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January 31, 2001
THE EARTHQUAKE: THE CONTINUING TRAGEDY
Relief trains inching closer to Bhuj: CMG
Trains are able to reach Ratnala, 27 kms from Bhuj from where relief material could be transported up to Bhuj in trucks.
Aftershocks continue to rock Bhuj
Nearly 100 aftershocks, measuring over 3.0 on the Richter Scale, have been recorded in a 50-100 km radius of Bhuj since the massive earthquake of January 26.
Experts could review Tehri dam, says PM: PTI
He, however, denied any threat to the Tehri dam, which lies in the Garhwal Himalayas.
Tale of five ghost towns and more
Long after the dust settles on the Gujarat Rubble, people will remember Bhuj, Anjar, Bachauo, Rapar and Ahmedabad, where death toll is feared to be in four figures. An area-wise break-up.
Group of empowered ministers constituted
The group, headed by Advani, has Defence Minister George Fernandes, I&B Minister Sushma Swaraj and Food and Civil Supplies Minister Shanta Kumar as members. It will co-ordinate relief efforts with the Gujarat government.
Be prepared for fresh taxes, says PM
'We have no choice but to introduce new taxes to meet the requirement for reconstruction of large parts of the devastated state.' Vajpayee said.
PM convenes all-party meet on February 3
The meeting will suggest ways for the optimum utilisation of the resources at the disposal of the government.
Blankets arrive from Pakistan
Union agriculture secretary Bhaskar Baruah, whose ministry is co-ordinating the crisis management group's relief and rehabilitation measures for the Bhuj victims, said on Tuesday that the situation was by and large in control now.
'We had a lot of air'
Chamanlal Shah, 80, who was rescued after being buried in the debris for 48 hours, has become a beacon of hope in Ahmedabad.
Kutchis abroad come in search of loved ones
After repeated attempts to get through over the telephone, many residents of Kutch district working or settled abroad are beginning to arrive in the devastated district, as the stench of bodies increases in the ghost towns.
'Agar Dilli mein hota, tho shayad hum mar gaye hote'
Delhi's poor scrape together funds for Gujarat's earthquake victims.
8-month-old baby rescued after 81 hours!
Murtaza was rescued by a team of BSF personnel, 81 hours after the quake struck, in Gora Noor Fali area of old Bhuj town Monday evening from the lap of his mother's badly decomposed body. His father's body was lying by the side.
Poor take to scavenging for buried riches
"Yesterday I made Rs 500," says Jagdish, dressed in a torn T-shirt and a pair of faded jeans. He admits openly that he could never have dreamt of making so much a
money in a day, if not for the earthquake.
US plane arrives with relief materials
A US embassy spokesman said supplies including blankets, tents, plastic sheeting, water containers, purification and distribution kits and generators were in the process of being moved to the affected areas.
France, Italy rush aid to Gujarat
While France has contributed one million French francs, Italy has extended an emergency aid of five billion Italian lire for the victims of the Gujarat earthquake.
Centre formulates guidelines for foreign agencies
The Centre has formulated some
guidelines to facilitate relief and rescue work by foreign
agencies in earthquake-hit Gujarat, Minister of State for
External Affairs Ajit Panja said on Monday.
Japan sends relief aircraft, another expected Wednesday
The Japanese team with good background in earthquake relief operations is equipped to provide emergency medical help to the affected people.
Form national relief committee, says Rabi Ray
The former Lok Sabha Speaker said the havoc caused by the earthquake is a challenge for all Indians to work together. Proper relief and rehabilitation will go a long way in restoring normalcy in Gujarat, he said.
Armed forces put aside personal tragedy to pitch in
The Army, IAF and BSF establishments and the Bhuj
airport's runway have suffered heavy damage, yet havaldar
Puran Singh is duty-bound at the Army's make-shift hospital
attending to the quake victims.
India may be vulnerable to worse earthquakes
The Himalayas are being jostled upwards and the subcontinent is being squashed, like a rumpled hanky.
Pune Command Hospital tends to quake victims
A small part of Gujarat has been transported to the Command Hospital in Pune in Maharashtra with all its misery and memories of the devastating earthquake.
Pune rallies to help earthquake victims
Many volunteers say they are amazed by the resilience and courage displayed by many in the face of the unspeakable tragedy.
As corpses mount, Bhuj residents fear epidemic
In Anjaar, some 300 students are still trapped under the debris in one narrow lane, and rescuing them is the authorities' priority.
N-plants felt the tremors but are safe: AERB
Nuclear power stations at Kakrapur,
Rawatbhata, Tarapur, Narora, Kalpakkam and Kaiga escaped unscathed
even as they felt the tremors of the devastating earthquake which
destroyed half of Gujarat.
Defence minister fears 100,000 deaths
Fernandes said his predictions were based on aerial reconnaissance of some of the worst affected parts of the state. So far about 6,200 bodies have been pulled out of the rubble.
SPECIALS
The Aftermath: An insurance ready-reckoner
At least, 3,000 non-life claims from earthquake victims have already been lodged. Overall, the insurance companies may end up settling claims worth Rs 10 billion.
'If my daughter is dead, he said let me look for my wife'
'For the first few hours I only had one needle. It was the most valuable thing I had.' Dr Gyaneshwar Rao, a surgeon in Bhuj who saved the lives of many victims, relives the fateful day the earthquake struck.
INTERVIEW
'Let us first rescue the people. Statistics should come later.'
'We do not want a repeat of Latur when more people lost their lives in the aftershocks than in the original tremor.' Dr S K Srivastav, additional director general, Indian Meteorological Department on the Republic Day earthquake and its aftermath.
MESSAGE BOARD
'I can only pray that the estimates are incorrect...'
I have high praise for the people of India in this terrible hour.
United in grief
Post your feelings about India's worst earthquake
in 50 years. Show the victims that you are with them
in this hour of crisis, in thought if not in person.
PTI EARTHQUAKE REPORTS
Mother, son found alive after 100 hours
Neelimaben and her son Keyur were taken out alive from the debris of Viswakunj Apartment in the worst-hit Maninagar area of Ahmedabad.
Ahmedabad-Kandla highway badly damaged
The famous salt industrial area, adjacent to the NH-4 near Bhachau, has been completely wiped out.
Two US citizens among victims
The United States continues to coordinate closely with Indian officials to ensure that assistance is most effectively provided to the victims.
Damaged buildings to be demolished in Ahmedabad
The problem of people rendered homeless by the January 26 earthquake will be compounded by demolitions of unsafe buildings.
'We cannot treat their trauma'
The Bhuj district administration says its priority is to rescue trapped people and it does not have facilities to help traumatised persons.
OTHER REPORTS
Top-level reshuffle in bureaucracy
The Union government Tuesday announced six senior-level appointments with N S Sisodia being made the additional secretary in the Cabinet secretariat in place of Pawan Chopra who takes over as the new information and broadcasting secretary.
