Odisha train accident and under treatment in another hospital.
The 15-year-old boy, Ramananda Paswan, who was recuperating in the ICU of a hospital here, saw his parents on a news channel on a television set which was in the room and alerted the authorities.
The hospital then facilitated the reunion of the boy, who was travelling in the ill-fated Coromandel Express, with his parents who came from Nepal in search of him after knowing about the accident that claimed 288 lives, an official said.
"I am happy to find my son. He was travelling with three of our relatives. All of them were killed in the accident. He, however, miraculously escaped with injuries," said the boy's father Hari Paswan.
After coming to Bhubaneswar, Hari and his wife were visiting one hospital after another in search of their son.
While in AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, they came across a journalist of a local TV news channel who reported their ordeal. -- PTI
21:58 Coromandel exp resumes service, reaches Balasore accident site
Coromandel Express, which was one of the three trains involved in the horrific crash and derailment in Odisha, arrived at the Balasore railway station on Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, the iconic train resumed its services and left Shalimar station in West Bengal's Howrah for its journey to Chennai.
Friday night's accident, which claimed the lives of 275 passengers and left over 1,000 injured, involved Yeshwantpur-Howrah Superfast Express, Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express and a goods train.
The Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express collided with a stationary freight train, resulting in the derailment of several coaches. A few of the derailed coaches fell on another track and were hit by another passenger train -- Howrah Express, which was coming from Yesvantpur.
On Monday, the Howrah-Puri Vande Bharat Express train crossed the restored railway track in Balasore after the passenger train services resumed in the district.
Representational image
21:51 Maharashtra announces probe into girl's murder in Mumbai hostel
A one-member committee will conduct an inquiry into the rape and murder of an 18-year-old student inside her room at a government hostel in south Mumbai, the Maharashtra government said on Wednesday.
Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil made the announcement a day after the gruesome crime case to light.
The girl, student of a polytechnic, was allegedly raped and murdered by a security guard at Savitribai Phule Working Women's Hostel in Charni Road area in the early hours of Tuesday.
The accused subsequently killed himself by jumping in front of a train, police said.
Dr Nipun Vinayak, state project director, will head the one-member committee. State director of higher education and divisional joint director from the higher education department will assist him.
The inquiry report has to be filed at the earliest, said the government order.
21:29 Gitanjali Aiyar, face of Doordarshan News in 1980s, is no more
Gitanjali Aiyar, newscaster on Doordarshan in the 1980s who captivated a young nation with her diction, presentation, poise and charm, is no more.
That was a time when TV meant Doordarshan and the only televised news was on Doordarshan, with government control deciding what was good enough for the public to know.
Doordarshan had a panel of newscasters, of whom Gitanjali Ambegaonkar (she took on her husband's surname after marrying journalist Swaminathan Aiyar) stood apart. She joined Doordarshan in 1971.
'My mother read the prime-time news in English at 9:00pm, a few days a week for over a decade. She dressed in a saree and wore a bindi, spoke in a starched accent and read out government-sanitised events -- heavy on grainy footage of dignitaries meeting other dignitaries -- from a teleprompter, and often from pages of paper, when the teleprompters failed, which was often,' writes her daughter, journalist Pallavi Aiyar on the blog The Global Jigsaw.
Buddhadeb Dasgupta (left)
21:19 Film festival on June 9, 10 in Kolkata to honour Bengali director Buddhadeb Dasgupta
A two-day film festival will be organised in Kolkata on June 9 and 10 to honour Bengali filmmaker Buddhadeb Dasgupta.
Besides screening of films, poetry sessions, a memorial lecture and talks on the filmmaker will also be organised, his wife Sohini Dasgupta said on Wednesday.
The Buddhadeb Dasgupta Film and Poetry Festival, which is being organised by the Buddhadeb Dasgupta Memorial Trust in partnership with the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, will begin with the screening of his award-winning 1989 movie Bagh Bahadur.
A 90-minute-long documentary Meeting a Milestone by renowned director Goutam Ghose and a recital of poems of Buddhadeb Dasgupta by singer Srikanta Acharya will also be held, Sohini Dasgupta said.
Eminent theatre personality Anamika Haksar's debut Hindi film Ghode ko jalebi khilane le ja riya hoon, chronicling stories of blue-collar workers in Delhi, and Dasgupta's 30-minute documentary The Melody Continues, on the life and works of musician Naushad Ali, will also be screened.
A session on Women poets of our time will be attended by Ukrainian poet Iryna Vikyrchak and Indian poet Sharmila Ray. -- PTI
Forensic team examines crime scene at the Lucknow civil court
20:59 Three-member SIT to probe Lucknow court shooting
A three-member special investigation team has been constituted to probe the firing incident inside the Lucknow civil court, the UP Chief Ministers Office informed on Wednesday.
Gangster Sanjeev alias Jeeva was fatally shot inside the court premises after being brought in for a hearing.
Later, the police confirmed that the gangster succumbed to his injuries.
"A three-member SIT, including Mohit Agarwal, ADG technical; joint CP, Lucknow, Nilabja Chaudhary and Ayodhya IG Praveen Kumar, has been constituted to investigate the incident," read an official statement from CMO.
Deputy commissioner of police, Lucknow, Rahul Raj said, "Sanjeev Jeeva was shot at today (Wednesday) and succumbed to his injuries. Two of our constables also sustained injuries but are out of danger. They are currently under treatment. I've been told that the assailant has been arrested."
Meanwhile, lawyers staged a protest outside Lucknow Civil Court in the wake of the firing incident.
"A child was also injured in the incident and was admitted to a trauma centre," said Agarwal.
"A criminal, identified as Sanjeev Jeeva, was shot today. Two police officials, who were escorting him to the court, also sustained injuries. A child was also injured in the incident and was admitted to a trauma centre,"
Upendra Kumar Agarwal, joint commissioner of police, law and order, Lucknow, said. -- ANI
20:43 Two LPG wagons derail near Jabalpur in MP; track restored
Two liquefied petroleum gas wagons of a train derailed under Jabalpur railway division in Madhya Pradesh, an official said on Wednesday.
The restoration work near Bhitoni railway station of Jabalpur railway division was completed at 4:40 pm on Wednesday, the official said.
