Statescape — Bahuguna to call off fast following order on Tehri blasts

TEHRI: Eminent environmentalist Sunderlal Bahuguna today decided to call off his 56-day-long fast following the Government Order to stop bl...

TEHRI: Eminent environmentalist Sunderlal Bahuguna today decided to call off his 56-day-long fast following the Government Order to stop blastings and heavy vehicular traffic on the Tehri dam site till his further meeting with Prime Minister I K Gujral.

Bahuguna, however, will end his fast later in the evening or tomorrow after consulting his spiritual guru Swami Chidanand Saraswati. Planning Commission Deputy Chiarman Madhu Dandavate, who alongwith Union Energy Minister Y K Alagh and Environment and Forest Minister Saifuddin Soz, called on the Chipko leader this morning. The meeting, to be attended by other ministers also, was likely to take place in the first or second week of January after Bahuguna’s complete recovery from fast.

Another Delhi victim’s body found

NEW DELHI: The body of the lone school boy missing after the Wazirabad bus tragedy on November 18, was recovered this afternoon from the banks of river Yamuna, taking the toll to 30. According to fire brigade sources, the body of Amit Dahiya was found floating a few kilometres away from the bridge from where the ill-fated bus carrying over 100 school children plunged into the river. It may be recalled that while 28 children died on the day of the tragedy, the body of Preeti Srivastava was recovered from near the old Yamuna bridge last Saturday.

Chakmas urge NHRC to intervene

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NEW DELHI: A body of Chakmas of Arunachal Pradesh today urged the National Human Rights Commission to initiate steps to end communal propaganda’ and economic blockade’ against Chakma and Hajong tribals in the state. In their memorandum to NHRC, the Committee for Citizenship Rights of Chakmas of Arunachal Pradesh expressed fears that there could be “a massacre of Chakmas and Hajongs if the NHRC does not intervene to stop communal hatred being propagated by the state government.” Stating that the tribal families were not being allowed to collect their harvest, the CCRCAP alleged this could lead to severe starvation among the tribals.

New exchange rate for US visas

NEW DELHI: The exchange rate used for consular services at the United States Embassy and at the consulates in Calcutta, Chennai and Mumbai will become Rs 39 to one US Dollar from December one. Visa fees will change accordingly, USIS said in a release here today. It said all applications for non-immigrant visas (except for diplomatic visas) must be accompanied by an application fee in the form of a Demand Draft made out in favour of the appropriate consular office. The draft amount will become Rs 780 for each application. The fees are: B-2 (tourist/visitor) visas (six months or less) Rs 975 (cash and draft); visas for up to one year Rs 1950 (cash or draft); maximum validity visas Rs 3900 (cash or draft); fingerprint fee Rs 975; application fee Rs 6630 and issuance fee Rs 1170.

VP’s condition stable and satisfactory’

NEW DELHI: The condition of former prime minister V P Singh, hospitalised since Monday following complaint of chest pain, is stated to be “stable and satisfactory”. Doctors attending on him at the Apollo Hospital told newsmen that “his condition is stable and satisfactory and is currently under observation at the cardiac Intensive Care Unit.”

Five killed, 22 hurt in train-bus collision

JAIPUR: At least five persons were killed and 22 others injured, five seriously, when a bus crashed into a goods train today between Jativada and Asanarada railway stations, about 20 km from Jodhpur, police sources here said. The bus, proceeding from Chittorgarh to Jodhpur, rammed into the goods train when its brakes failed at a level crossing. All the injured were admitted to the Jodhpur hospital.