Islamabad, Sep 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) The neonatal unit in Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad, where 14 babies died in the blaze in August, had no fire alarms and sprinkler system, a report claimed, citing an official inquiry.

One firefighter who wanted to remain anonymous said that other rescue workers told him that entering PIMS was "extremely difficult." The firefighter said that the doors towards the ward were locked and they had to enter through windows, the UK-based BBC reported.

The report from an investigative committee led by a retired senior civil servant found "systemic and institutional failure" which implies that what started as an electric spark led to "catastrophe."

Some of the people who were present in the hospital on the morning of August 26 found out about the fire eruption through shouts of the people. Abdul Ghafoor who was in nearby ward with his mother, who was a patient at the hospital, heard someone warning that a fire had erupted.

CCTV from the hospital's corridor revealed how quickly the blaze spread. The first indication that something was wrong in the hospital occurred at 6:38 am when a nurse was seen running from the ward to get help and coming back with a security guard after 20 seconds. Later, another nurse, was seen rushing to the ward, who returned with one of the babies who was the only one to survive, the BBC reported.

According to the report, smoke detection, fire alarms and sprinkler system were not working there. The report found no proof that the staff in the unit had been given training on how to evacuate children from the ward. It also found that staff were not given training on how to isolate the oxygen supply if there is any emergency.

Pakistani authorities suggested the fire erupted from a spark in the air conditioner of the ward. According to the report, this was the most probable reason behind the fire, due to an overheating electricity supply cable, although it is not clear what exactly caused the electricity defect.

Several babies in the unit were on oxygen support. The report mentioned that oxygen might have increased the fire but there is no proof that it created a pathway for it to spread.

On August 26, 14 babies died after a fire erupted at the Mother and Child Health (MCH) ward at PIMS. At the time, Pakistan's Health Minister had said that the fire erupted due to a spark in the air conditioner. The families of the deceased babies had said that the rescue teams reached the spot late, leading Pakistani daily Dawn had reported earlier.

At the time, the hospital said that the incident was caused by a spark inside the ward at 6:38 am, and massive fire erupted within seconds due to oxygen points at each incubator.

Source: IANS

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Jaipur, Sep 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) Following the massive fire at Sethi Complex in Tripolia Bazaar, Kishanpole MLA Amin Kagzi questioned the functioning of the Municipal Corporation and the fire safety arrangements in Jaipur’s Walled City.

Kagzi called for a re-examination of Fire NOCs issued to properties in the area and alleged that fire safety systems had not been inspected even once in nearly three years.

He also alleged that illegal encroachments were taking place under the government’s watch and were affecting the heritage character of the Walled City.

His comments came after a massive fire broke out at around 7 a.m. on Thursday at Sethi Complex in Maniharon Ka Katla, popularly known as Purohit Ji Ka Katla, in Jaipur's Tripolia Bazaar.

The fire reportedly started in goods kept in cartons outside a clothing shop on the second floor and soon spread to more than 20 shops and warehouses. The affected establishments include clothing warehouses, plastic goods shops and bangle stores.

Thick smoke and flames were visible from Subhash Chowk towards Chandpole. The Manak Chowk police station is located close to the site. After noticing the smoke, police personnel rushed to the spot and alerted the fire department. Fire tenders began arriving around 8 a.m., and more than 15 fire brigade vehicles were later engaged in firefighting operations.

Firefighters faced difficulties because of the narrow space and the large quantity of goods stored inside the shops and warehouses. The electricity supply in the area was also disconnected as a precautionary measure.

Manak Chowk SHO Rakesh Khyaliya said the preliminary investigation indicated that the fire was caused by a short circuit. According to the SHO, most of the establishments in the complex deal in clothing, and stock kept in the verandas caught fire.

Police will also investigate whether the concerned shop owner had a valid Fire NOC.

A local trader alleged that the owner of Sethi Complex was carrying out construction of a restaurant and hotel on the upper floor of the building. According to Chandwani, welding work was being carried out there in the mornings. He claimed that traders and local residents had previously raised objections but that no action had been taken by the municipal authorities.

Another trader alleged that a spark from the welding work may have fallen onto the goods stored in the shops below and triggered the fire.

This claim has not been independently established, and the police investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.

Eyewitness and guard Vikram Singh said the fire appeared to have started in a bangle and general merchandise warehouse and spread after coming into contact with goods stored in the veranda.

Singh said he and three sanitation workers were inside the warehouse when the fire intensified. They broke the lock and lifted the shutter to escape. He said his hand was burned after coming in contact with the hot shutter. As the fire spread, shopkeepers began removing their stock and moving it to safer locations.

Some traders were also seen attempting to douse the flames with buckets of water. Police restricted access to Purohit Ji Ka Katla as a precaution, while firefighters and Civil Defence personnel continued their efforts to contain the blaze.

Questions have also been raised over the building's fire safety equipment. Traders alleged that although fire safety equipment had been installed and a Fire NOC had been obtained, the system was not functioning when the fire broke out.

The allegation regarding the Fire NOC and the condition of the fire safety equipment will require verification by relevant authorities. The exact extent of the damage and the final cause of the fire will be established after the firefighting operation and investigation are completed.

Source: IANS

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Srinagar, Sep 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) Eight labourers were injured when a vehicle collided with an electric pole in J&K’s Srinagar on Thursday, officials said.

Officials said that the incident occurred in the Pirbagh area on the outskirts of Srinagar city.

Three injured people were reported to be in critical condition.

Reports said the vehicle’s driver lost control before colliding with the electric pole. The injured were subsequently brought to SMHS Hospital Srinagar for treatment.

The critically injured have been identified as Zahoor Ahmad, 27, a resident of Kupwara, who was driving the vehicle; Ishfaq Ahmad Bhat, 16, resident of Beerwah, Budgam; and Tanveer Ahmad Khan, 19, resident of Kupwara.

The other injured were identified as Nair Ahmad Kumar, 19, Ajaz Ahmad Sheikh, 26, Shahmeem Ahmad Khan, 25, Mohammad Qasim Sheikh, 27, and Kaisar Ahmed Teli, 19. All hail from Kupwara.

Further details regarding the circumstances leading to the accident and any police action were not immediately available.

Human error and risky driving behaviour cause 90 per cent of road accidents in J&K.

These risky behaviours include using a mobile phone, texting, eating, or adjusting the radio, which pulls a driver's attention away from the road. Driving above the speed limit or too fast for conditions reduces reaction time and increases crash severity.

Operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs, or impairing medications slows reflexes and blurs judgment.

Weaving through traffic, tailgating, and ignoring traffic signals or red lights create immediate hazards.

Extreme tiredness or falling asleep behind the wheel, particularly on long trips, also causes accidents.

Source: IANS

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Patna, Sep 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) Severe weather conditions, including thunderstorms and lightning, have claimed several lives across Bihar, with fatalities reported in Siwan, Gaya and Purnea on Wednesday.

In Siwan's Darveshpur village under Hussainganj police station, a grandfather and his 19-year-old grandson were killed after lightning struck them while they were grazing cattle.

Another person who was with them sustained injuries in the incident.

The deceased have been identified as 54-year-old Bandhu Chaudhary and his grandson, Prince Kumar, both residents of Darveshpur village.

According to an official, some members of the family had gone outside the village to graze cattle when the weather suddenly deteriorated, and rain began.

The group reportedly moved towards a nearby tree for shelter when lightning struck, hitting three people.

Bandhu Chaudhary and Prince Kumar collapsed after being struck, while another person managed to return to the village and inform residents about the incident.

Family members and villagers rushed to the spot and took all three to Siwan Sadar Hospital, where doctors declared Bandhu Chaudhary and Prince Kumar dead. The injured person was provided medical treatment.

District police also reached the hospital after receiving information about the incident.

Police Station In-charge Shailendra Singh said the bodies were taken into custody, and the necessary inquest and post-mortem formalities were completed before they were handed over to the relatives.

"Information about the incident was received through the hospital. The police took both bodies into custody, completed the inquest formalities, and handed the bodies over to the relatives following the post-mortem," Shailendra Singh said.

The deaths of the grandfather and grandson in the same incident have left the Darveshpur village in mourning, with family members and relatives grieving the loss.

In another incident, a 45-year-old woman was killed after being struck by lightning in Tola Ukhad Badhai Bigha village under Wazirganj block in Gaya district.

The deceased, identified as Sangeeta Devi, had gone to graze goats in a field towards the forest area on Wednesday evening.

When the weather deteriorated and rain began, she started returning home with the animals.

According to locals, she was struck by lightning shortly before reaching the village and died at the spot.

Her relatives brought her to the Wazirganj Community Health Centre, where Nandlal Prasad examined her and confirmed that she had already died.

"The woman likely died at the scene of the incident. After completing the necessary paperwork at the hospital, arrangements have been made to send the body to Anugrah Narayan Magadh Medical College Hospital in Gaya for a post-mortem," Nandlal Prasad said.

Sangeeta Devi's husband, Sunil Yadav, had died previously, and she had been living at her father's home.

She is survived by two daughters, one of whom is married. According to her father, Mithilesh Yadav, Sangeeta worked as a labourer to support the family.

Villagers have urged the administration to provide compensation to the bereaved family under applicable disaster-relief provisions.

Meanwhile, a woman was killed, and four others were injured after lightning struck in Mahinwa Pansoi village under Nagar police station in Purnea district.

