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Nagpur residents reel under heat wave

May 26, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Nagpur, May 26 (ANI): Residents of Nagpur, Maharashtra, are reeling from heat wave that has thrown normal life completely out of gear.

Temperatures in the Nagpur are hovering around 47 degrees Celsius mark.

In Vidarbha, the temperature is 47.7 degree Celsius.

Temperatures across Maharashtra are at an all time high, compelling locals to stay indoors.

For those moving out, it has been a difficult time.

“It has become very difficult to go out. We have to cover our head and face with handkerchief and cloth and also wear sun glasses, every time we want to go out,” said Vasant Sathe, a Nagpur resident.

People are consuming lemon soda and fruit juices prepared byroadside vendors whose business is roaring in the hot weather.

“My body feels as if it is burning. Evenings are a little better. I don”t want to go out in the sun but I have to,” said Ramesh Hajare, a resident. (ANI)

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Indian American booked for sexually assaulting female passenger on 15-Hour flight

May 26, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

New Jersey, May 26(ANI): A 63-year-old Indian American, Ramesh Advani, has been accused of sexually assaulting a female passenger sitting next to him during a 15-hour flight from Hong Kong to New York.

According to reports, federal authorities arrested Advani, of Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, for allegedly reaching under the unnamed woman’s blanket and sexually abusing her as she slept on the Continental Airlines flight that landed at Newark Liberty International Airport last week.

A FBI affidavit said that two passengers sitting behind the woman and Advani witnessed him allegedly touching her around her inner thigh, among other things.

The passengers also told the FBI that the touching lasted for “a period of time”, and they had kicked the woman’s seat “in an attempt to alert her”, ABC News reports.

Judge Michael A. Ship, in a federal court in Newark, has restricted Advani’s travel to New Jersey, and made him surrender his passport.

Meanwhile, Advani was released on a 100,000-dollar bond secured by his home. He has also been ordered to have no contact with the victim or the witnesses.

If convicted of the charge of abusive sexual contact, Advani could face a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a 250,000 dollar fine. (ANI)

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Amnesty International to assess human rights scenario in Kashmir

May 19, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Srinagar, May 19 (ANI): A two-member team of Amnesty International met Separatist Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq here and discussed various aspects to assess the state of human rights in the valley.

The team, comprising Bikram J. Batra and Ramesh Gopal Krishen arrived on Monday on a six-day visit to assess the human rights situation and note instances of human rights violations in the state.

“They should responsibly assess the situation and condemn the violations and take up the issue with Central government. And if the Government does not respond then they should make it public that despite their repeated approach to the government, the latter has remained silent,” said Farooq.

“We want that this organisation should bring out the real situation, make it clear and take a stand on the issue then,” he added.

The Amnesty members said they would be meeting all sections of the people to obtain first hand information of any violation of human rights.

“The purpose of the visit is to get a better understanding of the human right situation here. We are meeting with all the key activists, political actors, government officials, lawyers and people who have suffered from human right violations,” said Batra. (ANI)

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Congress ticks off Jairam Ramesh for comments on Home Ministry

May 10, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 10 (ANI): Congress Spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi on Monday criticized Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh for his alleged comments in China on the Home Ministry.

“It was not proper for Jairam Ramesh to comment on another ministry. He should have not made those comments,” said Singhvi.

“Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has made his displeasure clear to the Union Minister,” he added.

Further lashing out at Ramesh”s comments, Singhvi said: “We don”t approve of the comments made by Jairam Ramesh. Yes, as a party, we disapprove his comments.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has sought an explanation from the Prime Minister on the whole issue.

“Lobbyists have entered the Union Cabinet. Prime Minister must reign in his ministers and give an explanation on the whole issue,” said a BJP leader.

Dr Singh reportedly spoke to Ramesh over his critical comments.

PMO sources said Dr Singh asked Ramesh not to comment on the functioning of other ministries.

On a visit to China this weekend at an international conference on climate change, Ramesh embarrassed his own government by using words like ”alarmist” and ”paranoid” for the Home Ministry”s policies on the entry of Chinese companies in India. (ANI)

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Madhya Pradesh CM meets Manmohan Singh on Maheshwar Dam issue

May 5, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 5 (ANI): Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan met the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, on Wednesday and requested him to intervene on the Maheshwar Dam issue, which is facing objections from Ministry of Environment.

