Archives for October 2024

Bulandshahr (UP) : Six people died and three were injured following an oxygen cylinder blast which led to a partial house collapse in the Sikandrabad area of Bulandshahr district, officials said on Tuesday.

District Magistrate of Bulandshahr Chandra Prakash Singh said the incident occurred on Monday evening in the house of one Riyazuddin in which around 19 people, including women and children, were living.

Riyazuddin was involved in shuttering work — the process of giving support and stability to concrete during construction work before it becomes solid.

The initial death toll was five which increased to six in the early hours of Tuesday. City Magistrate Chandra Prakash Priyadarshi said six bodies –“ three male and three female — were brought to the district hospital.

According to officials, those dead were identified as Riyazuddin alias Raju (50), his wife Rukhsana (45), Salman (16), Tamanna (24), Hivja (3) and Aas Mohammed (26).

DM Singh said, “A cylinder blast occurred in the Ashapuri colony of Sikandrabad between 8.30 pm and 9 pm leading to the collapse of the entire house.” He said eight residents were taken to the hospital while others were safe.

Additional Director General of Police, Meerut Zone, Dhruva Kant Thakur said information about the casualties was received, after which rescue and relief operations were launched immediately.

Personnel of the NDRF, fire brigade, police, medical and the local administration were involved in the rescue work, he said.

“Chief Minister (Yogi Adityanath) took immediate cognisance of the incident. We were sent to the spot and directions were issued that good quality treatment should be given to the injured persons,” the DM said.

About the rescue operation, he said the iron beams of the roof of the house had to be pried open using gas cutters. At the same time, an excavator was pressed into action to clear the debris.

On Tuesday morning, Senior Superintendent of Police of Bulandshahr Shlok Kumar told PTI that the rescue operation had been completed at the site.

Although the surviving family members have said that no one was trapped under the debris anymore, the rescue teams took all precautions while carrying out their work, he added.

“A total of six persons have died and another three suffered injuries in the blast because of which the front portion of the double-storey house collapsed,” Kumar said.

The wife of Riyazuddin was undergoing treatment for an ailment at a hospital and was recently brought back to the home, where the family had brought an oxygen cylinder along with its accessories to help in the post hospitalisation care, the SSP said.

“This oxygen cylinder exploded. The cylinder its nozzle, etc have been recovered from the debris.

The bodies have been sent for post-mortem and further legal proceedings in the matter are underway, he added.

Journalist Gauri Lankesh murder accused Shrikant Pangarkar (L), Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde (R)

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has stayed the appointment of Shrikant Pangarkar, an accused in the 2017 murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh, to any post in the party in Jalna district.

Ahead of the Maharashtra assembly polls, Pangarkar joined the Shinde-led Shiv Sena on Friday in the presence of party leader and former state minister Arjun Khotkar.

Khotkar earlier said that Pangarkar, a former Shiv Sainik, has returned to the party and has been nominated as the chief of the Jalna assembly poll campaign.

A statement from the Shiv Sena on Sunday said that if Pangarkar has been given any party post in Jalna district, the decision has been stayed.

Lankesh was shot dead outside her home in Karnataka capital Bengaluru on September 5, 2017.

A probe by police in Karnataka with assistance from agencies in Maharashtra had led to the arrest of several persons.

Pangarkar, a Jalna municipal councillor of the undivided Shiv Sena between 2001and 2006, was arrested in August 2018 and was granted bail by the Karnataka High Court on September 4 this year.

After Pangarkar was denied a ticket by the Shiv Sena in 2011, he joined the right-wing Hindu Janjagruti Samiti.

Khotkar earlier said he wants to contest the assembly poll from Jalna, but added that seat-sharing discussions in the Mahayuti (ruling alliance comprising Shiv Sena, BJP and Ajit Pawar-led NCP) were underway.

The seat is held by Congress’ Kailash Gorantyal.

The Maharashtra assembly polls will be held on November 20, while results will be declared on November 23.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Varanasi (UP): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday accused the Congress and Samajwadi Party of practising nepotism to the extent that they overlooked Varanasi’s development, and called on the youth from “non-political” background to join politics.