The LPG wagons went off the track on Tuesday night when the goods train was on the siding line of an oil depot near Bhitoni station, said West Central Railway chief public relations officer Rahul Shrivastava.
Since restoration in such cases is done in daylight, the work started early Wednesday morning, he said.
The position of the LPG wagons that got derailed was fifth and sixth of the rake, he said.
"As the incident occurred on the siding line, it didn't affect the train traffic on the main railway lines on the Jabalpur-Itarsi section," he added. -- PTI
Representational image
20:30 Rahul, Mamata, Kejri, Stalin to attend Oppn meet
A meeting of opposition parties, organised by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, will be held in Patna on June 23, his deputy Tejashwi Yadav said on Wednesday.
Addressing a press conference with JD-U national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh by his side, Yadav said that top leaders of most opposition parties, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, her Tamil Nadu counterpart M K Stalin and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal have agreed to attend the meeting.
The meeting was earlier scheduled to be held on June 12, but was put off after some of the parties, including the Congress and the DMK, requested a change in date.
Nitish Kumar had recently said he was opposed to parties sending any leader except their respective heads to the meeting where the anti-BJP players will chalk out a strategy for the Lok Sabha polls next year.
Mohammed Shami in action in the WTC final
20:27 Indian journalist thought of world Test championship 60 years ago!
As India and Australia battle it out at the Oval to be crowned the world Test champion, for G Rajaraman, 'while the focus remains largely on the present, it is hard to stop the mind from diving into the past'.
That's because, 'each time a World Test Championship Final is played, I cannot help but recall the first time I browsed through the collection of clippings from Sport & Pastime magazine kept by N Ganesan, my sports-journalist father. It was in those pages that I discovered that the idea for the World Test Championship had first been floated by SK Gurunathan, noted cricket writer in the post-independence years, as early as 1962,' Rajaraman writes in revsportz.in.
'Writing in the June 9, 1962 issue of Sport & Pastime, Gurunathan suggested a programme of Test matches in which all teams would meet on a league basis, to help spot the real cricket champions of the world. He even designed a schedule in which all Test-playing teams, barring South Africa, would play one another between October 1962 and September 1963,' he writes.
So what did Gurunathan have in mind?
'The plan I have in mind is that the six countries (I have purposely omitted South Africa), England, Australia, West Indies, India, Pakistan and New Zealand compete for a World Championship, each playing the other either at home or away between October of one year and September of the next,' Gurunathan wrote in Sport & Pastime.
'Now, many years later, Gurunathan's idea has found resonance, and we are about to experience the second ICC World Test Championship final. Unlike the 1912 tournament that drew few fans to matches not featuring the home team, you can be sure that The Oval will be packed with fans supporting India and Australia,' Rajaraman writes, here.
20:11 President Murmu arrives in Serbia on state visit
President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday arrived here in the Serbian capital on a state visit and was received by her Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic.
The visit is the first by an Indian President to Serbia.
"President Droupadi Murmu was given a warm welcome on arrival in Belgrade. This is the first visit by an Indian President to Serbia. As a special gesture, President @avucic of Serbia received President Murmu at the airport. She was accorded a guard of honour on her arrival," her office tweeted.
She is on the second and final leg of her six-day visit to Suriname and Serbia to bolster India's bilateral engagement with the two countries.
She is in Serbia from June 7 to 9.
"She will be on a state visit to Serbia on the invitation of the Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic," Secretary (West) in the MEA Sanjay Verma said on June 2 in New Delhi. -- PTI
Representational image
19:52 One injured in crane accident at under-construction site in Mumbai
A 23-year-old man escaped with minor injuries after a part of a crane broke at an under-construction site and fell on a few huts in Mumbai's Chembur on Wednesday, said an official.
The incident occurred at the site of Deserva building in Om Ganesh Nagar, Vashi Naka, around 3.45 pm, said the official from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.
A portion of the crane with a length of about 150 feet snapped at the high-rise building site and fell on two to three huts in the vicinity.
Quoting locals, an official from the Mumbai Fire Brigade said that five to six persons were injured in the incident.
However, officials from BMC-run Shatabdi Hospital at Govandi, which is close to the accident spot, claimed that only one person was admitted to the facility with minor injuries.
The injured person has been identified as Ashutosh Mishra and his condition is stable, they said. -- PTI
File image
19:39 Modi likely to visit Egypt for first time
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Egypt this month, around six months after the two countries elevated their ties to the level of strategic partnership, diplomatic sources said on Wednesday.
It will be Modi's first visit to the African nation after he became prime minister in 2014.
The sources said the visit is set to boost cooperation in a number of areas including trade, investment, agriculture and defence.
There has been no official announcement on PM Modi's trip to Egypt.
India is keen to further expand ties with Egypt, a key player in the politics of both the Arab world as well as Africa.
It is also seen as a major gateway to markets in Africa and Europe.
The ties between the two countries were elevated to the level of strategic partnership during Egyptian President Abdeh Fattah El-Sisi's visit to India in January.
In the talks, the two leaders decided to take the volume of bilateral trade to $12 billion in the next five years from around $7 billion at present. -- PTI
Representational image
19:05 4 labourers killed, 3 critical as goods train runs over them in Odisha's Jajpur
At least four labourers were killed and three others critically injured in Odisha's Jajpur Road railway station after being run over by a goods train on Wednesday, an official said.
The labourers had sheltered from heavy rain under the goods train when it started rolling.
"There was a sudden thunderstorm. The labourers were working at a railway siding where a goods train was standing stationary. They sheltered under it but unfortunately, the goods train which did not have an engine attached to it started moving causing the accident," said a railway spokesperson.
"Four people died as a result and three were injured," he added.
However, locals at Jajpur claimed that two more of the injured have also succumbed to injuries.
The incident occurred five days after a major accident involving three trains in Odisha's Balasore district, which killed 288 people. -- PTI
Representational image
18:44 TN temple sealed following opposition to entry of SC community
Revenue officials in Tamil Nadu sealed the Sri Dharmaraja Draupadi Amman temple at Melpathi village in Villupuram district on Wednesday following a dispute over the entry of Scheduled Caste members into the temple.
Villupuram revenue divisional officer S Ravichandran ordered the temple to be sealed after peace talks between the representatives of a dominant caste and SC members failed recently, a senior official said.