“We have appealed to the Prime Minister to intervene and help the people of Indore and Devas to get water and Madhya Pradesh in getting rid of power crisis,” said Chauhan after his meeting with Dr Singh.

“We have requested the Prime Minister and he has assured of resolving the issue after holding discussion,” he added.

Chauhan accused Union Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh of having an agenda to stall development projects in the state.

“We feel that Jairam Ramesh is working like the activists of Narmada Bachao Andolan. He is not seeing from a development perspective, people”s perspective, water and electricity point of view but is only concerned only of environmental issue, which is one sided,” said Chauhan.

The Union Environment Ministry has ordered suspension of work on the Maheshwar dam till the dislocated people are rehabilitated.

The Madhya Pradesh Government says that stoppage of the project at this juncture would result in the loss of 702,000 units of power per day starting in 2010.

Earlier, the Madhya Pradesh government had written a letter to the Prime Minister seeking intervention on the issue.
On February 17, the Union Environment Ministry had issued a show cause notice to the Shree Maheshwar Hydel Power Corporation Limited (SMHPCL) stating that there has been no satisfactory compliance with the conditions of environmental clearance.

The ministry also asked the SMHPCL to show cause as to why the clearance should not be revoked and directions for the closure of the Maheshwar project should not be issued.

The reply filed by SMHPCL in response to the show- cause notice confirmed that there was no rehabilitation plan with details of the agricultural land to be allotted to the oustees, and that the relief and rehabilitation measures are far lagging behind the construction of the dam.

On April 2, Jairam Ramesh acknowledged during a media conference in Bhopal that conditions of clearance in the Maheshwar Project have been violated and status of rehabilitation is appalling.

He also said that he is ready to suspend work on the dam until rehabilitation is completed. However the Ministry of Environment and Forests has not suspended the work till now.

The dam is said to be one of the largest being built on the River Narmada in Madhya Pradesh.

The Madhya Pradesh Government privatized the project in 1992, by handing it over to the S.Kumar Group. (ANI)

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Sukhna case: Supreme Court to hear Lt. Gen. Prakash”s appeal

March 29, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Mar 29 (ANI): The Supreme Court will on Monday hear an appeal filed by former Military Secretary Lieutenant General Avadesh Prakash in connection with the Sukhna land scam case.

The Armed Forces Tribunal had on February 22 given interim relief to Lieutenant General Prakash.

The court also granted permission to Lt. General Prakash to cross-examine witnesses, who had earlier given statements against him in a Court of Inquiry.

According to Lt. Gen Prakash”s lawyer, both were not present during the cross examination of the eight officers, who provided evidence against Lt. Gen. Prakash in relation to the land scam.

The court also ordered the re-examination of Lt-Gen Ramesh Halgali and Maj-Gen P C Sen, who have also been indicted by the Court of Inquiry.

The tribunal directed the Court of Inquiry to submit a report within two months and said it can decide on the court martial of Lt. Gen Prakash only after receiving the Court of Inquiry report.

Earlier in January, following a direction from Defence Minister A K Antony, Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor ordered for the court martial of the four senior officers after a Court of Inquiry indicted them for misusing their positions. (ANI)

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Tractor thief runs out of luck after 20 strikes

March 16, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Gandhinagar, March 16 (IANS) Ramesh Prajapati’s specialization bordered on the unconventional. And quite like the protagonist in Bollywood movie ‘Oye Lucky, Lucky Oye’ he stole vehicles with ease, the only difference being his preference for tractors over swanky sets of wheels.

This 34-year-old made a fortune out of stealing tractors in Gujarat and selling them off in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. All he needed was a little help from an accomplice who dismantled the stolen vehicles, gave them a new look and drove them into other states.

Prajapati’s tally of stolen tractors was 20 when he ran out of luck and fell in the police net: The cost he had to pay for being over adventurous and striking too close to a police post.

A school dropout from a family of potters, Prajapati was picked up and taken to Vejalpur police station near Ahmedabad for questioning March 13 after a tractor went missing from it’s jurisdiction.