Three women from the same family were among those affected, with one of them, identified as Pachniya Devi, wife of Hariur Rishidev and a resident of Chhotki Sahara, dying in the incident.

Her daughter, Rekha, was among those injured. The injured women are undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College and Hospital in Purnea.

The incidents have once again highlighted the risks posed by thunderstorms and lightning during periods of severe weather across Bihar.

Authorities have urged residents to take precautions and avoid open areas and isolated trees during thunderstorms.

Source: IANS

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Bhubaneswar, Sep 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) As many as seven minors drowned to death in separate incidents across different districts of Odisha on Wednesday, including four students who drowned during Ganesh idol immersion in rivers and other water bodies.

In the first tragic incident, three minor girls were identified as Gitika Sahoo (6) and Sibika Sahoo (7) of Majhatoli and Shruti Kumari Sahoo (9) of Dhipapada under Salangabahal panchayat in the Raiboga Police limits of Sundargarh district.

The deceased girls, along with another minor boy identified as Pratap Sahoo, had gone to the Sankha River, located near their village, to take a bath, as they often did.

Speaking to IANS, the Inspector-in-Charge of Raiboga police station, Dibya Oram, stated that while playing in the water during their bath, the girls ventured into the deep waters of the river in spate but failed to come out.

The minor boy managed to come out of the water and alerted nearby villagers, who rushed to the spot and pulled the girls out. They were later taken to the community health centre at Biramitrapur, where the doctors declared them dead.

Meanwhile, three school students drowned in two separate incidents while taking part in Ganesh idol immersion ceremonies in Ganjam district on Wednesday. As per reports, two class IX students, Adarsh Sahu and Preetam Sameli, of a private coaching centre met a watery grave in the Ghodahada river in Hinjili. The two were among a group of four students who had gone into the river to immerse a Ganesh idol.

They reportedly slipped into deeper waters during the immersion ceremony. The locals who rushed to the spot managed to save the lives of two students, but the deceased Adarsh Sahu and Preetam Semeli drowned. Their bodies were later fished out of the water by the fire services personnel.

In a separate incident, one Sitanshu Jena (13), a Class VIII student, drowned in a village pond at Sidhakhandi under Digapahandi police station limits. Locals claimed that Sitanshu and his friends had gone to the village pond to immerse an idol of Lord Ganesh from their coaching centre.

While carrying the idol into the water, his foot became trapped in the mud, causing him to lose balance and drown in deep water. His friends rushed to alert nearby villagers, who eventually pulled him out unconscious after a prolonged search, but doctors at MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Brahmampur declared him dead upon arrival.

In a separate incident, a class IX student, Piyush Das, of one Residential School at Digachia under Chandbali block of Bhadrak district drowned during the immersion of a Lord Ganesh idol in a pond near the school.

Source: IANS

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Hyderabad, Sep 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) Six students drowned in a lake during the immersion of Ganesh idol in Telangana’s Sangareddy district on Wednesday, police said.

The tragic incident occurred in Peddakanjerla village under Patancheru Police Station of Cyberabad Commissionerate.

The youth aged between 17 and 22 years accidentally fell into Neredu Cheruvu and drowned while immersing Ganesh idol.

Locals pulled out the youth and shifted them to a hospital, but doctors declared them brought dead.

The deceased have been identified as Narasimha (21), Teja (17), Sidhartha (17), Ganesh (18), Sumanth Reddy (17) and Uday Kiran (22).

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has expressed deep shock over the death of six students who had gone for the Vinayaka immersion.

He conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and directed the district administration to provide support to the affected families.

He also instructed officials to take appropriate precautions during the Ganesh immersion.

Minister for Women and Child Welfare, Seethakka, expressed deep shock over the incident.

She expressed her anguish over the tragic loss of six young lives during the festive season. She conveyed her heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and assured them that the government would stand by them during this difficult time.

To gather full details regarding the incident, Minister Seethakka spoke with the Sangareddy District Collector over the phone and inquired about the situation. She sought information on the circumstances leading to the accident, the relief operations undertaken, and the assistance being provided to the affected families.

The minister also spoke with the Secretary of the Women and Child Welfare Department, Shruti Ojha, to obtain details about the incident. She directed officials to coordinate efforts in providing necessary assistance to the affected families and implementing measures to ensure children's safety.

Minister Seethakka advised officials to remain extra vigilant regarding the safety of children. She specifically ordered that adequate precautions be taken to prevent children from approaching dangerous water bodies in areas where immersion ceremonies take place and directed the strict implementation of necessary safety measures.

Source: IANS

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Gurugram, Sep 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) A Gurugram court on Wednesday sent Kalyan Bainsla, the driver accused of hitting a woman biker on Golf Course Road, and his cousin to two days' police custody in connection with the hit-and-run case.

Bainsla and his cousin Lavneesh were produced before Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMIC) Nidhi Beniwal, who sent them to police custody.

Both accused will be produced before the court again on September 18.

The development came a day after Gurugram police arrested Bainsla from Rajasthan's Dausa and Lavneesh from Haryana's Palwal in connection with the incident.

Lavneesh was allegedly present in the car along with Bainsla at the time of the incident.

The Gurugram Police had earlier added Section 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), pertaining to attempt to murder, to the FIR after the victim, Sia, and her family approached the police seeking stringent action against those involved.

The case was initially registered after the police took suo motu cognisance of a video showing a car hitting a female biker on Golf Course Road.

Following a detailed investigation and analysis of CCTV footage, the police added the attempt-to-murder charge, which carries a punishment of up to 10 years.

The development came after Sia's family submitted her written statement to Inspector Manoj Kumar, Station House Officer of Gurugram's Sector-56 police station. The police are also recording her detailed statement as part of the investigation.

The Gurugram police have maintained that lawlessness will not be tolerated and said they are committed to taking strict action against those responsible.

Meanwhile, Sia on Wednesday appealed for strict punishment for all four occupants of the car, saying it was necessary to send the right message to society regarding women's safety.

Speaking to IANS, Sia said she had "great expectations" from the court and wanted justice in the case. "I stated in court yesterday that all four, who were in the car, should be arrested and that strict action taken against all of them. In my opinion, they should face harsh consequences; that is the only way to send a message to such young men—so that anyone thinking of committing such an act would think twice," she said.

Reacting to the accused's reported claim that he was in a hurry to use the restroom, Sia said the explanation was "despicable", stating that the entire incident had been recorded on video. She said that had the dashcam on her bike not recorded the incident, she "probably wouldn't have even been able to justify what happened". "So many women, who might be heading to work, have to face this kind of harassment. They don't have cameras, and often, cases like this don't even get registered," she said.

Sia reiterated that all four occupants of the car should face action, saying: "All four must be punished; only then can we set an example for our society."

Source: IANS

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Amaravati, Sep 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) Two young women were killed and their male friends injured when a car in which they were travelling rammed into a roadside hotel in Andhra Pradesh’s Anantapur district, but the families of the deceased have alleged that the youth killed them and made it look like an accident.

The incident occurred near Rotarypuram in the Bukkarayasamudram mandal of the district on Tuesday morning.

The deceased were identified as Haritha (20) and Navanitha (20). Harita was a third-year nursing student at a college in Anantapur, while Navanitha was working as a nurse at a private hospital. They were friends for the last two years.

According to police, the young women were friends with Kumar, who was working in the hospital where Navaniha was employed as a nurse, and an insurance company agent, Sridhar Reddy, who was a regular visitor to the hospital.

All four friends left in a car on Monday night. After visiting Korrapadu, SRIT College and other areas, they left for Anantapur around 4 a.m. on Tuesday. Sridhar Reddy, who was driving the car, apparently lost control and rammed the vehicle into a roadside hotel near Rotarypuram, where a bridge was under construction.

According to police, Haritha, who was seated in the rear, died on the spot. Injured Navanitha, Sridhar Reddy and Kumar were shifted to a hospital, where Navanitha succumbed while undergoing treatment.

The families of the deceased women alleged that the youth took them in the car after luring them with sweet talk, murdered them and made it look like an accident. They expressed their suspicions as the youth survived with simple injuries.

Haritha’s mother, Salamma, said she had already warned her to be cautious about the youth and not to trust them. Navanitha’s mother, Vijaya, alleged that the youth had taken her daughter by misleading her and demanded stringent punishment.

Police said they have registered a case on the complaint of the families of the deceased and taken up the investigation. A police officer said they were analysing the CCTV footage.

The post-mortem examination report is likely to be key in ascertaining the cause of the deaths.

Source: IANS

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Meerut, Sep 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) Panic spread in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut after a chlorine gas leak was reported at a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) in N Pocket of Pallavpuram Phase-2, prompting residents in the surrounding area to take precautionary measures and leave their homes.

The gas leak was reported from the STP premises on Tuesday evening, following which local residents were alerted and advised to exercise caution. The Pallavpuram Residents Welfare Association (RWA) appealed to people living in the vicinity to keep doors and windows closed and avoid unnecessary movement outside.

Residents who were away from home were also advised to return immediately as a precautionary measure. The association specifically urged families to ensure that children, elderly people and those with respiratory problems stayed away from the area affected by the gas leak.

As news of the incident spread, concern grew among people living near the STP. Several residents reportedly stepped out of their homes initially after becoming aware of the leak, while others remained indoors with doors and windows shut as a precaution.

