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Sabotage ruled out in Rajdhani smash
Rafigang (Bihar), Sept 10 (ANI): The air-conditioned Rajdhani Express, heading to New Delhi from Kolkata, crashed late on Monday near Rafiganj, about 210 kms south of Patna, an area where Maoist rebels are active. Senior railway ministry officials said they did not expect the death toll to rise above 60. Five coaches, two of them badly mangled, piled on top of each other after one side of the bridge, which dates back to 1936, collapsed into the river. Rescue workers used gas-cutters to slice through the twisted metal to reach trapped passengers in drizzling rain. The muddy waters of the river were ankle-deep. R.K. Jha, one of the survivors said: "I was in the toilet when I felt an impact. Soon, I realised that an accident had taken place." "Around 10:30 at night, the train started vibrating strongly. I suspected there might be an accident and before I could realise anything, the accident had occurred," said Suresh Goyal, another survivor. Hundreds of volunteers and army personnel reached the remote site to carry out rescue operation. However, several survivors say rescue operations were late in coming and nearby villagers provided immediate relief to the trapped passengers. Jyoti Kumar Sinha, Inspector General of the Police, Railway Protection Force, overseeing the rescue operations, said that at least 45 bodies had been recovered from the debris so far. Sinha made light of the sabotage theory gaining ground in railway and ministry circles. "35 minutes before the accident took place, another train had passed through this track. Now, we have to assess how a sabotage could have taken place in these 35 minutes," said Sinha. The Railway Ministry has said fishplates binding the tracks together had been removed and that Maoist guerrillas fighting for the rights of peasants in the poverty-stricken Bihar could be blamed. "Till now the only reason forwarded by the ministers and officials who had gone to see the site, say that there is a possibility of sabotage. There is no other information. I can't say anything except that we suspect sabotage," said Vinay Agrawal, Railway's Deputy Regional Manager in New Delhi. But police dismissed the theory, saying the rebels had blown up rail track in the past but had never targeted passenger trains and had always given warnings to avoid casualties. The train crashed at around 10.35 p.m. near Rafiganj station near Gaya, which is 655 km northwest of Kolkata. The Rajdhani Express is a deluxe train which connects New Delhi to important cities across the country. It has no crowding normally associated with Indian trains as it is fully air- conditioned and more expensive than regular express services. Most of India's one billion population still depend on the country's rail network of over 63,000 km (40,000 miles), the second largest in the world, as the main form of transport. Indian Railways, which marked 150 years of its existence earlier this year, runs nearly 14,000 trains carrying more than 13 million passengers a day and has some 300 accidents a year. Transport experts say a surge in traffic and a lack of modernisation have made the railways vulnerable to accidents. But rail authorities defend their safety record saying the accident rate dropped to 0.57 per million km travelled in 1996/97 from 5.5 in the early 1960s.(ANI) Farooq's brother escapes bid on life
Srinagar, Sept 10 (ANI): Two National Conference candidates, including the younger brother of Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, escaped unhurt when militants opened fire on them in Baramulla district on Tuesday. Militants opened fire on the motorcade of state Industries Minister and NC candidate from Gulmarg constituency, Sheikh Mustafa Kamaal, at Naidergund-Tangmarg at around 3:30 pm. Kamaal, Farooq's younger brother, escaped unhurt in the attack- the second attempt on his life since electioneering commenced for the first phase of the four-phased elections in the state. On September 2, militants had fired upon the motorcade of the minister at Khepora in Gulmarg constituency, but there was no casualty. Earlier, militants made an attempt on the life of another NC candidate from Sangrama constituency, Mohammad Yyousuf Bhat, at Wagoora. Bhat, who is contesting the election for the first time, escaped unhurt in the attack which took place at 3:15 pm. Bhat's motorcade was fired upon, but no one was injured.(ANI) It now dawns on US after 20 years, says Fernandes
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to top New Delhi, Sept 10 (ANI): Defence Minister George Fernandes said on Tuesday (September 10) that it took two decades for the United States to recognise the complexity of state-sponsored terrorism. Fernandes was addressing the inauguaral session of the seminar on "One Year of our fight against terrorism: Implications for Indo- U.S. relations" in New Delhi. "Over the last year, the complexity of dealing with terrorist threat, more so when it receives support and sponsorship from a defiant state and some misguided elements in its society, has become all too palpable to Washington D.C," he said. Fernandes said India had successfully battled terrorism in Punjab and would do so in the restive Jammu and Kashmir also. "It is in this context that I wish to