During questioning, the tractor thief from Zeera town of Unjha in north Gujarat confessed to stealing 20 tractors from the peripheral areas of Ahmedabad and other parts of north Gujarat.

‘This could well be the tip of the proverbial iceberg and we may get links to more such thefts,’ said Inspector J.M. Bharwad, who is investigating the case. Prajapati has been taken on a five-day police remand till March 18.

According to the police, Prajapati’s last tractor theft was from just behind the Vejalpur police post. This came soon after his strike outside a crematorium in Siddhpur while the owner was mourning inside.

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Action plan to phase out consumption of HCFC is on track: Ramesh

September 17, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Sep 16 (ANI): Union Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh said on Wednesday that India has developed a comprehensive Road Map and Action Plan to phase-out of production and consumption of Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) in various sectors.

Addressing the gathering during the 15th International Ozone Day here Ramesh said: “The Government of India has taken a number of policy measures, fiscal and regulatory, to encourage the early adoption of alternative technologies in this area by existing and new enterprises.”

Ramesh hailed the Montreal Protocol as the most successful international treaty to ever achieve universal participation.

“At a time when the world is trying to solve the problem of climate change, the International Ozone Day provided a timely reminder of how international cooperation can help to solve major global environmental problems,” Ramesh added.

India is one of the first developing countries to join the Montreal Protocol and pledge its commitment to protect the Ozone Layer.

As a part of the accelerated phase-out of CFCs, India has completely phased out the production and consumption of CFCs as on 1 August 2008, 17 months prior to the agreed schedule.

Ramesh informed that over 97percent of controlled Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) have been phased out by the Montreal Protocol.

“The end of 2009 will mark another significant milestone in the history of its implementation, with the use of potent ODSs -CFCs, Carbon Tetra Chloride (CTC) and Halons, except pharmaceutical-grade CFCs used in the manufacture of Metered Dose Inhalers (MDIs) – being ceased completely,” he said

The CFCs required for manufacturing for MDIs used by Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients are still available in India, a national transition strategy to phase them out by 2013 is currently under implementation.

“The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the World Bank recently also launched the India: Chiller Energy Efficiency Project to accelerate the conversion of CFC-based chillers using new, more energy efficient technologies,” Ramesh said.

This year’s theme for the ozone day was ‘Universal participation – Ozone protection unifies the World.’ (ANI)

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India hoping for a fair agreement at Copenhagen summit: Ramesh

September 2, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Sep. 2 (ANI): Minister of State for Environment and Forests, Jairam Ramesh, said on Wednesday that India is looking forward to a fair and equitable agreement at Copenhagen meet on climate change.

“We are definitely looking forward to Copenhagen. We are looking forward to a fair and equitable agreement that recognizes common and differentiated responsibility principle. An agreement that doesn’t allows perfect to be the enemy of good. An agreement that is flexible enough to have an agreement in areas of where there is relatively less discord,” Ramesh said, addressing delegates at a carbon conclave here.

Ramesh said that India’s efforts against climate change are not confined to adaptation to alternative energies.

“National action plan on climate change is actually a mix of adaptation and mitigation. Two missions are specifically oriented towards the mitigation and a large number of activity whether it is energy efficiency mission, whether it is solar mission, whether it is a mission on sustainable habitat,” Ramesh said.

According to the World Resources Institute, India’s total GHG emissions stood at 1,853 million metric tons equivalent of carbon dioxide, about 4.9 percent of global emissions in 2005.

A new government report says that the country contributes around five percent to global carbon dioxide emissions and is still only about a quarter of the emissions of China and the United States.

India’s per capita emissions are estimated at only one-twentieth of the United States and about one-tenth of Western Europe and Japan.

International summit on climate change is scheduled at Copenhagen in December where international community concerned about impacts of degrading climate is scheduled to meet. (ANI)

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Indian forests absorb 11 per cent of annual greenhouse gas emissions: Jairam Ramesh

August 29, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Aug. 29 (ANI): Minister of State for Environment and Forests, Jairam Ramesh, said on Saturday that about 11 per cent of the annual greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) is being absorbed by the country’s forests.

