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Amritsar | Dasara revellers spill onto railway track; at least 60 killed

Agencies
October 19, 2018

Amritsar, Oct 19: In a major tragedy, at least 60 people, including women and children, were killed and more than 70 injured after a train ran them over when they were gathered at a crossing to watch burning of Ravana's effigy at Jora Phatak near Amritsar on Friday evening.

Reports said that during the Dussehra celebrations, around 500 people were standing near the railway tracks to watch a Ravan effigy being burnt.

As the effigy of Ravana, located very close to the tracks was lit, a section of the crowd retreated towards the tracks, where a large number of people were already standing to watch the celebrations.

Two trains arrived from the opposite direction at the same time giving little time to people to escape. Many people were mowed down by one of the trains, sources said.
The people who were hit could not see or hear the sound of the train due to burning of firecrackers.

The train was on its way from Jalandhar to Amritsar when the tragedy took place at Jora Phatak in Amritsar Sub Division.

Magistrate I Rajesh Sharma confirmed that 50 bodies have been recovered and over 70 injured have been admitted to a government hospital.

According to Amritsar Police Commissioner SS Srivastava, at least fifty people have died in this tragedy.

"We are still assessing the number of casualties," he added.

Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu, wife of Punjab Local Government Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, was the chief guest at the Dussehra function.

After the tragedy, she left the venue in her car.

The angry mob attacked Education Minister OP Soni when he reached the spot. Police rescued the minister.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Government has announced Rs 5 lakh for the families of each person killed in the accident and free treatment for the injured.

"My government will give Rs 5 lakh to kin of each deceased and free treatment to injured in government and private hospitals. District authorities have been mobilised on war footing," he tweeted.

Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has directed Home Secretary, Health 
Secretary and ADGP (law and order) to immediately rush to Amritsar.

The Chief Minister has said he is rushing to Amritsar to personally supervise relief and rescue efforts. He has asked all government and private hospitals to stay open.

The Chief Minister would fly to Amritsar on Saturday to assess the situation.

The state will remain in mourning tomorrow in view of Amritsar train mishap. All offices and educational institutions will remain closed, the CM said.

President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday expressed condolences.

The Prime Minister and Home Minister Rajnath Singh have also promised all possible assistance.

In a condolence message, the President said, 'Shocked to hear about the tragedy on rail tracks in Amritsar, Punjab. Understand Indian Railways and local authorities are taking steps to help affected people. Heartfelt condolences to bereaved families.'

'Extremely saddened by the train accident in Amritsar. The tragedy is heart-wrenching. My deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones and I pray that the injured recover quickly.

Have asked officials to provide immediate assistance that is required,'the PM said in a message.

Condoling the deaths in the accident, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said, 'the train accident in Punjab in which over 50 people have died is shocking. I urge the state government & Congress workers to provide immediate relief at the accident site. My condolences to the families of those who have died. I pray that the injured make a speedy recovery.'

'Pained beyond words at the loss of precious lives due to a train tragedy during Dussehra festivities in Punjab. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased and prayers with the injured.

I spoke to Home Secretary of Punjab and DGP of the state regarding the train accident in Amritsar. They are rushing to the spot. Centre is ready to provide all possible assistance to the state at this hour of grief,'the Home minister said..

Expressing sadness over the tragic train incident in Amritsar , Railways minister Piyush Goyal on Friday assured that the Railways is conducting immediate relief and rescue operations.

Shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic train incident that occurred in #Amritsar. My heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims.

I pray for the injured to recover quickly. Railways is conducting immediate relief and rescue operations,' Piyush Goyal said in a tweet.

Information and Broadcasting minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore also expressed grief over the tragedy.

'Anguished by the tragic train accident in Amritsar. My heart felt condolences to the bereaved families who lost their loved ones. I Pray for the speedy recovery of the injured?'Mr Rathore tweeted.

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News Network
January 31,2020

New Delhi, Jan 31: Chief Economic Adviser K V Subramanian on Friday said India's GDP is expected to grow at 6-6.5 per cent next fiscal as the economic slowdown has bottomed out.

As per the first advance estimates released by the National Statistical Organisation (NSO), the country's economic growth is likely to hit an 11-year low of 5 per cent in the current fiscal ending March 2020.

The Economic Survey 2019-20, prepared by a team lead by Subramanian, has projected the GDP to expand in the range of 6-6.5 per cent during 2020-21.

The Indian economy has hit the bottom and it will see an uptick from here, he said in a media briefing post the Economic Survey.

Amidst a weak environment for global manufacturing, trade and demand, the Indian economy slowed down with GDP growth moderating to 4.8 per cent in the first half of 2019-20, lower than 6.2 per cent in H2 of 2018-19.

Based on NSO's first advance estimates of GDP growth for 2019-20 at 5 per cent, an uptick in GDP growth is expected in the second half of the fiscal, it said.

According to it, the uptick in second half of 2019-20 would be mainly due to ten positive factors like picking up of Nifty India Consumption Index for the first time this year, an upbeat secondary market, higher FDI flows, build-up of demand pressure, positive outlook for rural consumption, rebound of industrial activity, steady improvement in manufacturing, growth in merchandise exports, higher build-up of foreign exchange reserves and positive growth rate of GST revenue collection.

The survey also emphasised that merger of public sector banks may increase the financial strength of the merged entities, lower the risk aversion and result in lowering of lending rates.

Further, as the implementation of GST further settles down, the increased unification of the domestic market may reduce business costs and facilitate fresh investment.

Reforms in land and labour market may further reduce business costs, said the survey, presented a day before Sitharaman's Union Budget 2020-21.

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News Network
May 30,2020

New Delhi, May 30: An Air India flight from Delhi to Moscow on Saturday had to return midway after the airline's ground team found out that one of the pilots had tested positive for novel coronavirus, officials said.

"When the A320 plane, which did not have any passengers as it was heading to Moscow to bring back stranded Indians under Vande Bharat Mission, had reached Uzbekistan's airspace, our team on ground realised that one of the pilots had tested COVID-positive," senior Air India officials said.

"The flight was immediately asked to return. It came back to Delhi at around 12.30 pm on Saturday," the officials said. The crew has been quarantined. Another plane would be sent to Moscow to bring back the stranded Indians, according to the officials.

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Agencies
January 25,2020

Patna, Jan 25: JD Women's College in Patna has issued a direction to the students to follow the prescribed dress code on the campus while stating that wearing a 'burqa' in college is prohibited.

"All students have to come to college in the prescribed dress code, every day except on Saturday. Students are prohibited from wearing 'burqa' in college", reads a notice signed by the Principal and Proctor of the college.

The college administration has also imposed a fine of Rs. 250 for violation of the norm.

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Abdullah
 - 
Sunday, 26 Jan 2020

I think this college management will allow girl students to wear tight jeans + t-shair and miniskirts but is not allowing a girl to cover her body.    Are we in ancient days where humans had no dress to cover themselves or in the time of Nair kings in kerala who restricted ladies of low caste from covering their chest.     

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