New Delhi, September 1
After many humid days, the national Capital today saw heavy rains in many parts.

Rains lashed the city around evening, bringing the much-needed relief to the residents.

"In August this year, the city has received 455.1 mm of rain so far, almost 101 per cent above average, making it the wettest August in the past 10 years. The Capital has so far received 702.6 mm of rainfall, nearly 36 per cent above average," said a senior Indian Metrological Department (IMD) official.

Several areas, including Safdarjung, Lajpat Nagar, Nehru Place, ITO, Connaught Place and other parts in north and central Delhi, saw rains today.

The met department has recorded today's rainfall at 4 mm.

The humidity levels remained between 92 per cent and 65 per cent.

The maximum temperature today settled at 35 degrees Celsius, just one degree above the average for this time of the year, while the minimum temperature settled at 27.7 degree Celsius, three degrees above the average temperature.

The metrological department has predicted more rains in the days to come.

"Similar weather conditions will be seen tomorrow. The city will see partly cloudy sky with possibility of rain or thunderstorm. While the maximum is expected to settle at 36 degree Celsius, the minimum is likely to hover around 27 degree Celsius," said the IMD official.

New Delhi, September 1
A special task force appointed by the Delhi government has started fresh mapping of the Games competition and training venues to identify the breeding ground of aedes mosquitoes even as the number of dengue cases reached a new high today with the MCD confirming 77 fresh cases.

This season's cumulative total of dengue-affected persons reached 1014 in the city.

A concerned administration, more so as quite a few countries have issued advisory to their citizens on the dengue outbreak in Delhi, began a drive to weed out the mosquitoes from the CWG sites.

"Dengue-prone sites, close to CWG venues at ½ km radius, have been found out after mapping and our officials have been keeping a tab on several places like Okhla and AIIMS," said Dr V K Monga, the chairperson of the Special Task Force.

While the job of keeping the Games Village free of mosquitoes to ensure a healthy stay for over 8,000 athletes, coaches and Games officials rests with the Pest Control of India, MCD officials would take care of the Games venues.

Earlier, larvae-breeding was detected in several venues and stadia like Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, R K Khanna Stadium, Indira Gandhi Stadium and Hans Raj College.

The Commonwealth Games Organising Committee then gave the contract for managing dengue to the National Pest Control body.

Officials of MCD are being trained by National Centre of Disease Control and to invigorate the process of disinfecting and monitoring exercise, rapid response teams have been formed.

"The response teams, comprising members of all the city agencies-Delhi Jal Board, New Delhi Municipal Corporation, Public Works Department and Cantonment Board-would be responsible to examine the situation in the identified areas," added Dr Monga.

He said the inspecting teams have found that people do not take precautionary measures until the disease enters their houses. The administration of Escorts Hospital was issued challan today for not checking the breeding of mosquitoes.

"It has to be ensured that the surroundings are clean and accumulation of fresh water is not allowed. RWAs and community have to take joint action and even NGOs have to generate awareness about the disease," stated Dr R K Ganjoo, the medical director of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. 

New Delhi, September 1
With the aim of introducing visitors to Indian handicrafts, the country’s leading handicraft and handloom presentations have been put up at the INA Metro station. Minister for urban development S Jaipal Reddy today inaugurated the “Crafts of India Gallery” at the Metro station.

Installed by the union ministry of textiles in coordination with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, these galleries will provide an insight to tourists, especially foreigners who are expected to use the Metro to visit Dilli Haat handlooms and handicrafts bazaar during the upcoming Commonwealth Games.

The station will become operational on Friday, when the Central Secretariat-Qutab Minar Metro corridor starts functioning.

The galleries at INA station document traditional paintings from Warli, Santhal, Patna, Cherial Scroll, Mithila, Kali Ghat, Pat Chitra, Chamba, Thangka style, Mewar, Tanjore and others. Handcrafted mural ceramic tiles, kalamkari, straw work, camel bone murals and brass embossed items can also been at the station.

Handloom fabrics woven with intricate weaving techniques such as Kani Weaves, Paithani, Banares Brocade, Jamdani, Baluchari, Patola, Vichitrapuri, Biman Saree; embroideries of Phulkari, Chikan, Chamba, Kutch along with Barmer, Ajarakhand Bagh printed tie and dye are vividly displayed at the station .

“The galleries will help these traditional products to find new markets; to attract potential buyers and to keep alive the vibrant and intricate designs and techniques which reflect the artisans’ and weavers’ skills and artistry,” said Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit at the inaugural function today.

“A total of 58 panels display popular handicrafts, hand-made garments, paintings and murals created by national award-winning craftsmen and painters. It is a contrasting to see the handicrafts and paintings display at a metro station, which is supposed to be contemporary,” said textiles minister Dayanidhi Maran.

Separate information panels with details about these galleries have been put up at all three entrances to the station. It is expected that these galleries will help in promoting and popularizing Indian traditional folk arts.   

The DMRC, in collaboration with the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), is also installing panels and artworks about the historical monuments of the city at all the Metro stations on the underground Central Secretariat -Qutab Minar corridor. 

New Delhi, September 1
With the low-profile campaigning in the DUSU elections this year, the parties also fear a low turnout on the polling day. As the campaigning ends today, student organizations now eagerly await September 3 when the university goes to polls.

"Even as the strength of the university has increased this year after the implementation of OBC quota, we fear a lesser turnout on the polling day as most students do not even know their candidates. The visibility is definitely affected. Moreover, we did not have enough time to campaign. With DUTA on protest, most students are bunking classes. There is limitation in reaching students through an SMS. Interaction is very important, which could not happen this year," said Bharat Kumar, state secretary, ABVP.

"Previously election campaigning with loud rallies, posters, stickers and car rallies used to involve the entire university in the election process. But this year, we are sticking to the code of conduct and ensuring that none of that should be repeated. However, many parties like NSUI and ABVP are engaged in arranging parties, luring the students with liquor, food or movie offers. However, it is tough to predict anything this time. Students are not much interested in elections this time," said Kunal Chandra, media coordinator, All India Student Federation.

On the other hand, the university administration is hopeful that the voting numbers will not fall and will exceed last year with a "fair election process" in place this time.

"Nearly 85,000 students had cast their votes last year. This year, the figure is likely to reach the 1-lakh mark. The elections will take place in DU's 51 colleges, wherein 875 electronic voting machines (EVMs) and 354 totalling machines will be used," said deputy dean, Students' Welfare, Guroeet Singh Tuteja.

The office of dean students' welfare (DSW) has set up 12 control rooms to deal with emergency situations on the polling day with each control room catering to four colleges.

The DSW office will also act as a control room and is the only one to cater to nine colleges. "These control rooms will have facilities to cater to any emergencies, including replacement of EVMs within 15-20 minutes," added the dean, Students' Welfare, DU.

A total of 11 students will contest the elections for the post of president, nine for the post of vice-president, 10 for secretary and 11 for joint secretary.

New Delhi, September 1
Three meritorious students from Delhi have been awarded the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships, one of Canada's most prestigious awards for doctoral students for pathbreaking research.

The students are Shreya Shukla, Nigil Haroon and Channakeshava Sokke Umeshappa and they will each receive $50,000 per year for three years from the Government of Canada for their studies at Canadian universities.

Shreya Shukla will study immunology-transplantation while Nigil Haroon has opted for muscle, bone, or joint immunogenetic influences on the clinical phenotype of ankylosing spondylitis. Both will be enrolled at the University of Toronto. Channakeshava Sokke Umeshappa will pursue a programme in immunology-transplantation at the University of Saskatchewan.

"I hope to contribute to the development of an economically viable and broadly available stem-cell based vaccine for HIV and this award enables me to pursue that vision in the highly innovative research environment at the Zandstra laboratory in the University of Toronto," said Shreya.

Nigel Haroon informs, "I will have unique opportunity to do a clinical fellowship in rhematology and basic research in the immunogenetics of spondylitis under the guidance of Dr Robert D. Inman, a researcher and leader in the field."

Channakeshava Sokke Umeshappa says, "The scholarship allows me to focus on research without any financial burden. I hope to further my research in the sphere of immunology-transplantation at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada." 

New Delhi, September 1
A large number of activists of the Shiromani Akali Dal (UK) today started a cleanliness drive in the Capital. The activists, including some Muslim and Hindu members, broomed the road and picked up garbage.

At 11.30 am, the activists gathered at Gole Dakhana and from there, moved towards Parliament Street and then to Rajiv Chowk. While on the way, they picked up garbage-- water bottles and other wastes-- lying on the road and threw them in dustbins installed by the NDMC at various places on the roadside.

President of the party, Jasjit Singh, who has formed the organisation to contest the next year's Gurdwara elections of Delhi, said that it was the duty of the citizens to cooperate with the government to clean the city as it would give a positive message to the foreigners expected to visit the national Capital during the Commonwealth Games.

The Commonwealth Games is a national pride and to make it successful, people, particularly of political parties, should stop criticising the government, he said.

Reacting on the statement of Gujarat Chief Minister Narender Modi, who said that Games venues would not be ready even if the Prime Minister was to mop the city, Singh said that instead of making negative comments, everyone should come out to clean Delhi and make the Games successful.

Faridabad, September 1
The former BJP president, Rajnath Singh, today lent support to the farmers agitating for more compensation for their land acquired by the state government.

Singh, on his way from Uttar Pradesh to Delhi, met the farmers in Chandauli village near here, and those on hunger strike outside mini-secretariat.

Addressing the farmers at both the places, the BJP leader while expressing his party’s support to their demand, urged them to maintain a unity of purpose.

He cautioned that the government machinery and other vested interests will make efforts to break their unity.