He said that the “dynasts” have harmed the country’s youth the most.

The PM, who kickstarted developmental projects worth over Rs 6,700 crore in his parliamentary constituency from Sports Complex, Sigra during his one-day visit, said that till 10 years ago scams worth billions used to be in the headlines, “but it is no longer the case.”

“The country is facing a huge threat from pariwarvad. They never believe in giving opportunities to the youth. That is why I appealed from the Red Fort about bringing one lakh such youth of the country into politics whose family has nothing to do with politics. This is a campaign to change the politics of India. This is a campaign to eradicate corruption and ideology of pariwarwad,” he said.

The PM urged the youths of Uttar Pradesh, especially Varanasi, to become part of the “new politics” with an open mind. “Kashi has once again become a witness to giving new momentum to the nation,” he said.

Modi alleged that Varanasi was shortchanged for a long time by earlier governments which believed in furthering their interests.

“What was the mentality due to which Kashi was deprived of development? Remember the situation 10 years ago, Varanasi had to yearn for development,” he said.

“Why did those who ruled the government for a long time in Uttar Pradesh and decades in Delhi take no care for Varanasi? The answer is – nepotism and politics of appeasement. Be it the Samajwadi Party or the Congress, the development of Varanasi was neither their priority nor will it be in future. The BJP government runs on the ideology of ‘sabka vikas’,” the PM said.

“Today, in just 125 days, the start of work worth over Rs 15 lakh crore is being discussed in every household,” he added.

Modi said his government has two major goals – to increase the convenience of the people and to give people jobs.

“Today, new highways are being built in the country, railway tracks are being laid on new routes, and new airports are being built. This is not just a work of stone and iron, but it is increasing the convenience of the people and creating jobs for the youth,” he said.

Earlier, Modi inaugurated RJ Sankara eye hospital being run by the Kanchi Math.

The hospital will benefit people of 20 districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh as well as those living in the border areas of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, according to people associated with the Kanchi Math.

Among the projects, 16 development projects worth over Rs 3,200 crore are in Varanasi.

The PM also laid the foundation stone for the extension of the runway, construction of a new terminal building and allied work to be done at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi at a cost of approximately Rs 2,870 crore.

He said that from 70 airports in 2014, there are now more than 150 airports in the country.

“We are also renovating old airports. Last year, new facilities were built at more than a dozen airports in the country. Ayodhya also has a grand international airport welcoming Ram devotees every day.

“Just think, those were the days when Uttar Pradesh was taunted for its bad roads. Today, UP is known as a state with expressways. It is the state with the maximum number of international airports.

“A grand international airport is also going to be ready soon in Jewar, Noida,” Modi said praising the Yogi Adityanath-led state government.

Modi credited his government for the reservation of women in legislatures and ending the practice of triple talaq.

“We gave constitutional status to the OBC commission, gave 10 per cent reservation to the poor without snatching anyone’s rights,” he said.

Mumbai/New Delhi: As many as 25 flights of Indian airlines received bomb threats on Sunday, causing hardships to hundreds of passengers and forcing authorities to move scores of planes to isolation bays at airports concerned for detailed checks.

The developments came a day after more than 30 flights of various Indian carriers received bomb threats. This week, nearly 100 flights received threats sending security agencies into a tizzy. The threats later turned out to be hoaxes.

Six flights each of IndiGo, Vistara, Air India and Akasa Air, and at least one flight of Air India Express received the threats on Sunday, according to sources.

In separate statements, an IndiGo spokesperson said the airline is cognisant of a situation involving flight 6E 58 (Jeddah to Mumbai), 6E87 (Kozhikode to Dammam), 6E11 (Delhi to Istanbul), 6E17 (Mumbai to Istanbul), 6E133 (Pune to Jodhpur) and 6E112 operating (Goa to Ahmedabad).

Passengers of these flights disembarked safely.

