TN tragedy toll 90; five held
Kumbakonam, July 17
While the death toll in Friday’s devastating fire at the local school here rose to 90, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi visited this small town in Tamil Nadu to express emotional support to the families of the victims.
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Haryana page: Kumbakonam brings back memories of Dabwali
Chandigarh page: Fire safety a non-issue in UT schools

A woman relative cries over the grave of a girl, who was killed in a massive school fire, at a burial ground in Kumbakonam, 320 km southwest of Chennai, on Saturday. — Reuters photo

Most schools in India have no fire safety measures. The Tamil Nadu school fire tragedy in which 90 children have been burnt alive illustrates gross failure on the part of society and the school authorities to ensure safety of children. We are publishing the following article by Pushpa Girimaji, who writes a regular column on consumer affairs — Editor-in-Chief Time for all schools to wake up There is dire need for schools to be safety conscious, particularly because the lives of young children are involved. The Kumbakonam school tragedy on Friday is a classic example of what such lack of safety consciousness can do.

Ambika winner in new-look Congress
New Delhi, July 17
Congress president Sonia Gandhi has sought to blend experience with youth and give adequate representation to different regions, castes and women in the new-look party organisation unveiled today.

Haryana page: Surjewala graduates to AICC

Hannah murder: Kohli handed over to CBI
Kolkata, July 17
Hannah Foster’s alleged killer Maninderpal Singh Kohli, now in the jail lock-up at Kalimpong, Darjeeling, since his arrest yesterday, has been handed over to the CBI.

Bhajan Lal forms panel to safeguard Haryana interests
Chandigarh, July 17 
What Mrs Sonia Gandhi failed to do, Capt Amarinder Singh has done. His one legislative action has united the Haryana Congress. (Details on Haryana page)

Nation page: Chautala threatens to nullify Yamuna agreement
Haryana page: INLD rules out all-party meeting on SYL canal issue
Rao Inderjit seeks all-party meeting for consensus
Punjab page: Hanspal for tribunal to assess water situation

NAC to prepare policy papers
New Delhi, July 17
The first meeting of the National Advisory Council, set up under the leadership of Congress President Sonia Gandhi to monitor the implementation of the Common Minimum Programme, today decided to prepare 10 papers on various sectors, including agriculture and employment.

‘Unfit’ atta on sale Flour millers told to be vigilant Chandigarh, July 17 Nearly six lakh tonnes of old damaged wheat procured by official agencies in Punjab and Haryana, declared unfit for human consumption, is allegedly finding its way into human stomachs, thanks to the general apathy of the official machinery and greed of the traders.