The dominant caste members have been protesting against the entry of SC people into the temple for darshan while the latter insisted upon their right to enter.
Not wanting the harmony in the village to be breached, the district administration convened peace talks between the two sections to resolve the issue.
However, the negotiations failed as the dominant community declined to budge from their stand. Anticipating trouble, the RDO ordered the temple to be sealed under Section 145(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure to prevent any possible breakdown of law and order.
A posse of police has been deployed at the temple to prevent any violent incidents. -- PTI
18:37 Wrestlers agree to suspend protest till June 15
The protesting wrestlers on Wednesday agreed to suspend their protest for a week after the government asked them to wait till the police completes its probe into the sexual harassment allegations against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh by June 15.
The wrestlers, after a nearly five-hour meeting with Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, said the government has also assured them that the police will withdraw the FIRs filed against them.
The wrestlers were booked for violation of law and order on May 28 when they marched towards the new Parliament building without permission to hold a 'Mahila Samman Mahapachayat'.
The meeting was attended by Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, her husband Satyawart Kadiyan and Jitender Kinha.
Double world medallist Vinesh Phogat, a prominent face of the protest against the WFI chief, skipped the meet.
"We were told that police investigation will be complete by June 15. Till then, we have been asked to wait and suspend the protest," Sakshi Malik told reporters after the meeting. "The Delhi police will also withdraw the FIRs filed against the wrestlers lodged on May 28," she added.
Both Malik and Punia asserted that their agitation was not yet over and they have suspended their protest only till June 15 as requested by the government.
Later, addressing a press conference, Thakur said the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) elections will be held by June 30.
The crucial meeting with wrestlers was called by Thakur to break the deadlock.
17:56 Up Coromandel Express leaves Shalimar 5 days after Balasore accident
Five days after the Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express met with an accident in Odisha's Balasore killing 288 people, the Up train chugged off from Shalimar station here at 3.25pm on Wednesday, five minutes behind the scheduled departure time.
As soon as the train pulled in on platform 2, there was a mad scramble to get into the general compartment and soon every nook and cranny of the two general second class coaches got filled up with people and their luggage.
Ranjit Mondal, whose son has been missing since the June 2 accident, boarded the train to go to Bhubaneswar to look for his son again.
Mondal from Sandeshkhali said his 18-year-old son Dipankar had boarded the ill-fated train with his friends to look for a job in Chennai.
"His phone has been ringing since the accident but no one is picking it up. I spoke to him minutes before the accident. He is yet to be tracked and I decided to look for him again," he said.
Swati Chamoli, who is also travelling in the train, said, "I'm travelling for work to Chennai. Let's hope the journey goes on safely."
Paromita, who is also on the board the train, said, "I hope nothing goes wrong now. There is a fear at the back of my mind, but hope the journey is safe."
Another passenger Manik Bauri, who stood sweating with scores of others in a serpentine queue at the station, is a cook by profession and is travelling to Chennai to either join work or for treatment. -- PTI
17:25 Gangster shot dead in Lucknow court premises
Ganster-politician Mukhtar Ansari's alleged aide Sanjeev Maheshwari Jeeva was shot dead on Lucknow court premises on Wednesday, the police said.
"Sanjeev Maheshwari Jeeva who was held in Lucknow jail was brought to the court for hearing in a case and was shot dead by unknown assailant," said Lucknow police commissioner SB Shiradkar who reached the court premises shortly after the incident. -- PTI
16:54 Deve Gowda snubs Oppn unity; says, show me...
Former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) chief Deve Gowda apparently remains non-committal on joining the Opposition parties banding together for the 2024 polls against the BJP.
"Show me one party which has not associated with the BJP, either directly or indirectly. Show me one party in the whole country, then I will answer," Gowda said on Tuesday responding to a question on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's efforts to bring together non-BJP parties.
Addressing a press briefing at JP Bhavan in Bengaluru on Tuesday Gowda said, "Show me if there is any party in the country which is not joining hands with BJP. After that, I will talk about the unity of the opposition parties. All the parties have directly or indirectly joined hands with the BJP. Some leaders of the Congress party are also among them."
He further said that the JD(S) party is not worried about the next Lok Sabha elections.
"Now Zilla Panchayat, Taluk Panchayat, BBMP elections are coming up. Based on the public support the party gets in these elections, it will be decided how many constituencies and which constituencies to contest in the Lok Sabha elections", he said. -- ANI
16:40 Cabinet approves Rs 89,047 cr for 4G, 5G spectrum allocation to BSNL
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the third revival package for BSNL with a total outlay of Rs 89,047 crore. The package includes allotment of 4G and 5G spectrum for BSNL through equity infusion, an official statement said.
"The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today approved the third revival package for BSNL with a total outlay of Rs 89,047 crore," it said.
Also, the authorized capital of BSNL will be increased from Rs 1,50,000 crore to Rs 2,10,000 crore. The package comprises allotment of premium wireless frequencies 700 MHz band spectrum worth Rs 46,338.6 crore; 70 MHz of frequencies in 3300 MHz band worth Rs 26,184.2 crore; frequencies in 26 GHz band worth Rs 6,564.93 crore; in 2500 MHz band worth Rs 9,428.2 crore and Rs 531.89 crore for miscellaneous items. PTI
16:28 AI flight takes off for Russia for stranded pax
The Air India ferry flight finally took off from Mumbai for Magadan in far east Russia at around 1520 hours on Wednesday to fly its 216 San Francisco-bound passengers stranded in the port city since Tuesday.
The airline said the aircraft operating the ferry flight will take all passengers and crew onward to San Francisco on June 8.
As many as 216 passengers and 16 crew have been put up in make-shift accommodation in the remote Russian town after the Delhi-San Francisco flight was diverted to Magadan, following a snag in one of the Boeing 777 engines, where it made an emergency landing. The replacement aircraft was scheduled to depart at 1300 hours (IST) from Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport on Wednesday.
"Our ferry flight AI195 from Mumbai (BOM) to Magadan, Russia (GDX) is now airborne, and is expected to arrive at GDX at 0630 Hours (local time) on 08 June 2023," Air India said in a statement.
It said that a team from the airline is also on board the flight to provide any support that the passengers and staff at GDX may require. The ferry flight is carrying essentials in addition to a sufficient amount of food to cater to all passengers on the onward flight scheduled from Magadan (GDX) to San Francisco (SFO), Air India said.
