Wednesday, August 11, 1999
|
N A T I O N |
|
weather  spotlighttoday's calendar |
 |
 |
|
|
Century's last celestial shadow
show today NEW DELHI, Aug 10 — Millions of people across the country will be able to witness a total solar eclipse, the century’s last celestial shadow show, tomorrow just before sunset if the weather god is compassionate. A 60 per cent cloud cover is predicted throughout the ‘band of totality’ which diagonally cuts across Central India. ULFA men ambush CRPF
convoy |
 |
|
|
India lodges protest Traffic links to N-E restored HP to give jobs to martyrs’
kin by Aug 15 Hard evidence, soft conclusions:
Cong Khurana questions clean chit to
Tytler 1984 riot cases: trial adjourned Cell phones banned while driving |
|||||
 |
||||||
Century's last celestial shadow show today NEW DELHI, Aug 10 (UNI) — Millions of people across the country will be able to witness a total solar eclipse, the century’s last celestial shadow show, tomorrow just before sunset if the weather god is compassionate. A 60 per cent cloud cover is predicted throughout the ‘band of totality’ which diagonally cuts across Central India. Several teams of astronomers and astrophysicists had already made a beeline to Bhuj, Varodara and other vantage points in Gujarat where the path of the totality is almost cent per cent, hoping for clear weather. These include a six-member group from the Delhi-based National Physical Laboratories (NPL) to study various phenomenon like the change in the ozone intensity in the stratosphere and consequent effects in the ultraviolet radiation on the earth’s sphere, besides atmospheric pressure and water vapour. While zoologists at different places are keen on studying the animal behaviour in zoological parks during the eclipse, anthropologists plan to visit interior tribal areas yet unpolluted by modern civilisation to study human behavioural patterns. Doordarshan has made all arrangements for live telecast so that people can watch the celestial show in close detail without running the risk of damage to their eyes which could occur if the eclipse is viewed directly with the naked eye. The World Health Organisation has warned the people across the continents against viewing the eclipse with the naked eye to avoid damage to the retina. They recommend use of protective glasses. Resourceful scientists in France and other developed countries propose to chase the shadow zones on supersonic Concord planes to study various aspects of the event. A ribbon of darkness will wrap some parts of the country for about a minute as the moon’s shadow casts an 80-km-wide shadow from Gujarat in the West Coast to Andhra Pradesh in the East. The show, beginning at 1758 hours is expected to be over by about 1806 hours at sunset over the Bay of Bengal. The country had last witnessed a total solar eclipse on October 25, 1995, with all its manifestations telecast by Doordarshan. A team headed by Mr B. Adur from the Nehru Centre in Mumbai is visiting Iran while Mr R. Subramaniam, Director of the M.P. Birla Planetarium in Calcutta, has proceeded to Turkey as the eclipse would be of a longer duration at these places. The total eclipse will be visible from Pakistan, West Asia and several European countries including Germany, Britain, Turkey and Romania. The Positional Astronomy Centre, Calcutta, plans to conduct observations as the cosmic drama unfolds with a breathtaking display of events such as bailey’s beads, the solar corona and the diamond ring as the moon gradually blocks out the sun, plunging the world into sudden darkness. The path of the total eclipse in India extends from the West and Central Indian plains passing over Kutch, north of Bhuj, the Rann of Kutch, Maliya, Surendernagar and Baroda in Gujarat, crossing over Burhanpur, Jagadalpur and then over Bhuswal, Jalgaon, Akola, Yeotmal, Chandrapur in Maharashtra, Koraput in Orissa and over Parvatipuram, Salur, Palkonda and Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh. The duration of the totality in the country varies from about 30 to 67 seconds. All places outside the totality path, will witness only a partial eclipse. The centre of the umbra touches the earth at sunrise at a point in the Atlantic Ocean, east of New York, at approximately 1400 Ist, when the path of the eclipse will be about 61 km wide. The central line, after crossing Central Europe, West Asia and Pakistan, will reach the western end of India three hours later with