South Korea auto parts plant fire: Death toll climbs to 14
SEOUL, March 21: South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung on Saturday visited the site of a fire at an automobile parts plant in the central city of Daejeon to inspect relief efforts and meet with bereaved families and victims. Lee made the visit a day after the blaze, which left at least 14 people dead and 59 others injured, including two firefighters, reports Yonhap news agency. He was briefed on the casualties and ongoing disaster response, and urged fire authorities to take measures to prevent additional safety incidents, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a written briefing. Lee also met with bereaved families and instructed authorities to provide regular updates on the cause of the fire and relief efforts, while ensuring proper support for the victims and their families. He later visited a nearby hospital to meet with those injured in the incident. A total of 170 workers were inside the plant when the fire was reported at around 1:17 pm on Friday. Firefighters were earlier unable to enter the structure due to concerns that it could collapse. Also complicating the firefighting effort were 200 kilograms of sodium inside the building, which could explode if poorly handled. The fire was fully extinguished after about 10 hours and 30 minutes, authorities said. (IANS)
Two Indian nationals killed in road accident in Nepal
Kathmandu, March 21: Two Indian nationals died on Saturday after a local passenger bus hit them in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu. Padam Upadhyay and Satish Kumar Kushwaha, both Indian nationals working in Kathmandu, sustained serious injuries after they were hit by the private bus at Bhotebahal area on the outskirts of Kathmandu on Friday night. They were admitted to National Trauma Centre where they breathed their last on Saturday, said Naresh Raj Subedi, Deputy Superintendent of Police and spokesperson at Kathmandu Valley Traffic Office. Bus driver Man Bahadur Basnet, 35, was arrested in the case and police are conducting further investigation, he added. (PTI)
Six injured in clash between two groups in southern Nepal
Kathmandu, March 21: Six people were injured as a clash between two communities turned violent, prompting local administration to impose restrictive orders for an indefinite period in Kapilvastu district in southern Nepal on Saturday. District Administration Office, Kapilvastu enforced restrictive orders in parts of Maharajgunj municipality on Saturday for an indefinite period. A group of Hindus observing Navaratri festival were reciting bhajans in Bargadwa area of Maharjung municipality when Muslims celebrating Eid opposed it saying the music was too loud for them. The friction resulted in the clash between the two groups and as the clash turned violent, injuring half a dozen people, the police said they used baton charge and threw tear gas to disperse the crowd. The administration imposed restrictive orders to control the situation. (PTI)
