NEW DELHI: Six persons, including an engineer, were killed and 13 others injured when an under-construction over-bridge of the Delhi Metro collapsed on Sunday, in the second such incident in eight months.
The accident took place as one of the pillars of the bridge gave in when a launcher was being erected close to Lady Sriram College in Dhamrudpur in Lajpat Nagar at around 5am.
"Five people have died. Of them - three were among the 15 workers who were taken to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Trauma Centre and the other two are still trapped under debris," Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) spokesperson Anuj Dayal told reporters here.
Rescue efforts were on till afternoon and civil defence personnel talked about at least 3 more bodies being buried in the debris. One body was clearly visible between the girdle launcher and the concrete piece.
The Delhi Metro attributed the accident to a "problem in the design" of the pillar. "We were trying to rectify it. There was a defect in the peer cap which caused the displacement," Dayal said.
The three have been identified as Ansuman, a site engineer and construction workers Niranjan and Badan Singh, while two others at AIIMS are in a critical condition, Dayal said.
The bridge was on the Central Secretariat to Badarpur corridor of the Delhi Metro which was slated to be completed by September 2010.
"The incident took place between pillars 66 and 67 when the pillar cap was affected. Ten segments were to be erected on the stretch of which five had been completed. When the sixth segment was being erected, the launching girder collapsed due to disbalance causing a portion of the bridge to fall," Dayal explained.
Thirty workers of Gammon India Ltd, DMRC's contractor at the site, were present of which 20 have been affected, Dayal said. Many of the injured were also taken to the nearby Moolchand Hospital and the Safdurjang hospital.
Construction site workers alleged that the pillars on which the bridge was to be hoisted were faulty.
"There were cracks in the pillar and we had warned the contractor and officials - but they paid no heed," said a construction labourer.
Said Balwinder Singh, a policemen facilitating rescue operations: "We have removed 16 people from the debris and they have been taken to hospital. Three people are still buried in the rubble - they were responding to us till 9.15 a.m. But now they are dead."
Mayor Kanwar Sain was present at the site and said: "The Delhi Metro projects are going at a fast pace and the quality of work is being compromised. An enquiry is necessary."
Sushil Choudhury, a resident of Vikram Vihar, adjacent to the construction site said that residents of the area were alarmed by the accident.
"I own a shop metres away from the spot - one miss and everything would have crashed down. I have doubts about how the Delhi Metro works now," said Chowdhury, a former MLA of the area.
Dayal said the rescue operations are being monitored by a team of 100 DMRC engineers and DMRC managing director E. Sreedharan was on his way from Bangalore.
"He will be visiting the site. Investigations are on," he said.
A Delhi Jal Board water supply pipe has also burst, causing severe flooding around the Blue Bellls International school.
"We have also temporarily disconnected the electricity lines in the area. Traffic has been diverted at the Kailash Colony market, Amar Colony, the nearby Lady Sri Ram College and Blue Bells School till 6.00am tomorrow (Monday)," Dayal said
Rescue operations are underway and six cranes as well as gas cutter machines have been put into use to get through the debris.
DMRC was scheduled to complete the 190-km Phase II of the Delhi Metro by October 2010 and construction was on in full swing to ensure that deadlines were met.
Chief minister Sheila Dikshit termed the incident as "unfortunate" and said a compensation package will be worked out in consultation with the Delhi Metro.
The DMRC will hold a press conference at 3pm to elaborate about the incident.
Local residents alleged the cracks were visible in the pillar that collapsed and work had been stopped for about 2 months to 'repair it'.
The work has restarted just a few days back. This is almost a re-run of the incident in east Delhi last year when a girdle launcher and a pre-fabricated piece fell on a bus killing 2 people.
Metro at that time had assured that such an incident would never happen again and had set up an inquiry.
Leader of Opposition V K Malhotra visited the site in the morning and alleged that delay in Commonwealth Games project was forcing Delhi government and DMRC to expedite the completion of the project, thereby compromising safety and resulting in deaths.
Pak eroded fundamental premise of composite dialogue: India
New Delhi: India has strongly castigated Pakistan for eroding the "fundamental premise" of the composite dialogue, saying that the action taken by Islamabad to curb terrorism emanating from its soil "has been disappointing".
Noting that some achievements were made "in segments" in 2004 following commitments by Pakistan that it would not "permit territory under its control to be used to support terrorism in any form", India said, however, terrorism and non-implementation of its commitment has "eroded the fundamental premise of the dialogue process." "Terrorist attacks in India and on the Indian embassy in Kabul in July 2008, increase in ceasefire violations and continued infiltration across the LoC placed a strain on the dialogue process in particular and Indo-Pak relations in general," the Ministry of External Affairs said in its annual report 2008-09.