a width of 82 km. After crossing the landmass, the path of the eclipse moves towards eastern India to disappear in the Bay of Bengal at the time of sunset. Mr S.C. Gupta, Director, Safdarjung Metereological Office, said a low pressure system had developed near Guna in Madhya Pradesh as a result of which a thick cloud cover was expected over Saurashtra and Gujarat regions which otherwise could have been ideal for viewing the eclipse. "The monsoon is very active the in these regions. Also a thin cloud cover is expected over Madhya Pradesh and Orissa," Mr Gupta said. Baroda and Surendranagar in Gujarat will experience totality for the maximum duration of 62 seconds each, followed by Akola and Yeotmal in Maharashtra (55 seconds each) and Chandrapur, also in Maharashtra (52 sec). At Bhuj, the totality duration will be 17 seconds and in Delhi, it will be from 1651 hours to 1849 hours. Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU) has come up with a unique way to cater to enthusiasts by arranging for a big screen projection of the eclipse live for the onlookers. The Head of the Physics Department of MSU, Mr Somayajulu said, a set of telescope would be put up and the eclipse projected on a 6x6 screen. A team of scientists from the NASA’s Marshall Space Centre in the USA will study the relatively little known link between total solar eclipses and earth’s gravitation. The US scientists will
use high precision gravito metres during the total solar
eclipse to look for an outside chance of a possible link
between gravitational anomalies and total solar eclipses,
according to Dr B.G. Siddharth, Director-General, B.M.
Birla Science Centre and Planetarium, Hyderabad. |
ULFA men ambush CRPF convoy GUWAHATI, Aug 10 (PTI) — Fifteen CRPF personnel had a providential escape when ULFA militants exploded a powerful improvised explosive device (IED) when their convoy passed Bilpara in Assam’s Nalbari district on national highway number 31 which cut off road links with North-East for several hours today. Windscreen of one of the two vehicles of the convoy of 80 CRPF battalion was damaged in the ambush which took place in the wee hours 2 km from Ghograpara police station, when the securitymen were on their way from Guwahati to Nalbari official sources said here. The remote-controlled IED caused a three-feet deep crater on the highway disrupting road traffic for several hours which could be restored only in the afternoon. The police and paramilitary forces launched a combing operation in the area but no arrests had been made. Meanwhile, sources in
the North-East Frontier Railway headquarters at Maligaon
said rail traffic had been restored in the broad gauge
section which was suspended after a goods train was
derailed by a powerful blast yesterday by suspected NDFB
militants between Kokrajhar and Salakati. |
Notification for poll today NEW DELHI, Aug 10 (UNI) — The Electoral process for the first phase of the Lok Sabha poll to be held on September 5 in 146 parliamentary constituencies spread over 10 states and six Union Territories will be set in motion with the issue of notification by the President tomorrow. Separate notifications will also be issued for the first phase of the Assembly elections in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. One day polling will be held in Goa, Gujarat, Haryana and Punjab along with the Union Territories of the Andaman and Nicohar Islands, Chandigarh, Pondicherry, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu and Delhi. Fifteen Lok Sabha constituencies in Karnataka, 24 in Maharashtra, 10 in Rajasthan, 19 in Tamil Nadu, 13 each in Andhra Pradesh and Punjab and two in Jammu and Kashmir will also go to the polls on that day. While Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu will have a two-day poll, in Andhra Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir voting will be concluded in three days. In the first phase of the Assembly elections, polling will be held in 91 constituencies in Andhra Pradesh, 144 in Maharashtra and 120 in Karnataka. Reports from Chandigarh
said over 11 million voters will be eligible to cast
their vote in the Ambala (Reserved), Kurukshetra, Karnal,
Sonepat, Rohtak, Faridabad, Mehendragarh, Bhiwani, Hisar
and Sirsa (Reserved) parliamentary constituencies in
Haryana. |
