Prez, VP, PM condole loss of lives in Mecca accident
New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday condoled the loss of lives in the crane collapse at the Grand Mosque in Mecca in which some Indians were also injured. “Heartfelt condolences to families of deceased due to crane crash in Mecca, prayers for speedy recovery of the injured,” President Mukherjee tweeted. The Vice President expressed deep sadness over the accident at the Grand Mosque in Mecca that has resulted in casualties, a statement issued by his office said. He called for every effort to render all possible aid to the injured and the bereaved families. Ansari conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased and wishes speedy recovery to the injured persons. Prime Minister Modi, in a tweet, said, “My thoughts & prayers are with the families of those who lost their lives in the crane crash in Mecca. I wish the injured a quick recovery.” Over 100 people died when a massive construction crane crashed into Mecca’s Grand Mosque on Friday with scores more injured, days before the annual haj pilgrimage. (PTI)
Kerala seeks to continue additional food allocation
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala government has requested the Centre to continue the additional monthly allocation of 30,000 metric tonnes of foodgrains to the state. Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Anoop Jacob met his counterpart in the Centre Ram Vilas Paswan in New Delhi recently and submitted the request. The request was made in the wake of the term of the state’s additional allocation ending this month, an official release said here. Kerala informed the Centre that it could retain the existing ration quota to consumers only if the union government continues the additional allocation of foodgrains, it said. Jacob said after the meeting that the union minister had agreed to implement the additional allocation to the state according to the decision of the union cabinet. He said Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this regard and the state would continue mounting pressure on the Centre to get its demand granted. (PTI)
14 coaches relief train leaves for Lokamanya Tilak Terminus
Mumbai: A Relief Train consisting 14 coaches with approximate 300 passengers has left Gulbarga at around 1015 hours to Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, here on Saturday. The Central Railway sources said that the authority has made ex-gratia payment of Rs 50,000 to the next to kin of one deceased, Rs 25,000 each to three person who have suffered major injuries and Rs 5,000 each to five people, who have suffered minor injuries. The seven coaches of 12220 Secunderabqad-LTT Duronto Express derailed on Friday night in Karnataka. (UNI)
Toddler who fell into borewell rescued
Firozabad (UP): A two-year-old boy who fell into an over 100-feet deep borewell while playing in Khamarpur Baijia village of Sirsaganj area here, was rescued on Saturday, police said. Kishan had fallen into the borewell on Friday while he was playing in his father’s agricultural field, they said. Senior police and administration officials were informed about the incident and attempts were made to rescue the kid, they added. Kishan has been taken to a hospital where his condition was stated to be fine, police said. (PTI)
Man arrested with Pakistan made SIM cards
Jammu: A man was arrested along with Pakistan made mobile SIM cards in the remote belt of Mendhar, bordering Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. ‘‘On specific inputs, police team early morning on Saturday conducted a raid in village Dharana of Mendhar and arrested one person along with two SIM cards,’’ police sources here. They said that the accused identified as Amir Hussain Shah allegedly remained active in militant activities and has also spent some time in Pakistan. ‘‘The SIM cards have been seized while a case under relevant sections and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act has been registered and he is being interrogated,’’ they added. (UNI)
Woman police officer robbed in running train
Nellore: A woman police officer, who was travelling in Secunderabad-Guntur Simhapuri express, was robbed at knife point by an unidentified miscreant when the train reached a village in Nellore district in the early hours on Saturday morning. Police said the victim, A N Ratna, was an IPS officer working in Andhra Pradesh Police Academy in Hyderabad. She boarded the train in Secunderabad. She was robbed of her gold chain and cash at knife point. The woman officer sustained injuries in the scuffle with the robber. She was rushed to Government hospital in Guntur. Railway police registered a case and were investigating. (UNI)
Five Sri Lankan refugees begin indefinite fast
Tiruchirappalli (TN): Five Sri Lankan refugees at the special camp in the Central Prison complex here began an indefinite fast on Saturday to press for their charter of demands, jail officials said. They said the refugees had been arrested over the past few years for landing in India without proper documents and cases registered against them under various provisions of Indian Penal Code. Though they were earlier lodged in the refugee camp at Chennai, they were shifted here in 2012. Their demands include allowing them to stay in an ordinary refugee camp. (PTI)
Youth shot dead by friend, aide
Ghaziabad: A 22-year-old youth was shot dead allegedly by his friend with the help of his associate over some old enmity in Laxmi Garden colony here. Ajay Yadav, a driver by profession, was standing at a roadside fastfood joint when the duo came on motorbikes from behind and shot him on Friday night, Superintendent of Police (rural) Rajesh Pandey said. Yadav received bullet injury on his stomach and was rushed to GTB hospital in East Delhi where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment, Pandey said, adding, the body has been sent for postmortem. Both the accused have been arrested on Saturday and they are being interrogated, the SP said. (PTI)