16:05 JNU steps up campus security after kidnap bid
Hours after a case of molestation was reported on the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus, its security department on Wednesday announced that entry of outside vehicles will be restricted from 10 pm to 6 am.
"The competent authority has taken a serious view of the recent incidents where outsiders entered the JNU campus and created law and order problems during the night hours. In view of this, it has been decided to restrict the entry of outside vehicles from 10 pm to 6 am," the university said in a notice.
Those residing on the JNU campus will have to produce their identity cards at the entry, and have been advised to confirm their guests at the main gate either in person or through a phone call.
"Further, all residents are advised to confirm and identify their guests at the main gate either in person or through phone call. All the stakeholders are requested to cooperate with the security to ensure safe and secure campus," the statement said.
The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union on Wednesday alleged that some inebriated men in a car entered the campus and attempted to kidnap two students. The incident took place on Tuesday night and police have registered two cases based on complaints from students of the university.
"Two complaints -- one regarding physical assault and another on molestation, attempt to kidnap -- have been received from JNU students. Cases have been registered," Deputy Commissioner of Police (southwest) Manoj C said. The DCP said the accused and the vehicle are same in both the cases and they have been identified. Further investigation is on, he said. -- PTI
Bajrang Punia, Sakshee Malikkh and Vinesh Phogat at the protests
15:51 Wrestlers make 5 demands to sports minister
Wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Sakshee Malikkh held talks today with Sports Minister Anurag Thakur at his home. The wrestlers put forth five demands to the minister. These are:
1. A woman should head India's wrestling federation.
2. Free and fair elections to the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) must be held.
3. Former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh or his family members cannot be part of the WFI.
4. The wrestlers also want a police case filed against them over their protest last month on the day India's new parliament building was inaugurated be scrapped.
5. They have reiterated their demand for the arrest of Brij Bhushan Singh.
This is the second meeting between the wrestlers and the government in five days. The wrestlers met with Home Minister Amit Shah late on Saturday over their demand for action against Brij Bhushan Singh, who has been accused of sexual harassment by seven women wrestlers.
15:23 Mumbai most expensive Indian city for expats
Mumbai has been ranked as the most expensive city in India for expatriates, followed by New Delhi and Bengaluru in the second and third place, respectively, according to a report.
According to Mercer's 2023 Cost of Living survey, which includes 227 cities from across five continents, Mumbai, positioned at 147 in the global ranking, retains the top spot as India's most expensive city for expats, while Hong Kong topped the global chart.
According to the rankings, Mumbai has been positioned at 147 in the global ranking, New Delhi at 169, Chennai (184), Bengaluru (189), Hyderabad (202), Kolkata (211), and Pune (213).
Mercer's Cost of Living survey measures the comparative cost of more than 200 items in each location, including housing, transportation, food, clothing, household goods and entertainment. The data collected provides all of the key information employers need to design efficient and transparent compensation packages for international assignees.
It helps international employers design efficient and equitable compensation packages for over 400 assignment locations worldwide. Globally, Hong Kong, Singapore and Zurich are the most expensive cities for international employees this year, the report said.
The least expensive locations in the ranking include Havana, which dropped 83 spots, due in part to strong currency devaluations mid-last-year, and two cities in Pakistan -- Karachi and Islamabad.
Among Indian cities, besides Mumbai, the other surveyed cities -- Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Pune -- offer accommodation costs that are over 50 per cent lower than Mumbai. Among these cities, Kolkata claims the lowest cost of expatriate accommodation, providing a more affordable option for residents and expatriates, the report said. -- PTI
15:18 BYJU'S inducts generative AI, won't replace teachers
Edtech major BYJU's on Wednesday said it has introduced generative artificial intelligence in its learning modules with an avowal that the technology will not replace teachers.
The company has introduced a new suite of three AI models under BYJU's WIZ suite -- BADRI, Math GPT, and TeacherGPT -- to understand students' learning patterns and develop methodology on its own that will help them learn better. BYJU's co-founder Divya Gokulnath told PTI that implementation of AI is not meant to replace teachers but to generate efficiency in the organisation and help teachers focus on better placed tasks.
She said that videos have been used in the learning system but they have not replaced teachers.
"No AI could replace what we did as teachers do in that video. No AI can replace what we as teachers do in live classes and BYJU's tuition centres but AI can enable us as teachers to have clearer feedback on our students' performance so that we can help them become better learners," Gokulnath said.
She said the efficiency that will come into the system due to the AI module will have a positive impact on the company's revenue and margins and be fruitful for the entire organisation.
15:01 Why is PM still silent on Manipur, asks Cong
The Congress on Wednesday asked why Prime Minister Narendra Modi was "still silent" on the violence in Manipur and why he doesn't visit the state and make an appeal for reconciliation.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also asked why the prime minister does not encourage an all-party delegation to visit Manipur.
"There appears to be no letting up in the enormous disaster that has engulfed Manipur for the past seven weeks. The Home Minister visited belatedly after a month and the nation must be thankful for small mercies," Ramesh said on Twitter.
"But why is the Prime Minister still silent? Why doesn't he visit the state and make an appeal for reconciliation between communities? Why can't he at least encourage an all-Party delegation to go to Manipur?" he also asked. PTI
14:57 A slow death
NREGA has been repeatedly undermined. Calculations show that since the BJP came to power (2014-2020), coverage has reduced compared to the previous six years of the UPA regime (2008-2014). Read the report here.
14:55 Monsoon likely to set in during next 48 hours
Meteorological conditions are becoming favourable for the onset of monsoon over Kerala during the next 48 hours, India's weather office India Meteorological Office (IMD) said in a statement on Wednesday.
IMD had in May predicted arrival of monsoon on June 4. Southwest monsoon normally sets in over Kerala on June 1 with a standard deviation of about seven days.
The conditions are also favourable for further advance of monsoon into some more parts of South Arabian Sea, entire Lakshadweep, some more parts of Southwest, Central and Northeast Bay of Bengal and some parts of Northeastern states during the next 48 hours, the IMD said.
Monsoon is crucial specially for kharif crops dependent on rains. India has three cropping seasons -- summer, kharif and rabi.