The BJP leader criticized the central leadership of the Congress, saying that they were apparently supporting the farmers in Uttar Pradesh as the party wants to upset the BSP government headed by Mayawati. However, it has winked at the problems of farmers in Haryana.

Singh goaded the farmers to keep up their agitation in a non-violent manner. He said that the BJP would welcome other opposition parties who want to support the farmers.

Senior leaders of the Haryana and district unit of the BJP, including the state president Krishanpal Gurjar, accompanied Singh on the occasion.

Farmers of five villages in Chandauli and its nearby areas have been on dharna for the past few days. Farmers of 19 villages, including Khedi Kalana, are on hunger strike outside mini-secretariat.

The farmers of Chandauli and surrounding villages allege that the government was giving them about Rs 16 lakh per acre, much below the market rate. They alleged that the same government was providing higher compensation to the farmers of the villages falling in trans-Agra canal.

New Delhi, September 1
A Delhi court today issued a fresh notice to the Tihar Jail authorities directing them to produce CCTV footage in which Salman, a suspected Indian Mujahideen terrorist, was attacked inside the prison.

Allowing the plea of Salman, the prime accused in the 2008 serial blasts, additional sessions judge Santosh Snehi Mann sought an explanation from the prison authorities by September 6.

In the plea, the IM operative sought registration of a criminal case for the alleged negligence of the authorities in the incident in which two inmates Deepak and Sundar assaulted him with a blade.

The application which was filed by Salman's counsel also sought directions to the jail authorities to produce CCTV footage of the attack on him.

Besides, the accused sought issuance of showcause notice to the authorities for failing to provide him with medical help after the incident.

He has alleged that the officials did not take action against his assailants after the incident on August 27.

The court had yesterday taken a serious view of the case and sought a report from the authorities after Salman appeared before it with a bandaged face.

Meanwhile, he has been shifted to another jail.

Salman is facing charges in connection with five cases registered following the serial blasts in the Capital on September 13, 2008.

He absconded after his name surfaced in the cases of the serial blasts before being arrested by the Uttar Pradesh police in March this year.

New Delhi, September 1
A 15-year-old schoolboy was stabbed to death by three youngsters from his neighbourhood in the Vivek Vihar area of east Delhi last night.

According to the police, the incident was reported around 9 pm from Jhilmil Colony. The victim has been identified as Ravi and all the accused, who have been arrested, are minors.

"Ravi had left his house for a nearby grocery shop. While returning, he was accosted by one Sanjeev (name changed) and his two friends. While the other two boys held Ravi's hands, Sanjeev allegedly stabbed him," said a police official, adding that all three accused had been arrested. Ravi's family rushed him to a nearby hospital that referred him to Hedgewar Hospital.

"He succumbed to his injuries later in the night," said the police.

According to the police, the accused and Ravi had some dispute earlier in the day and there was some exchange of blows between them. However, Ravi's family had sorted out the matter and then the accused had gone home.

"It seems they were looking for revenge and were waiting for an opportunity to attack Ravi with a knife," said a police official, adding that all three went absconding after the incident and were arrested only today.

Ravi was the student of class IX of ACC Sarvodaya School. His father, Amar Singh, is an MCD employee. Ravi was the eldest sibling with two sisters and younger brother. 

New Delhi, September 1
In a freak accident, a 20-year-old man trying to board a bus lost balance and was crushed under the rear wheels of the vehicle in Kamla Nagar today morning.

The police said the incident was reported around 9.30 am from Mall Road.

"The victim, Sandeep, was on way to his office in Karol Bagh when he jumped onto a stationary Blueline bus. However, the same moment, the driver moved the bus, which caused Sandeep to lose his balance. He fell down and came under the rear wheels of the bus and was crushed to death on the spot," said a police official. The driver of the bus, plying on route number 212 from Nand Nagri to Anand Parbat, managed to flee leaving behind the bus.

Angry passengers broke the window glasses of the bus and blocked traffic. However, the police managed to pacify the mob and open traffic soon after.

A case has been registered and the police is working to nab the driver. 

Gt Noida, September 1
A 20-year-old Dalit woman was allegedly gangraped at gunpoint in the Jewar area of Greater Noida, the police said.

The incident came to light on Tuesday when the woman complained to the police.

"Shalini (name changed) was sleeping on the terrace of her parents's house in Karoli locality of the Jewar area on Monday night when two neighbours, identified as Bunty and Bhura, raped her at gunpoint. She was sleeping alone as her parents were away and her siblings were sleeping inside the house," said superintendent of police Atul Saxena.

She narrated the ordeal to her parents when they returned home.

The woman, married about two years ago in Haryana's Palwal district, had come to her parents' home for the Raksha Bandhan festival.

"The victim approached us this (Tuesday) evening. We have registered a case of rape and have sent her for medical examination," said station house officer Har Pal Singh. -- IANS