According to the World Resources Institute, India’s total GHG emissions stood at 1,853 million metric tons equivalent of carbon dioxide, about 4.9 percent of global emissions in 2005.

During the release of a report in the capital by the Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA), Ramesh spoke about the contribution of Indian forests in soaking the annual carbon dioxide gas emissions.

“We have just recently two weeks ago released a report for the first time which quantified what is the carbon sequestration that is taking place through our forest cover. Our estimators said that about 11 per cent of our annual greenhouse emission is being absorbed by our forest such as, as it is, about 21 per cent of our geographical areas is about 65 million hectares, ” said Jairam Ramesh.

India aims at expanding its forest cover by another six million hectares over the next six years.

“I am sure if we improve the quality of our forest cover, reduce the proportion of degraded forest, increase the proportion of medium and high density forest, this 11 per cent could in fact even increase,” added Ramesh.

As per a new report, the country contributes around five percent to global carbon dioxide emissions and is still only about a quarter of the emissions of China and the United States.

India’s per capita emissions at only one-twentieth of the United States and about one-tenth of Western Europe and Japan, the report says. (ANI)

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Maharashtra minister apologises to Environment Ministry for entering tiger cage

August 25, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Nagpur, Aug. 23(ANI): Maharashtra’s Agriculture Minister Balasaheb Thorat has apologized to the Ministry of Environment and Forest for violating the Wildlife Protection Act by entering the cage of a tiger cub at Nagpur Zoo.

“I met Union Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh and explained him my side of the story. I had no wrong intention except the development of the zoo,” Thorat said.

“I also apologized for having violated any norms by entering the cage and the minister would decide further,” he added.

Thorat, who is also the district in charge minister of Nagpur, had visited the Maharajbagh Zoo on Independence Day along with city Congress officials.

The Maharashtra Congress unit claimed that Thorat acted at the behest of zoo officials.

His action drew flak from wildlife and environment conservationists. They have demanded action against Thorat as he violated zoo rules and the Wildlife Protection Act.

Meanwhile, member-secretary of the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) B. R.Sharma has given a clean chit to a Thorat and his associates saying they cannot be held responsible.

“Yes prima facie, there is a violation of the Act as the minister had entered the tiger cage on August 15, but the zoo administration is responsible for the Act,” Sharma said.

Sharma was deputed by the CZA and the Ministry of Environment and Forest to get first-hand details of the incident.

The Maharajbagh Zoo is maintained by the Punjabrao Deshmukh Agriculture University’s College of Agriculture. Thorat, who is also the Pro Chancellor of the University, in his capacity as Agriculture Minister, had entered the tiger cage during a routine inspection visit. (ANI)

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PM to address National Conference of Ministers of Environment and Forests today

August 18, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Aug 18 (ANI): For a comprehensive stock taking of the implementation of policies and programmes concerning protection of environment, forests and wildlife, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests has convened a National Conference of the Ministers of Environment and Forests of all the States and Union Territories here today.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh will deliver the inaugural address.

Union Minister of state (Independent charge) Jairam Ramesh, Secretaries of Environment and Forests from all states, Chairman of Central Pollution Control board, Chairman of State Pollution Control Board, Principal Chief Conservators of Forests, Chief Wildlife Wardens, Members, Planning Commission, Chief Ministers, Secretaries, Government of India, Dr R K Pachauri, Director General, TERI, India, NGOs will participate in the conference.

The conference assumes significance in the context of the emerging and continuing challenges in respect of protection of environment, forests and wildlife.

The conference seeks to forge enhanced synergies between the efforts of the Central and State Governments for effective implementation of policies and programmes in this regard.

The conference will deliberate on several items.

They are i. Monitoring compliance with environmental and forestry related laws and regulations and road map for institution building;

ii.River cleaning – innovative models and enhanced co-ordination among the centre, states and local bodies;

iii. Strategies for increasing forest cover and enhancing synergies between Green India Mission, National Afforestation Programme and CAMPA Funds;

iv. Strengthening of State Forest Departments and Capacity Building of Forest Officials;

v. Protection of forests in the context of the implementation of Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forests Rights) Act, 2006;

vi. Wildlife management including Tiger Conservation and issues related to Man-Animal conflict. (ANI)

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Pithoragarh landslide toll rises to 43

August 9, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Pithoragarh (Uttarakhand), Aug 9 (ANI): The death toll from the landslide in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district has risen to 43.

