M A I N   N E W S

8 of family die in mishap

KARNAL, June 17 (PTI) — Eight persons died on the spot and two were injured in a mishap near Taraori on the national highway about 12 km, from here, early this morning.

Superintendent of Police Attar Singh Ahlawat said the deceased belonged to one family and were going to Manali from Wazirpur Colony, Delhi, in a Tata Sumo which collided with a oil tanker as a result of which Tata Sumo caught fire.

The deceased have been identified as Subhash Chand Bansal (40), Meena Bansal (38), Rohan Bansal (5), Jyoti Bansal (11), Laxmi Narayan (51), Reshma Devi (45), Sapna (17), and Subhash Chand driver of the Sumo (30).

The injured Rinky (15) daughter of Subhash Bansal has been referred to Jaipur Golden Hospital, Delhi, in a critical condition.

Tanker driver Avtar Singh of Bathri village district Una Himachal Pradesh has been admitted to the civil hospital here in a serious condition.

Patney to be IAF Vice-Chief
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, June 17 — Air Marshal Vinod Patney, who played a crucial role in formulating the IAF strategy during the Kargil conflict would be the new Vice-Chief of Air Staff.

Air Marshal Patney, who was the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Air Command (WAC) when the Kargil conflict started, would take over from Air Marshal P.S. Brar, who retires on July 31 after nearly 40 years of service.

Air Marshal Patney, who at present is Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Air Command, was also awarded the Sarvottam Yudh Sena Medal for his contributions in Kargil.

Commissioned in 1961 as a fighter pilot, Air Marshal Patney was awarded the Vir Chakra in the 1965 war with Pakistan and mention-in despatches during the 1971 war.

His earlier positions have been the AOC, Jammu and Kashmir, and Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO), WAC. He is also the founder member of the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment.