S P O T L I G H T

Emergency landing by IA plane
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, May 13 (PTI) — An Indian Airlines flight operating on the Chennai-Male sector made a safe emergency landing here today after the pilot radioed a message of suspected smoke in the cargo section of the aircraft, airport sources said. The passengers and crew members of IC 931 flight bound for Male via Thiruvananthapuram were safe and a thorough check of the aircraft revealed there was nothing amiss, airport sources told PTI.

Amritsar rocked
AMRITSAR, May 13 (UNI, PTI) — Earthquake tremors of light intensity rocked the city and its surrounding areas early today. The tremors, felt at 4.45 a.m., lasted for a few seconds. An earthquake of mild intensity shook Keylong, headquarters of Lahaul valley early today, official sources here said. The tremors which occurred at 5.30 a.m. lasted a few seconds.
ISLAMABAD (AP): A powerful earthquake rattled northern Pakistan and neighbouring Afghanistan early today, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. The quake, with a preliminary magnitude of 5.8, was centered in Afghanistan’s northern Hindu Kush mountain range, roughly 250 km north-west of Pakistan’s northern border city of Peshawar, said an official at the Meteorological Department.

3 held for massacre
LAKHISARAI, (Bihar), May 13 (UNI) — A close relative of an RJD MLA Prahalad Yadav and two others were arrested in connection with the killing of 11 labourers by a gang near the Kuil river early yesterday. Police Superintendent M.S. Mazid said here today that a case had been registered against 15 named accused and 30 others by the family members of a victim.

Foodgrains quota
JAIPUR, May 13 (PTI) — Rajasthan today declined to lift the 1.50 lakh lonnes of foodgrain quota allotted to it by the Centre under “Food for Work” programme for famine relief operations with Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot terming it a “costly proposition”. Since the Union Government is not agreeing to give it as a grant, we would have to cough up Rs 80 crore out of the Rs 103 crore granted as calamity relief as payment.