Crops sown during June-July and harvested in October-November are kharif. Crops that are sown during October and November and the produce harvested from January-March depending on maturity is Rabi. Crops produced between rabi and kharif are summer crops.-- ANI
Protesting wrestlers at Jantar Mantar. File pic
14:51 Govt woke up after so long: Mahavir Phogat
Former Indian wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat welcomed the move by Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur to meet the wrestlers protesting against the Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Singh and hoped that a solution would come out of the meeting.
Anurag Thakur had said earlier that the government is willing to have a discussion with the wrestlers on their issues. "I have once again invited the wrestlers for the same," he had said in a tweet.
The wrestlers have been protesting to press their demand for action against BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh over sexual harassment allegations faced by him.
"This is very good. The government woke up after so many days and Anurag Thakur invited the wrestlers, so I would like to say that a solution must come out," said Phogat, a Dronacharya awardee and wrestling coach.
He is the uncle of Vinesh Phogat who along with other wrestlers has been protesting against WFI president.
14:38 Jaishankar: Cheetahs define India-Namibia ties
Upon conclusion of his Namibia visit, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar highlighted that Project Cheetah has emerged as a "new symbol of friendship between India and Namibia."
"There is so much today that binds India and Namibia together and in many ways, perhaps an agile, fast-moving animal that is equally comfortable in both societies is an appropriate symbol of what awaits us in the future," Jaishankar said after ending his Namibia visit.
He also said, "The relocation of Namibian Cheetas to the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh obviously stirred a lot of interest in India. But equally, as I discovered going to Namibia, it has been very much in the public discourse of that country as well." Jaishankar added that the mainstay of every relationship is the people to people contact.
14:18 Naqvi on Rahul@US: Cong unable to digest...
Senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Wednesday attacked Rahul Gandhi for his remarks during his recent US visit, alleging that the Congress is "unable to digest" democracy, development and growing stature of the country.
Speaking with reporters in New Delhi, the former Union minister took a swipe at the Congress, saying the party's "hat-trick of hit wicket" and its "nuisance of no-ball" has driven it out of the political fray.
Asked about Gandhi's remarks in the US, Naqvi said the Congress has "plunged into a pit" of dynastic politics and is "unable to digest" democracy, development and growing stature of the country.
The BJP has been attacking the Congress over Gandhi's remarks in the US. Rahul Gandhi had said in the United States that India's democracy was vibrant but attempts were being made to weaken it through the misuse of various agencies.
14:01 Wife in trouble for faking husband's death in Odisha train accident
A woman who tried to "fake" her husband's death in the Balasore train accident for compensation cash announced by the state government and railways has gone missing fearing trouble.
Gitanjali Datta of Maniabanda in Cuttack district had claimed that her husband Bijay Datta had died in the accident on June 2 and had even identified a body as her husband's. However, after verification of documents, it was found that her claim was false. Though police let her go with a warning, trouble started after her husband filed a complaint at Maniabandha police station.
The woman has now gone into hiding fearing arrest, police said.
Police said the couple has been living separately for the last 13 years. Bijay has demanded stringent action against Gitanjali for attempting to grab public money and also faking his death.
Maniabanda police station in-charge Basant Kumar Satpathy said police have asked Gitanjali's husband to lodge a complaint at Bahanaga police station in Balasore district as the incident took place there.
Meanwhile, Chief Secretary PK Jena asked the Railways and Odisha police to take stringent action against people making fake claimants over bodies.
13:55 Pawar: Anti-BJP wave in India, if it continues...
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday claimed there is currently an "anti-BJP" wave and people of the country want a change considering results of the recent Assembly polls in Karnataka.
"If this mindset of people continues, the country will witness a change in the forthcoming elections," Pawar said at a press meet in Aurangabad. He also claimed that small incidents in Maharashtra were being given a "religious colour", which was not a good sign.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) faced defeat in the recently held Assembly elections in Karnataka, where the Congress came back to power after a gap of five years. The Lok Sabha elections are due in 2024, and the Maharashtra Assembly polls are also due in the later part of next year.
Pawar said, "Looking at the scenario, I think there is an anti-BJP wave going on. Considering the Karnataka election results, people are in the mood for a change. If this mentality of people continues, there will a change in the country in the forthcoming elections. There is no need of any astrologer to tell this."
Asked about the possibility that the Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Assembly polls may be held simultaneously, the NCP chief said many people from his party and allies are also of the same view.
Representational image
13:28 Two oil tankers of goods train derail near Jabalpur
Two oil tankers of a goods train derailed under Jabalpur railway division in Madhya Pradesh and restoration efforts are underway, an official said on Wednesday.
The oil tankers went off the track on Tuesday night when the goods train was on the siding line of an oil depot near Bhitoni railway station, said West Central Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Rahul Shrivastava.
Since restoration in such cases is done in daylight, the work started on Wednesday after sunrise, he said.
The position of the oil tankers that got derailed was fifth and sixth of the rake, he said.
Since the incident occurred on the siding line, it didn't affect the train traffic on the main railway lines on the Jabalpur-Itarsi section, he added.
The incident comes days after a horrific trains crash involving two long-distance and a goods train in Odisha's Balasore district claimed at least 278 lives and left more than 900 injured.
13:10 Engg College student found hanging in Kerala hostel
A 21-year-old student of a private engineering college at nearby Thodupuzha was found hanging in his hostel room, police said on Wednesday.
Other students in the private hostel found the body of Arun Raj, hailing from Pathanapuram in Kollam district on Tuesday evening, and informed the police. It is suspected to be a case of suicide, they said.
Raj, second year mechanical engineering student, had posted a WhatsApp status on his mobile phone early on Tuesday, informing his contacts that he was going to take an extreme step.
An investigation has been launched into the incident, they said. Teachers said Raj was a bright student. PTI
AAP minister Atishi
12:56 Centre nod to AAP minister Atishi for UK visit
The Centre on Wednesday informed the Delhi High Court that it has given clearance to city Education Minister Atishi to travel to the United Kingdom for an official visit next week.
The counsel for the Centre said the proposal has now been send to the economic affairs department for further approvals, which would also be processed and the petitioner can apply for requisite visa permits.
While Atishi's lawyer said the clearance was given by the Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday morning, the counsel for the Centre said it was granted on Tuesday itself. "It was given yesterday. Political clearance was granted. No need for any direction," the lawyer told Justice Chandra Dhari Singh.