India lodges protest NEW DELHI, Aug 10 (UNI) — India tonight lodged a strong protest with Pakistan over the violation of its airspace by a Pakistani naval aircraft in clear breach of the 1991 agreement between the two countries. Foreign Secretary K. Raghunath summoned Pakistani High Commissioner Ashraf Jehangir Qazi to the foreign office and told him that "violation of the Indian air space is a highly irresponsible thing to do (for the Pakistani aircraft) and whatever has happened is entirely the responsibility of Pakistan, including the death of the people who were on the aircraft". Briefing reporters, an
External Affairs Ministry spokesman said the aircraft was
given a clear warning, but it acted in a "hostile
manner". |
Traffic links to N-E restored GUWAHATI, Aug 10 (PTI) — Rail and road traffic were restored between the North-East and the rest of the country after being suspended for several hours following blasts on the national highway and the railway tracks by different insurgent groups in Assam. A convoy of the 80 CRPF battalion had a providential escape when a powerful improvised explosive device planted by ULFA militants exploded immediately after it passed the place in lower Assam’s Nalbari district in the early hours today. Two vehicles with about 15 CRPF men were proceeding from Guwahati to Nalbari when they were ambushed at Bilpara, 2 km away from Ghograpara police station on National Highway 31, official sources said here. The remotely controlled improvised explosive device planted by ULFA ultras went off immediately after the convoy passed breaking the windshield of one of the vehicles and stopping road traffic. A three-feet deep crater was formed on the highway under the impact of the blast but no one was injured, sources said. Traffic on the highway was resumed after necessary clearance for both heavy and light traffic. Police and para-military forces launched a massive combing operation around the area but no one was arrested so far. Meanwhile, sources in the North-East frontier railway headquarters at Maligaon said that rail traffic had been restored in the broad gauge section of the railway which was suspended after a goods train was derailed by a powerful blast in the early hours yesterday by suspected NDFB militants between Kokrajhar and Salakati. Reports from Alipurduar in North Bengal said recent blasts by militant groups on railway tracks, culverts and bridges on NF Railway have created panic among rail passengers. The Alipurduar Passengers’ Association and the Alipurduar Consumers’ Protection Society today urged the NF Railway authorities to reschedule the movement of trains to and from Guwahati. The rail movements
through Assam on way to and from Guwahati should be
rescheduled to only daylight hours, as was the practice
several years ago, they said. |
HP to give jobs to
martyrs’ kin by Aug 15 NEW DELHI, Aug 10 — Himachal Pradesh will provide by August 15 employment to one dependent from families of the soldiers from the state who lost their lives in Kargil. This was stated by the state Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, who took part in the first meeting of a high-powered committee constituted to evolve a national policy for welfare of soldiers and ex-servicemen here today. He said that the state government would reserve jobs for members of those families where children of martyrs were still studying and were yet to attain maturity. Such families, he said, would be given ‘guarantee letters’ of employment by the government making a clear commitment of employment to the children in future. The state government would also relax recruitment rules to provide employment to dependants of Kargil martyrs and added that five war widows had already been provided jobs in various departments. A special cell had been set up in the state for preparing packages for bereaved families, he said. Mr Dhumal also requested the Centre to constitute an eco-task force consisting of ex-servicemen in the state for undertaking massive afforestation. He also said the defence
pensioners should be allowed full reimbursement for
outdoor medical treatment at par with their retired
civilian counterparts. |