According to information shared after the incident, the impact of the leaked gas was expected to remain limited to an area within approximately 50 metres of the plant’s perimeter. Efforts were underway to identify the source of the leak and bring the situation under control.

People in the area were also urged not to panic and to follow safety instructions. The RWA asked residents to avoid going near the STP or the affected area unless necessary.

Local residents said that after information about the leak emerged from the STP premises, the concerned personnel were informed. Action was subsequently initiated to control the chlorine gas leak and restore normal conditions at the plant.

Several people reportedly experienced health problems following the incident and were taken to a hospital for treatment. However, there was no immediate information about any major loss or extensive damage in the area.

Officials and concerned personnel continued efforts to contain the leak and prevent the situation from worsening. Residents were advised to remain cautious until the leak was brought under control and conditions in the surrounding area returned to normal.

The incident caused considerable concern in Pallavpuram, although no major damage was reported immediately. Further details regarding the cause of the chlorine leak and the condition of those admitted to hospital were awaited.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Sep 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Gurugram Police have arrested another accused in the city's hit-and-run incident, taking the total number of arrests in the case to two, police officials said.

Lavanish, who was present in the car with the accused driver Kalyan Bainsla at the time of the incident, was arrested from Haryana's Palwal, police officials added on Tuesday.

Earlier on Tuesday, Bainsla was arrested from Rajasthan's Dausa.

Previously, the police in Gurugram had added an attempt-to-murder charge to the FIR registered in connection with the hit-and-run case involving woman biker Sia after she and her family approached the police seeking stringent action against the accused.

The police took suo motu cognisance of a video of a car hitting a female biker on Golf Course Road and registered a case at Gurugram's Sector-56 police station. After conducting a thorough investigation and analysing CCTV footage, the police added Section 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for attempt to murder, which carries a punishment of up to 10 years.

The accused car driver will also be arrested soon, officials said.

The Gurugram Police warned that lawlessness will not be tolerated at any cost.

Officials said that they are committed to taking strict action against the perpetrators.

The development comes after Sia's family submitted her written statement to Inspector Manoj Kumar, the Station House Officer (SHO) of Gurugram's Sector-56 police station.

The police are also recording her detailed statement as part of the investigation.

Earlier, speaking to IANS, Deepankar Chauhan, Siya's brother, said: "Yesterday, we submitted Sia's written statement to the SHO of Sector-56, Gurugram. Today, the SHO himself is coming here to record her verbal statement. Sia is experiencing severe muscle pain and muscle pulls, and her health has also deteriorated amid all this stress and hassle. We had requested the SHO to come here to record her statement. We want the strictest sections and maximum charges to be pressed against them (the accused). Primarily, let me state that we will push for charges of attempt to murder, hit-and-run and harassment."

Source: IANS

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Srinagar, Sept 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) Two siblings were injured in a bear attack in J&K’s Anantnag district on Tuesday, officials said.

The attack occurred in an orchard in the Kralmud area of Dooru in south Kashmir’s Anantnag.

Officials said the injured have been identified as Aabid Nazir, 25, and Sehrish Nazir, 14, the son and daughter, respectively, of Nazir Ahmad Rather, and residents of Kralmud.

Both were evacuated to Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Dooru for initial treatment.

Jammu and Kashmir recorded over 17,200 human-wildlife conflict incidents between 2020 and mid-2025, resulting in more than 100 deaths. J&K logged 15,661 conflict cases over a two-year span, causing 32 deaths and 350 injuries.

Government data presented in the J&K Assembly shows 18 deaths and 9,301 cases in 2023–24, followed by 14 deaths and over 6,300 cases in 2024–25.

Jammu district, Kupwara, Doda, Kishtwar, Baramulla, and Anantnag record the highest frequency of distress calls and encounters.

Frequent maulings by black bears and leopards continue to occur in rural and orchard belts, such as recent attacks reported in Anantnag (Dooru and Aishmuqam) and Kupwara (Handwara), often as animals forage near agricultural fields or habitations.

Main reasons for this increasing conflict include habitat loss, as forests shrink while human settlements and orchards expand. Animals, thus, lose their natural prey and enter villages to find food.

Meanwhile, roads and projects break up natural wildlife migration paths.

Encroachment on wildlife corridors, open garbage dumps attracting stray dogs (which in turn draw leopards), and shrinking natural forest buffers drive animals into villages.

Authorities are introducing non-lethal deterrents like pepper spray, noise devices, and mild electric sticks for local safety. The Wildlife Department also operates active control rooms across J&K to deal with the incidents.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Sep 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) Gurugram's Golf Course Road hit-and-run victim Sia on Tuesday called for strict action against those who harass and endanger people on the roads, saying such incidents will continue unless there is a strong fear of the law.

Speaking to IANS, Sia said she had narrated the entire incident to the police, as she alleged that the occupants of the car were trying to harass her and that there had been an attempt on her life.

"As I showed in the video, he was driving from my side. I told the police everything, how they were trying to harass me, molest me, and how an attempt was made on my life," she said.

"I also gave him a sign to drive far from me. I was afraid that they would hit me, so I rode my bike farther away. They were continuously chasing me. Whenever my bike slowed down, they intentionally came and hit me from behind," she told IANS.

Sia said there were four people inside the car and that she had provided all the relevant information to the police.

"Obviously, an attempt-to-murder case should be filed against them. I narrated everything and gave my statement. I want everyone involved to be arrested and strict action to be taken," she said.

"Until we take strict action, there are so many such people who will roam freely on the roads, hit people and run, hit women and run, or harass them on the roads. Unless we instil fear of the law, such incidents will keep happening," she added.

Sia said women bikers frequently face harassment while travelling on the roads and stressed that her case was not an isolated incident.

"Women bikers have to face such things on the roads. This is not the first case of harassment and chasing. I am not the only woman who may have faced such things," she said.

"When you ask women bikers, they face such things. People chase them and follow them. So, it's an important incident involving a woman biker. If we do not take action, how many more people will face such incidents in the future?" she added.

Sia, who was injured in the incident, said her helmet and other safety gear helped protect her from more serious injuries.

"I had a helmet and a few other things that saved me from a major accident. But I suffered several injuries to my knees and hands," she said.

She also thanked fellow women bikers for supporting her and urged victims of similar incidents to come forward and report them.

"This is not the only such incident that has happened. I have seen many such incidents in the past. If anyone faces such a situation or incident, they should come forward," she said.

Meanwhile, Gurugram Police on Tuesday arrested Kalyan Bainsla, the accused driver, from Dausa in Rajasthan. Another accused, Lavnish Gurjar, was also arrested in connection with the case.

Based on CCTV footage, police added an attempt-to-murder charge against the accused driver. The offence carries a provision for imprisonment of up to 10 years.

On Sunday, a white sedan was seen swerving sharply to the right on Golf Course Road and ramming into Sia, who was wearing a helmet. She was thrown onto the road, while her Aprilia RS 457 sports bike slid across the road, producing sparks, according to a disturbing CCTV video.

Source: IANS

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Bengaluru, Sep 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) Ganesh festival celebrations turned tragic in Karnataka as at least seven people were killed in three separate road accidents reported in Belagavi, Kalaburagi districts in North Karnataka and Mandya in South Karnataka between Monday night and Tuesday morning.

In Mandya, a couple and their daughter were killed after a tanker ran over their scooter in the early hours of Tuesday. The deceased have been identified as Mutturaj, his wife Kavya and their daughter Keerthana.

Mutturaj, who was employed at a factory in Bengaluru's Peenya area, had travelled with his family to his mother-in-law's house to celebrate the Ganesh festival. The family was returning to Bengaluru after the celebrations when the accident occurred at around 4.15 a.m. on Tuesday.

According to police, the tanker allegedly came from behind and hit the scooter before running over the victims. CCTV footage obtained by the police reportedly shows the tanker dragging the scooter for some distance after the collision.

Police suspect rash and negligent driving by the tanker driver to be the cause of the accident. The driver fled the spot following the incident and police have launched a search to trace him.

Another daughter of the couple sustained serious injuries and is undergoing treatment at a hospital. The bodies have been shifted to the Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS). The family has said that the final rites will be conducted at Kootaganahalli in Kanakapura.

In Kalaburagi, one person was killed and another critically injured in an accident while they were reportedly on their way to bring a Ganesha idol. The incident occurred at the Hirapura Road Flyover in Kalaburagi city.

The deceased has been identified as Prashanth Biradar. According to police, Prashanth was riding a motorcycle when it came into contact with another two-wheeler. Both riders fell onto the road and sustained serious head injuries. Prashanth later succumbed to his injuries at a hospital, while the other injured person is undergoing treatment.

In Belagavi, three persons were killed after a motorcycle on which they were travelling was hit by a Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus on the outskirts of Savadatti town late on Monday late night.

The deceased have been identified as 22-year-old Vinod Hogennavar, 20-year-old Akash and Ravi Kurubara. According to police, the three had travelled from Dharwad to witness the Ganesh procession and were returning towards Savadatti after the celebrations when the accident occurred.

The KSRTC bus, which was coming from the opposite direction, allegedly collided with their motorcycle. All three died on the spot due to the impact. Police have taken up an investigation into the accident.

Police in all three districts have taken up investigations into the respective accidents.