The lawyer appearing for the petitioner said she is scheduled to travel to the UK from June 14 to 20.
In her petition, the AAP leader informed that she has been invited in her official capacity by the Cambridge University to speak at a conference on 'India at 100:Towards Becoming a Global Leader' to be held on June 15. -- PTI
12:49 Lord of the ring
Modi arrives at the head of every session seeking the Opposition's cooperation, but all he really does is steamroll the highest legislature with casual contempt. Read the column here.
12:30 Students from across India to be sent to Modis school for prerna
The late 19th century school, which was functional till 2018, has been restored by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as part of a mega redevelopment plan for Vadnagar, said officials. Read the report here.
Representational image
12:28 2 killed, 5 injured in shooting at high school graduation in US
At least two of the seven people, who sustained severe injuries, have died in a shooting incident that took place on Tuesday evening outside a theatre where a high school graduation ceremony had taken place City's interim police took two people into custody but later said that one of them was not involved.
Multiple people were injured when a shooting took place outside the Altria Theater in Richmond, Virginia, following a high school graduation ceremony on Tuesday evening, officials said, CNN reported.
Apart from two people killed, five others including a 14-year-old boy and four men suffered gunshot wounds. Richmond police spokesperson Tracy Walker confirmed the injuries and said there was no immediate threat to the public.
The shooting happened in Monroe Park after the Huguenot High School graduation, Richmond Public Schools official Matthew Stanley said. The park is on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University, across the street from the theater, CNN reported. "We have cancelled a graduation ceremony from another school scheduled later this evening," Stanley said.
File pic of violence in Manipur
12:26 Manipur: Mom, kid, kin burnt alive in ambulance
An injured eight-year-old boy was killed along with his mother and another relative when an ambulance with the three on board was waylaid by a mob and set ablaze in Manipur's West Imphal district, officials said.
The incident occurred at Iroisemba on Sunday evening when the boy was being taken to a hospital by his mother and their relative in Imphal after he sustained a bullet injury in his head during a shoot-out, they said.
The three have been identified as Tonsing Hangsing (8), his 45-year-old mother Meena Hangsing, and Lydia Lourembam, aged 37, the officials said.
A senior Assam Rifles officer confirmed the incident and said security has been beefed up in and around the camp where it happened.
Sources said Tonsing, the son of a tribal man, and his Meitei mother, were staying at an Assam Rifles relief camp at Kangchup. On June 4 evening, a gunfight started in the area, and despite being in the camp, he was hit by a bullet.
A senior Assam Rifles officer immediately spoke to police in Imphal and arranged for an ambulance.
Since the mother was from the majority community, a decision was taken to take the kid to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal by road, sources said. The ambulance was under Assam Rifles escort for a few kilometres, after which the local police took over.
"Around 6:30 pm, the ambulance was waylaid by civilians at Isoisemba and set ablaze. All three in the vehicle were killed. We still do not know where the bodies are," one of the sources added.
The Kangchup area has several Kuki villages and is on Kangpokpi district's border with Imphal West, close to the Meitei village of Phayeng. The area has been seeing heavy exchange of fire in the second wave of violence across the state since May 27.
Violent clashes broke out in the northeastern state after a Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
The clashes were preceded by tension over eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, which had led to a series of smaller agitations. Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals Nagas and Kukis constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts. PTI
Sakshee Malikkh and Vinesh Phogat at the protest site. File pic
11:47 Malikkh, Punia meet sports minister Anurag Thakur
Wrestlers Sakshee Malikkh, Bajrang Punia and farmer leader Rakesh Tikait arrive at the residence of Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur after an invitation from the government for talks.
Malikkh, Vinesh Phogat and Punia -- all India's ace wrestlers -- have been at the forefront of the protest against the country's former wrestling federation chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. All three resumed their duties in the Indian railways, days after meeting Union minister Amit Shah.
They issued a statement yesterday denying reports of withdrawing from the protest. "This is our fight for justice. We will not step back," Malikkh said.
11:36 Drunk men try to kidnap 2 students from JNU campus
The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) on Wednesday alleged that some inebriated men in a car entered the campus and attempted to kidnap two students.
It said the JNU security office has registered a complaint with the Delhi Police on the attempt to stalk, harass, abduct and physically attack students that happened on Tuesday night. One of the students who was attacked underwent a medical examination and has formally filed a complaint, the JNUSU said in a statement.
Police officials said a complaint was received in connection with the incident and legal action was being taken. The JNUSU demanded the vice-chancellor lodge a police complaint as well.
"JNU VC also should file the complaint with the Delhi Police on the incident that has happened. The VC should also address the JNU community on the repeated security failure that has been happening on the campus," the statement said. It said a delegation of students would meet with the vice-chancellor at 11 am.
"We give the Delhi Police time till 12 pm to arrest the perpetrators, failing which we will get into further modes of agitation," the statement said. PTI
11:11 AI pax stranded in Russia have to sleep on floor
The passengers on board the Air India flight from Delhi to San Fransisco have been accommodated in a dormitory with mattresses on the floor. Air India will operate an alternative aircraft from Magadan in Russia to San Francisco, carrying all passengers and crew of AI173.
Magadan authorities are extending all cooperation in efforts to ensure that passengers safely reach their destination at the earliest, AI said. AI in a statement said since Magadan was a remote location, the passengers have been moved to makeshift accommodation. (See statement alongside)
A Delhi-San Francisco Air India flight was on Tuesday diverted to Russia's Magadan due to an engine glitch, the airline said. The airline said the flight landed safely in Russia. The Air India flight, which had 216 passengers on board, took off from Delhi on the scheduled time.
"Air India flight AI173 operating from Delhi to San Francisco developed a technical issue with one of its engines. The flight with 216 passengers and 16 crew was diverted and landed safely in Magadan airport in Russia," Air India said in a statement.
"The passengers are being provided all support on the ground and will be provided alternate options to reach their destinations at the earliest. The aircraft is undergoing the mandatory checks on the ground. We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers," it added.
11:01 Pawar: Satisfied probe against Brij Bhushan begins
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday said it is a matter of satisfaction that an inquiry has begun against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the Wrestling Federation of India chief who is facing sexual harassment allegations from some women wrestlers.
