Lunar eclipse to greet sky watchers today
New Delhi: A penumbral lunar eclipse will greet sky watchers in the wee hours on Saturday, the last of three lunar eclipses this year. The penumbral eclipse will begin at 03:20:38 AM and end at 07:19:49 AM. The deepest phase or greatest eclipse will occur at 05:20:17 AM. The beginning and end of a penumbral eclipse are not visible. In fact, no shading can be detected until about two-thirds of the Moon’s disk is immersed in the penumbra, SPACE president C B Devgun said. The eclipse will be seen all over the country, he said. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth is in a direct line between the Sun and the Moon. A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through penumbra, the lighter part of the shadow. This is the last of the three lunar eclipses this year. A partial lunar eclipse occurred on April 25 and a penumbral lunar eclipse occurred on May 25. Both of them were not visible in the country. (PTI)
11 infants die in two days in Bengal hospital
Kolkata: At least 11 infants have died at the Malda Medical College Hospital in West Bengal’s Malda district since Oct 16, hospital authorities said on Friday. “In the last 24 hours, seven babies, all below one year of age, have died in the hospital, taking the toll to 11 since Wednesday (Oct 16) night,” said Abdur Rashid, the hospital superintendent. “Most of the babies were underweight, and were in critical condition,” added Rashid.The deaths include triplets born Wednesday night, who were also underweight. Over 200 infants died in the same hospital last year. (IANS)
Boar kills woman, villagers attack forest department
Kendrapara: A woman died after being attacked by a wild boar in a remote village of Odisha’s Kendrapara district triggering violent protests by locals who went on a rampage on Friday setting the Gahirmatha forest range office on fire. The unruly people also attacked the forest personnel while keeping some of them hostage. The agitated people also attacked on forest personnel including the local forest range officer. Two motorized vessels and a motor bike owned by the department were also set on fire, said officials. The woman identified as Priti Mandal of a nearby village was attacked by the boar on Thursday. The Divisional Forest Officer said that “Extensive damage has been caused to the forest department property.” (PTI)
One and half year old baby beaten up, hospitalised
Kochi: A one-and-half-year toddler was on Friday admitted to the ICU of a hospital here with injuries after being beaten up, police said. The baby girl’s grandfather has been arrested in this connection, police said. Neighbours had brought the baby girl to the private hospital and doctors on examining her found that she had marks of being beaten up. There was swelling in some parts and bruise marks all over her frail body. The mother of the child is employed abroad, while the father is working in Kottarakara in Pathnamthitta district. The baby girl and her elder brother are staying with their grandparents, police said. The child’s grandmother told police that the baby was injured after she fell down while playing. (PTI)