Source: IANS

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Kohima, Sep 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) In the wake of 10 people, including three members of a family, dying in "dry state" Nagaland’s Tuensang, with spurious liquor consumption suspected as the cause in nine of the cases, the state Excise and Prohibition Department has issued a statewide advisory against consuming liquor of unknown or doubtful origin.

Tuensang police said that between September 10 and 12, nine of the deceased had a direct or indirect circumstantial link to alcohol consumption, while the circumstances leading to the deaths were yet to be conclusively established.

Nagaland Director General of Police (DGP) Rupin Sharma said the victims reportedly died after consuming what was suspected to be spurious liquor.

According to police, another person, reportedly a family member of a liquor seller, died by suicide and the case was being investigated separately.

Media reports quoting local residents, however, suggested that the actual death toll could be higher, with some deaths possibly going unreported.

An official release said Tuensang police received reports on September 12 regarding a pattern of deaths involving people who had been admitted to Tuensang Civil Hospital.

Preliminary enquiries revealed that in most cases, the deceased had reportedly consumed liquor before developing symptoms such as blurred vision, severe headache, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting, the police said.

Although consumption of spurious or adulterated liquor is suspected to be a possible cause of the deaths, it could not be scientifically and conclusively established at this stage, the police said.

Scientific and forensic procedures would be undertaken as part of the investigation, the statement said.

Post-mortem examinations were not conducted in most of the cases as the mortal remains had already been taken for funerals before police became aware of the pattern of deaths, it added.

The Tuensang police are conducting a thorough investigation to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the deaths, identify the source and nature of the liquor consumed and determine whether any person or persons were responsible for the incident.

Police also learnt that three of those who died were members of a family from whose premises the liquor was reportedly purchased by some of the deceased.

Police conducted search and raid operations across Tuensang town and in the Chendang Saddle area to identify and seize suspected unauthorised, spurious or adulterated liquor. During the operations, around 470 bottles of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and beer cans were seized from different locations, officials said.

Commissioner of Excise H. Atokhe Aye issued a statewide public advisory urging people to exercise "utmost caution" and "strictly refrain" from consuming liquor.

"The Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act, 1989 provides for the prohibition of the possession, sale, consumption, manufacture, import and export of liquor in the state. The present situation further underscores the serious risks associated with illicit and unregulated liquor," he said in a statement.

The department, in coordination with other authorities, has initiated immediate inquiries and enforcement action to ascertain the source and nature of the suspected spurious liquor and take appropriate action in accordance with law, the statement said. The public has been advised to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspected manufacture, possession, sale or distribution of illicit liquor to the nearest Excise office, it added.

The opposition Congress demanded a thorough investigation, action against everyone involved in the illegal supply chain and any negligent officials, besides immediate ex-gratia compensation for the bereaved families.

The Congress, in a statement, questioned how spurious liquor was reaching people in Nagaland despite the state being under prohibition law.

"If Nagaland is a 'dry state', how is spurious liquor freely reaching our people and claiming lives ?" the party asked.

"This tragedy raises serious questions about enforcement and accountability. The government owes the people answers. Accountability must be fixed and lives must not be reduced to statistics," the statement said.

Source: IANS

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Jammu, Sep 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) At least two people were killed and seven others injured on Monday in a road accident in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district.

Officials said two people were killed and seven others injured after a passenger Matador (Mini bus) overturned near the Bakkal Tunnel area of the district. “The Matador bearing registration number JK14B-2973, was travelling from Bakkal towards Reasi when it overturned," officials said.

“Two passengers died in the accident, while seven others sustained injuries and their identities are being ascertained. Police and rescue teams have reached the spot and shifted the injured to a nearby hospital for treatment. Police have taken cognisance of the incident,” the officials added.

Road accidents in Jammu and Kashmir are a major public safety crisis, frequently claiming more lives annually than militancy-related incidents.

Official data from the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) classifies these accidents as a multi-causal phenomenon driven by human error, environmental factors, and vehicular issues.

Over-speeding consistently ranks as the leading cause of road casualties across the union territory. Drivers frequently use mobile phones or lose focus while driving. Pervasive disregard for traffic rules, including wrong-side driving, jumping traffic lights, and overtaking at a blind curve are other major reasons for road accidents.

In two-wheeler accidents, there is a high fatality rate due to a refusal to wear helmets. A significant number of accidents involve underage drivers or individuals operating vehicles without valid licenses or proper training and driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or acute driver fatigue.

Fatalities are heavily concentrated on national highways in hilly and treacherous terrains, such as the Doda-Kishtwar-Ramban stretch. These roads are often narrow and lack critical safety features, such as guardrails and proper signage.

Inspections by road safety teams have revealed structural weaknesses on major routes, such as poorly placed U-turns, unauthorised entry points from residential colonies, and misplaced road grills.

Source: IANS

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Kolkata, Sep 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) A devastating fire had broken out at the distribution office of private power-generation-cum-distribution company, CESC Limited, at Panihati in North 24 Paragans district of West Bengal on Sunday.

Although no casualties had been reported at the time the report was filed, the intensity of the fire had been quite massive.

The fire had started spreading and a couple of shanties in the adjacent areas have come under the grip of fire.

The intensity of the fire was so massive that the initial fire-fighting attempts by the local people failed completely.

The state fire services department was immediately informed, and four fire-tenders initially reached the spot and started the first fighting exercise on a war-footing.

In due course, five more fire tenders arrived at the spot and joined the firefighting exercise.

At the time the report was filed a total of nine fire-tenders were engaged in the fire-fighting exercise.

"The intensity of the fire is quite massive. So, we have asked for requisition of more fire tenders. They are expected soon. Right now, our attempts are to restrict the fire within that building and prevent it from spreading to the nearby shanties and constructions," a state fire services department present at the spot said.

There is a residential area behind this building.

The firefighters are keeping an eye on it to ensure that the fire does not spread there.

Residents of the slum have been made aware of that by the state fire services department.

Besides water, the firefighters are also using foam to extinguish the fire.

Fire officials are hopeful that they will be able to bring the fire under control at the earliest.

On the other hand, since the building is on busy Barrackpore Trunk Road BT Road, traffic was disrupted on Sunday afternoon because of the fire.

The police are also keeping an eye on the situation in the area.

It is not yet clear how the fire broke out.

However, the initial assumption of the fire department is that a transformer in the CESC building exploded somehow, which caused the fire.

Source: IANS

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Ranchi, Sep 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) Three people were killed, and several others are feared trapped under debris after an illegal coal mine collapsed in Jharkhand's Dhanbad district on Sunday morning, Vimalesh Chaubey, Regional President of the National Colliery Mazdoor Union, said.

The accident took place at around 7 a.m. in Keshalpur Kumharpatti, located in the Ramkanali OP area of Katras in Dhanbad district.

According to Chaubey, a number of men and women had entered the illegal mine tunnel to cut and collect coal when the upper portion of the tunnel suddenly collapsed, trapping several people beneath the debris.

"Some men and women had gone into the illegal tunnel to cut and pick coal. The upper part of the tunnel suddenly collapsed, burying several people under the debris. Following the accident, nearby villagers rushed to the scene and began removing the debris using spades, pickaxes, and other tools. We know that three people are confirmed dead," Chaubey said.

He said that three injured people were also rescued from the site and subsequently admitted to a local nursing home for treatment.

Chaubey added that locals fear that several more people could still be trapped beneath the debris following the collapse. The possibility of additional people being buried under the rubble has led to intensified rescue efforts at the site.

According to reports, illegal coal extraction has been taking place through tunnels in the area, with coal extracted from these unauthorised mines reportedly being transported and sold in nearby markets using motorcycles.

At the time of the accident, people had reportedly entered the tunnel to cut and collect coal in a similar manner when the structure suddenly gave way, resulting in the collapse and trapping those inside.

Following the incident, police reached the spot and began investigating the circumstances surrounding the mine collapse.

Authorities are also monitoring the rescue operation as efforts continue to determine whether more people remain trapped under the debris.

Source: IANS

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Visakhapatnam, Sep 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) At least seven persons were killed in three separate road accidents in north coastal Andhra Pradesh, police said on Sunday.

Three people were killed when a truck collided with an auto-rickshaw in Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram district in the early hours of Sunday.

The accident occurred near Shikaruganti village in Dattirajeru mandal. All three occupants in the auto-rickshaw died on the spot.

The deceased have been identified as auto-rickshaw driver G. Tirupati, T. Adinarayana and G. Ramu.

On receipt of information, police rushed to the spot and shifted the bodies to a nearby government hospital for post-mortem examination.

The truck was being driven at a high speed, which is suspected to have led to the collision.

Police have registered a case and taken up the investigation.

According to police, auto-rickshaw driver Tirupati, a resident of Gajarayunivalasa village in Badangi mandal, along with Adinarayana, a farmer, were coming from Gajapatinagaram. Fish trader Ramu boarded the vehicle at Peddamanapuram.

When the three-wheeler reached Shikaruganti crossroads, it was hit by the speeding truck.

Meanwhile, two persons died in an accident at Makavaram in Anakapalli district. The accident occurred when a tractor overturned. The vehicle was heading for quarry drilling work.

Two persons were killed in another accident in Visakhapatnam district. The accident occurred near Kurmannapalem bus depot on the outskirts of Visakhapatnam when a lorry hit a motorbike. Two youths riding the bike died on the spot.

Andhra Pradesh is one of the states known for a high number of road accidents. On average, 22 people are losing their lives in road accidents in the state every day.

The state recorded 9,194 accidents from January to June this year, claiming 4,058 lives.

Last year, road accidents in the state claimed 23 lives every day. Though this number has slightly come down this year, the high number of road fatalities remains a cause for concern.

Police say non-compliance with traffic rules, safety norms and negligent driving are the main causes of accidents.

Statistics show two-wheeler riders account for the highest number of fatalities. In the 9,194 accidents reported so far this year, 3,980 two-wheelers were involved. As many as 1,835 (45.21 per cent) of those who died were two-wheeler riders.

The second-highest fatalities (669) were of pedestrians.

Source: IANS

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Indore, Sep 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) A man suffered severe burn injuries after his car caught fire while he was driving through Choithram Square in Indore on Saturday afternoon, police officials said.

Traffic police personnel smashed a window of the vehicle and rescued him after he remained trapped inside for over a minute

The injured driver, identified as Rupesh Yadav, a resident of Gayatri Nagar, sustained burns over around 60 per cent of his body and is undergoing treatment at Choithram Hospital.

The incident occurred between 12.30 p.m. and 12.45 p.m. when Yadav was travelling from Rajendra Nagar towards Choithram.

The car caught fire near the square, where traffic movement was heavy due to rain. Traffic Police Station Zone-4 TI Sumit Bilonia and his team were managing traffic at the intersection when they noticed the burning vehicle and rushed to rescue the driver.

The car doors were locked, and its windows could not be opened, leaving Yadav trapped inside. Police personnel broke a window and pulled him out.

"Since the vehicle was auto-locked, attempts were made to open the doors, but they would not open. It took about one to one-and-a-half minutes to get the driver out. We broke the window and rescued him," Bilonia said.

Constable Vijay, Head Constable Kamal and ASI JP Tiwari assisted in the rescue operation.

Considering Yadav's critical condition, police personnel took him to Choithram Hospital in a loading rickshaw. CPR was administered to him while he was being taken to the hospital.

Doctors at the hospital found that he had suffered burns over approximately 60 per cent of his body. He is currently undergoing treatment, according to police.

Police said the car was old and a short circuit was suspected to have caused the fire. However, the exact cause will be established after a detailed investigation, police said.

Source: IANS

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Mathura, Sep 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) Family members of a labourer who died during repair work at a college in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura staged a protest outside the institution on Saturday.

While holding a dharna, they placed the body at the main gate and demanded compensation and action against those responsible.

According to Mathura Police, several labourers were carrying out plastering work at the National Inter College in Govardhan around 11:30 a.m. The repair work was undertaken by the Mathura-Vrindavan Development Authority (MVDA).

During the work, a wall above the college gate suddenly collapsed, injuring two labourers. They were identified as Lal Singh, a resident of Ading town under Govardhan police station, and Pankaj, a resident of Talfara village under Deeg police station in Rajasthan.

Pankaj, who was seriously injured in the incident, was immediately referred to SN Medical College in Agra for treatment. However, he succumbed to his injuries during treatment.

Following his death, the family staged a protest with his body at the college’s main gate, demanding compensation and action. Local resident Kailash told IANS that Pankaj’s family did not even have a house and depended on his daily wages for survival.

“Pankaj’s family has no home. He used to work as a daily-wage labourer to support his family. They live in a hut by the roadside. He leaves behind two children. The government should provide compensation and a job to support the family,” Kailash said. Pankaj’s wife also appealed to the government for Rs 20 lakh in compensation, a job and a house. “I live on the roadside, and after my husband’s death, I have no one left to support me,” she said.

In a similar incident recently in Uttar Pradesh’s Mainpuri district, 26-year-old Ashish Kumar, a resident of Nagla Kaith in the Kotwali area, was working as a painter along with other labourers at a house in Khargajit Nagar. While applying putty to a wall, Ashish’s hand came into contact with a cut in an electrical cable, resulting in an electric shock that caused his death.

The following day, Ashish’s family members placed his body on Devi Bypass Road and blocked traffic. They refused to proceed with the cremation until the house owner was arrested. The City Circle Officer and the city Kotwal reached the spot and tried to pacify the protesting family members.

Source: IANS

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Ayodhya, Sep 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) Days after the building collapse in Delhi's Satya Niketan area claimed seven lives, including five students, the Ayodhya Municipal Corporation has issued notices to 80 "dilapidated" buildings in the city.

Speaking to reporters, Municipal Commissioner Jayadra Kumar said: "The Chief Engineer has identified and served notices to 80 dilapidated buildings within Ayodhya, which are no longer safe for habitation."

"Out of these, the vacant buildings are being sealed while people are being asked to move out of the others for safety purposes and are being asked to get restoration work done wherever possible," he added.

He said that the residents of those buildings which are not in a condition for restoration, are being asked to relocate.

"Further actions will be taken according to the provisions of the Act," Jayadra Kumar said while replying to questions of demolition of such structures in the city.

Meanwhile, following the building collapse on September 6 in Satya Niketan area of the national capital, an FIR was registered at South Campus Police Station under Sections 105, 290 and 125(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), initially against unknown accused.

The investigation subsequently led to the arrest of building owners Urmila Gupta, Hari Ram Gupta and Mahesh Gupta alias Sanjay, contractor Sanoj and PG operator Sudhanshu Lovenish Kumar.

Advocate Shubham Tyagi, who had been evading arrest in the case, surrendered before the Patiala House Court on Friday, a day after the court dismissed his anticipatory bail plea.

The Delhi Police sought two days' custodial interrogation of Tyagi and co-accused Sudhanshu Lovenish Kumar.

The development came after Additional Sessions Judge Saurabh Partap Singh Laler of the Patiala House Court rejected Tyagi's anticipatory bail plea on Thursday, saying that material collected during the investigation prima facie contradicted his claim that he was merely an investor in the PG business.

The court had recorded that a separate rent agreement showed Tyagi as a co-lessee of the second and third floors of Building number 14 at Satya Niketan Market in Moti Bagh-II, where the boys' PG was being operated.

Source: IANS

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Patna, Sep 11 (SocialNews.XYZ) A major rail accident was narrowly averted at Semapur railway station in Bihar’s Katihar district on Friday after the Dibrugarh-Chandigarh Express passed over a broken section of track.

The alertness of the train’s loco pilot is believed to have prevented a potentially serious accident involving hundreds of passengers.

Train No. 15904, the Dibrugarh-Chandigarh Express, was entering the yard area of Semapur station on the Katihar-Barauni section of the East Central Railway’s Sonpur division when it encountered a severe rail fracture at around 9 a.m.

The engine and the coach immediately behind it passed over the damaged section before the loco pilot heard an unusual and loud clattering sound from beneath the train.

Sensing a possible danger, the pilot immediately applied the emergency brakes and brought the train to a halt.

The loco pilot then informed the train guard and the Semapur station master about the incident.

A key factor that helped avert a major accident was the train’s low speed at the time.

The Dibrugarh Express was scheduled to be diverted onto a loop or shunting line at Semapur to allow a Rajdhani Express approaching from behind to overtake it.

As a result, the train was already moving slowly while entering the station.

Railway officials indicated that had the train been travelling at its normal speed, the broken track could have posed a significant risk of derailment.

The discovery of the damaged track triggered an immediate response from railway officials and technical personnel.

CWCI Prem Prakash, USD Amrit Sagar, and Manoj Kumar Singh, in charge of the Bihpur-Semapur RPF Outpost, reached the site along with a technical team and security personnel.

Railway engineers initially secured the damaged portion by installing clamps and fishplates as a temporary measure.

The Dibrugarh-Chandigarh Express remained stationary at the location for nearly two hours while the track was being made safe.

After the temporary repairs were completed and the track was declared fit for movement, the train was allowed to proceed at a restricted speed.

Once the train had safely crossed the affected section, the engineering team carried out permanent repairs by welding the broken portion of the rail.

Confirming the incident, RPF Outpost In-charge Manoj Kumar Singh said the loco pilot had promptly stopped the train after noticing a crack or break in the rail.

He added that the railway administration acted swiftly to restore the track and that train operations on the section had subsequently returned to normal.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Sep 11 (SocialNews.XYZ) Advocate Shubham Tyagi, who had been evading arrest in connection with the Satya Niketan building collapse case, surrendered before the Patiala House Court on Friday, a day after the court dismissed his anticipatory bail plea.

The Delhi Police has sought two days' custodial interrogation of Tyagi and co-accused Sudhanshu Lovenish Kumar, who is associated with the operation of the paying-guest (PG) facility at the building.

The development comes after Additional Sessions Judge Saurabh Partap Singh Laler of the Patiala House Court rejected Tyagi's anticipatory bail plea on Thursday, saying that material collected during the investigation prima facie contradicted his claim that he was merely an investor in the PG business.

The court had recorded that a separate rent agreement showed Tyagi as a co-lessee of the second and third floors of Building number 14 at Satya Niketan Market in Moti Bagh-II, where the boys' PG was being operated.

The building collapse on September 6 had claimed seven lives, including five students and two labourers, while several others sustained injuries.

The FIR was registered at South Campus Police Station under Sections 105, 290 and 125(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), initially against unknown accused.

