M A I N   N E W S

Badal leaves for USA today
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Nov 4 —The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, leaves on a eight-day visit to the USA and the United Arab Emirates tomorrow to scout for investments for the state.

Mr Badal would be interacting with non-resident Indians, particularly those belonging to Punjab and ethnic Punjabis, a state government spokesperson said.

He would be visiting New York and Milwaukee in the USA and Abu Dhabi and Dubai in West Asia.

In New York, Mr Badal would have wide-ranging discussions with prospective investors and the NRI community on November 7 at a meeting organised by the Indian Consultate-General. The Punjab Government hopes to attract investment in the fields of information technology, agro industries, petroleum-related industries and infrastructure projects.

A former Prime Minister, Mr Inder Kumar Gujral, is expected to join Mr Badal at the interaction with the business community and NRIs in New York.

After a three-day stay in New York, Mr Badal would be proceeding to Wisconsin, where he would be visiting Milwaukee at the invitation of the State Governor.

During his visit to the United Arab Emirates, the Punjab Chief Minister would have discussions with prospective investors on collaboration projects in the field of IT and petroleum-related industries, particularly downstream projects for the Bathinda refinery. 

8 die in Theog bus mishap
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 4 — Eight persons were killed and 31 injured when a private bus plunged into a khud near Theog this afternoon.

Reports said the condition of five injured was serious and they had been shifted to Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) here for treatment.

So far, only four of the deceased have been identified. They are Rajesh Dharmeik (28) of Kokunullah, Sanjeev Chauhan (27) of Chadol in Kotkhai, Chet Ram of Nainadhar and Saligram.