Bharihoke to decide Hindujas' fate on Feb 1
S P Hinduja, G P Hinduja and P P Hinduja on Tuesday appeared before the special judge after 10 days of intense interrogation by the CBI.
FIR finally lodged against Sadhu Yadav
Laloo Yadav's brother-in-law stormed into an IAS official's chamber along with 15 henchmen, including two bodyguards, and forced him to sign a transfer order at gun point.
Gopinath Munde hurt in road mishap
The Bharatiya Janata Party national vice-president Tuesday suffered minor injuries, when his vehicle collided with another vehicle on the Nanded-Bombay highway.
COLUMNS
Dealing with Dubya
'The US now acknowledges the strength and resilience of India's democratic and pluralistic society and is concerned about the growing turmoil to our west and at the economic and strategic uncertainties to our east,' says G Parthasarathy.
An Assassin's Account
'Was Gandhi's assassin a fanatic Hindu or a fierce nationalist who could not accept Partition?' asks Arvind Lavakare.
January 30, 2001
THE EARTHQUAKE: CONTINUING TRAGEDY
Over 500 aftershocks since Gujarat quake
The Indian Meteorological Department, however, said Monday's tremor in Bangalore, which measured 4.5 on the Richter Scale, had no relation with the earthquake in Gujarat.
PM numbed by Bhuj's swathe of destruction
During his aerial survey, a grim-looking prime minister on board the military MI-8 helicopter said, ''The death toll is increasing."
'Gujarat will rise to the occasion'
A statement by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the earthquake that hit Gujarat late last week.
Toll may touch 30,000; Gujarat pleads for rescue equipment
The state government has said it was in urgent need of self contained medical teams and kitchens and heavy equipment for cutting through the debris.
A survivor's tale
Kaushik Patel, a class XI student in Ahmedabad, had a close brush with death when the earthquake struck Gujarat. He recalls the fateful Republic Day morning.
Relief work is progressing satisfactorily: Baruah
The Union agriculture secretary, who is co-ordinating relief efforts, said he was confident of restoring water and power supply in Gujarat soon.
Gujarat sets up external aid cell
The cell will channelise the huge amount of aid that is pouring in for the victims of the earthquake.
'They were lucky, sheer lucky'
Some had left Gujarat for some reason or the other before the quake struck.
Urgently required: Plaster of Paris
Doctors in Bhuj are using wooden sticks and ropes to help the injured.
Callousness, caring marks Ahmedabad's tragedy
Once known for its textile and other industries, Gujarat's capital is almost empty now.
India did not decline aid from Pak: Jaswant
India has refused no country and did not want to play politics at the time of a tragedy, the external affairs minister said in New Delhi on Monday.
Pak to airlift tents, blankets for Gujarat: PTI
The latest announcement followed Monday morning's bitter comments made by military ruler General Pervez Musharraf stating that India has declined to accept Islamabad's offer to send relief supplies.
Relatives leave for Gujarat with a prayer on their lips
There was uncertainty, impatience and grief at the Old Delhi Railway Station as the Ashram Express prepared to leave for Ahmedabad.
Morvi's history lies in ruins
The famous Darbargarh Palace, Mani Mandir and Green Chowk have suffered substantial damage, adding to the hurt of the local people, who were sentimentally attached to them.
Defence forces gear up to provide relief
Personnel, ships and aircraft of the three defence services are being pressed into action to provide relief in the affected areas.
Bombay's Kutchis rush to the rescue
They have reacted with swiftness. The Kutchi community in Bombay has taken it upon themselves to help their brethren in cash and kind.
Sabarmati bypoll cancelled
The Election Commission cancelled the February 19 assembly by-election in the Sabarmati constituency of Gujarat in view of the grave situation in the state.
Tremor scares Bangalore, schools closed
The meteorological centre placed the epicentre of the tremor roughly in the region of Kanakapura village, just outside the city limits.
Newspaper reports create panic
People want to know why rumour mongers and irresponsible publications were allowed to play on their fears.
Operations Resume at Kandla Port
Five ships have sailed from the port, while one has berthed since Friday's earthquake. A senior official, however, said the port still faced communications and power problems.
Mild tremors in Bhuj yet again: PTI
A series of mild tremors hit Bhuj late Sunday night, two days after a devastating earthquake flattened
most buildings in the area, killing thousands. There was no immediate reports of casualties or damage to property.
Bangalore hit by mild tremors, 4.3 on Richter Scale
The earthquake of slight intensity, measuring 4.3 on the Richter
Scale, had its epicentre about 35 km south of Bangalore.
India seeks $ 1.5 bn from aid agencies: Reuters
The government planned to ask $1 billion from the World Bank and $500 million from the Asian Development
Bank.
Rumour strikes terror in Bombay suburbs
Panic struck residents of Mira Road and Bhayander, extended western suburbs of Bombay, on Monday morning following rumours that an earthquake was about to strike them. Since 12.15 am, thousands of people took to camping out in the open, in the fear that tremors were about to strike.
SLIDE SHOW
Glimpses of the Tragedy
Jewella C Miranda captures the earthquake's aftermath.
MESSAGE BOARD
The Earthquake Message Board: United in Grief
Post your feelings about India's worst earthquake in 50 years. Show them that you are with them in this hour of crisis, in thought if not in person.
OTHER REPORTS
Gujarat quake casts shadow over Kumbh Mela
In contrast to the enthusiasm associated with the previous 'Shahi
Snans', the royal bathing at the Mahakumbh began on a subdued note, with heads and saints of all 13 akharas marching in a procession towards the Sangam without the accompaniment of any musical band.
Akharas cut out the music as 4 million bathe in the Sangam
With the rivers having receded further, people could be seen huddled in knee-deep waters across the two banks, to form a virtual human blanket along the actual confluence.
Kalyan had defended Ayodhya demolition: Basu
The Marxist leader and former West Bengal chief minister Monday produced an audio-cassette of a speech by the then chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, in which he had questioned the Ayodhya dispute being referred to the Supreme Court.
PTI REPORTS
5 killed in Assam militant attack
Among those killed were four people of Assamese origin and one belonging to a minority community.
Bharat Shah, Rizvi in police custody till Feb 1
The court also adjourned Shah's bail petition until then to enable the prosecution file its say.
Bugs trouble Shah, court allows bedding in jail
A special court Monday allowed the film financier to meet his wife, two sons and daughter in police lock-up.
Pawan Chopra appointed new I&B secretary
R R Shah, acting CEO of Prasar Bharati, is being kept on 'compulsory wait' in the I&B ministry till his posting elsewhere.
COLUMN
Most Valuable Commodity
'Why are our Indian tragedies invariably vastly greater than elsewhere, to the point that they simply numb us?' asks Dilip D'Souza. January 29, 2001
THE EARTHQUAKE: CONTINUING TRAGEDY
Bhuj's death toll could cross 20,000: doctors
A top government hospital functionary said a team of doctors from the institution despatched to Bhuj reported on Saturday morning that an estimated 50,000 people are still trapped in the
debris of the collapsed buildings.
