150 killed in Pak quake
About 150 persons were killed and nearly 300 were injured in a high intensity earthquake that shook the southwestern parts of the Balochistan province. The area was hit by three major tremors during the day, the first occurring early morning and doing the main damage though the second in the afternoon was more powerful of 6.4 magnitude. Ziarat district was worst affected area.

Editorial: Quake in Quetta Pakistani soldiers inspect collapsed houses in Ziarat, about 50 km north of Quetta, on Wednesday. — AFP

2 pilots die in air crash off Ludhiana
Ludhiana, October 29
Just a week after it was cleared for flying, after a seven-year-long grounding, state government official VIP plane, King Air C-90 Beechcraft, crashed at an abandoned industrial unit of Thapar Agro Mill near Jugiana here this morning killing both pilots.

Pilots declared martyrs
Punjab has lost many ace pilots
DGCA officials begin probe today
Ludhiana page: ‘It took 3 rounds and turned into a fireball’
Pilots sacrificed their lives to save others
Chandigarh page: A promise unkept

Beechcraft C-90 King Air plane on fire after it crashed at Jugiana village in Ludhiana district on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Loveleen Bains

M’rashtra orders probe into killing of UP youth
Mumbai, October 29
The Maharashtra government has ordered a probe into the killing of a youth in a Mumbai local train on Tuesday. The probe will be supervised by the cabinet secretary, according to state government officials.

Nation page: Lalu threatens to cancel train operations
NHRC notice to Maharashtra
UP youth’s killing in Maharashtra condemned

‘Bandi Chhor’ Diwas celebrated
Hazur Sahib, October 29
A spectacular show on Diwali, which was celebrated as ‘Bandi Chhor’ Diwas here, was witnessed by more than one lakh pilgrims yesterday. (Details in Punjab page)

Hazur Sahib has unique maryada
Only 3 take special flight to Amritsar

India Inc may cut jobs by 25-30% in 10 days: Assocham
New Delhi, October 29
After Diwali festivities, India Inc is set to show pink slips to 25-30 per cent employees in businesses like IT, aviation, steel, financial services, real estate, cement and construction as part of their cost-cutting measures, industry body Assocham has said.

Business page: China cuts rates, Fed and others to follow
Finally, Sensex ends in green

No fuel price cut for now
New Delhi, October 29
The government is not considering reduction in prices of petrol, diesel and domestic LPG, despite crude falling to its lowest-level in 15 months, as prices have to stablise at this level to wipe out the current revenue losses on fuel sales, an oil ministry official said.

Medicity Muddle Farmers ultimate losers in the acquisition game Chandigarh, October 29 The recent rift between UT administrator Gen S.F. Rodrigues (retd) and his adviser Pradip Mehra over the evaluation of 45 acre of prime land for the controversial Medicity project in IT Park area in Manimajra has once again brought the spotlight on the lopsided land acquisition policy of the administration, which on the face of it appears questionable.