Statescape — 5 killed, 26 injured as bus falls into canal

Five killed, 26 injured as bus falls into canalMALAPPURAM: A total of five passengers were killed and 26 others injured when a mini bus rol...

Five killed, 26 injured as bus falls into canal

MALAPPURAM: A total of five passengers were killed and 26 others injured when a mini bus rolled off a small bridge and fell into a canal 30 feet below at Eedarikode in Kerala’s Malappuram district yesterday morning.

According to police, the bus, which was proceeding to Jemmadu from Kottackal in the district, went out of control and broke the bridge’s hand rails before going down. The injured have been admitted to various hospitals and the condition of at least 10 were stated to be serious. Unconfirmed initial reports had put the toll at 10. But police later confirmed the toll as only five. Of the victims, only three men have been identified so far.

TN hopes to contact Veerappan soon

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CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Government, which is assisting the Karnataka Government to secure the release of the nine forest officials, held hostage by the notorious sandalwood smuggler Veerappan, for the last six days, is hoping to establish contact with him in two or three days. Official sources here said the editor of the popular Tamil weekly news magazine Nakeeran, Gopal, whose assistance had been sought in this regard, has started making efforts to contact Veerappan, who has demanded general amnesty in return for his surrender.

Ex-Goa MP Erasmo Sequeira dead

PANAJI: Erasmo Sequeira, former south Goa MP in the Lok Sabha for two terms, died of a heart attack last night at his residence. He was 58. He is survived by his wife, son and two daughters. An able parliamentarian, Sequeira, son of the late Dr Jack De Sequeira, former leader of the Opposition and the leader of the United Goans Party, which is now defunct had played a key role in Goa’s political, social and educational life. Though an opposition member in the Lok Sabha, he had good relations with the Congress leaders particularly, Indira Gandhi.

Fresh application in Beant case filed

CHANDIGARH: Two fresh applications were submitted by an alleged accused Balwant Singh and another one by Jagtar Singh Hawara, during the Beant Singh assassination case trial yesterday. In one application, both the alleged accused pleaded before district and sessions judge Amar Dutt that they had withdrawn all the counsels namely Amar Singh Chahal, P S Hundal, D S Chimni, Ashok Chauhan, Dalip Chaudhary, D S Rajput and P S Sochi to represent them in the trial in the case.

11 IAS officers transferred in UP

LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh government yesterday transferred 11 senior IAS officers including six district magistrates. J C Pandey has been appointed as new district magistrate of the newly created district of Shravasti, cancelling his transfer as special secretary, revenue department. Mrirzapur will have T K Tewari as the new district magistrate, presently district magistrate of Barabanbki. Aneeta Bhatnagar Jain, director child development, Lucknow will take over as new DM of Barabanki. V Rajgopalan, advisor tourism at New Delhi will now be commissioner, at C R Noida, Gautambuddh Nagar.