Vistara said it got security threats for six flights — UK25 (Delhi to Frankfurt), UK106 (Singapore to Mumbai), UK146 (Bali to Delhi), UK116 (Singapore to Delhi), UK110 (Singapore to Pune) and UK107 (Mumbai to Singapore).

“In line with the protocols, all relevant authorities were immediately notified, and security procedures, as directed by them, are being carried out,” a Vistara spokesperson said in a statement.

Security alerts were received for six Akasa Air flights — QP1102 (Ahmedabad to Mumbai), QP 1378 (Delhi to Goa), QP 1385 (Mumbai to Bagdogra), QP 1406 (Delhi to Hyderabad), QP 1519 (Kochi to Mumbai) and QP 1526 (Lucknow to Mumbai).

“Following defined procedures and thorough inspections of six aircraft, they have been released for operations,” an Akasa Air spokesperson said in a statement.

The sources also said there were threats for at least six flights of Air India flights. There was no comment from the airline.

An Air India Express flight IX481 from Kochi to Dammam received the bomb threat and the flight landed safely at Dammam, the sources said.

On Sunday, a handle on social media platform X that had issued bomb threats to some flights was blocked.

Against the backdrop of bomb threats, mostly through social media, to airlines, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) held a meeting with representatives of airlines on Saturday.

The civil aviation ministry plans to put in place strict norms to prevent incidents of hoax bomb threats to airlines, including placing the perpetrators in the no-fly list.

Chandigarh: Two days after quitting the Congress party, former Haryana minister Captain Ajay Singh Yadav on Saturday took a U-turn and said he was a “Congressman by birth” and would remain one “till his last breath”.

Yadav said he was “prevailed upon” by his son and former MLA Chiranjeev Rao to “forget the past” and work for the party.

Yadav quit the party on Thursday alleging shabby treatment after Sonia Gandhi left the post of party president. He also resigned as chairman of the All India Congress Committee’s Other Backward Classes (OBC) Department.

In a series of posts on X, the 65-year-old leader said he has served the Congress for 38 years and gave his best to the party. He said his family had an “association of more than 70 years” with the Nehru-Gandhi clan.

“I worked with my leader late Rajiv Gandhi ji and Sonia Gandhi and cannot forget their affection towards me… I am a Congressman by birth and would remain a Congressman till my last breath,” said Yadav.

“I was upset that my hard work done for the OBC department was not being appreciated by the high command and some harsh words made me take this drastic step. But with a cool mind I have decided to strengthen the Congress party, especially my mentor and leader Sonia Gandhi ji,” he said in another post.

“I am especially indebted to my leader and mentor Sonia Gandhi ji and can never think of hurting her feelings,” he said.

Chiranjeev Rao lost from Rewari in the recently concluded Haryana Assembly polls.

Yadav had earlier said the party should introspect to find the reasons for its failure in southern Haryana, especially Gurugram, Rewari, Mahendragarh and Faridabad where it won just one seat as against 10 by the BJP.

New Delhi: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk along with his supporters continued their fast for the 15th day on Sunday. Several others who wanted to join the group for a ‘maun vrat’ (vow of silence) were not allowed to assemble and were detained by the Delhi Police.

Heavy barricading was done around Delhi’s Ladakh Bhawan where the activist is sitting on an indefinite fast.

Wangchuk, in a post on X, said it is a “maun vrat’ and not a protest.

“Please understand. It’s a moun vrat not a protest call,” Wangchuk said in his post.

“It’s sad to see that our call for a silent fast or Moun Vrat this Sunday has been presented as a Protest Call by some elements. Please understand we are calling for a peaceful upvaas in support of our own future,” he said.

“On this eco-upvaas please abstain not only from food but also from mindless consumerism. Please use minimum electricity, water, machines, plastic etc,” he added.

The activist had called upon people to observe a day long fast on Sunday, where they give up on consumerism to save the environment.

Wangchuk also urged people in Delhi to join him at Ladakh Bhawan on Sunday for a ‘maun vrat’ for saving Himalayas and the environment.

Around 25 people from Ladakh have been sitting on an indefinite hunger strike at Delhi’s Ladakh Bhawan since October 6, demanding a meeting with top leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to discuss their demands.