Talking to reporters in Aurangabad, Pawar said the protesting wrestlers want Singh's arrest, while the government says it will conduct a probe first and then take a decision.
"It is a matter of satisfaction that the probe has begun," he added.
The wrestlers have been agitating against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, and demanded his arrest. Some women wrestlers have accused Singh of sexually harassing them. The BJP leader has denied the charges.
The government has invited wrestlers protesting against Singh for talks on their issues, days after they met Home Minister Amit Shah. In a tweet post-midnight Tuesday, Sports Minister Anurag Thakur said the government was "willing to have a discussion with the wrestlers on their issues." Earlier, the Delhi Police recorded the statements of Singh's associates and those working at his residence in Uttar Pradesh's Gonda as part of the investigation, officials said.
11:01 What saving on bus fare could mean to women in Karnataka
As debate rages on 'financial burden' over welfare schemes deemed as 'freebies', studies and activists insist Shakti scheme will improve women's participation in social, economic and political activities. Read the report here.
10:36 Odisha train mishap: DNA samples sent to AIIMS
As relatives continue to search for their loved ones among the bodies of the victims of the Odisha train tragedy, the Bhubaneswar municipal corporation has said that it will send 30 DNA samples collected from visitors to AIIMS in New Delhi.
Municipal Corporation Additional Commissioner Suryawanshi Mayur Vikas told ANI on Tuesday that all 30 collected DNA samples will be sent to AIIMS Delhi and it will take 7 to 8 days to get a detailed report.
The Additional Commissioner said over 80 bodies had piled up in different hospitals awaiting identification. He said that many relatives of the victims of the Balasore train tragedy were unable to identify the bodies kept at AIIMS Bhubaneswar and five other centres.
They returned home after giving their DNA samples and these collected samples will be sent to AIIMS Delhi, the Additional Commissioner said.
"It will take 7 to 8 days to get report. So all 30 relatives will have to wait for another one week to get custody of the bodies. Many relatives left Bhubaneswar after giving their samples as there were no facilities for them to stay at Bhubaneshwar. Tomorrow all 30 collected samples will be sent to Delhi AIIMS," he said on Tuesday. The additional commissioner further said that the government is facilitating the work to avoid any inconvenience to the affected families. -- ANI
10:17 Adani Group: We had record performance FY 23
Adani Group on Tuesday said it has delivered a record-breaking performance across its portfolio of companies in Fiscal Year 2023.
The conglomerate said it recorded its highest-ever EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) group portfolio level of Rs 57,219 crore, achieving a 36 percent growth over the previous financial year.
Run-rate EBITDA, which considers the annualization of EBITDA from projects that are commissioned during the year, the number is as high as Rs 66,566 crore, said the company statement.
"Adani Portfolio companies operate in utility and infrastructure businesses with more than 83 per cent of EBITDA being generated from core infrastructure businesses providing assured and consistent cash flow generation. The platform has a strong asset base which has been built over three decades that supports the resilient critical infrastructure and guarantees best-in-class asset performance over the entire life cycle," said the Compendium.
The Adani Portfolio update also stated that no material refinancing risk and near-term liquidity requirement as there is no near-term significant debt maturity.
Further, rating affirmations from international and domestic rating agencies signifies the underlying credit quality with adequate financial profile with many businesses having underlying rating of "BBB", but it remains constrained by Sovereign ratings.
09:54 Woman found dead in flat in Bengaluru; hunt on for boyfriend
A 23-year-old education technology firm employee was found dead in her flat in Bengaluru, police said on Wednesday. Suspecting it to be a murder, the police have launched a manhunt for her friend, who is at large.
The crime came to light after Akanksha Bidyasar's roommate returned to the flat on Monday only to find her dead, they said. Her roommate alerted police who reached the spot and conducted inquiry.
Akanksha was found lying dead in the bed with a stole tied around her neck. Investigation revealed that Akanksha's friend Arpith Gurijala had come to visit her on Monday. Police suspect the involvement of Gurijala, who is absconding. Arpith and Akanksha used to work together in Hyderabad. Recently, Akanksha had shifted to Bengaluru.
09:46 BBC in hands of people with agenda: Hardeep Puri
Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday took a jibe at BBC's allegation of the freedom of the press after the Income Tax department raided BBC offices in the country, saying that the British broadcaster is in the hands of people with an agenda on India.
"...Our laws are very transparent. If someone is not paying tax and we send notice to them, then they say, it is an issue of Freedom of the Press...I would not like to go into details but some of their actions in the past made it seem that they were in the hands of people with an agenda on India...," Puri said while addressing the media.
Puri reached Jammu on Monday on a two-day visit to evaluate the implementation of a development project of his Ministry in the Jammu Division. Puri, on Tuesday, attended a meeting of BJP workers and leaders under Jan Sampark Abhiyan in the RS Pura area of Jammu district.
Notably, searches were conducted by Income Tax at the offices of the British broadcaster in New Delhi and Mumbai in February this year.
The broadcaster came under the radar of Indian agencies after it published a controversial documentary, 'India: The Modi Question,' which drew sharp criticism from the Indian government and tarnished the country's image. Following a survey by the Income Tax Department, the ED had earlier also sent a summons to BBC, calling for an inquiry into the matter.
The government, in January, directed social media platforms to block YouTube videos and Twitter posts sharing links to the documentary soon after it created controversy. The documentary, which questioned the role of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 2002 Gujarat riots, was widely criticized by the Indian government and several sections of the Indian public.
09:22 Two wagons of goods train carrying LPG derail in Jabalpur
Another day, another rail incident.
Two wagons of LPG rake of a goods train derailed in Shahpura Bhitoni of Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur, Railway officials said on Wednesday. According to the West Central Railway CPRO, the derailment took place while the goods train was placed for unloading.
"Two wagons of the LPG rake of a goods train derailed while being placed for unloading last night. No mainline movement of trains was affected. Train movement is normal in the main line. Restoration work started after sunrise in the presence of siding authorities. Fitness certificate issued by siding owner", CPRO West Central Railway said. More details are awaited.
The suspect has been identified as Prakash Kanojia
09:21 Suspect in hostel student rape, murder found dead
An 18-year-old college student was allegedly raped and murdered in her hostel room in south Mumbai while a security guard, who is an accused in the case, was found dead on railway tracks near the hostel, police said on Wednesday.
