Major fire in Mumbai market; 300 shops gutted
Mumbai: A major fire engulfed a prominent commercial hub here in the wee hours of on Saturday, leaving three firemen injured and gutting more than 300 shops. As many as 34 fire engines and more than 13 water tankers were pressed into service to control the flames that swept through Manish Market, Sara-Sahara shopping complex, Mohata market and other small shopping establishments in south Mumbai, a Fire Brigade official said. The shopping enclave mostly houses showrooms of electronic goods, perfumes and clothes, among others. The cause of the fire, that started at around 3.45 am, was yet to be ascertained, and it has still not been brought under control, he said. Three firefighters were injured while dousing the flames, the official said. Two additional fire tenders from adjoining Navi Mumbai and one from Thane have also been pressed into service, the official added. (PTI)
Woman, daughter drown
Rajkot: A 32-year-old woman and her seven-year-old daughter drowned in a check dam at Mota-gundala village in Jetpur taluka of this district. According to police sources, the deceased Rekhaben Pravinbhai Parmar along with her two daughters — Jyoti (10) and Mansi (7) — went near the check dam yesterday to collect firewood. Her daughter Mansi wanted water as she was thirsty. While drinking the water from the check dam, she slipped and fell into it. Her mother, who saw that her daughter was drowning, jumped in the dam to save her, but also drowned in the process. Later, bodies of the duo were retrieved from the dam by the villagers, the sources said. (UNI)
Lawyers go on strike in Jammu
Jammu: Lawyers on Saturday abstained from courts on the first day of the Jammu Bar Association called two-day strike to protest against the transfer of land registration work from judiciary to revenue department. The lawyers of High Court and lower courts took the decision to abstain from work till November 28 after the General House Meeting of Jammu Bar Association. They are also protesting against the diversion of lawyers’ quota in the direct recruitment to higher judicial services. “Lawyers will not tolerate the interference of the government in snatching powers of judicial officers,” Bar president B S Salathia said. On the diversions of quota, Salathia said the issue, which concerns the legal fraternity across the state, is pending before the High Court. (PTI)
Mild tremors shake Kerala
Idukki (Ker): Mild tremors were felt today in parts of Idukki district, where the 116-year-old Mullaperiyar Dam over which Kerala and Tamil Nadu are locked in a row with conflicting claims about its safety is located. The tremors were of low intensity measuring 2.7 on the Richter scale and were followed by two more brief spells, according to Kerala State Electricity Board officials. However, no damage to property or injury to people was reported, officials said. The area had recorded as many as 21 mild quakes since January this year with Kerala citing it as a threat to the dam and insisting on building a new reservoir to replace the existing one which it contends is weak. However, holding a contradictory view, Tamil Nadu has opposed construction of a new dam, asserting that the present reservoir “is as safe and good as new” and accused Kerala of whipping up fear psychosis. (PTI)
Couple, absconding for 19 years, arrested
Lucknow: The special task force (STF) of Uttar Pradesh police has arrested a couple from the National Capital who was absconding for last 19 years in a case of fraud. According to STF spokeman here this morning, the arrest was made last evening from Nagal Devat village near Mahipalpur area near New Delhi Airport where they had staying after committing a fraud in Lucknow. The arrested couple Balram Khera and his wife Kamlesh Khera had an FIR registered against them in 1992 by Economic Offence Wing (EOW) of UP police. The EOW, which had announced a reward of Rs 10,000 on their arrest, had asked the STF to search for them. On a tip-off that they were living in Delhi, the STF team led by Deputy SP Rajesh Kumar Singh raided the Nagal Devat village and arrested the couple. They had shifted to Delhi to evade their arrest. Rs fifty thousand cash, ten mobile phones and share certificates were recovred from them spokesman said. (UNI)