draw attention to the Indian experience as far as terrorism is concerned. India has been dealing with this scourge for two decades and the nature of state sponsorship from across the border makes this a unique challenge for our security forces," said Fernandes. Kashmir has been at the centre of a half-century dispute between India and Pakistan. New Delhi regards this Muslim majority state as an integral part of its territory and has blamed Pakistan for abetting and aiding a violent insurgent struggle over the last 13 years. Islamabad denies this, saying that it only provides moral, diplomatic and financial support for what it calls the legitimate freedom struggle of the Kashmiris. The defence minister however lamented the great loss of human lives in fighting the scourge of terrorism from across the border. "We have paid a price in human life and limb. From 1990 to date, we have lost 13,835 lives to terrorist related violence. Of this total, 3,255 brave security force personnel laid down their lives in prosecuting this proxy war while the remainder were innocent civilians," Fernandes said. Fernandes also lashed out at militants trying to sabotage upcoming polls in the disturbed Himalayan region. He, however, asserted that the situation was under control and that the candidates, voters or election officers had no reason for worry. "In the last two days, the kind of attacks that have taken place in Drass and Kargil, the militants want us to reciprocate and because of that there should be chaos in the polls or fear in the hearts of the electorate. But, we refuse to be drawn into this game with them. As far as the security of the candidates, voters and election officers is concerened, there should not be any worries about that. This has been maintained and it will continue," said Fernandes. The state goes to polls in four phases starting from September 16 and continuing till October 8. India hopes a free and fair election will bring peace to the region and establish its legitimacy there. These elections have become a key test for India's huge military and paramilitary forces struggling to quell a nearly 13-year revolt in the Himalayan region which has claimed more than 35,000 lives. Kashmir's main separatist alliance, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, has called for a boycott of the elections, and militants have vowed to target anyone taking part in the polls. Nearly 40,000 more paramilitary soldiers have been brought into the state to guard polling stations and candidates.(ANI)
Ganapati festival begins Go to top Mumbai, Sept 10 (ANI): It's a day for which the 'Ganapati' disciples wait for the whole year through, the day that marks the beginning of the ten-day-long Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. Amidst cheery shouts of 'Ganapati Bappa Morya', the God of Wisdom arrived today in multi- dimensional forms, carved out of clay, rosewood, pure marble, lustrous gold as well as in blinding shimmer of white diamonds, marking the ten-day long Ganpati festival all over Maharashtra. Reclining on a golden throne or seated under a seven-headed snake canopy, the son of Parvati and Shiva arrived atop trucks, on bedecked handcarts, in plush limousine and even on sinewy shoulders of his unfazed devotees, amidst rhythmic drum beats and loud notes of the bugle. At public places, amidst taped voices of renowned singers ringing through the street. Scores of people, dressed in their colourful best, took their Ganapati idols at home. Lalbaug ka Raja, Mumbai's most popular and biggest Ganapati which is 25 feet high, has been placed this year inside the Meenakshi Mata Mandir set which has been recreated at Lalbaug, Mumbai. A whooping Rs. 25 lakh has been spent in the setting up of the lavish set of Meenakshi Mata Mandir. Mumbaiites who cannot afford to visit the original Meenakshi Mandir in Madurai will get a glimpse of the real mandir.(ANI)
EC satisfied with security arrangements for Kashmir polls
Srinagar, Sept 10 (ANI): The Election Commission on Tuesday said that it was satisfied with the security measures so far undertaken to ensure free and fair elections in Jammu and Kashmir beginning from September 16. Talking to reporters here, the Chief Electoral Officer Pramod Jain said that the Chief Election Commissioner, the Election Commissioners and several senior poll officials visited various parts of the state and they were satisfied with the arrangements. Jain added that the CEC, J M Lyngdoh, reviewed all arrangements made to have violence-free polls. Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police K Rajindra Kumar said the police have been put on high alert to prevent any untoward incident and also ensure that militants do not disrupt the elections. (ANI)
PM expresses strock over train accident Go to top New Delhi, Sept 10 (ANI): Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has expressed deep shock and grief over the tragedy involving Hawrah- Delhi Rajdhani Express that occurred near Gaya on Monday night. He has conveyed his heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the bereaved familes and wished speedy recovery to the injured. The Prime Minister spoke to Nitish Kumar, Ralway Minister, over satellite phone from Frankfurt on Tuesday and asked him to make all arrangements for speedy rescue and relief. (ANI) |