New Delhi, January 16
A 47-year-old man was killed and two suffered critical burn injuries after an RTV bus caught fire owing to leakage of CNG in the Dwarka area of south west Delhi this afternoon.

According to fire officials, the incident took place close to Sector-9 Metro station around 12.45 pm.

The injured were rushed to DDU Hospital where Raj Kumar was declared brought dead while Rakesh (26) and Ajit (24) have been admitted with around 50 per cent burn injuries.

According to information, the RTV was on its way to Dwarka from the Kapashera area when it suddenly caught fire. The owner of the bus was identified as Vipin Kashmiri, and was in the bus at the time of the incident.

"Kashmiri was driving the bus and on the way, he met his friends Raj Kumar, Rakesh and Ajit. They boarded the bus. As the mini bus caught fire, Kashmiri jumped off while Rakesh and

Ajit used the door to escape. Raj Kumar chose to jump through the window, but was trapped and could not escape," informed a fire official, adding that CNG leakage seems to be a probable reason of fire. However, the local police is investigating the cause.

New Delhi, January 16
A 10-year-old girl, playing with her friends over a sand-hill, tumbled down to her death in the Rajaukri hills area of south Delhi this evening. According to the police, the incident was reported around 2.40 pm and the victim has been identified as Mansi.

"Mansi is a resident of the Rajaukri hills area. She was playing with some of her friends over a small hill when the sands below her feet gave way while she was running. She fell about 40 feet down and died on the spot," said a senior police officer.

New Delhi, January 16
Thousands of securitypersonnel will take positions across the capital from Monday in the run-up to the Republic Day celebrations, the police said here today.

The Delhi police will also start what they called the walling-in of the nation's capital, where President Pratibha Patil will unfurl the Tricolour and take the salute at the Republic Day parade on Rajpath.

Security personnel, accompanied by bomb squads and sniffer dogs, will be deployed at public places like railway stations, bus stands and important buildings and markets. Vehicles entering the city will also be checked.

Around 100 sniffer dogs would be on duty, said an official of the police departmenbt.

In the Lutyens' zone in central Delhi, which houses government establishments and MP's bungalows, around 2,000 troopers will be on guard. Snipers will also be deployed at key points.

"Fool-proof security arrangements are being made. Bomb squads, assault teams, commandos and snipers will be deputed," said a senior police officer.

"It will be a hassle-free security net," said the officer. Around 100 CCTVs will keep a tight vigil on people's movement between Rajpath and Red Fort - the route of the parade which showcases India's military might and cultural diversity.

Mobile-hit teams, anti-aircraft guns and sharpshooters of the National Security Guards will be deployed at various places while paramilitary and Delhi police commandos will keep a close watch along the route of the Republic Day parade.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will be the chief guest at the parade, which will also be attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the country's top political and military brass.

Special emphasis is being laid on anti-sabotage checks, access control measures and intelligence coordination.

"Elaborate air defence measures, including deployment of anti-aircraft guns, have also been taken to check intrusion of air space," a senior police official said.

Besides, helicopters of the Indian Air Force will hover around Rajpath and all along the route of the parade.

Patrolling in crowded areas, especialy in the market, has been intensified. Security at the IGI airport was also strengthened in coordination with the CISF.

All property dealers and second-hand car dealers have been asked to furnish details about their recent deals and pass on information, especially about customers from outside the state. Cyber cafe owners have also been directed to maintain the records of all e-mail users. —Agencies

New Delhi, January 16
The motorists in Delhi will soon be able to park their cars in parking lots by swiping a credit card or smart card at automated kiosks, that too without any human intervention.

As part of efforts to overcome the problem of unregulated parking, the city government has decided to introduce an automated parking system, using sophisticated equipment. Motorists will even be able to check availability of space, the number of cars at the parking facility, fees and other related information online and accordingly, have the option of booking slots by paying online.

Officials said the project was conceived as it was found that unregulated parking had significantly shrunk road space across the city resulting in traffic mess.

According to statistics, there are nearly 65 lakh vehicles registered in the city. The number of vehicles in Delhi is more than the total number in Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. On an average over 1,000 vehicles are added to the city roads every day.

