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India

Millions of Indians facing worst drought in decades

Wednesday, 06 March 2013 09:08

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Millions of people in western India are suffering their worst drought in more than four decades, with critics blaming official ineptitude and corruption for exacerbating the natural water shortage, AFP reports.

Calcutta illegal market hit by deadly fire

Wednesday, 27 February 2013 19:30

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At least 19 people have been killed in a fire that swept through an illegal market in the eastern Indian city of Calcutta, police officials say.

The Surya Sen Market was housed in an old multi-storey building in the crowded Sealdah area of the city.

Several people were also seriously injured, and officials say the death toll could rise.

The deadly blaze was contained in three hours and it is thought there is no one left trapped inside.

The fire in the paper and plastic market broke out early on Wednesday morning while some people were sleeping inside the complex.

The head of the fire services Gopal Bhattacharya told AFP news agency that they "found dozens of people lying unconscious with severe burns" and that most of the victims had suffocated in their sleep.

Toxic gases were also released from the flammable materials present in the building, which hampered the rescue operations.

State Fire Services Minister Javed Khan told AFP: "The market has only one exit point and those who stayed in the market at night were trapped after the fire broke out."

Mr Khan also said the market was illegal and action would be taken "against the authorities for not having any fire safety arrangement".

'Unplanned buildings'

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, visiting the scene, promised a full investigation.

She said there were many such illegal or "unplanned" buildings in the city and that "no-one follows any safety norms".

She announced compensation amounts of 200,000 rupees ($3,714; £2,461) for the families of those who died and 50,000 ($930; £610) rupees for the injured.

At least 25 fire engines were sent to the scene and the injured were taken to nearby hospitals.

The reason for the fire remains unknown, but some local officials said a short circuit due to faulty electrical wiring could be to blame.

A police investigation into the cause is now underway and Ms Banerjee said they will have a report ready within three days.

There have been several major fires in Calcutta in recent years.

In December 2011, around 90 people died in a blaze at a hospital. A year before that, 43 people died in a fire at the historic St Stephen's Court building on the city's Park Street.

In 2008, more than 2,500 shops were destroyed in a huge fire at one of the city's largest markets.

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India arrests man accused of spying for Pakistan

Tuesday, 26 February 2013 14:05

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Indian police say they have arrested a man suspected of passing military secrets to arch-rival Pakistan.

The man, an Indian citizen, was held in the western state of Rajasthan near the two countries' border.

Police say he passed details of military exercises held last week to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence.

India and Pakistan frequently accuse each other of spying. The arrest comes after weeks of tension over the disputed territory of Kashmir.

The alleged spy is accused of "passing information related to Indian defence installations and military activities", senior police officer DS Dinkar told AFP news agency.

One report says his telephone calls to a relative in Pakistan, who it is alleged works for Pakistani intelligence, were intercepted.

The man was arrested by army intelligence at his house in a village near the town of Pokhran on Sunday and is being questioned by security agencies.

He appeared in court in Jaipur on Monday and was remanded in custody, police sources said.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pranab Mukherjee both attended the war games, codenamed "Iron Fist", which were held near Pokhran on Friday.

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16 dead and 119 wounded in India's Hyderabad twin blasts

Friday, 22 February 2013 12:27

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Hyderabad: A little over 12 hours after two bombs exploded in Hyderabad's crowded Dilsukhnagar yesterday, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde visited the site this morning and also hospitals where the injured are admitted. 15 people have died and 119 are injured, five of them critically.

Breaking News: Serial Blasts rocked Indian hi-tech city Hyderabad

Thursday, 21 February 2013 14:42

S.S.Fahad Hussain - Deputy Editor in Chief - The Oslo Times

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Hyderabad, India 21st February, 2013 – The hi-tech mega polis of Hyderabad has been rocked by serial blasts. First blast happened at around 7:01pm in Dilsukhnagar one blast took off at Konark theatre, second blew off at bus stand, the third blast reported at Vecantry Theatre and the site of remaining two are yet to be confirmed by the police.