Sunday's tremor measured 6 on Richter scale
About 257 after-shocks, following
Friday's earthquake in Gujarat, have been recorded by the
seismology department of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Bombay.
Of these 20 were above a magnitude of 5 on the Richter
Scale, including Sunday morning's tremor which touched 6 on the
Richter Scale.
'There were towns called Bhachauo and Anjaar'
Sheela Bhatt, now in Epicentre Bhuj, encounters the
unfolding chilling tragedy in Gujarat. An on-the-spot, Sunday-morning
dispatch.
Beating Retreat cancelled, PM to tour Gujarat on Monday
This is perhaps for the first time that the ceremonial performance
by bands of the army, navy and air force at the Vijay Chowk
has been called off.
10 students among 23 rescued in Ahmedabad
"After 40 hours of sustained operations we were able to
take out 23 people alive from the debris -- including 10 of the
70 students feared trapped under the debris of the Swaminarayan
Vidya Mandir," B H Patel, divisional officer of the Maninagar
fire station, said.
Celebrations await PM in his constituency
Most national celebrations may have been called off following the devastating earthquake in Gujarat, but Lucknow is being decked up to receive Vajpayee, on January 30-31.
News, as it happens, on the quake
For those far away, with families affected by the earthquake, there a few sites on the Net which are bringing you news as it happens.
Patients from Bhuj admitted to Bombay, Pune hospitals
Hospitals prepared as more earthquake-hit victims are expected from Gujarat.
Army fans out into interiors, fears enormous casualties
Despite continuing rescue and relief efforts, defence officials admit that
"rescue operations are going on at painfully slow speed, and casualties would
cross all our expectations".
'I wish I had died so that I would not see this day'
'At least 60 relatives are stuck inside the rubble. I don't know where to search for them.' The tragedy of the earthquake's survivors.
More than 200 aftershocks in Gujarat
'We will get a clearer picture of the death toll only by Monday evening when the rubble is partially removed,' IMD official R R Kelkar told rediff.com
Many quake survivors hit by depression
'Doctor, I am Urmila. After the earthquake, I cannot eat and don't feel sleepy. Please help. I am suffering from depression,' she says. This is not Urmila's story alone, but that of many other Surtis, who are suffering from depression after the earthquake hit Gujarat on Friday morning.
Three Navy ships pressed into relief work
While INS Ganga will ferrying the injured from Kutch to Bombay, two other ships, INS Sutlej and INS Nirdheshak have also been pressed into relief work, Union agriculture secretary Bhaskar Baruah told the media on Sunday afternoon.
270 criminals escape from Bhuj jail
'We are moving 85 more criminals to Ahmedabad jail to avoid any more jailbreaks,' Minister Suresh Mehta told rediff.com
Funeral pyres burn non-stop in the countryside
Along the national highway between Ahmedabad and Bombay, one can see piles of wood being kept ready for anyone who might require it.
Ahmedabad, Surat, Jaisalmer report fresh tremors
Ahmedabad city and its
surrounding areas, Surat, and Jaisalmer in Rajasthan on Sunday morning experienced a fresh jolt at around 0630 am.
Kutch a high risk earthquake zone
Dr R V Karanth pointed out the danger last year, asserting that earthquakes in the area were a fallout of mountain-building in the area.
Glimpses of the Tragedy
Jewella C Miranda captures the earthquake's aftermath.
PTI EARTHQUAKE REPORTS
Power supply restored in Bhuj
Power supply to Bhuj and other parts of Kutch district was cut off on Friday immediately after the devastating earthquake hit the area.
Sonia Gandhi postpones AICC session
The Congress President announced the decision a day after she visited the
quake-affected areas in Gujarat. "I was deeply saddened to see the unprecedented
devastation" caused by the quake, she said. It was a great
national calamity and the entire country should rise to the
occasion and provide succour to the affected.
International rescue teams descend on Ahmedabad
The Swiss team, equipped with sophisticated gadgetry, including
cameras, sensors and mikes as also nine dogs trained to locate
people trapped under debris, jumped into the thick of action soon
after its arrival and managed to rescue a child and a young woman
from the rubble of Mansi Tower in the Satellite Town area.
Air India will lift relief materials free
AI managers posted throughout its global
network spread over the United States of America, Europe, Gulf
region and south-east Asia have been directed to ensure that
the relief materials reached Gujarat in time.
Bhuj air force base takes off on broken wings
The Indian Air Force base has resumed
operating skeletal services.
Railways run free service to Ahmedabad
The railways have started special
trains to Ahmedabad from Delhi, Madras, Calcutta, Bombay and
Bangalore on Sunday to take the relatives of the quake-hit and
relief workers to Ahmedabad and if possible to Dhrangdhara.
Earthquake: The Complete Coverage
INTERVIEW
'Science can tell you when an earthquake will occur. But what then?'
'One suspects the energy budget accumulated in this region is already reaching rupture point. Therefore, over this decade
or the next, it will be foolhardy to exclude the possibility of a major earthquake,' says seismologist Vinod Kumar Gaur.
SPECIALS
Earthquakes: A ready-reckoner
'The origin of an earthquake is called the Hypocentre. It is also called the Focus. It is the point within the earth from where seismic waves originate...'
Does the hope of a Nobel Prize haunt those responsible for extending the cease-fire?
'Who will win the jihadis over? The Hurriyat leaders? Have the cease-fixers reckoned with this question?' asks lawyer P N Lekhi.
OTHER REPORTS
S P Hinduja denies lobbying for Keith Vaz: PTI
The chairman of the Hinduja group Sunday described as "totally false" reports that he had
lobbied with British Prime Minister Tony Blair to make Vaz a minister.
Army out as riots erupt in Karachi
The riots in eastern districts on Sunday followed the assassination of five Sunni Muslim leaders.
COLUMNS
Sinha masters tricks of the trade
The finance minister bungs a spanner in the selection of IDBI's next chairman, at a former premier's behest. Capital Buzz. Gossip from the Delhi Durbar.
It's a repeat of the same, old story
'Be it the earthquake in Latur, or the supercyclone in Orissa, or the drought in Rajasthan, or the starvation deaths in Orissa, there is a common strand running through. And it is one of neglect of and nonchalance towards the most valuable commodity known to humankind: Life,' says Krishna Prasad.
January 28, 2001
THE EARTHQUAKE: THE DAY AFTER
Images from the Quake
Jewella C Miranda captures the tragedy in Ahmedabad.
Images from Surat
10,000 missing in Bhuj
Many people from other parts of Gujarat are voluntarily travelling to Bhuj to help the quake-affected.
Injured Bhuj residents may be air lifted to safer areas
The government has accepted the six sniffer dogs, offered by the Swiss Government, to help extricate the dead and trapped victims.
'We have barely any food left'
'Our town is finished. Tabahi, tabahi,' Rapar's residents mourn the destruction of their lives.
50,000 flee Ahmedabad high-rises
Panic-stricken people have vacated their houses and moved out to open spaces or other places they consider safer.
Toll could go beyond 15,000
'It is assumed the epi-centre of the 'quake must have been totally devastated. Our worst fears could come true," said Additional Director General, Indian Meteorological Department, S K Srivastav.
General in Bhuj to supervise 'quake relief
The army has moved additional troops to Bhuj, where it now has 3,500 soldiers.
Thousands flee Bhuj
A fear psychosis has struck the residents, who fear that the earthquake may strike again. Many preferred to sleep on the Rajkot-Bhuj highway, in the chilling cold on Friday night.
Surajbari bridge restored
Nearly all bus stations and hospitals at Bachao, Bhuj and Anjar have been damaged and at least 150 multi-storeyed buildings have collapsed.
Fernandes, Tipnis rush to Gujarat
The damage at the air force station at Bhuj is believed to be much greater than originally thought. According to sources, 150 Indian Air Force men have died, but there is no official confirmation of it.
Transport links partially restored in Kutch
Passenger bus services and light vehicles have started plying over Surajbari bridge, which was damaged in the earthquake. Contact with Kutch through Odesar Road has also been restored and Bhuj airport has resumed functioning.
Gujarat experiences 53 aftershocks
They may have caused further damage to both life and property in Bhuj.
Surat experiences fresh tremor
The mild tremor on Saturday morning resulted in panic among residents, and many residing in multi-storeyed buildings came out in fear.
Rajasthan escapes quake's ravages
The state is also rushing 50 doctors, 25 teams of paramedical staff and excavation equipment to its beleagured neighbour.
Maharashtra equipped to deal with disaster management
Thanks to the Centre of Disaster Management, a United Nations Development Programme and World Bank venture.
Maharashtra, AP too offer help
The Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh Governments have announced various steps to help the thousands affected by the earthquake that struck Gujarat on Friday.
Fresh tremors in Ahmedabad: PTI
Parts of the city, rocked by a powerful earthquake on Friday, experienced mild tremors lasting for a few seconds at about 1030 hours on Saturday.
188 prisoners escape during quake: PTI
The prisoners, including 50 hardcore criminals, escaped when a portion of a wall in Bhuj jail collapsed.
Sonia Gandhi visits quake-hit areas: PTI
She undertook an aerial survey of earthquake-affected Kutch district and met survivors in Ahmedabad.
Pak expresses grief, offers to help
Pakistan ruler General Pervez Musharraf has expressed grief and sorrow over the tragic loss of life and property in the earthquake in a message to the prime minister.
World offers help to quake-hit: Reuters
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee appealed to relief workers to help victims of the earthquake which hit Gujarat on Friday, as offers of help flowed in from several countries, as well as from United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan.
Earthquake: The Complete Coverage
SPECIAL
Earthquakes: A ready-reckoner
'The origin of an earthquake is called the Hypocentre. It is also called the Focus. It is the point within the earth from where seismic waves originate...'
INTERVIEW
'Science can tell you when an earthquake will occur. But what then?'
'One suspects the energy budget accumulated in this region is already reaching rupture point. Therefore, over this decade
or the next, it will be foolhardy to exclude the possibility of a major earthquake,' says seismologist Vinod Kumar Gaur.
OTHER REPORTS
Parallel Dharam Sansad challenges VHP monopoly: PTI
It accused the VHP of taking political mileage out of its 'orchestrated campaign' for Ram temple construction.
CBI interrogates G P Hinduja, to continue on Sunday: PTI
Later, Hinduja denied that the CBI inquiry was connected with the granting of British citizenship to two of the brothers in 1999.
Blair defends Vaz in Hinduja passport row
The British prime minister confirmed that Vaz had made representations to the home office about S P Hinduja's passport while being a member of Parliament, but added that 'from the look of the papers I have seen, I cannot see anything wrong with what has been done'.
US should mediate, says Gen Karamat: PTI
The former Pakistan Army chief saw 'positive sign' that political forces were shaping to take over from militant groups and said the peace process should be institutionalised.
Charges framed against Salman Khan
He has been charged for possessing and using illegal arms for shooting protected animals. Salman denied the charges in a Jodhpur court.
DEATH OF A LEADER
Rajmata Amar Rahe!
As he helped place his mother's mortal remains on the funeral pyre, Madhavrao Scindia could not fight back his tears.
'After I prayed to Rajmata, I felt a sense of peace'
'She was not like an ordinary Rajmata. I was as important to her as anyone else despite my poverty,' one mourner said.
SPECIAL
Does the hope of a Nobel Prize haunt those responsible for extending the cease-fire?
'Who will win the jihadis over? The Hurriyat leaders? Have the cease-fixers reckoned with this question?' asks lawyer P N Lekhi.
COLUMNS
Sinha masters tricks of the trade
The finance minister bungs a spanner in the selection of IDBI's next chairman, at a former premier's behest. Capital Buzz. Gossip from the Delhi Durbar.
It's a repeat of the same, old story
'Be it the earthquake in Latur, or the supercyclone in Orissa, or the drought in Rajasthan, or the starvation deaths in Orissa, there is a common strand running through. And it is one of neglect of and nonchalance towards the most valuable commodity known to humankind: Life,' says Krishna Prasad.
January 27, 2001
TREMORS HIT INDIA
RAF called out in Ahmedabad, toll 651
Many high-rises have collapsed in Ahmedabad city, the worst of them being the 10-storey Shikhar building. The worst damage is feared in Ranip area of the city. At least 30 buildings are feared to have collapsed.
Quake's epicentre is Bhuj
R R Kelkar, director general, of Indian Meteorological Department, said, 'The earthquake measured 6.9 on the Richter Scale and was 20 km northeast of Bhuj. Tremors were also felt in Delhi and Bombay on a minor scale when compared to Bhuj.'
Ghost town image looms over Ahmedabad
Rajkot, Morvi, Wankaner, Maliya and Surendranath have also reported high number of deaths and injuries. An area-wise check-list.
10 IAF personnel feared killed in Bhuj
At least one aircraft carrying emergency medical teams and facilities has landed at the Bhuj Air Force base, which has been cut off from the outside world after suffering major damage in the earthquake.
Air force, army pressed into relief work
A disaster control centre has been set up at the air headquarters in New Delhi
to coordinate the relief work.
Army calls off exercise in Rajasthan, redirects troops for relief work
According to an Army spokesman, this is one of the biggest-ever disaster assistance mobilisations in history. Senior Army officials expressed fears, based on initial assessments available from their field units, that the toll in Friday morning's earthquake might run into a few thousands.
Quake hits industrial facilities
Reliance says its Jamnagar and Hazira facilities are safe. But Essar Steel's Hazira plant, IPCL and IOC's Baroda refineries, and GAIL's Bijapur gas terminals have reportedly sustained some damage.
Special Parliament session cancelled
'With this kind of devastation the Cabinet felt the government should concentrate on giving relief to the victims,' Union minister Mahajan said.
Cabinet secretary told to work out relief measures
The Union Cabinet meeting on Friday directed Cabinet Secretary T R Prasad, who heads the disaster management group, to chalk out emergency relief measures for Gujarat in the wake of the earthquake.
IA sets up special cell at Santa Cruz
The airline is also scheduling special flights to Gujarat. Officials said passengers related to any of the quake victims would be given priority on the flights.
'The quake's magnitude was so severe it threw our instruments out of gear'
Dr Harsh Gupta, director, National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, analyses Friday's tragedy in terms of dos, don'ts and preventive measures.
Bhuj quake was more severe than Latur's
'We were aware of the movements beneath the fault zone of Kutch. But we can't say anything before it jolts us with tremors of higher magnitude,' says Vinay Brahmbhatt, director of the Gujarat Engineering Research Institute, Baroda.
Advani rushes to Ahmedabad
Advani, elected to the Lok Sabha from Gandhinagar
constituency, said Kutch was the worst affected besides Surat
and his own constituency.
Quake toll may cross 1000, says Advani: PTI
Defence Minister George Fernandes is already in Bhuj, another district devastated by the quake.
India, the land of quakes and fault-zones
The RD killer quake seems a morbidly terrible finale of a deadly drama that began in August 2000, indicates research of media reports on the Net.
Bombay unprepared for earthquakes: Studies
Many of the skyscrapers that dot the city, each with hundreds of apartments, have been built by reclaiming marshy land and without taking special precautions to make them sturdy enough to withstand an earthquake.
Friday's quake biggest in the last 50 years
It is the biggest earthquake after the one hit Assam way back in 1950," says Dr
Harsh K Gupta, director, National Geophysical Research Institute in Hyderabad.
Incidentally, the Assam earthquake, measuring 8.6 on the Richter Scale, occurred on
Independence Day in 1950.
Jamnagar, Jodia, Bet, Surat swing from celebrations to mourning in seconds
Seven people were reported killed in Jamnagar, 15 more in Jodia and another two in Bet town, as a killer earthquake rocked Gujarat and adjoining states on Friday morning. The quake measured 7.9 on the Richter Scale.
Quake damages historic monuments in Jaisalmer
The tremors damaged the historic Salam Singh Ki Haveli and Hawa Pol
(Gate of Wind) in the world famous structure known as the golden fort after
film maestro Satyajit Ray described it as 'Sonar Killa' in his novel.
'If the building fell, I wanted all of us to
die together...'
Some thought it was their imagination running wild, while others thought it was the end of the world. But what came across was that most had no clue what to do, or not to do, if an earthquake strikes.
Despatches from Gujarat: 'We saw death'
'Most of us are farmers, simple people who unfailingly we attend the Republic Day function. That was what saved our lives today, all our children are safe because they were in the open maidan for the flag-hoisting ceremony,' recalls Vinubhai Sheth.
Four killed as quake rocks Pakistan
At least four people, including a four-year-old girl, are
reported to have been killed and six others were
injured on Friday when an earthquake struck many
cities in Pakistan, doctors and officials said.
Earthquake: The Complete Coverage
R-DAY CELEBRATIONS
India parades 21st century might and colours at Rajpath
Tradition mixed with modernity and a riot of colours lit up India's capital on the 52nd Republic Day. A pre-earthquake report on the main parade.
R-Day celebrated in J&K amidst tight security
Apart from paramilitary forces, no one was seen on the streets of Srinagar. A curfew-like situation prevailed in the city centre where BSF personnel hoisted a flag on the clock tower.
SPECIALS
R-Day Parade: A slideshow
Images from the event.
Unjust peace: just war
'Fulfillment of the unfinished agenda of Partition in Kashmir is the core issue for the Pakistani establishment. Peace, despite India's unilateral cease-fire, appears to be a chimera,' feels former IB official Maloy K Dhar.
Cease-fire or cease-fixers? Story of many betrayals
'I wonder if the cease-fire will be of any assistance to maintain my country's integrity and sovereignty,' wonders lawyer P N Lekhi.
DEATH OF A LEADER
Thousands pay homage to Rajmata
Fifty thousand visitors are expected for Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia's funeral in Gwalior on Saturday.
PROJECT HOPE
Children of courage
Meet some youngsters who won this year's National Bravery Awards.
Henna Bakshi: 'I jumped on him and caught him by his legs'
Mukesh Kumar: 'I want to fight the militants'
Prince Kumar: 'All children should act brave when the need arises'
Hanboklang Nongsiej: 'I ran through the flames'
Lalniliana: Someone who believed in compassion, courage and life
The National Bravery Awards: A ready reckoner.
'I feel more inspired than ever to fight'
Bana Singh. Sanjay Kumar. Yogendra Singh Yadav. The only Param Vir Chakra winners alive. True heroes who made India proud with their courage.
January 26, 2001
PRESIDENT'S R-DAY SPEECH
Ceasefire a bold and imaginative step: Narayanan
President K R Narayanan, in his address to the nation on the eve of Republic Day, expressed the hope that ''people at the other end will realise the futility of their hostility and respond to our gestures of peace and friendship''.
Narayanan concerned over large river valley projects
In an apparent reference to the Narmada Valley project, he said in his address to the nation that only through enlightened development policies the country could resolve dilemmas of development.
NATIONAL AWARDS
Lata, Bismillah Khan get Bharat Ratnas
There are no nominees for Param Vir Chakra, the country's highest
gallantry award, or its peacetime equivalent, the Ashok Chakra.
PROJECT HOPE
'I feel more inspired than ever to fight'
Bana Singh. Sanjay Kumar. Yogendra Singh Yadav. The only Param Vir Chakra winners alive. True heroes who made India proud with their courage.
SITUATION IN J&K
Plan to trigger blasts on R-Day foiled: PTI
The security forces in Jammu and Kashmir Thursday seized a big cache of explosives and ammunition, including 50 kg of RDX from a hideout in south Kashmir.
General alert in J&K on R-Day eve
The administration Thursday deployed thousands of army and paramilitary personnel, besides police, for the smooth conduct of functions on January 26.
Peace depends on Hurriyat visit: Pakistan
'Until and unless the Indian government takes a positive decision with regard to the visit of the Hurriyat delegation to Pakistan, the prospects will remain frozen and there will be a danger of regression,' Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar said.
GUEST COLUMN
End this uncertainty
'Under tremendous pressure from the jihadis, Musharraf needs more concrete initiatives from India than just a cease-fire extension,' feels Dawn columnist M H Askari.
KUMBH MELA
Over 40,000 go missing on Mauni Amavasya
People were literally falling over each other in the missing-person camps and the organisers were finding it difficult to even make announcements, what to speak of catering to their basic minimum needs for food and sanitation.
Day of the Nagas at the Kumbh
Their arrival at the Sangam was marked by a formal reception with marigold garlands and showering of flower petals by local Mela authorities, who leave no stone unturned in the traditional rituals, lest the hierarchy-conscious and highly egotistic religious congregations take offence.
Dalai Lama opposes conversions
The 14th reincarnate of Lord Buddha, who was at Kumbh Nagar on an invitation of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, had a one-hour dialogue with Jayendra Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kamkoti, following which they passed a resolution to oppose conversions.
SPECIAL
The rock stars of Hinduism
Wilful. Capricious. Prone to sudden bouts of friendliness and equally inexplicable fits of rage. Meet the Naga sadhus of the Juna Akhara.
DEATH OF A LEADER
Vijayaraje Scindia dies
The senior BJP politician died after battling for life in hospital for a fortnight. Her body will be cremated in Gwalior on Saturday.
TRIBUTES
Rajmata was tender, yet tough: Vajpayee
Advani and former BJP president Kushabhau Thakre will accompany her body to Gwalior where it will be kept in the Scindia palace for the people to pay their last respects.
`She wept for the poor'
`She was a dedicated party leader and would never get tired of visiting her constituency or various parts of India to listen to problems of people. Sometimes, I wondered from where she got that energy and enthusiasm,' says Khushabhau Thakre, a former president of the Bharatiya Janata Party, on Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia.
We have lost our mentor
Dr J K Jain of Jain TV says that what began as a doctor-patient relationship became a family bond between Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia and him.
OTHER TOP REPORTS
I have not asked anyone for a favour: S P Hinduja
The Hinduja, who was called to the Central Bureau of Investigation headquarters again on Thursday morning for clarifications, said that he felt sorry for Peter Mandelson, who resigned from the cabinet of British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Wednesday.
Bajrang Dal to prevent cow slaughter during Bakr-Id
It also said Babar destroyed the temple in Ayodhya in 1528 to insult Hindus and the campaign for constructing the Ram temple reflected a 'national sentiment'.
Blood samples of arrested Thai fishermen sent for tests
The blood samples of the 47 fishermen were sent to Cuttack Medical College and Hospital for tests, by the Orissa police on Wednesday, following fears that they were suffering from AIDS.
The Americans will return, but not to Rameshwaram
Superintendent of Police S N Seshasayee, who had tipped off the Union home ministry about 10 Americans overstaying in a remote island in Rameshwaram late last year, asserted that the issue is closed.
DIARY
Me and Jhumpa
"A month ago, all I knew about Jhumpa Lahiri was that (a) she is a woman, (b) she wrote a book called Interpreter of Maladies and (c) the book won the Pulitzer." But now Aparajita Saha is a treasure house of Jhumpa trivia.
COLUMNS
Setting Agni on Li Peng's tail
'If India wanted, it could have waited for Li's flight to take off for Beijing before firing the missile. But obviously it wanted to convey a message -- India is determined to build a credible minimal nuclear deterrent,' says Brahma Chellaney.
Sonia and her advisers have learnt nothing from history
'Is Sonia really so stupid as to believe that by taking a dip in the river at Allahabad, she will prove her Hindu credentials?' wonders Amberish K Diwanji.
January 25, 2001
Church, Muslims must Indianise: RSS
Addressing a rally of RSS workers from Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Madikeri and Kasargod districts, Sudarshan said Christians should form a national church and cut off all their links with the Vatican.
CEASEFIRE IN J&K
'Congress not consulted on ceasefire extension'
Pranab Mukherjee, who heads the party's panel on J&K, said the NDA government was gaining a reputation for making crucial decisions without taking opposition parties into confidence.
Extension fails to create ripples in Pakistan
It was of little interest to people across the border, who anyway view the whole gambit of trying to seek peace in Kashmir as one that has very little chance of making any headway, says Mariana Baabar.
Troops kill six Lashkar men in Jammu
The operation was carried out after residents of a village on the outskirts of Jammu tipped off a nearby army unit about the presence of the armed men.
SHO killed in Srinagar blast
A massive explosion rocked the Dalgate locality in Srinagar on Wednesday morning.
INTERVIEW
'BJP is not interested in Kashmiri Pandits'
'The BJP is more concerned about the temple in Ayodhya than the misery and suffering of 350,000 Kashmiri Pandits displaced from the valley,' says Panun Kashmir leader Kamal Hak.
BOFORS PAY-OFFS CASE
CBI questions P P Hinduja for three hours
The Central Bureau of Investigation interrogated Prakash Hinduja at its headquarters in New Delhi on Wednesday morning in connection with his role in the Rs 640 million Bofors payoffs case.
Mandelson resigns over passport for Hinduja
The Northern Ireland secretary resigned for an unprecedented second time, following allegations that he helped Srichand get a UK passport.
S P Hinduja regrets resignation: PTI
He reiterated that he had never at any time linked support for the faith zone of the Millennium Dome with the Hindujas' request to Mandelson for information.
TOP REPORTS
20 million take dip at Kumbh Mela
The Sangam is a confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati and Hindus believe that a dip there ensures salvation.
Phased Withdrawal of Army From J&K: Zee
The withdrawal, to be executed in phases, is likely to be completed in five years.
AIADMK member produces voter ID card in CM's name
The voter identity card programme, a pet project of the Election Commission since the days of T N Seshan at the helm, received a jolt in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.
Advani's security tightened
Special commissioner (security) of the Delhi police R S Gupta Wednesday confirmed that security had been tightened for several VVIP's, under threat from Pakistan-based militant groups like the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad.
Five ultras, three tribals killed in Assam
In the latter case, a group of 26 people, including women from tribal camps, had gone to the forest to collect firewood when militants opened fire on them.
OTHER REPORTS
38 killed in fresh Lanka offensive
The army has lost 13 men, including three officers, while the separatist Tamil Tiger militants have reportedly lost more than 25 cadres in the latest offensive at the strategic Muhamali area on Monday night.
Lanka calls for talks with LTTE
The government, however, rejected the rebels call for a ceasefire.
Iran protests killing of its national in Pakistan
Earlier, Iran was upset when the Pakistani Supreme Court suspended the execution of a man affiliated to an extremist religious group who was convicted of the 1990 murder of an Iranian diplomat.
Custody of naval commando extended
The commando had reportedly injured himself in a drama at the Navy chief's residence last month.
Vijayaraje Scindia still 'very critical'
The veteran Bharatiya Janata Party leader is undergoing dialysis as her vital organs like liver and kidney are not functioning properly.
Accused in Gulshan case remanded to police custody till Feb 5
An accused in the sensational murder of the cassette king, Abdul Rauf alias Dawood Merchant was Wednesday produced in a local court in Bombay.
Seven Rajan gang members arrested in Lucknow
They were allegedly conspiring to eliminate mafia don Brijesh Singh and a former Shiv Sena leader Pawan Pandey.
PTI REPORTS
BMAC (I) ready for talks on Ayodhya tangle
Babri Masjid Action Committee (International) said it was prepared for talks with the parties concerned for a just solution of Ayodhya issue if it led to protection of religious rights of both the communities.
Midnapore SP shunted out
The West Bengal Government Wednesday replaced Gaurav Dutta by A K Maliwal, SP, South 24-Pargans, in a major shake-up of the police set-up, in an apparent concession to the Trinamul Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party demand for his removal from the trouble-torn district.
Paswan, Bharti escape unhurt as podium crashes
As the Union communication minister, Union minister of state and others arrived on the podium and waved to the crowd, at a conference to mark the birth anniversary of former Bihar chief minister Karpoori Thakur, Jan Shakti activists rushed to the podium.
V Ranganathan is new Maharashtra Chief Secretary
He succeeds Arun Bongirwar, who has proceeded on long leave.
16 hurt in clashes in Midnapore
The Communist Party of India-Marxists supporters were seriously injured in night-long clashes with the People's War Group in the troubled district in West Bengal, police said.
SPECIAL
Ayodhya: A legal reckoner
Notwithstanding the vociferous claims and counter-claims over the disputed site, the Hindu community first attempted a legal claim over the 16th century Babri Masjid only after Independence.
DIARY
Don't you know Brother Babu?
"I personally feel he is a dropout from the Grand Prix and used to coach Schumacher." Meet Reshma Khan's good friend.
COLUMNS
Vox Populi: The Real Thing
'This is the world's first column with a built-in safety-shield, which protects writer and reader. You can't blame the columnist if you don't like it! And you don't have to agree with him!' says Krishna Prasad.
The dumbing down of life
'Entertainment is shifting us away from our cultural priorities,
transforming our lives in many ways. I do not know if this is good for
India or bad. What I do know is that it gives hype, hysteria and
horseshit a thumbs up,' feels Pritish Nandy.
January 24, 2001
THE CEASEFIRE
Centre extends ceasefire for another month
External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh said the Cabinet Committee on Security decided unanimously to extend the ceasefire, which was to expire on Republic Day.
Govt wants peace in Kashmir, says PM: PTI
Vajpayee Tuesday asked Pakistan to create a conducive atmosphere for resumption of talks.
Hurriyat leaders welcome extension
'I hope the forces that are interested in bringing peace to the valley will seize this opportunity and create an atmosphere conducive for talks,' former APHC chairman Abdul Gani Lone said.
Centre took Farooq into confidence
But the government is still debating the issue of clearing the proposed travel plans of the All-Parties Hurriyat Conference delegation to Pakistan.
Hizb, Lashkar reject ceasefire extension
Lashkar spokesman Yayha Mujahideen said from Lahore that his
organisation rejected the ceasefire even when it was announced two months ago.
Pak rules out compromise on Kashmir: PTI
Military ruler General Pervez Musharaf told a meeting of army corps commanders that he hoped the Indian government will issue travel documents to Hurriyat leaders to enable them visit Islamabad for talks.
Better image abroad prompted extension
External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh, Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha and the Research and Analysis Wing argued that extension would win India international acclaim while exposing Pakistan as the 'villain of the piece'.
MEANWHILE IN THE VALLEY...
Strike cripples life in Kashmir
The general strike was called by the All Party Hurriyat Conference in protest against the alleged increase in custodial deaths and fake encounters in the state.
Hizb commander's house destroyed in fire
Dar had declared a unilateral ceasefire in July last year, setting the peace process in Jammu and Kashmir rolling. The ceasefire was later withdrawn by the Hizb supreme commander Syed Salahuddin.
THE BOFORS CASE
CBI finishes interrogation of S P Hinduja
The CBI's special team has called his brother Prakashchand for interrogation at 10.30 am on Wednesday.
KUMBH MELA
Millions throng banks of Ganga
Millions are planning to take a dip in the holiest of holy Indian rivers on the most auspicious day of the six-week Kumbh Mela on Wednesday.
Govt may fall on temple issue, warns VHP: PTI
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad Tuesday talked tough on construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya and issued a veiled warning to the Vajpayee Government.
SPECIALS
No Coke. No Pepsi. No palm oil
Kerala embarks on a unique campaign to save its coconut plantations.
Postcard to the Finance Minister
Mail your suggestions/ideas/requests for Budget 2001 and we will forward them to Union Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha.
INTERVIEW
'The ULFA gameplan has backfired'
'ULFA has suffered a serious setback. Many leaders have been killed. Over 2,700 have surrendered in the last three years. We have recovered over ten million rupees in cash that was extorted.' Assam Director General of Police Hare Krishna Deka on the tragedy of Assam.
DIARY
These dates are sour!
"I immediately decided that falling in love with an enlightened, educated girl is too much of a pain." Hemanth Kumar G on why he wants to marry his distant uncle's village-born daughter.
TOP REPORTS
Thackeray defamation case adjourned to Feb 6
The Shiv Sena leader's counsel said Outlook magazine had submitted before the high court that it would not re-print the offensive portions of the article until the case was disposed of.
Veerappan may have sneaked into Kerala
Kerala has been drawn into the Catch Veerappan Operation following ''definite information'' that he and his 12 men were moving towards its forests, to escape the intensified onslaught of the combined Special Task Force.
Kargil heroes to feature in R-Day parade
The parade on Rajpath on January 26 in the capital will for the first time feature three Param Vir Chakra winners, including two Kargil heroes.
Don't deviate from NDA agenda: Naidu
The Andhra Pradesh chief minister lambasted political parties and other organisations for harping on the mandir-masjid row instead of concentrating on developmental issues.
Rajmata Scindia sinks further
The veteran BJP politician's condition was reported to be 'very critical', with all her vital organs failing.
OTHER REPORTS
Security Spoils Sena Chief's B-day Party
The Sena chief, who was scheduled to arrive at 8 pm, reached the venue at
9.45 and left 15 minutes later after delivering a brief speech.
Quiet prayer to mark Staines second death anniversary
His wife, Gladys, will observe the anniversary with her family in Australia.
Afghans turn down Pak request for extradition
Differences between Pakistan's military regime and the Taleban regime of Afghanistan came to the fore, with Kabul refusing to extradite 60 terrorists involved in sectarian violence in Pakistan.
Benazir flays Pak foreign policy
The former prime minister said the country had got 'more isolated' vis-a-vis India in the world arena.
Vajpayee to visit Japan in February
Vajpayee will meet Emperor Arihito and hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori during the five-day visit.
CPI-M finalises strategy for assembly polls
CPI-M general secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet said that the central committee has resolved to strengthen the unity of the left and democratic forces to take on reactionary forces.
Koirala re-elected Nepali Congress president
His re-election has not only consolidated the prime minister's grip on the ruling party, but also reduced the perceived influence of the rival camp led by former prime ministers K P Bhattarai and Sher Bahadur Deuba.
Mendonca reinstated as Director General of ACB
The state government gave him the reinstating orders hours after the Supreme Court judgement on Monday, which upheld the Bombay High Court order for his reinstatement.
PTI REPORTS
Lankan forces recapture key area in Jaffna
The security forces captured a key junction at Muhamalai in northern Jaffna in a surprise offensive.
Four woodcutters hacked to death in Assam
Armed with axes and machetes, unidentified extremists entered the makeshift dwellings of the woodcutters at Bishnupur-Sankuchi village, under Nalbari police station, and hacked the four to death.
COLUMNS
Sonia's holy dip
'Sonia Gandhi is doing precisely what she accuses the Bharatiya Janata Party of doing -- mixing religion with politics,' says T V R Shenoy.
The great bath, et al
'If the Sangh associates think their votebank is so fragile that it will bolt to the Congress thanks to Sonia's dip in the Kumbh, imagine their horror if she were to, say, recite the Gayatri mantra!' asks Saisuresh Sivaswamy.
J&K: Need for a changed perspective
'We must reconcile ourselves to the fact that we can get back PoK only with a nuclear war to the finish, or when Pakistan withers away as a state,' says Arvind Lavakare.
January 23, 2001
Thackeray slaps Rs 1 billion suit on Outlook
The suit, filed by his lawyer Satish Maneshinde, will come up for hearing before Justice H L Gokhale on Tuesday.
THE KUMBH MELA
Sonia takes a dip at the Kumbh Mela
Dressed in red sari, she took a motorboat to the site, reached the Sangam and took the dip and left in ten minutes.
Recognise Hindu power, Singhal warns Muslims
But D B Rai, a former BJP MP, accused the VHP of not being serious about constructing a temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya.
Inadequate security fails to deter Sonia from visiting Kumbh
The Congress president will visit the camps of the shankaracharya of Dwarka and Jyotish peeths, Swami Swaroopananda Saraswati, Satpal Maharaj, a former Union minister and head of a religious congregation, and the Congress Sewa Dal.
SPECIAL
Dinosaur Pradarshini: Stephen Spillburg ne cinema mein dikhaya
'Those in search of entertainment at Kumbh Nagari face no stint. In fact,' says Prem Panicker, 'both forms of entertainment, the spiritual and the temporal, are available in plenty here.'
THE BOFORS CASE
CBI gets more time to question Hindujas
The special court Monday gave the CBI time till January 30 to complete its interrogation of the Hinduja brothers in the Bofors payoffs case.
Quattrocchi fights extradition
The Italian businessman, a key accused in the Rs 640 million pay-off case, once again tried to stall his extradition from Malaysia, claiming he would become ''a victim of politics and not receive justice''.
TOP REPORTS
Chasing Veerappan is proving tough for the STF
Close to 3,000 armed men are searching the jungles for Veerappan. But they are no closer to finding him than they ever were.
Bharat Shah's police custody extended till January 29
Designated Judge A P Bhangale rejected the defence plea that the remand application was a public document, and said handing over the full document to Shah's team could derail the investigation into the case.
Third Front before polls: Surjeet
The third alternative at the national level will comprise Left, democratic and secular parties, the Communist Party of India-Marxists general secretary claimed in Bhubaneswar on Monday.
Goa CM alleges hand of two politicians in arms racket
One or two senior politicians across the border are involved in the illegal trade of arms and ammunition, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar disclosed in the state assembly on Monday.
Aiyar, Soni frontrunners for Sonia political secy post
Senior party member Oscar Fernandes, however, pointed out, "Such a thing is not even at the formative stage. I have also read a report to this effect. Barring our party chief herself, nobody knows whether such a post will be created at all."
Navy commissions two missile ships
INS Mumbai is a Delhi-Class guided missile destroyer and INS Kirch, a Kora-Class guided missile corvette.
Bhim Singh for J&K govt's dismissal
The Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party chief Monday demanded that the government be replaced by an all-party administration under the governor, for three years.
Tamil Nadu assembly condones Tamaraikkani's punishment
The House unanimously condoned the remaining 13 days of simple imprisonment awarded to the AIADMK member in 1999 for assaulting Agriculture Minister Veerapandi Arumugham.
NHRC summons Bihar chief secy, DGP
The human rights commission summoned them following the state government's failure to arrest former minister of state Lalit Yadav.
ULFA top brass rejects talks offer
Two top leaders of the banned outfit rejected the Centre's recent offer for talks with the Indian Government, calling the Union home ministry "insincere" and prone to double-speak.
Tripura CM demands sealing of B'desh border
Manik Sarkar also demanded demolition of all extremist hideouts in the neighbouring country.
Buddhadev elected to CPI-M politburo
With Bhattacharya's inclusion, the number of politburo members goes up to 18.
Govt still to decide on ceasefire extension: Fernandes
He admitted that there was heightened violence in the state after the announcement of ceasefire but that there was considerable reduction in shelling from across the border.
Thousands of turtles die on Orissa coast
More than 6,000 turtles were killed due to illegal mechanised trawling in prohibited areas and non-use of the mandatory turtle excluder devices.
Vijayaraje's condition deteriorates
'All her vital organs have got affected. Her chances of recovery are very grim,' doctors at the Apollo Hospital said.
Kerala Church pushes for total prohibition
A pastoral letter has asked the faithful to go by the Church's instructions while exercising their franchise in the coming assembly election.
Misa's wedding gifts come under I-T scrutiny
About 125 politicians, many of them ministers in the Rabri Devi cabinet, have been served notices asking them whether they had presented gifts as claimed in the I-T returns filed by the Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Laloo Prasad Yadav.
Emotions run high as Indo-Bangla rail link is commissioned
There was jubilation as Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee pressed the button to commission the rail link. Crowds on both sides of the border welcomed the development enthusiastically.
PTI REPORTS
Pandemonium in WB assembly
Opposition members obstructed Governor Viren J Shah from making his speech.
New draft of Lokpal bill soon, says PM
Vajpayee said the new bill will have adequate powers to deal with charges of corruption, including those against prime minister.
Govt still to decide on ceasefire extension: Fernandes
With barely four days for the unilateral ceasefire announced by government to end, the Union defence minister Monday said the government will consider its extension at the "right time".
INTERVIEW
'The ISI advises ULFA on every movement, every action'
'The ISI advises ULFA on policy, operations, procurement of arms... They give them shelter outside India and give them communication channels.' Luhit Deuri, surrendered ULFA militant on his years as a guerrilla and what brought him back to the world he once forsook.
COLUMNS
Thanks for the phera-by-phera coverage of Jhumpa's wedding
'Since some of your readers may suffer from Jhumpa-Wedding-Withdrawal, may I suggest you quickly publish photographs of the newlyweds cavorting in the waves on some Goan beachsays. Perhaps your crew has set up a beach shack already?' says Reeta Sinha.
A personal weakness
'Bush's challenge lies in convincing the American people and the world that his choices reflect strong opinions, not merely the inability to argue their opposites. He deserves a fair opportunity to prove this, but the question is already at hand,' says Ashwin Mahesh.
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