The city government is mulling to install parking metres, which are used for automated parking facilities in cities like New York and Los Angeles, initially in Karol Bagh.

"The pilot project has been given the go-ahead. Based on the result of the pilot project, the decision on introducing it on a large scale will be taken," said a senior official of the transport department.

A parking metre collects money in exchange for the right to park a vehicle in a particular place for a limited amount of time. Information on space and payment, among other data, is carried on a display board attached to it. Fifteen per cent of the road-space in Delhi is lost due to haphazard parking, the official said, adding, the national Capital will be the only city in the country with such a parking facility.

"If properly implemented, a vehicle owner will be able to park his car in a parking space by just inserting a currency note into a machine or by swiping a credit card or smart card into a slot," he said. Some newer parking metres have a sensor that can determine when a parking space has been vacated.

New Delhi, January 16
The Delhi BJP today announced to stage a demonstration against the increase in the price of petrol demanding withdrawal of the hike.

Delhi party chief Vijender Gupta termed the hike as "an attack" on the right to life of the people.

He blamed the government of having irresponsible and anti-people attitude which is better concerned about the profit of the private companies.

"When the government has formed a group of senior ministers under the chairmanship of Prime Minister to curb price spiral then what is the justification in increasing the price of petrol. Companies selling petrol and diesel in the country are already earning profit because they are giving dividend to its share holders. In this situation the claim of the government that the companies are making loss is absolutely wrong," said Gupta.

He said the government recovered more than 100 per cent taxes on petrol and diesel. The price of petrol in the international market was only Rs 30 per litre but in India petrol was being sold at the rate of about 60 per litre.

"On the one hand price spiral has made the lives of the people difficult and on the other the government is trying to loot people by doing things which are further increasing the price," he added.

Since, the UPA government had decontrolled the prices of petrol and diesel, the price has been increased seven times. The recent increase in the price was on December 15 when the government had increased the price of petrol by Rs 3 per litre.

"There was no special need to again increase the price of petrol by Rs 2.53 per litre that too within a month. Soon the government is going to hike the prices of diesel, cooking gas and kerosene. Within a period of six months the government has increased the price of petrol by Rs 7 per litre," said Gupta.

Like you can rent an expensive MF Hussain painting or an Hermes bag, it seems now friends are the latest commodity to be sold. Everything is for rent if you can pay the price. You can rent a friend anytime and anywhere to go out with you for dinner, movies, golf and even shopping. They are "paid confidantes" who can walk in and out of your life as you please. They meet new people and share a drink, play a game of golf or dance and the rented guy makes money too. Go trekking with those who do not want to go solo and also do their shopping. It's unlikely you meet the same people as they usually come from outside the city.

Today you can rent an entire posh lifestyle. The variety of rental services available in today's fast-paced life is a good solution to the growing needs of individuals who have big aspirations but small wallets.

Not many can spend 60,000 on a bag, and so it is economical to spend Rs 600 for a day on a Fendi bag. You just need to click a photograph of your outfit, send it to them and they suggest which bag to rent for that day.

Renting a lifestyle can be a money-saver. It is a smart solution and a stop-gap arrangement. A painting of Rs 1 crore can earn a rental up to Rs 3 lakh a month. That's good investment for art rentals.

And, have you heard of baratis on hire? A lot of NRIs come to get married in India. They do not have relatives. People are busy, and so it's an easy solution to just hire wedding guests. Everyone wants a fairytale lifestyle. Even plants can be rented to give your house a green look. So, that's the reason working couples are renting plants. Gardeners are sent to look after them.

It will take time for some narrow-minded Indians to adjust to renting stuff as opposed to buying. However, purchasing something like a friendship comes with a warning isolation. But, on the whole, the 'rent anything' revolution may just make lifestyle choices simpler, cheaper, handier and easier!

New Delhi, January 16
A gynaecologist has landed herself in the dock for performing an abortion on an unmarried rape victim without her written consent at the behest of her boyfriend whom she later accused of sexually assaulting her.

The court decided to put city gynaecologist Dr Nisha Jain on trial for illegally terminating the girl's pregnancy after it realised that the girl had given no written consent .

"A doctor carrying out abortion in disregard to the the Special Legislation (Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971) must be ready to face consequences," additional sessions judge Kamini Lau said.

