Nirupama Rao visits families of victims in Oak Creek.

WASHINGTON: Indian Ambassador to the US Nirupama Rao visited Milwaukee to offer support to the victims and their families. As expressions of support poured in from across the nation, with people holding peace rallies and candle light vigils in dozens of cities, Rao flew in from Washington to the tragedy struck city in Wisconsin. The Indian Ambassador met the Oak Creek Mayor Steve Scaffidi. She was briefed by the FBI and local police about the investigation into the Gurdwara shooting incident. She was given details on how the incident happened and the steps that are now being taken by the police and local administration for the protection of the Sikh community as well as the status of the investigation. Later in the evening she attended a community vigil held in honour of the shooting victims where she briefly addressed those attending the meet to honour those killed in the shooting incident. She met the victims' families in Oak Creek including relatives of Satwant Singh Kaleka, the slain president of the Gurdwara, who confronted the shooter and helped save the lives of several worshippers. In her meetings with the victims' families, Rao expressed her condolences and sympathies and offered all kinds of assistance on behalf of the Indian government. "Struck by calm&composure of victim families. No trace of rancor. But their tears would fill an ocean, make it overflow," Rao tweeted after her meeting.

Nirupama Rao visits families of victims in Oak Creek.

WASHINGTON: Indian Ambassador to the US Nirupama Rao visited Milwaukee to offer support to the victims and their families. As expressions of support poured in from across the nation, with people holding peace rallies and candle light vigils in dozens of cities, Rao flew in from Washington to the tragedy struck city in Wisconsin. The Indian Ambassador met the Oak Creek Mayor Steve Scaffidi. She was briefed by the FBI and local police about the investigation into the Gurdwara shooting incident. She was given details on how the incident happened and the steps that are now being taken by the police and local administration for the protection of the Sikh community as well as the status of the investigation. Later in the evening she attended a community vigil held in honour of the shooting victims where she briefly addressed those attending the meet to honour those killed in the shooting incident. She met the victims' families in Oak Creek including relatives of Satwant Singh Kaleka, the slain president of the Gurdwara, who confronted the shooter and helped save the lives of several worshippers. In her meetings with the victims' families, Rao expressed her condolences and sympathies and offered all kinds of assistance on behalf of the Indian government. "Struck by calm&composure of victim families. No trace of rancor. But their tears would fill an ocean, make it overflow," Rao tweeted after her meeting.

22 killed as bus falls into gorge in Meghalaya.
SHILLONG: At least 22 people were killed and several others critically injured when a Tripura-bound bus fell into a deep gorge in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia hills district in the wee hours of Wednesday.

The incident took place sometime between 3 am and 5 am at Tamseng village near the Meghalaya-Aassam border.
The bus was on its way to Agartala from Guwahati when it fell into the 80-feet deep gorge.

“We have been able to retrieve 22 bodies even as six critically injured persons were shifted to Khliehriat community health centre”, district police chief M K Dkhar said.

“There are possibilities of more deaths and the district police and fire service personnel are on the job to rescue the trapped persons in the bus”, he said.

The depth of the gorge is over 80 feet.

22 killed as bus falls into gorge in Meghalaya.
SHILLONG: At least 22 people were killed and several others critically injured when a Tripura-bound bus fell into a deep gorge in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia hills district in the wee hours of Wednesday.

The incident took place sometime between 3 am and 5 am at Tamseng village near the Meghalaya-Aassam border.
The bus was on its way to Agartala from Guwahati when it fell into the 80-feet deep gorge.

“We have been able to retrieve 22 bodies even as six critically injured persons were shifted to Khliehriat community health centre”, district police chief M K Dkhar said.

“There are possibilities of more deaths and the district police and fire service personnel are on the job to rescue the trapped persons in the bus”, he said.

The depth of the gorge is over 80 feet.

 Lapse in maintenance work on Pazhassi dam, assistant engineer suspended.

KANNUR: The water level in the Pazhassi dam which overflowed after the landslide has lowered.

Minister for Irrigation P J Joseph, who visited the site yesterday, had directed to take disciplinary action against all officers who had been responsible for the lapse.

On a report by irrigation chief engineer Lathika, Gopalan, assistant engineer, has been suspended on charge of lapse in maintenance work.

A 70-member National Disaster Response Force has come to the site and a naval team is also camping in Thalassery.

 Lapse in maintenance work on Pazhassi dam, assistant engineer suspended.

KANNUR: The water level in the Pazhassi dam which overflowed after the landslide has lowered.

Minister for Irrigation P J Joseph, who visited the site yesterday, had directed to take disciplinary action against all officers who had been responsible for the lapse.

On a report by irrigation chief engineer Lathika, Gopalan, assistant engineer, has been suspended on charge of lapse in maintenance work.

A 70-member National Disaster Response Force has come to the site and a naval team is also camping in Thalassery.

Tremor at Pathanamthitta, Kottayam districts.

PATHANAMTHITTA: A mild tremor was felt in Chittar, Seethathodu, Ranni, Vadasserikkara and in some places of Konni in the eastern parts of the district. In Kottayam, tremor was experienced at Koruthodu and Erumeli.

People ran out of their houses hearing a big noise. No casualty has been reported..

Tremor at Pathanamthitta, Kottayam districts.

PATHANAMTHITTA: A mild tremor was felt in Chittar, Seethathodu, Ranni, Vadasserikkara and in some places of Konni in the eastern parts of the district. In Kottayam, tremor was experienced at Koruthodu and Erumeli.

People ran out of their houses hearing a big noise. No casualty has been reported..

Assam violence leads to stormy scenes in Lok Sabha.

NEW DELHI: The issue of Assam violence created turmoil in the Lok Sabha on the first day of the monsoon session Wednesday with several opposition members storming the Well.

Despite Speaker Meira Kumar admitting an adjournment motion by BJP on the issue, members including those of BJP, Shiv Sena, Bodoland People's Front (BPF) and All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) trooped into the Well condemning the violence.

The opposition members were demanding an immediate discussion on the issue suspending the Question Hour.

S Bwiswamuthiary (BPF) was seen protesting against dubbing the violence in Assam as ethnic violence. He contended that the violence was a result of illegal immigration from Bangladesh.

Maulana Badruddin Ajmal (AIUDF) was the lone member trying to make a point by standing in front of the treasury benches.
Congress members from Telangana region were seen waving placards and raising slogans demanding a separate state.

As the Speaker's repeated appeals for bringing the House to order went in vain, she adjourned the proceedings till noon.
Later, Ajmal was seen raising some issue with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi..

Assam violence leads to stormy scenes in Lok Sabha.

NEW DELHI: The issue of Assam violence created turmoil in the Lok Sabha on the first day of the monsoon session Wednesday with several opposition members storming the Well.

Despite Speaker Meira Kumar admitting an adjournment motion by BJP on the issue, members including those of BJP, Shiv Sena, Bodoland People's Front (BPF) and All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) trooped into the Well condemning the violence.

The opposition members were demanding an immediate discussion on the issue suspending the Question Hour.

S Bwiswamuthiary (BPF) was seen protesting against dubbing the violence in Assam as ethnic violence. He contended that the violence was a result of illegal immigration from Bangladesh.

Maulana Badruddin Ajmal (AIUDF) was the lone member trying to make a point by standing in front of the treasury benches.
Congress members from Telangana region were seen waving placards and raising slogans demanding a separate state.

As the Speaker's repeated appeals for bringing the House to order went in vain, she adjourned the proceedings till noon.
Later, Ajmal was seen raising some issue with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi..