Deluge anytime!
Breach in Tibet lake: China
Shimla, August 12
The panic-stricken residents of 56 villages along the banks of the Sutlej were in for yet another tense night with the Chinese authorities informing the Government of India that a breach had started appearing in the Parchu lake blockade in Tibet and that it could give way any time.

Army personnel take position near Narkanda on the Rampur road in Himachal Pradesh on Thursday in view of the red alert following the bursting of the Parchu lake in Tibet. — Photo by Anil Dayal

Reports of blasts trigger panic
Rampur, August 12
Palpable panic and fear among the people residing in areas along the Sutlej was all too visible as the feared flash floods in the state could be hours away as China reportedly triggered a controlled blast at the natural dam over the Parchu river this afternoon.
In video (28k, 56k)

China urged to give data on lake
New Delhi, August 12
With reports of a "five-metre breach" in the lake in Tibet on the Parchu tributary of Sutlej and its water level returning to "normal," the Centre's core group monitoring the threat of floods has decided to send a team of the Central Water Commission officials to the tributary's entry-point at LAC to measure the flow of water.

India asks Pak to open Wagah-Attari border for trade
New Delhi, August 12
India today made 35-odd path-breaking proposals to Pakistan for boosting bilateral commercial and economic cooperation but the attitude of Islamabad was clear from the fact that it neither responded positively nor did it make a single proposal from its side.

Armed forces Act withdrawn from Imphal
Imphal, August 12
The Manipur Government today withdrew the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act from seven Assembly constituencies in Imphal areas in spite of the Centre not favouring it, Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh announced here.

Sports page: Indians raring to go against all odds The flags of the participating nations fly at the Athletes Village in Athens. The Athens Olympic Games will begin with the opening ceremony on Friday. — Reuters

Life term for Sobhraj
Kathmandu, August 12
Charles Sobhraj, the infamous serial killer, was today sentenced to life in prison by a Nepalese court after holding him guilty of murdering an American woman here in December 1975. (Details on World page)

Najaf clashes leave 165 dead
Najaf (Iraq), August 12
US marines and warplanes spearheaded a massive two-pronged assault to crush a Shiite Muslim uprising in Najaf today, after 24 hours of nationwide fighting left 165 Iraqis dead and 600 wounded. (Details on World page)

Gallows await Dhananjoy as SC rejects plea New Delhi, August 12 The last-ditch efforts by Kolkata’s condemned prisoner Dhananjoy Chatterjee to escape the gallows for the rape and murder of a teenaged schoolgirl 14 year ago, was dashed today with the Supreme Court refusing to interfere with the Presidential order dismissing his mercy petition. In video (28k, 56k) Nation page: Dhananjoy’s parents faint