The investigation subsequently led to the arrest of building owners Urmila Gupta, Hari Ram Gupta and Mahesh Gupta alias Sanjay, contractor Sanoj and PG operator Sudhanshu Lovenish Kumar.

Tyagi had claimed before the court that he was an advocate practising at Patiala House Courts, had no criminal antecedents and was only an investor in the PG business run by his friend Lovenish Kumar.

He had contended that he was neither the owner of the building nor had any control or decision-making authority over its structure.

However, the prosecution produced a rent agreement dated September 6, 2025, executed between building owner Urmila Gupta and Tyagi for the second and third floors of the building.

The court said that the agreement was executed on the same day as another rent agreement relied upon by Tyagi, contained substantially identical terms and was attested by the same notary.

It also noted that Tyagi had signed Lovenish Kumar's agreement as a witness and Lovenish Kumar had similarly signed Tyagi's agreement.

The court had also relied on the statement of injured PG occupant Nitish Chib, who said that he had taken accommodation from Tyagi and Lovenish Kumar and was paying Rs 14,500 per month.

According to the statement, construction work had been underway in the basement for around 10 to 12 days before the collapse, while iron rods were also being cut on the ground floor.

The students had objected to the construction noise, following which Tyagi and Lovenish Kumar told them that renovation work was underway and that the PG would be extended to the basement.

The court had said that the statements were relevant at the anticipatory bail stage to examine Tyagi's claim that he had no knowledge of the construction activity and was merely involved financially.

However, the court had clarified that it was not recording any final finding on whether the offence under Section 105 of the BNS, relating to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, was ultimately made out against Tyagi.

It had also said that the investigation was at a nascent stage and that aspects, including the extent of the partnership between Tyagi and Lovenish Kumar, the flow of rent collected from students and their knowledge or consent regarding the structural work required further investigation.

The Satya Niketan collapse had also prompted proceedings before the Delhi High Court over alleged regulatory and municipal lapses, with the High Court directing inspections of PG accommodations amid concerns over the safety of such establishments in the national capital.

With Tyagi's surrender, the police are now seeking his custodial interrogation along with that of Lovenish Kumar as part of the ongoing investigation.

Source: IANS

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Chamarajanagar, Sep 11 (SocialNews.XYZ) At least three people were killed on the spot in a hit-and-run case involving a car near R.S. Doddi in Hanur taluk of Karnataka's Chamarajanagar district, police said on Friday, adding that a hunt has been launched for the accused car driver.

The deceased have been identified as Ramesh, Suresh and Muniyappa, all residents of Koppa village in Hanur taluk.

According to police, the three were travelling on a bike from Koppa village towards Kollegal via R.S. Doddi for some urgent work late at night on Thursday. An unidentified car coming from behind at high speed hit their bike directly and fled the spot without stopping.

Due to the severe impact, all three suffered heavy bleeding and died on the spot.

On receiving information, Hanur police visited the spot and conducted an inspection. The bodies have been sent to Kollegal Government Hospital for post-mortem.

Police have collected spare parts of the car found at the accident spot and have intensified the investigation to trace the absconding car and driver by checking the road and CCTV footage from the surrounding areas.

A case has been registered at Hanur police station, and further investigation is underway. Further details are yet to emerge regarding the case.

On August 9, two men were killed after an unidentified vehicle allegedly rammed their motorcycle near Konanakeri village in Hanur taluk in Chamarajanagar district. The incident, suspected to be a hit-and-run, occurred while the victims were travelling towards Kollegala from Male Mahadeshwara Hills. The deceased were identified as Yuvaraj, 50, a resident of Martalli village in Hanur taluk, and Shashank, 25, who was from Maddur taluk in Mandya district.

Earlier, in another accident in August, a techie riding a bike taxi suffered severe head injuries in a hit-and-run on ITPL Main Road and was left in a coma, leading family members to push for faster police action.

In May, an Audi vehicle struck an electric scooter, killing a 45-year-old man and injuring his wife and daughter before the driver fled.

An SUV hit a motorcycle, dragged it, and eventually caught fire while the occupants attempted to escape in March.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Sep 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) Taking note of the recent Satya Niketan building collapse in Delhi that claimed seven lives and left 12 people injured, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed authorities across the country to file affidavits on the steps taken to comply with its earlier directions on unauthorised constructions.

A Bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R. Mahadevan accepted the suggestion of amicus curiae Ajit Kumar Sinha to require authorities to place before the apex court reports on the action taken in terms of its earlier orders.

The matter was listed after the amicus curiae brought to the top court’s notice the "tragic incident" at Satya Niketan in the national capital’s Motibagh area, where a building collapse resulted in the death of seven persons and injuries to 12 others.

The Justice Amanullah-led Bench was informed that the Delhi High Court, while dealing with a public interest litigation (PIL) concerning the Satya Niketan incident, had on September 7 directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to submit a report and scheduled the matter for further hearing on September 25.

The amicus curiae submitted that the High Court proceedings could continue, while the authorities should also submit a report before the Supreme Court covering the issues raised in the present proceedings.

The amicus further submitted that inspections had already been conducted in Delhi and Lucknow in the areas covered by the Supreme Court's earlier directions -- Lajpat Nagar, Malviya Nagar, Saket and Sarojini Nagar in Delhi, and Aliganj in Lucknow.

The top court was also told that the issues arising from the Satya Niketan collapse were already covered by the action being undertaken and reports to be submitted by the authorities in the present proceedings.

The amicus curiae suggested that the Supreme Court could either transfer the Delhi High Court proceedings and tag them with the present case or clarify that the High Court proceedings may continue while directing the authorities to additionally submit a report to the apex court on all issues raised in the ongoing matter.

Accepting the suggestion, the bench said it would, "for the present, do not disturb the position of the case before the High Court", which will continue.

"The High Court is requested to monitor the (PIL) case at short intervals," the apex court said.

Directing the matter to be listed on September 15 at 2 p.m., the Supreme Court ordered the parties concerned to file affidavits, "not limited to Delhi and Lucknow", regarding compliance with the directions issued from time to time.

The proceedings relate to the top court's continuing scrutiny of illegal and unauthorised constructions and the failure of civic authorities to take effective action despite repeated directions.

Earlier, the apex court had expressed concern over rampant illegal constructions and directed the constitution of an expert committee comprising senior professors and draughtsmen from IIT Delhi to inspect areas including Saket, Lajpat Nagar and Sarojini Nagar along with MCD officials and the amicus curiae.

It had also stressed that mere issuance of notices was insufficient and that authorities were required to take concrete measures, including sealing or demolition wherever warranted under law.

The proceedings assume significance in the wake of the Satya Niketan tragedy, where the collapse of a five-storeyed PG building highlighted wider concerns over structural safety and enforcement of building norms in Delhi.

The Delhi High Court, while hearing a PIL following the incident, had observed that responsibility for such accidents could not rest solely on the owner of a PG hostel and had also flagged the role of university authorities and the MCD in ensuring compliance with building bye-laws.

"Had the authorities been alive to their responsibilities and duties cast on them statutorily, perhaps, such incidents could have been avoided," it had observed.

The High Court had also directed the MCD to conduct an inquiry at the highest executive level to ascertain whether the collapsed building and other such structures had been constructed with valid permissions and in accordance with applicable building bye-laws, and to fix responsibility on officials if violations were found.

The incident has also prompted the Delhi government to initiate action against MCD officials, with five officials suspended and directions issued for a drive against buildings having unauthorised fifth floors.

Source: IANS

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Patna, Sep 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) Five people drowned in deep floodwater that had accumulated on a road in Koyli Khutha village under the Bypass Police Station area of Bihar’s Bhagalpur district, amid rising water levels in the Ganga on Thursday.

The tragedy has cast a pall of gloom over the village.

According to an official, the victims were on their way to their fields when one person stepped into the deep water on the road and began drowning.

Several others entered the water in an attempt to rescue the person, but five people drowned in the process.

Locals pulled the victims from the water and rushed them to Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical College and Hospital, where doctors declared all five dead.

The deceased have been identified as Manchon Devi, Sonakshi Kumari, Prince Kumar, Abhishek Kumar and Anshu Priya.

Four of the victims were reportedly from the same family, while the fifth was their neighbour.

Another person involved in the incident is in critical condition and is undergoing treatment at Mayaganj Hospital.

Following the incident, personnel from the Bypass Police Station reached the village and assessed the situation.

The Station House Officer, the local panchayat mukhiya and residents also visited Mayaganj Hospital.

The deaths triggered an emotional response among relatives at the hospital.

Villagers have raised concerns over the danger posed by floodwater accumulating on roads, particularly because its depth can be difficult to judge.

They have urged the administration to strengthen safety arrangements, place warning signs and alert residents in areas where roads and other public spaces have been submerged.

The incident comes as Bhagalpur continues to face a severe flood situation.

Reports indicate that water more than 10 feet deep is flowing on both sides of NH-80 at the maximum stretches.

Thousands of residents have been forced to take shelter along roads with their families, belongings and livestock.

The floods have affected large parts of Bihar. According to the Disaster Management Department, 14 districts—Patna, Bhojpur, Saran, Vaishali, Bhagalpur, Begusarai, Buxar, Samastipur, Munger, Katihar, Lakhisarai, Khagaria, Purnea and Arwal—are currently affected.

Around 43.64 lakh people in 527 gram panchayats across 85 blocks have been affected by the floods.

Although water levels in several major rivers have begun showing a receding trend, the Gandak, Kosi, Bagmati, Burhi Gandak, Ganga, Punpun and Ghaghara continue to flow above the danger mark at various locations.

Relief and rescue operations are underway, while authorities have intensified monitoring of river levels and water discharge from barrages.

The Bhagalpur tragedy has once again highlighted the risks posed by submerged roads and the need for stronger safety measures in flood-affected areas.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Sep 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Delhi government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, has decided to set up its own State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to ensure speedy rescue operations during disasters.

The decision, which has come close to the fatal paying guest (PG) building collapse in Satya Nikethan area in south Delhi, is being seen as a step towards strengthening the national capital's capacity to effectively respond to natural and man-made disasters, the government said in a statement.

The setting up of an SDRF will help ensure the quick deployment of a trained and specialised force at disaster sites, enable effective relief and rescue operations, and help minimise the loss of life and property, the statement said.

Along with setting up the SDRF, the Delhi government will also provide specialised training to Fire Department personnel and Civil Defence volunteers so that local manpower has the necessary skills and can contribute to relief and rescue operations with better coordination during disasters, it added.

A high-level meeting on the issue was held at the Delhi Secretariat under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.

Delhi Chief Secretary Rajeev Verma, NDRF Director General Piyush Anand, NDRF Inspector General Narendra Bundela and senior officers from various departments attended the meeting.

NDRF officials briefed the Chief Minister on various aspects of setting up an SDRF in Delhi.

They said a battalion of the SDRF could be raised in Delhi, with up to 1,100 personnel.

The battalion would function under the state government and, in the event of a disaster, would be able to reach the site quickly and carry out effective relief and rescue operations on its instructions.

NDRF officials said the force would provide the necessary training to personnel of the proposed SDRF. It would also assist with specialised equipment, keeping in mind Delhi's geographical conditions and local requirements.

"After the SDRF is set up, the Delhi government will also arrange training for Fire Department staff and Civil Defence volunteers so that relief and rescue operations can be carried out with better coordination among different agencies during disasters," the statement said.

"The Delhi government believes that a rapid response is the most important element of relief and rescue during a disaster. Setting up its own SDRF and training Fire Department personnel and Civil Defence volunteers will make the national capital's disaster management system stronger and more effective," the statement added.

The Chief Minister also directed officials to share a list of disaster management equipment and details of its storage with the departments so that the equipment can be made available immediately in the event of an accident or disaster.

CM Gupta said: "Setting up an SDRF in Delhi had been a long-standing requirement. Most states in the country have already established their own SDRFs. For a densely populated metropolitan city like Delhi, having its own SDRF is also the need of the hour. This important arrangement could not take shape during the tenure of previous governments for various reasons."

"The Delhi government will now move forward in this direction to reduce dependence on external assistance during disasters and strengthen the city's capacity for an immediate local response."

The Chief Minister said Delhi's physical infrastructure was expanding rapidly and its population was also continuously growing.

"Given the possibility of serious damage in the event of a natural or man-made disaster, strong preparedness and a rapid response mechanism are essential."

The objective is not only to respond after a disaster strikes but also to ensure that Delhi is prepared and equipped to deal with such situations in advance, CM Gupta added.

The meeting also discussed providing land in Delhi for the NDRF to station its battalion.

NDRF officials said they had land available in the outer areas of Delhi, where personnel remain deployed.

"However, given that Delhi is the national capital and important Central government institutions are located here, the presence of the NDRF in Central Delhi, North Delhi and South Delhi is also necessary," the statement said.

Source: IANS

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Raipur/Bacheli (Chhattisgarh), Sep 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) A Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Head Constable died after sustaining serious injuries from an "accidental gunshot" while cleaning his service weapon at a camp in Chhattisgarh's Bacheli, police officials said on Thursday.

According to the officials, the incident occurred on Wednesday.

Head Constable Dattatraya, son of Shivaji B Wangne and a resident of Maharashtra's Ahilyanagar, was cleaning an AK-47 rifle inside his porta cabin at the CISF Camp Bacheli when two rounds were suddenly discharged from it, causing serious injuries to the jawan.

He was immediately rushed to Apollo Hospital in Bacheli, where doctors examined him and declared him dead.

The body was kept in the mortuary of Apollo Hospital, NMDC Bacheli, before being sent to the District Hospital in Dantewada for necessary legal formalities and post-mortem examination.

The deceased’s family members have arrived in Bacheli following the tragedy.

Police Station Bacheli has taken cognisance of the matter and is conducting the required legal proceedings and investigation into the circumstances of the incident.

Police officials said that the exact cause of the accidental firing will be determined only after a thorough probe. This includes a detailed investigation by the police, Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) examination of the scene and the weapon, and the findings of the post-mortem report.

The incident has cast a sombre mood over the CISF camp.

Security forces personnel often handle weapons as part of their routine duties, and strict protocols are in place for cleaning and maintenance of firearms. The sudden discharge of rounds during cleaning has raised questions that investigators are now examining closely.

Police have assured that all aspects of the case are being looked into carefully to establish the sequence of events leading to the fatal injuries. Further details are expected once the forensic and medical reports are received.

The police officials also said that the CISF and local administration are providing necessary support to the family of the deceased during this difficult time.

Source: IANS

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Patna, Sep 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) A major accident occurred in Bihar's Vaishali district on Thursday morning when a launcher used in the construction of a bridge on a four-lane highway collapsed, injuring several labourers and trapping one worker beneath the iron structure.

The incident took place at around 9.30 a.m. near Jalalpur village under Lalganj block in Vaishali district. According to local residents, five to seven labourers sustained injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment. One worker, reportedly a resident of neighbouring Muzaffarpur district, remained trapped and was said to be in critical condition. Rescue teams later used gas cutters to remove parts of the structure and reach him.

The collapse occurred at the site of an under-construction overbridge on the Gandak River corridor, around half a km before the river near Jalalpur village, eyewitnesses said. Villagers claimed they provided water to the trapped worker while waiting for rescue personnel to arrive.

As rescue operations gathered pace, large numbers of local residents assembled at the site, expressing anger over what they described as delays in the emergency response.

Villagers and workers alleged that adequate safety equipment, including safety belts, had not been provided at the construction site. They also claimed emergency arrangements were insufficient following the collapse. These allegations could not be independently verified.

Some residents further alleged that parts of the structure had shown signs of sinking before the accident, raising questions about construction quality. These claims are also yet to be independently verified.

Following the incident, Gopal Mandal, SDPO of Lalganj Sadar-2, along with police personnel, Block Development Officer Sujit Kumar, local representatives and other administrative officials, reached the site to oversee rescue and crowd-management efforts.

Tensions escalated during the rescue operation, with an agitated crowd allegedly vandalising the construction company's camp. Chairs, tables and CCTV cameras were reportedly damaged. Shubhank Mishra, Senior Superintendent of Police, Vaishali, later reached the spot and reviewed the situation.

The project forms part of a nearly 38.8-km road corridor connecting Bakarpur in Saran district with Manikpur in Muzaffarpur district via Lalganj in Vaishali district. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the collapse and the safety measures in place at the construction site. Further details on the injured workers were awaited.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Sep 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) Following the tragic building collapse in south Delhi's Satya Niketan in which seven people lost their lives, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has formally initiated the process of setting up a dedicated State Disaster Emergency Relief Force (SDERF) for the national Capital to strengthen the city's preparedness and response during major emergencies.

Delhi has remained dependent on the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Fire Services and local police for specialised assistance during major disasters and emergencies.

The proposed state-level force is aimed at reducing response times, improving coordination among agencies and strengthening Delhi's capacity to deal with disasters.

The move assumes particular significance in view of Delhi's vulnerability to earthquakes, as the national Capital falls under high-risk Seismic Zone-IV, as well as the threat of severe flooding and other emergencies requiring immediate and specialised rescue operations.

Essential inputs and recommendations for establishing a modern and state-of-the-art SDERF team were discussed during a meeting between senior Delhi government officials and senior NDRF officers at the Delhi Secretariat.

The government is taking steps to create a trained, capable and rapid-response mechanism that can be deployed within the national Capital during disasters, reducing dependence on external forces for immediate specialised assistance.

The decision comes shortly after the Satya Niketan building collapse, where rescue and relief operations involved coordinated efforts by multiple agencies and underscored the need for a stronger local disaster-response mechanism.

On September 6, a five-storey building operating as a boys' paying guest (PG) facility named 'Hostel Daze' collapsed in the Satya Niketan area, resulting in the tragic deaths of seven people, including five students, and leaving several seriously injured.

During the meeting, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta expressed her gratitude to the entire NDRF team on behalf of Delhi's residents for the promptness, dedication and coordination demonstrated by its personnel during the rescue and relief operations following the building collapse.

Source: IANS

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Gandhinagar, Sep 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) All workers trapped after a portion of an under-construction building collapsed in Gujarat's Kudasan area were rescued safely, with the state government reporting zero casualties after a war-footing rescue operation late Wednesday night.

Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, who visited both the accident site and Gandhinagar Civil Hospital, said that around 15 workers were initially reported injured in the incident.

Two of them were discharged after being found safe, while the remaining injured workers were undergoing treatment at the Civil Hospital.

