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30 pilgrims killed in Uttarkashi bus accident

          Dehradun: At least 30 pilgrims, including ten women and a child, were killed and six seriously injured when a bus carrying them to Yamunotri temple skidded off the road and fell into Yamuna river in Uttaranchal's Uttarkashi district. The accident occurred at a place around 250 km from Dehradun. Twenty nine bodies had been recovered till the last reports reached in. The injured were admitted to a hospital in Naungaon. The ill fated bus, which was on way to Yamunotri temple from Hardwar, reportedly broke into two as it fell into the river.

Lord Ganesha has killed fish!

        Ahmedabad: Tons of dead fish have reportedly surfaced from Ahmedabad's Kankaria Lake, most of which died after being exposed to or consuming heaps of Plaster of Paris (PoP) sunk into the water body in the form of Lord Ganesha idols during the Ganesha Chaturthi festival that concluded a fortnight ago. If the local authorities are to be believed, the municipal corporation staff has removed four truckloads of dead fish so far, to help the fire department remove the foul smelling debris, which can cause health problems in the long term. Several compressors have spread water jets into the lake along with four floating fountains in an attempt to raise the level of dissolved oxygen. "We are trying to suck out water from the lake and we are also supplying fresh water through five hose pipes so that the fishes have oxygen to breathe in. Compressors are also being installed in the lake for further help", said V.R. Patel, the Additional Fire Officer of Ahmedabad. "There are many festivals after the month of Shravan. During those festivals, the idols are immersed. The chemicals and metals in the material used to make these idols deplete the level of oxygen. Then there are many festivals in which people put flowers and grains in water bodies which further depletes the oxygen content", said V.D. Makvana, the city's Deputy Commissioner. Many idol makers had this time tried to make eco-friendly idols with the help of flowers and dry fruits, so this could be the beginning of an attempt to spread awareness about the dangers of water pollution and what needs to be done to arrest this trend.

Navratri gala all set to start under security cover (Go To Top)

         Jammu/Ahmedabad: Security has been beefed up at Katra and other adjoining areas to prevent any untoward incidents during nine-day-long "Navratri" celebrations. Additional troops and surveillance equipment have been deployed to enhance security arrangements at shrines like Vaishno Devi in anticipation of a probable terrorist attack, said police sources. A high-level coordination conference was organised by the army authorities here to synergise the arrangements with all security agencies deployed at Katra, they said, adding that representatives of the police, CRPF, intelligence agencies and the shrine board also participated in the conference. Meanwhile, in Gujarat, the festival got off to a glittering start with Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat inaugurating the state government-sponsored "Vibrant Gujarat: Navratri 2004" at Kankariya Lake on Thursday night. Former Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani, Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Governor Nawal Kishore Sharma were also present on the occasion. As many as 700 artists, from all over the country would participate in the festival at Kankariya Lake.

Public shut down against hefty Durga Puja donations (Go To Top)

         Patna: Patna observed a shutdown today to protest the hefty donations imposed on them by the organisers of a Hindu festival. Durga Puja is celebrated in honour of Goddess Durga who is considered as a powerful goddess, riding a raging lion, holding aloft ten war weapons in her ten hands. Businessmen in Patna said they are bulldozed to pay hefty amounts as donations while the locals complained they were asked to pump out Rs. 500 to Rs. 25,000. "We had told them that we would pay them through the union as we had been doing every year. We even requested them but they refused that and said that they would take donations individually and we are protesting against that," said Sant kumar, a shopkeeper. Police officials said they would take strict measures to stop harassment of people. "The shopkeepers should have informed the police at the time when the extortionists had come to ask for the donations so that we could have taken necessary steps at that very moment. That way we could have arrested them. Now that the issue has come to light, we will take strict measures," said N.K. Singh, a police officer. Police has stepped up patrolling to deal with the situation.

MPLF strike affects normal life in Manipur (Go To Top)

         Imphal: Markets and offices remained closed in Manipur today in view of a 16-hour general strike called by the Manipur People's Liberation Front (MPLF). According to the sources, transport services were cancelled in view of the strike, which was called by MPLF to protest against the merger of the state with the Indian Union in October 1949. Meanwhile, government offices also remained closed on the occasion of a local religious festival. The MPLF has been fighting for an "independent Manipur" for some decades.

SC issues notice to Pappu Yadav (Go To Top)

         New Delhi: The Supreme Court today issued a notice to former MP Pappu Yadav in connection with the Ajit Sarkar murder case on a petition filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which sought the cancellation of his bail granted by the Patna High Court. The two-judge bench comprising Justice N Santosh Hegde and Justice S.B. Sinha adjourned the hearing on a petition filed by Sarkar's younger brother seeking cancellation of the bail on the grounds that he has been misusing the liberties granted to him.

Maharashtra Governor's demand resented (Go To Top)

         Mumbai: Maharashtra Governor has asked political parties in Maharashtra to provide information on two points for the purpose of Government formation in Maharashtra after the Legislative Assembly elections. The two points include the declaration of the political party/parties with which the parties have a formal electoral alliance and whether the alliance will continue after the elections. Information should be furnsihed by 18th of October. Though the NCP believes that it is too premature to comment what the power-equations would be after the results and with whom the party would like to tie up, it expressed confidence that the NCP- Congress combine will win with a thumping majority. "We have said earlier also that we would gain about 160 seats. We will definitely form the government. Results will be out by 16th, hence we don't have to wait till 18th. Everything will be clear by 16th," NCP Spokesperson, Munaf Hakim, said. "About exit polls, you know what happened to BJP. The exit polls predicted BJP's victory, but people's mandate was against it. In our case, the results of exit polls have come just now. But we have been working since a long time. We are not very much elated on its results. When Sharad Pawar has said that we are forming the government, then we are. We have the support of a number of secular people with us," said Hakim.

          On the other hand BJP said it failed to understand the rationale behind the move of the Governor. It believes that whatever said and done, if at all the Governor aims at reducing the horsetrading instances, in any case, the present rules, restrictions and regulations would or would not curb such instances. "I feel that it was not necessary. There are many possiblities after the poll results. One has to see many things. Now there are laws against party hopping. But there are many small parties and some independent candidates who can support any party. But the letters have only been sent to registered parties who can never break the law. The letters should have been sent to parties which are not registered and also to the independent candidates. Anyways, today Gopinath Rao Munde is coming to Mumbai with whom we'll discuss the matter. If the need arises, we'll talk to the Governor. But this is my personal view that such a move was not at all important," BJP spokesperson, Madhu Chavan, said.

Fazal exceeded jurisdiction: CPM (Go To Top)

       New Delhi: The Left Front has attacked Maharashtra Governor Mohammed Fazal's move on pre-poll alliances. The CPI(M) has taken exception to Fazal's statement asking political parties to submit information on pre-poll alliances before counting of votes. The party claims the Governor has exceeded his jurisdiction. "The President of India should take up the matter with the Governor for exceeding his jurisdiction," the party Polit Bureau said in a statement in New Delhi.