Wangchuk with his supporters marched to Delhi from Leh demanding the inclusion of Ladakh in the sixth schedule Constitution, which he said would enable locals to participate in decision-making and conserving the environment in the eco-sensitive Ladakh.

They were detained at the national capital’s Singhu border on September 30 by Delhi Police and released on the night of October 2.

The sixth schedule of the Constitution includes provisions for the administration of tribal areas in the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram in northeast India. It establishes autonomous councils that have legislative, judicial, executive and financial powers to independently govern these areas.

The protesters are also demanding statehood, a public service commission for Ladakh and separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts.

The march to Delhi was organised by the Leh Apex Body, which along with the Kargil Democratic Alliance, has been spearheading the agitation.

New Delhi: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Sunday took a swipe at Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar over his remarks that going abroad had become the “new disease” afflicting students, saying it is not a disease but merely a symptom of a “diseased education system, one that is getting worse by political interference”.

Speaking in Rajasthan’s Sikar, Dhankhar had said on Saturday that going abroad is the new disease afflicting the children of the country. He had described it as both a “forex drain and brain drain”.

Tagging a media report on Dhankhar’s remarks, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said on X, “The Honourable Vice President has lamented that going abroad has become a new disease for students.

“Actually, it is an old disease that has afflicted students for many decades. I too contracted this virus in 1975, but recovered in time to come back to India in 1980,” Ramesh said.

Students go abroad now for many reasons. The CUET drives many youngsters away. The gaps in the quality of education and professional opportunities are all too apparent. The way many of these institutions are run is a turn off, the Congress leader said.

“Students going abroad is not the disease, it’s merely a symptom of a diseased education system, one that is getting worse by political interference,” Ramesh said.

In his remarks, Dhankhar said, “There is another new disease among children – of going abroad. The child enthusiastically wants to go abroad, he sees a new dream; but there is no assessment of which institution he is going to, which country he is going to.”

“It is estimated that in 2024, about 13 lakh students went abroad. What will happen to their future is being assessed, people are now understanding how bright their future would have been if they had studied here,” he had said.

They have created a hole of USD 6 billion in our foreign exchange, he said.

“Imagine, if 6 billion US dollars are funnelled into improving the infrastructure of educational institutions, where will we stand! I call this a forex drain and brain drain,” Dhankhar said.

New Delhi: In what could be called his first public comments following the murder of his close friend and NCP leader Baba Siddique, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan said he has to handle quarrels between “Bigg Boss 18” contestants at a time when he is “going through” a certain phase in his life.

Siddique, the former Maharashtra minister known for his starry iftar parties and Bollywood connections, was gunned down on October 12 outside his MLA son Zeeshan Siddique’s Mumbai office.

According to police, Siddique may have been targeted by gangster Lawrence Bishnoi because of his proximity to Khan.

On Saturday’s Weekend ka Vaar episode of “Bigg Boss 18”, on which the actor serves as the host, Khan said he wanted to give the popular reality series a miss.

“Yaar, qasam khuda ki what all I am going through in my life and I have to come and handle this (arguments between housemates)… I feel that I shouldn’t have come here today. But you have to do what you have to do,” Khan can be seen saying as per several videos circulating on social media.

“Mere par bhi bahut saare laanchan lagaye gaye hain (I have been accused of many things). I know what my parents go through,” he added in another clip.

It could not be immediately confirmed whether this episode was filmed before or after Siddique’s killing.

Though Khan didn’t share a post condoling Siddique’s passing on social media, he visited the slain politician’s Bandra residence last Sunday hours before his burial service.

The Mumbai traffic police received a threat message demanding Rs 5 crore from the Bollywood actor, following which the Crime Branch began a probe an official said on Friday.

A case was registered at Worli police under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for threat and extortion after the city’s traffic control room received the message on its WhatsApp helpline on Thursday afternoon, he said.

Khan had earlier received death threats from the Bishnoi gang whose members had also opened fire outside the actor’s Bandra home in April.