The police were alerted at around 5 pm on Tuesday after the woman became untraceable, with her fourth-floor hostel room in Charni Road area locked from outside.
A police team that entered the hostel room found her strangulated to death with a piece of cloth, an official said.
The victim was the student of a government polytechnic college in suburban Bandra, he said. After reaching the spot, the police along with a team of forensic and fingerprint experts started a probe into the incident.
During the investigation, it came to light that the hostel's security guard, who was a suspect in the case, was found dead on the railway tracks near Charni Road station on Tuesday morning, the official said.
Based on a complaint by the student's cousin and circumstantial evidence, an FIR was registered against the security guard under Indian Penal Code Sections 302 (murder) and 376 (rape), the official said. A probe was on into the case, he said, adding the post-mortem report was awaited. PTI
09:08 Alert Rajdhani driver averts major accident in Bokaro
A major train accident was averted at Jharkhand's Bokaro after a tractor crashed the railway gate near the Santhaldih railway crossing when the New Delhi-Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express (train no. 22812) was passing from there on Tuesday evening, a railway official said.
The incident occurred at the Santhaldih railway crossing, near the Bhojudih railway station, and the tractor got stuck between the railway track and the gate.
"A tractor crashed the railway gate when it was closing at the Santhaldih railway crossing of the Bhojudih railway station in Bokaro district. However, the driver of the train applied the brakes and the train stopped, averting any major accident," Manish Kumar, DRM, Adra Division, South Eastern Railway, told PTI.
Kumar said the incident occurred around 5 pm and the train was delayed by about 45 minutes.
He said the tractor has been seized and a first information report (FIR) lodged at the police station concerned, while the gate man has been suspended.
The driver of the tractor had fled the spot.
The incident occurred barely days after one of the worst train tragedies in the country at the Bahanaga Bazar station in Odisha's Balasore district, which claimed 278 lives and left more than 1,100 people injured after a crash involving Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and a goods train laden with iron. -- PTI
08:42 Govt invites protesting wrestlers for talks
The government has invited wrestlers protesting against Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for talks on their issues, days after they met Home Minister Amit Shah.
In a tweet post-midnight Tuesday, Sports Minister Anurag Thakur said the government was 'willing to have a discussion with the wrestlers on their issues'.
"I have once again invited the wrestlers for the same," he said.
The wrestlers have been agitating against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a Bharatiya Janata Party MP, and demanded his arrest.
Some women wrestlers have accused him of sexually harassing them, charges he has denied.
Earlier, the Delhi Police recorded the statements of Singh's associates and those working at his residence in Uttar Pradesh's Gonda as part of the investigation, officials said.
They also said a minor complainant whose statement was the basis of a case registered against Singh under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has recorded a fresh statement under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) section 164. -- PTI
01:34 'Captain America 4' retitled 'Brave New World'
Marvel Studios on Tuesday announced that its upcoming fourth Captain America movie is titled Brave New World.
The studio shared the new title of the movie, which was earlier named Captain America: New World Order, on Twitter.
"Captain America: Brave New World. In theaters May 3, 2024," a post on Marvel Studios' official page read.
The makers also shared a first look photo of stars Anthony Mackie and Harrison Ford on the film's set.
Marvel Studios announced in July last year that "Captain America 4' would be titled "New World Order' and be released on May 3, 2024.
The film marks Anthony Mackie's maiden outing as the titular hero in a feature film. -- PTI
01:19 Heatwave: Tamil Nadu postpones reopening of schools
Tamil Nadu on Tuesday postponed the reopening of the schools because of the prevailing heatwave across the state.
The schools will reopen for classes 6th to 12th from June 12 and classes 1st to 5th from June 14.
"Chief Minister MK Stalin orders that the reopening of schools is postponed to protect the health of students from the effects of rising temperature. Schools will reopen for classes 6th to 12th from June 12 and classes 1st to 5th from June 14", said the Tamil Nadu school education department.
The schools were scheduled to reopen on June 7, as announced by the School Education Department.
However, over the last few weeks, concerns were being raised about the weather and high temperatures by activists and parents.
This decision aims to prioritize the well-being and comfort of students amidst the prevailing weather conditions.
The state is reeling under hot weather with the possibility of heat waves also being anticipated and hence the reopening of the schools is being delayed. -- PTI
01:05 Taylor Swift accidentally swallows a bug during Chicago show, calls it 'delicious'
Singer Taylor Swift had to briefly pause her Chicago gig after she accidentally swallowed a bug on stage.
"I just swallowed a bug," Swift moaned from the stage, where she covered her face and turned away from the crowd in her Evermore set, during which she was about lead in to 'Tolerate It', Billboard reported.
She tried to shake it off, unconvincingly saying that she'll "be fine."
"It's just so stupid," she said, shaking her head and attempting to spit out the insect.
"Delicious. Oh, god. Is there any chance none of you saw that? It's fine....I'm just gonna try not to do as many of those. This is gonna happen again tonight. There's so many bugs. There's one thousand of them," she quipped.
Swift also had a slight technical issue during the show when her mic randomly stopped working and--after some attempted troubleshooting--a new one was brought to her on stage.
The "bug" incident went viral on social media, garnering netizens' reactions.
"Taylor Swift normalizes eating bugs ," a social media user quipped.
"Poor Taylor," another one commented. -- ANI
00:39 We have not withdrawn support to wrestlers: Tikait
Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Tuesday insisted that they have not withdrawn their support to the wrestlers and they have postponed the June 9 demonstration against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh only on the request of grapplers.
It was reported that since farmer leaders are unhappy with the wrestlers for keeping them in dark about their meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, they have decided to withdraw their support to the wrestlers.
Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik had met Shah on Saturday night to apprise him of their demands.
The farmer leader, however, clarified that they are still supporting the wrestlers.
"Our June 9 demonstration in Delhi remains postponed at the moment. We will wait for the outcome of meeting between government officials and protesting wrestlers. We (farmers' union) are in support of the wrestlers and will continue with our support to them," Tikait said.
Asked if he is aware of the next meeting between wrestlers and the government representatives, he replied, "I do not know when the next meeting is scheduled or if it will even happen." -- PTI
TOP STORIES
© 2024 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances