At least 27 people have died and 40 are injured after two passenger trains derailed within minutes of each other while crossing flooded tracks in Madhya Pradesh at around 11.30 pm on Tuesday night. More than 300 people were rescued overnight. Six coaches of the Kamayani Express from Mumbai to Varanasi derailed at around 11:30 pm while crossing a culvert near the Machak river close to Harda, about 160 kilometres from Bhopal. Minutes later, an engine and four coaches of the Janata Express, going to Mumbai from Jabalpur, derailed. Railway Chairman AK Mittal said a flash flood caved the tracks as the soil shifted. The surge of water had weakened the culvert, which collapsed.
Speaker may revoke Congress MPs' suspension today
A number of parties have requested Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan to review her decision to suspend 25 Congress lawmakers for five days and she could revoke her order today (Wednesday). An aggressive Congress boycotted Lok Sabha proceedings on Tuesday and plans to do so for the five days of the suspension. The suspension saw new opposition unity, with nine parties boycotting the Lok Sabha on Tuesday to show solidarity with the Congress.
Order on non-bailable warrant against Lalit Modi today
A special court in Mumbai is likely to pass an order on Wednesday, regarding the issuance of a non-bailable warrant against Lalit Modi for his role in a case of alleged money laundering. The enforcement directorate had moved the court last week seeking the issuance of the warrant. The court had asked the ED how it could issue a non-bailable warrant without a chargesheet in the case. The court had also asked the ED “you have the right to arrest. Why are you not arresting him."
Terrorists attack BSF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir, 2 jawans die
Two jawans of the Border Security Force (BSF) was killed and five were injured when the convoy they were traveling in was attacked by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir at 7.30 am today. The attack took place on the highway in Samruli, 10 km from Udhampur. Security forces are concerned because this stretch of the highway has seen very few such attacks.
Govt revises porn sites order, ISPs to block only child porn
Asking the internet service providers identify and block child porn sites, the government on Tuesday revised its order on blocking over 800 porn sites. The government's revised order said "in continuation of our letter of even number dated July 30, department of telecom (DoT) is hereby requested to communicate to all the intermediaries (SIPs) that the intermediaries are hereby directed that they are free not to disable any of the 857 URLs, as given in the list, which do not have child pornographic content."
Maggi noodles samples found safe by government lab
The Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) has found Maggi noodles to be in compliance with the country's food safety standards. CFTRI had tested five samples sent by Goa Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when Maggi was banned in June in the wake of findings in Uttar Pradesh and other states that the instant noodles brand had lead levels beyond permissible limits.
Sensex jumps 200 points; Nestle up 10%
The 30-share S&P BSE Sensex is trading higher by 0.74%, or 207.68 points, at 28,279.61, while the 50-share CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange rose 0.72%, or 60.90 points, to 8,577.80. Nestle India Ltd surged by 10% to Rs.6,950 after the FSSAI-approved laboratory found Maggi noodles to be in compliance with the country’s food safety standards.
Pak businessmen to get 3-year multiple-entry visa
Pakistani businessmen with assured financial standing will be granted a multiple-entry business visa with up to 3 years' validity, which will allow them to visit 15 places in India. Prime minister Narendra Modi had announced last year business visas with 3-5 years' validity for citizens of all SAARC member-states.