It said, "The terrorist attack on Mumbai on 26 November 2008 and concrete evidence of the involvement of elements in Pakistan in the attack led to a pause in the dialogue process." "Despite the developments and despite high-level statements from Pakistan promising cooperation regarding the Mumbai attack, in terms of actual action taken the response has been disappointing. As a result, there has been a sharp deterioration in bilateral relations," the Ministry report said.
The External Affairs Ministry said Pakistani authorities admitted that elements there were involved in the terrorist attacks on Mumbai. It said India also provided detailed responses and material to Pakistan on the Mumbai attacks. India took several steps both bilaterally and at international fora to obtain Pakistan's cooperation in bringing the perpetrators based there to justice and to ensure that such acts do not recur, it said adding as a result, the UN listed individual entities including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jamat-ud-Daawa (JuD) as terror groups.
Osama is in Afghanistan, says Pak Interior Minister
London: Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and other top operatives of the terrorist network are hiding in Afghanistan, probably in Kunar area, Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said, describing as futile US drone attacks within his country as no "big fish" was present there. "If Osama was in Pakistan we would know, with all the thousands of troops we have sent into the tribal areas in recent months. "If he and all these four or five top people were in our areas they would have been caught, the way we are searching," Malik told 'The Sunday Times', adding that US missile attacks against them in Pakistan are futile.
According to information available with Pakistani officials, Osama is in Afghanistan, probably Kunar, as most of the activities against Pakistan are being directed from Kunar, he said.
Pakistani officials say that the US has carried out more than 40 drone attacks inside Pakistani territory in the past 10 months, killing hundreds of people. CIA officials claim these attacks have been highly effective in disrupting al-Qaeda's ability to operate.
However, Malik insisted they are a waste of time because the al-Qaeda leadership is on the other side of the border in eastern Afghanistan. "They're getting mid-level people not big fish", he said. "...they (US missile strikes) are counter-productive because they are killing civilians and turning locals against our government. We try to win people's heart, then one drone attack drives them away. One attack alone last week killed 50 people," Malik said.
The report quoted US officials in Islamabad as saying that Pakistan's government is being disingenuous, claiming to oppose the drone attacks to win domestic support, while being quite happy to benefit from them. On Friday, two missiles fired from a drone destroyed a communications centre in South Waziristan that belonged to Baitullah Mehsud, the leader of the Pakistani Taliban responsible for a recent string of suicide attacks in Pakistan.
India wary of Sino-Pak link-up in occupied Kashmir
NEW DELHI:India is wary of Chinese designs to establish strategic link-up with Pakistan in parts of Jammu and Kashmir under occupation by both the countries, saying this could have direct military implications.
The defence ministry's annual report for 2008-09 tabled in Rajya Sabha recently noted with concern the possibility of China "enhancing connectivity with Pakistan through the territory in Jammu and Kashmir, illegally occupied" by both these nations.
While China seized 38,000 sq km in Jammu and Kashmir during the 1962 war with India, Pakistan unilaterally ceded another 5,120 sq km territory it had occupied in 1947-48 to China under a pact in 1963.
However, the annual report has failed to mention Chinese military posturing along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh, of which Beijing claims about 90,000 sq km territory as its own, and has positioned 30 military divisions that indulged in frequent incursions across the LAC.
The report also expressed concern over the military assistance China was extending to Pakistan and other countries in the neighbourhood.
Seeking "greater transparency and openness" in China's defence policy and posture in the backdrop of its fast growing military prowess, India also said it will "engage China, while taking all necessary measures to protect its national security, territorial integrity and sovereignty."
Noting that Chinese defence expenditure (that stood at seven per cent of its GDP) had grown by double digits over the last two decades, the report referred to China's 2008 White Paper on Defence that outlined its policy on developing strategic missiles, space-based assets and blue-water naval capabilities.
"China's stated objectives, in their White Paper, of developing strategic missile and space-based assets and of rapidly enhancing its blue-water navy to conduct operations in distant waters, as well as the systematic upgrading of infrastructure, reconnaissance and surveillance, quick response and operational capabilities in the border areas, will have an effect on the overall military environment in the neighbourhood of India," the report said.
Stating that China's armed forces' modernisation need to be "monitored carefully" for implications on India's defence and security, the defence ministry, however, struck a conciliatory note, saying it enjoyed a strategic and cooperative partnership with China, which had further progressed during high-level visits in 2008-09.
It observed with satisfaction Beijing's stated policy in its White Paper "never to seek hegemony or engage in military expansion in the future, no matter how developed it became."
The report said the two neighbours were engaged in negotiations on the 4,500-km boundary dispute and have agreed to maintain peace through mutually agreed confidence building measures, pending final settlement.