Wadhwa panel report NEW DELHI, Aug 10 — The Congress today said the Wadhwa Commission which probed the brutal murder of Graham Staines and his two children, had held that “misplaced fundamentalism was the motive that led to the crime’’. The party said the conclusions by the one-man judicial commission were “soft though the evidence against Dara Singh’s connection with the Bajrang Dal, the VHP and the BJP are compelling and point firmly in the other direction.’’ The party spokesman, Mr Kapil Sibal said from the evidence with the commission the “inescapable conclusion” was that Ravinder Pal Singh alias Dara Singh, the main accused had intimate links with the BJP and its frontal organisation. He said during the course of the inquiry, Justice Wadhwa appointed an independent high-level investigation team headed by an IPS officer and five senior police officers. The investigation team stated that Dara Singh was an activist of the Bajrang Dal and he had campaigned for the BJP in election at attended the RSS rallies. “That he was an
active supporters of the Bajrang Dal, the RSS and the BJP
is proof of the fact that the real enemies of today are
those who propagate communalism and hatred and breed the
likes of Dara Singh who commit crimes against
humanity”, the spokesman added. |
Khurana questions clean chit to Tytler NEW DELHI, Aug 10 (PTI) — Former Union Minister and senior BJP leader Madan Lal Khurana today alleged that connivance among the police, the CBI and the Delhi Government to weaken the prosecution case lead to Congress leader Jagdish Tytler getting a clean chit in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots trial. “I am going to write to Home Minister L.K. Advani questioning the integrity of the police and the CBI in probing the anti-Sikh riots cases,” Mr Khurana told reporters. Mr Dilbagh Singh, father of a victim Surinder Pal Singh in the riots, also present on the occasion said he would “appeal” for a review of the court ruling. A city court yesterday accepted the clean chit given to Tytler by the CBI in connection with the anti-Sikh riots cases. Ten Sikhs were killed in Kabir Basti area of Subzi Mandi on November 1, 1984, in the riots that broke out following assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Mr Khurana also demanded
immediate reopening of another anti-Sikh riot case
related to Punjabi Bagh police station wherein
Tytler’s name allegedly figured. He has also sought
Lt Governor Vijai Kapoor’s intervention in the
matter. |
1984 riot cases: trial adjourned NEW DELHI, Aug 10 (PTI) — A city court has adjourned trial in two murder cases relating to 1984 anti-Sikh riots to August 25 and 27, respectively, in which former Union Minister and senior Congress leader H.K.L. Bhagat is facing trial. Mr Bhagat had declined to lead further evidence in his defence and sought conclusion of the trial before August 14. Additional Sessions Judge O.P. Dwivedi fixed the date of August 25 in the case of alleged murder of Satnami Bai’s husband in Trilokpuri area of East-Delhi after prosecutor A.B. Tandon said that statements of the accused was yet to be recorded. Meanwhile, another riot widow Darshan Kaur’s counsel H.S. Phulka moved an application seeking at least three weeks’ time to prepare for final arguments in the case. The court adjourned this
case to August 27. |
Cell phones banned while
driving NEW DELHI, August 10 — Drivers using cellular phones on Delhi roads now have to make a choice between the wheel and the phone. The Delhi Police has banned driving while talking on the cellular phones. A notification issued by the Delhi Police here today said that driving while talking on the phone constituted dangerous driving and was an offence under Section 184 of the Motor Vehicle Act. Any person found
violating the order would have to face imprisonment of
six months or a fine of Rs 1000. |
| H |
|
||
| Train passengers looted ALLAHABAD: Passengers of the sleeper bogie 2382 down Deluxe Express train on Monday were robbed of their cash and jewellery by armed robbers between Prempur and Sarsaul railway stations on Kanpur-Fatehpur section of the Northern Railway, the third case of train dacoity in this area during the past one month. When some passengers resisted, the robbers attacked and injured them. When the train slowed down near Sarsaul station, the robbers got down and escaped. An FIR has been lodged at the Government Railway police post, Fatehpur. — UNI HC notice to Gujarat on
riots 4 Badrinath
pilgrims drowned Militant groups
calls for strike Man robbed of
1,094 diamonds 7 die of
cerebral malaria PWG man
surrenders |
 |
 |
| Punjab
| Haryana | Himachal Pradesh | Jammu & Kashmir | Chandigarh | | Editorial | Business | Sport | | Mailbag | Spotlight | World | 50 years of Independence | Weather | | Search | Subscribe | Archive | Suggestion | Home | E-mail | |