Pointing out that a pregnancy can be terminated only under special circumstances as provided under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971, Lau said medical fraternity should be aware of consequences of violating this Act. "It is desirable that efforts are made to increase the awareness of the existing abortion laws and policies of the government so as to come down heavily on the doctors disregarding the laws," she said.

The court decided to array Dr Nisha Jain, head of Saroj Hospital here, who also ran a Surgical Maternity and Child Care Centre, as accused for terminating the pregnancy of the rape victim on September 30, 2008. Finding Dr Jain on the wrong side of the law, the court said that that the manner in which the doctor "twisted" procedures to "help" the accused who had allegedly raped the victim leaves much to be desired. The court pointed out that the consent for termination of pregnancy did not carry the signature of the victim.

The judge noted that the abortion of the victim without her consent has also resulted in destruction of evidence punishable under IPC.

The court also sought appropriate action on the part of the secretary, Delhi Medical Council, principal secretary (Health) Delhi Government, deputy commissioner who is competent authority under the Prenatal Determination Test Act in this regard by directing to send its order to raise awareness in public.

"No material has been placed on record by Dr Jain to show either that the continuance of the pregnancy was causing risk or injury to the life of the mother or to the unborn child," said the court.

"When asked by the court as to the circumstances on account of which the doctor conducted the abortion , she replied that the parties had told her that it was an unwanted pregnancy," the judge said. The court said consent of the women in such cases was necessary as it involved the risk to their life as well.

"The provision of obtaining the consent of an adult is not a mere formality. In case,the girl is more than 18 years and is unmarried, her written consent is necessary.”.

The FIR in the case was registered with Mahendra Park police station this year on a complaint by the victim alleging that she was raped over a period by accused Pankaj Mittal, who also used to blackmail her on the basis of intimate pictures taken by him on a mobile.— PTI

New Delhi, January 16
An estimated 25 to 40 per cent patients visiting the medical out-patient departments, especially those of medicine and gynaecology, have underlying or lone psychiatric disorders even as the majority remains ignorant about their state .

In Delhi alone, five crore people are believed to be suffering from depressive disorders, with 20 to 40 per cent harbouring suicidal thoughts and 10 per cent even making the attempt, point out experts on the first day of the 63rd Annual National Congress of the Indian Psyciatric Society (ANCIPS), which was kicked off here today by minister of women and child development Krishna Tirath.

Further, 12-15 per cent of women would have at least one episode of depression once during the lifetime while eight to ten per cent of men may have it, which may last from a few weeks to years, reveal studies from across the country, including Delhi, Mumbai, Punjab and Chandigarh.

"The prevalence of depression-associated diseases is five per cent of the country's population at any given point of time and the reason also accounts for 10 per cent of the population's disability-adjusted life years,"said president of ANCIPS Dr Neelam Bohra told The Tribune.

According to the World Health Organisation's Global Burden of Diseases report, unipolar depressive disorders would surpass cardiovascular ailments by 2020 and acquire the top position among all the ailments. However, most people do not know that they are depressed and fail to go to a psychiatrist and continue to suffer for years until the disease becomes chronic, said Dr Sunil Mittal, the organising secretary of ANCIPS.

The stigma attached to the condition is another crucial aspect, with a majority of those undergoing depression delaying the visit to the doctor.

"Anybody suffering from psychiatric disorders would always prefer to go to the family doctor or the general practioner rather than a psychiatrist. However, if reported timely, the recovery to normal health is within three-six weeks," stressed Dr Mittal.

Contrary to the myth, depression is a whole body disease-manifesting through a range of somatic, cognitive and psychological symptoms. While the physical symptoms, expalin experts, include mild to severe headache, insomnia, increase in hunger etc, the psychological symptoms are sadness, anxiety, irritability gloominess, agitation, social withdrawal etc. This may be accompanied by cognitive changes like lack of concentration, slow reaction, memory decline, suicidal thoughts, added Dr Mittal.

Anybody who appears to be low for more than two weeks or with recurrent phases of depression should see a psychiatrist, said chairperson, psychiatry dept, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Dr J M Wadhawan.