TDP MLA "guilty" of molestation, police tells APSHRC
Hyderabad, July 11: The West Godavari District Police have informed the AP State Human Rights Commission that there was prima facie evidence against TDP MLA of Kovvuru T V Rama Rao, that he was "guilty" of outraging the modesty of girl students at the nursing college run by him at Nidadavolu.
The Commission Chairman B Subhashan Reddy had sought a response from West Godavari police following a complaint lodged by five girl students from Kerala last week.
The West Godavari police were earlier investigating the case of alleged rape and murder against the MLA, before it was transferred to CID.
The Narsapur DSP P Venkatarama Reddy submitted the report to the SHRC chairman yesterday wherein it was mentioned that there was prima facie evidence against the MLA for attempting to molest a girl in the college.
"The investigations reveal that the incident took place and the matter has been referred to the CID," the DSP told reporters after submitting the report. The hearing has been posted to August 3.
Quoting the report, SHRC Chairman Reddy said the girls did not initially reveal the acts of the MLA against them out of fear. However, investigation by police revealed that the Kovvuru MLA was liable to be booked under Section 354 of IPC.
Subhashan Reddy also asked the CID to submit details of the investigations to him on August 3.
Indian Business News
Top 10 firms lose over Rs 1.73 lakh cr in market valuation
MUMBAI: The country's top 10 firms saw their total market capitalisation being wiped out by over Rs 1,73,000 crore last week, and Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Ltd lost the most.
RIL lost Rs 38,935 crore in market valuation, with its market cap dipping below Rs three-trillion mark to Rs 2,79,897 crore during the week ended July 10, 2009, as against Rs 3,18,832 crore in the previous week.
Shares of the company on Friday ended 12.21 per cent lower at the BSE to close at Rs 1,778.40. The total market cap of the top 10 firms, comprising four private and six state-run companies, fell Rs 1,73,462 crore at Rs 14,31,433 crore last week as against Rs 16,04,896 crore the previous week.
State-run firms Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) and National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) together lost Rs 40,872 crore in market cap.
The total market valuation of ONGC stood at Rs 2,10,967 crore and NTPC at Rs 1,59,344 crore on Friday.
Telecom services provider Bharti Airtel lost Rs 6,635 crore in market cap but moved up one place to fourth position on the top ten list. Minerals and Metals Trading Corporation of India slipped to fifth position from fourth after losing Rs 21,181 crore.
Jet terminates 43 trainee technicians
New Delhi:Jet Airways terminated the services of 43 trainee junior technicians on contract as part of its restructuring exercise in view of the challenges of the global financial downturn.
"These personnel are on fixed term contracts and the notices have been issued in accordance to the terms of their contract and law," a Jet Airways spokesperson said.
She, however, said that some of them have been offered opportunities to work in other departments of the airline.
"This trimming of the workforce has been necessitated by the ongoing rationalisation of airline operations," she said.
The global meltdown which has badly affected the civil aviation sector, rising jet fuel prices and low passenger traffic, have forced several global airlines including Jet Airways to undertake various cost cutting measures.
Last year, Jet Airways had announced termination of the services 1,500 personnel but was forced to take them back after a public outcry.
Jet Airways has also reworked the delivery schedule of its fleet acquisition plan and curtailed services on several sectors, both domestic and international.
Kingfisher airlines is also undertaking similar measures to stem rising losses.
FM allays fear of high Govt borrowing
New Delhi: Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee allayed fears that high Government market borrowing, pegged at about Rs 4 lakh crore, for the current fiscal will leave little resources for the private sector.
Just as the Reserve Bank managed market borrowings of the Government, which increased after the stimulus packages were announced last fiscal, without disrupting markets, similarly it will handle it this fiscal, Mukherjee told reporters after his customary post-budget meeting with the RBI board.
The Government's borrowing is projected to be around Rs 4 lakh crore for this fiscal to fund its widening fiscal deficit pegged at 6.8 per cent of GDP.
Many fear that the high borrowing will crowd out or leave little money for the private sector to raise from the market.
Asked whether interest rate will be cut he said, appropriate actions would taken as and when required.
Siemens IT arm lays off 128 staff
NEW DELHI: IT firm Siemens Information Systems, a unit of German conglomerate Siemens, on Sunday said it has laid off 128 employees as part of its cost cutting measures, debunking union's claim that 500 employees had lost jobs.
The IT-ITeS union UNITES India said the number of employees laid off by the company could be around 500. It added that Siemens is laying off its employees in Bangalore violating the Industrial Dispute Act.
When contacted SISL spokesperson said, "As a part of our cost-cutting initiatives, we have released only 128 employees from one of the business units."
UNITES Professionals India General Secretary Karthik Shekhar said, "The figures provided by the company does not include the number of employees who were on contract. In the last one month, the company has laid off more than 128 employees."
SISL has over 5,500 employees in the country. The union has also written to the headquarters of the firm in Germany.
About compensating the employees, the company said it has already compensated the affected employees higher than the contractual terms.
Indian Sports News|Sports News
Aussie bullies torment England
Cardiff: Australia batted throughout a rain-interrupted third day of the first Ashes Test against England to take a 44-run first-innings lead over the hosts on Friday. After floodlights had been turned on for the first time in a British Test, Australia reached 479 for five in their first innings in reply to England’s 435. Captain Ricky Ponting led from the front during a sun-baked morning session, reaching 150 before he dragged a Monty Panesar delivery on to his stumps. His deputy Michael Clarke took over with a delightful 83 and Marcus North showed the benefit of his stints with five English counties to mark his Ashes debut with a thoroughly competent 54 not out.
The pair added 143 for the fifth wicket and England will now be batting to save the match after a dispiriting day for their bowlers. James Anderson raised England’s hopes briefly having taken the second new ball 30 minutes into the day after Australia resumed on 249 for one. A late inswinger accounted for Simon Katich (122), who spent more than five hours at the crease and Michael Hussey did not linger, edging Anderson to Matt Prior behind the stumps after scoring three. Ponting, who had reached his 38th Test century on Thursday evening, drove crisply through the covers and hooked an Andrew Flintoff no-ball for six over a leaping Panesar at fine-leg.
There seemed no obvious reason why he should ever get out until he stepped back to hit Panesar through the off-side and the ball ricocheted off his bat and clattered into the stumps.Three wickets had fallen in the space of 63 balls for 22 runs and with Australia 331 for four, England seemed to be coming back in the game.
It's my dream to win Olympic gold: Saina
MUMBAI: Disappointing exit from the Beijing Olympics quarterfinal still rankles ace Indian woman shuttler Saina Nehwal who on Saturday said winning gold in the prestigious quadrennial sporting event remains on top of her agenda.
"Last year I played well in the Olympics but I was overexcited. I went blank. Next time I will try my best. It's my dream to win an Olympic gold," said the 19-year-old shuttler after she was honoured for her recent feats at the international level.
Saina was presented with a cheque of Rs 2.5 lakh by a group of city shuttle game lovers, "Badminton
45", and the Bombay Gymkhana for winning the singles crown in Indonesian Open Super Series event as well as rising to world number six soon afterwards.
The Hyderabad shuttler was also conferred with the honorary membership of the Gymkhana for a period of one year.
Saina, accompanied to the function by 2001 All England men's champion Pullela Gopichand and her father, praised coach
for her meteoric rise in the world rankings.
"I do what Gopi sir tells me to do. He is my idol and has improved my game so much. I was 136 four years ago and am no. six in the world now. It's all because of him. I feel I'm close to world number one and that I can beat any player in the world," she said.
Buchanan should not have badmouthed Indians: Ganguly
KOLKATA: Miffed at John Buchanan's stinging criticism of great cricketers like Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar, former India captain Sourav Ganguly on Friday said the controversial Australian coach should have refrained from badmouthing the Indians.
"It's not only Gavaskar, there have been quite a few names...I think, we Indians are used to it now. It's unfortunate and we just got to deal with it," the former captain said.
In his recently-released book titled 'The Future of Cricket: The Rise of Twenty20', Buchanan has taken swipes at some of the big names of Indian cricket including Gavaskar, Tendulkar, Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh.
"I have not read the book...I just have seen some bits on the internet and I feel all these things are not required. He should not have written such things," Ganguly said.
He said people respect Buchanan for his World Cup success and the Australian should have refrained from such exercise.
"He has done well for Australia as a coach and people hold him in high esteem. He should not have done this. I don't think this should have happened," Ganguly said.
The left-hander also took the occasion to wish Gavaskar on his 60th birthday.
"At this age, you don't want to be reminded your birthday. I don't want to remind him (of his age) and just wish him all the happiness. I've sent him my good wishes," Ganguly said.
"I have a lot of good memories of him. I have watched him play. I have seen him closely as a commentator. I have gone to him at times for technical help," he said.
Asked whether he consider him as his role model, Ganguly replied, "Of course. He is one of the greatest Indian batsmen. I held him in high esteem and I have got a personal relationship with him."
Asked about his comments on ICC chief David Morgan's suggestion of making Test cricket a four-day affair, the Bengal 37-year-old said, "I don't know whether there will be four-day Tests. For me, Test cricket is still five days and that's why it's Test cricket."
The former India captain has been invited by the ICC to deliver a lecture on cricket at the University of Oxford and Ganguly said, "I am going on July 14th. I will take the fellowship...watch a few days of the Ashes Test and go to Oxford."
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