According to sources, at least 20 bodies have been pulled out from the debris so far. On Saturday, the landslide buried three remote villages in Uttarakhand.

At least 46 families have been affected by the tragedy.

Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal has announced a compensation of one lakh rupees as exgratia to the kin of each of the deceased.

A downpour has lashed the region since Friday evening. (ANI)

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Centre seeks explanation from Mayawati on Noida park project

July 11, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, July 11 (ANI): Ministry of Environment and Forest has sought an explanation from Uttar Pradesh government over alleged violation of environmental laws in construction of a park in NOIDA

Uttar Pradesh Government is constructing Memorial Park in 33-hectare area along the Yamuna Riverbed in Sector 15 -A of NOIDA.

State government is installing statues of Chief Minister Mayawati, her political mentor Kanshi Ram, and Dr B. R. Ambedkar in this park. This park is a new addition to the controversial statue installation projects taken up by the Mayawati’s government.

Residents and environmentalists are opposing to the statue installations as it violated the green law.

Earlier, the team of Indian Forest Service officers sent by the Central Government to probe the alleged violations found out that around 6,000 trees have been chop down for the project. Their report also pointed that the State government ignored an environment impact assessment required for such a projects.

“The team during its field visit found that the state government lacks a strong stand on environment appraisal and forestry appraisal. The team opined that the state government should have taken forest and environment clearances. To consider the opinion of the state government, we have asked for their comments,” said Union Minister of State for Environment and Forest Jai Ram Ramesh on Saturday in National Capital

Earlier this week a two-Judge Bench of the Supreme Court refused to intervene in the statue installation projects of UP government. (ANI)

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India to be rabies free country in next ten years

July 10, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi July 10 (ANI): Minister of State for Environment and Forest, Jairam Ramesh said here today that India would be a rabies free country within next ten years.

Speaking after releasing a book on animal birth control, Ramesh said, government has taken up the issue of rabies control as a challenge, and allotted 200 crore rupees for the project.

Animal birth control programme for stray dogs and their effective anti-rabies immunization will be implemented seriously, Ramesh said.

Ramesh also informed that country imports rabies vaccine of worth Rs 400 crore every year.

He suggested that a rabies free road map and a mission document should be prepared which also include the over all cost, role of state governments, civic and local bodies, organizational plan etc. with a target to achieve it in 10 years time. (ANI)

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Dehradun encounter: Case registered against six policemen

July 7, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Dehradun, July 7 (ANI): A case has been registered against six policemen involved in the alleged fake encounter that resulted in the killing of Ranbir Singh, a 24-year-old MBA student.

An FIR under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was registered against them.

On the basis of a complaint by Ranbir’s father, Rabindra Pal Singh, an FIR has also been registered against two-DSPs Ajay Kumar and G C Tamta.

Ranbir’s family has demanded a CBI inquiry into the incident. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank has said the State Government is ready to undertake a CBI investigation.

Earlier, Nishank had ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident.

The body of Ranbir bore 12 bullet marks and 27 other injures, suggesting that he may have been tortured before his death.

According to the post-mortem report, the 12 bullet marks revealed that Ranbir was fired at close range.

Ranbir was riding a motorcycle with his two friends when the police stopped him at a check post.

Police alleged that the three men got into an altercation with a sub-inspector who had asked them to stop and then fled into a nearby forest after snatching his service revolver.

In the ensuing encounter, Ranbir was gunned down while the other two managed to escape. (ANI)

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CB-CID inquiry ordered into Dehradun’s police encounter case

July 5, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Dehradun, July 5 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank has ordered a high-level inquiry into the killing of a MBA student in an encounter by the Dehradun Police.

“We are considering a high-level inquiry. I had ordered a magisterial inquiry and handed it over to the Additional District Magistrate. We will hand over the inquiry to the Crime Branch-Crime Investigation Department,” said Nishank.

Ranbir Singh, a 24-year-old MBA student, was killed in the encounter that took place here on Friday.

The body was handed over to his relatives after post mortem on Saturday.

Ranbir’s brother said that the victim was innocent and was framed.

“Now when the police is returning the body, they had marked the body as a criminal, but later they corrected it. This means, he was not a criminal. They had framed him,” said Sandeep, Ranbir’s brother.

Police had earlier claimed Ranbir to be a criminal.

Ranbir was riding a motorcycle with his two friends when the police stopped him at a check post.

Police alleged the three men got into an altercation with a sub-inspector who had asked them to stop and then fled into a nearby forest after snatching his service revolver.

In the ensuing encounter, Ranbir was gunned down while the other two managed to escape. (ANI)

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President urges civil servants to have a development-centric approach

July 4, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Mussoorie, July 4 (ANI): President Pratibha Devisingh Patil on Saturday urged the civil servants to take on a development-centric and people friendly approach in order to avert corruption and play innovative role in the development of the country.

Addressing the Golden Jubliee Celebration of the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Musoorie, the President urged the civil servants to find innovative means within the system to make it responsive to the needs of people.

“If you do this, you would have been successful in making the IAS, the Indian Admirable Service. In this way you will have earned the gratitude and good wishes of millions of our people who place so much hope upon you,” Patil said.

She also asked them to transform the image of the administration to bring accountability and transparency in the system.

The Lal Bahaddur Shastri National Academy of Administration is the apex training institution for civil service officers.

The President reached Dehradun on Friday on her three-day visit to Uttarakhand state. Governor and B.L. Joshi, Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal welcomed her at the Jolly Grant airport.

The President will attend a dinner hosted by Uttarakhand Governor B L Joshi in her honour this evening.

While on Sunday, Patil is scheduled to visit the Badrinath and Kedarnath shrines before returning to New Delhi. (ANI)

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President to inaugurate golden jubilee celebrations of IAS academy today

July 4, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Mussoorie, July 4 (ANI): President Pratibha Patil will inaugurate the golden jubilee celebrations of the Lal Bahaddur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie today.

The Lal Bahaddur Shastri National Academy of Administration is the apex training institution for civil service officers.

The President reached Dehradun on Friday for her three-day visit to Uttarakhand state. Governor and B.L. Joshi, Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal welcomed her at the Jolly Grant airport.

The President will attend a dinner hosted by Uttarakhand Governor B L Joshi in her honour this evening.

On Sunday, Patil is scheduled to visit the Badrinath and Kedarnath shrines before returning to New Delhi. (ANI)

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14 killed, 27 feared drowned in separate mishaps in Uttarakhand

July 3, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, July 3 (ANI): In two separate incidents in Uttarakhad on Friday, at least 14 people were killed, while 27 kanwarias on Chardham Yatra were feared drowned.

In the first major accident that took place in the morning, three persons were killed and 27 others feared drowned when a private bus fell into Bhagirathi river near Bhatwari area of Uttarkashi district.

Thirteen of the kanwarias were injured in the mishap, of which exact cause is not known.

Most of the passengers were kanwarias going to Gangotri for taking holy water.

“Three bodies were fished out from the swollen river. Rescue operation is underway,” Uttarkashi SP, Mukhtar Mohsin, said.

According to top police officials, the hope of any survivor in Bhagirathi was bleak as its currents were turbulent due to heavy rains in the catchment area during the past three days.

In a separate accident, 11 people were killed and 29 others injured when a bus fell into a gorge at Saknidhar near Devprayag area in Tehri district.

While four people died on the spot, seven others were declared brought dead in the Rishikesh Hospital where the injured were admitted.

Governor B L Joshi expressed condolence to the families of the dead and wished speedy recovery to the injured, a release from the Rajbhavan said.

Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank also expressed grief over the accidents and asked the district magistrates of Uttarkashi and Tehri to hold magisterial inquiry into the mishaps.

He announced an ex-gratia of 50,000 rupees to the next of kin of the deceased, 20,000 rupees to those seriously injured and 5,000 rupees to those with minor injuries. (ANI)

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