The collapse occurred late Wednesday evening at the construction site of the 'Bosky The Empire' commercial building in Kudasan.

A portion of the slab suddenly gave way, trapping workers beneath the debris and prompting the local administration, police and fire brigade teams to launch an immediate rescue operation.

Rescue personnel from the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation, fire brigade and disaster management teams used cranes and other modern equipment to remove the debris and reach the workers trapped underneath.

All those rescued were shifted by ambulance to Gandhinagar Civil Hospital for medical treatment.

"The timely rescue operation ensured that there were no fatalities in the incident. Senior officials, including Home Department Additional Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kumar, Director General of Police (DGP) Gyanendra Singh Malik, the District Collector, Municipal Commissioner and senior police officials, monitored the operation," the Deputy Chief Minister said.

BJP MLA Rita Patel said local residents had told her that around 20 to 22 people generally worked at the construction site each day.

According to her, all workers had been brought out from the debris and shifted to the Civil Hospital, with none reported to be in critical condition.

"This incident occurred about three hours ago. We were outside when we received a call informing us that this accident happened in the Kudasan area of Gandhinagar. From local residents, we learned that around 20 to 22 people used to work here daily. However, so far, 13 people have been pulled out from the debris and shifted to Civil Hospital. Fortunately, no one is in critical condition; all are receiving treatment. A dedicated team of doctors is present at the Civil Hospital, ensuring they receive proper care," Patel added.

Health Minister Praful Pansheriya also reached Gandhinagar Civil Hospital soon after the incident and reviewed the treatment of the injured.

Specialist doctors were deployed to ensure that the workers received timely medical care.

The latest official account comes after initial reports indicated that 10 to 15 workers could have been trapped beneath the collapsed structure.

Emergency teams had rushed to the site after the incident at around 9.15 p.m. on Wednesday, while ambulances were deployed to transport the injured.

Authorities have now ordered a detailed investigation into the accident.

Officials will examine whether prescribed safety norms were followed at the construction site and whether any quality-related issue or other deficiency in the centring and slab work contributed to the collapse.

Deputy CM Sanghavi said appropriate legal action would be taken according to the findings of the investigation.

The district administration, municipal authorities and senior police officials are continuing to monitor the situation.

Source: IANS

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Ranchi, Sep 9 (SocialNews.XYZ) A worker was killed, and several others are feared trapped under debris after an old water tank collapsed in Jharkhand's capital Ranchi on Wednesday evening, following which a large-scale rescue operation was launched, officials said.

The incident occurred near Radium Road, just behind the Kotwali police station in the city.

The dilapidated water tank, which had been standing in a deteriorated condition for years, suddenly came crashing down while construction work was underway in the vicinity.

Several labourers engaged at the construction site were caught under the debris.

Police and rescue teams rushed to the spot immediately after receiving information about the accident.

The body of one worker has been recovered so far, while efforts are underway to trace and rescue others feared trapped beneath the rubble. JCB machines have been deployed to clear the debris.

Authorities have cordoned off the area and regulated public movement to ensure that rescue operations are not hampered. A large crowd gathered at the site following the collapse, while officials continued to monitor the ongoing relief efforts.

Ranchi MLA C.P. Singh visited the site and reviewed the rescue operation. He also sought details of the incident from officials present at the scene.

According to preliminary information, the water tank was old and structurally weak. However, it remains unclear whether the ongoing construction work had any direct connection with the collapse.

Officials said the exact cause of the incident would be determined only after a detailed investigation will be done.

The accident has once again raised concerns over the safety of ageing and dilapidated structures in the state capital.

Earlier this month, a mason was killed after a portion of an under-construction building collapsed in Ranchi's Lalpur area.

Police personnel remain deployed at the site, and a detailed probe into the cause of the collapse will be initiated once the rescue operation is completed.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Sep 9 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has initiated demolition of "dilapidated" buildings in various parts of the national capital, as part of a drive to identify unauthorised and unsafe structures, Mayor Pravesh Wahi said on Wednesday.

The move comes after a multi-storied building collapsed in south Delhi's Satya Niketan, claiming seven lives. The building adjacent to the collapsed structure was also being demolished on Wednesday.

Talking to IANS, Wahi said: "A special drive has been launched to inspect illegal and unsafe buildings, under which 1118 buildings have been identified that have been housing PG accommodations in Delhi. Among those, 1,080 buildings have been identified as 'safe'. 36 buildings require restoration work. Others are currently being inspected by officials, including engineers."

He added: "Orders have been issued that the officer concerned will be suspended in case of unauthorised five-storey constructions and the building will be sealed."

Meanwhile, South Zone MCD Chairman Dharamveer Singh said: "On the day of the incident, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta ji had directed officials (to take action) during her visit to the site. Five officials were suspended on the next day itself."

"All officials have been instructed to visit the field and submit reports within a week, whether it is a hotel, swimming pool or gym. We have sought details about how old the buildings are, among other details," he told IANS.

He mentioned that Chief Minister Gupta, BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj, and Delhi BJP chief Harsh Malhotra are monitoring the action being taken in the aftermath of the tragedy.

Further, Dharamveer Singh urged citizens to file complaints with the MCD regarding such dilapidated buildings, "since it is not possible for the department to reach everywhere".

"We will take immediate action on such complaints," he assured.

"The Chief Minister has directed officials to inspect the condition of all buildings in the capital. If they can be repaired, restoration will be carried out accordingly; otherwise, those will be demolished," the MCD official said, adding that strict action will be taken against officials in case of any lapses.

Apart from demolishing the building adjacent to the one that collapsed in Satya Niketan area, the MCD carried out a demolition drive against an unauthorised structure in Param Puri, Uttam Nagar and at a paying guest (PG) accommodation in the Laxmi Nagar area, among other parts of the capital.

In Nehru Vihar, several libraries were sealed as part of the demolition drive.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police on Wednesday arrested PG operator Sudhanshu in connection with the building collapse, taking the total number of arrests in the case to five.

Speaking to IANS earlier in the day, locals in Satya Niketan urged strict action against 'Paying Guest Mafias'.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Sep 9 (SocialNews.XYZ) Days after a multi-storied building collapse at Delhi's Satya Niketan claimed seven lives, locals in the area urged for strict action against 'Paying Guest Mafias', even as the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) initiated action against the building adjoining the one that had collapsed,

It was declared 'dangerous' after the hostel building collapsed.

Speaking to IANS, an undergraduate student, Ayush, said: "MCD should have undertaken such precautions earlier. Despite a notice being issued a month back, the PG kept on functioning, and no action was taken against them...the problem here is that action is taken only after a tragedy takes place. "

"Now action is being taken when students have already lost their lives...instead, politicians are serving their own interests," he said while seeking the resignation of the MCD Commissioner.

"Strict action should be taken against the 'PG Mafias'," he stated.

Ayush added that the cost of a single bed in the PG accommodations in the area ranges from Rs 12,000 to 14,000, "that too with zero facilities".

Further, he urged the government and the colleges to provide hostels to students.

Priyanka, a local in the area, urged that all "dilapidated buildings" in the area should be demolished.

"If another incident takes place, it will again lead to loss of lives as tragedy can happen anytime...There are many hotels in the area which are also in poor condition; people can die even while eating there," she told IANS.

Moreover, she accused the government of not providing accommodation to the students who have been leaving from the PGs in the area. "Students have taken shelter at gurudwaras and are being served food there. Why is no one from the government coming forward to help them?" she asked.

Pradeep, a salesman by profession, told IANS that he was going back as the stationery shop in the area, where he delivered goods, has been closed since the building collapsed on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police on Wednesday arrested PG operator Sudhanshu in connection with the building collapse, taking the total number of arrests in the case to five.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Sep 9 (SocialNews.XYZ) At least one person died and several others sustained injuries after an oxygen cylinder exploded in South East Delhi's Okhla area on Wednesday, officials said.

The blast was reported around 11 am, following which three fire trucks and a multi-casualty response vehicle were sent to the spot.

Speaking to IANS, an eyewitness said that the incident took place while the cylinders were being unloaded from a vehicle.

Another person, Saud said: "The incident took place around 10:00 am. One person died on the spot, we even saw his body...around three to four people are injured."

Kurshid Alam added: "These are oxygen cylinders that were used with cutter machines in the factory here. The blast took place while the cylinders were being unloaded."

According to Alam, people who were within the 100 metres radius, also sustained injuries.

In a similar incident last month, at least three people were killed after CNG cylinder of a truck exploded at the fuel station near Tikri Kalan Metro Station in the Outer Delhi area.

Six people were injured in the incident, the Delhi Police said.

One of the deceased was identified as 25-year-old Manish, a resident of West Delhi's Baba Haridas Colony. According to the officials, he was filling the gas in the CNG cylinder of the truck. The other deceased was identified as 32-year-old Sunny Nizampur.

The identity of the third person killed in the incident was unknown at the time of the report. However, the police had confirmed that all were employees of the CNG pump.

According to the Delhi Fire Services (DFS), the six injured persons were seen standing nearby when the explosion occurred and sustained injuries.

The DFS said that it received a call about the blast at around 3:37 p.m., following which six fire tenders were dispatched to the incident site.

As soon as the information regarding the blast was received, large teams of police and fire personnel were deployed in the area. The injured were subsequently shifted to the nearest hospital.

Source: IANS

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