New Delhi, January 16
Chill returned to the national Capital today as icy winds, once again swept across the city. After a brief spell of warm weather, winds from the snow-capped Himalayan mountains brought the chill in the air back to Delhi. However, the minimum temperature today settled two degrees above normal for this time of the season at 9 degree Celsius.

Yesterday the minimum temperature was recorded at 10 degrees.

The maximum temperature today settled at 18.2 degree Celsius, dropping three degrees below normal, from yesterday's 21.3 degrees. The metrological department attributed the fall in day temperature to the icy winds which blew at a speed of 16 km per hour across the city.

The weather office has further predicted that icy winds will continue to blow over the city tomorrow as well and the maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to oscillate between 21 and 9 degree Celsius.

Just a couple of days back, weather officials had said that the warm weather conditions would be short-lived and the mercury levels could dip over the weekend following snowfall in the Himalayan region and rains in the foothills. The piercing chill and icy winds that had persisted for several days cleared away last Monday when the maximum temperature rose to 19.2 degree Celsius, after keeping below 15 degrees for almost a week.

"It had been a nice weather for the last few days. With the winds gone, the chill was definitely less. But with the winds back, I think I need to pull out my mufflers again. The piercing winds hit you the most on your face and hands. It's tough to drive a two-wheeler," said Nishant Arora, a city-based sales executive.

New Delhi, January 16
The leading German art gallery, Die Galerie is all set for its first appearance at India's fair for modern and contemporary art, popularly known as the India Art Summit.

The highlight of the summit will be the original ink drawing Tauromachie VIII, created by Pablo Picasso in 1957.

After presentations at the most important fairs like the Art Cologne, Moscow World Fine Art Fair, Armory Show New York and Art Abu Dhabi, the Galerie has come to participate in the India Art Summit for the first time.

The summit is already making news among the artists and art lovers not just from the Capital, but the rest of the country also.

The summit is to be held in the Capital from January 20 till 23. The Die Galerie will be at booth B-19, Pragati Maidan where high quality paintings, works on paper and sculptures by leading European artists of the Modern Classics as Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro, Salvador Dali and the French surrealist Andre Masson will be presented.

A work of Pablo Picasso

The visitors to the gallery will also be able to enjoy strong positions in the field of figurative contemporary art. The gallery will be dedicating special space to the outstanding French pop artist Robert Combas. His outstanding monumental sculpture in synthetic resin, entitled Le Pot de jambs en bouquet de pieds et le mollets will be a must watch for visitors.

Alongside Combas who was also widely recognized as a progenitor of the 'figuration libre' movement, Berlin painters Volker Stelzmann, member of the famous school of Leipzig and Klaus Zylla as well as the sculptor Dietrich Klinge will also be highlighted at the summit.

"We will also present the young Berlin artists FD Schelmme and Torsten Holtz, two students of Volker Stelzmann. I am sure their fresh figurative paintings, as Holtz' painting Dressur (Dressage) from 2010, will attract the audience," said a statement from the Die Galerie.

New Delhi, January 16
Carry your original driving licence and copies of registration and insurance papers while riding a motorcycle in the national Capital or else your two-wheeler may get impounded.

Delhi Traffic Police today started concentrating on violations by motorcyclists and during a drive, 5,209 motorcycles were checked.

The drive comes in the backdrop of a rise in crimes committed by motorcycle-borne criminals in the city. --PTI

New Delhi, January 16
A 21-year-old electrician was arrested for allegedly breaking into a house and stealing electronic gadgets from a house with the help of his teenaged assistant in the Naraina area of south-west Delhi.

According to DCP (west) Sharad Aggarwal, Komal Singh was apprehended from Naraina recently when he came there to sell two stolen laptops and three mobile phones. A minor boy, who allegedly used to assist Sharad, was also apprehended along with him.

Aggarwal said the duo had allegedly burgled the Inderpuri residence of one Binay Kumar from where they decamped with a plasma TV, three laptops and six mobile phones on December 31.

A raid at Sharad's house yielded the TV, a laptop and two mobile phones. During the interrogation he said he work as an electrician in Inderpuri and the minor boy gave him the information that there was no one at Binay Kumar's house and then robbed the house.