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Incessant rains, waterlogging keep Delhiites indoors
Yamuna recedes; still above danger mark
Rains to continue this week
72 new dengue cases
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Commonwealth Games
Police station for Games Village
MCD backs cleaning drives
Lane trial runs in peak hours today
Congress plans propaganda
Semester row
Chatterati
Two held for robbery
Jobless man strangles mother
Jeweller’s kin robbed of gold in Karol Bagh
6-yr-old shot at in Gt Noida
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Incessant rains, waterlogging keep Delhiites indoors
New Delhi, September 12 At least two buildings collapsed due to rains in Motia Khan and Badarpur Khadar, leaving some people injured while the heavy showers led to the closure of the Nigambodh Ghat, a prominent crematorium in north Delhi. According to the traffic police, the showers led to waterlogging in various parts of the city, including Kashmere Gate, several localities in old Delhi, Bhajanpura, Najafgarh, Bhogal and Karol Bagh. Traffic snarls were reported from many areas, though today being a Sunday, there were a less number of vehicles on the roads and no serious traffic jam was witnessed. "Traffic movement was slow due to heavy waterlogging on Rama Road in Najafgarh, Moti Nagar, Jakhira, New Rohtak Road, Kamal T-point to Karol Bagh, Model Town I and II to Azadpur, Sarai Pipal Thala to GTK Depot and Ashok Vihar T-point and near Kashmere Gate Metro station," said a traffic police official. Waterlogging also threw traffic out of gear in Dhaula Kuan towards Mayapuri Ring Road, Surya Nagar, near Red Fort, Mori Gate, Hanuman Setu and Monkey Bridge towards Rajghat. Reports of road peeling came from Surya Nagar while the breakdown of a truck was reported from Anand Parbat and that of a car and two buses were reported from Khajuri near Bhajanpura. The evening hotspots of India Gate and several shopping malls did not have the usual rush as people opted to stay indoors due to overcast sky. |
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Yamuna recedes; still above danger mark
New Delhi, September 12 The water level in the Yamuna reached 206.49 metres this morning, 1.66 metres above the danger mark. There has been less discharge from Haryana's Hathnikund barrage, said an official of the Department of Irrigation and Flood Control. "The water level has started receding slowly, but it is still above the danger mark. The discharge of water from Haryana is decreasing--about 41,748 cusecs of water was discharged till 8 am on Sunday," the official added. By the late night today, officials expected the level to go down to 204.83 metres. Yesterday, the rising water in the Yamuna flooded several parts of the city wreaking havoc in north and east Delhi. The Iron Bridge over the river is still closed. It may be opened once the level slides down to the 206-metre mark. Low-lying areas like Garhi Mandu, Usmanpur Pushta, Jagatpur Village and Shastri Nagar were some of the places affected badly over the last few days. Areas near the Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT) were also flooded, prompting thousands of people to take shelter in government relief camps. Around 100 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel have been deployed to assist the authorities to tackle the situation. Over 10 lakh cusecs of water has been released into the Yamuna from Hathnikund barrage in the last four days. Flood water has also entered the areas such as Yamuna Vihar, Madanpur, Sonia Vihar, Nigambodh, Jaitpur, Tibet Market and Yamuna Bazar. Many people living in low-lying areas along the banks of the river were seen lined up on the footpaths of the ITO bridge. In 1978, more than 2,50,000 people were affected when the Yamuna flooded large areas in the Capital's northern and eastern districts. |
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Rains to continue this week
New Delhi, September 12 The Metrological department has predicted more rains and thundershowers for tomorrow. However, it said the weather would be much better. According to India Meteorological Department, the city received 26.8-mm rain from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm today. The total rainfall this monsoon has been 867.6 mm. "The rainfall during September this year has been around 87 per cent above average. The rains are likely to lash the city the coming week too," an IMD official added. |
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72 new dengue cases
New Delhi, September 12 With four deaths due to dengue so far and 70 cases on a daily basis in the capital, the Commonwealth Games host city is witnessing one of the worst outbreaks of the deadly disease in the last five years, according to official data. According to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, 1,153 dengue cases and three deaths were reported in 2009, 1,312 cases and two deaths in 2008, 548 cases and one death in 2007, and 3,366 cases and 36 deaths in 2006. South Delhi is the worst affected this season, recording 287 cases, followed by MCD's central zone (240) and Civil Lines (235).
— IANS |
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Commonwealth Games
New Delhi, September 12 The CWG organising committee (OC) has still to tread many miles before being declaring that it is ready to host the mega-sports event, which is not even 20 days away. Apart from other things that the OC has yet to ensure for the Games, it has to buy around 2,500 mobile phones and SIM cards for the participating athletes and CWG federation staff. "Tenders have been invited for purchasing or hiring 2,500 GSM/ CDMA mobile phones and SIM cards. Both the requirements of purchase or short-term hire have been made mandatory for the bidder," said a senior OC member. Though the last date for submitting tenders has been closed, sources in the OC said the decision on the prospective service provider was yet to be taken. Things that should have been completed months ago are being taken up at the eleventh hour. This has left the organisers with least option. According to sources, bidders were given just 10 days' time to submit tenders, as less than three weeks are left for the Games. As a result, only a few companies could bag the opportunity. "We do not have much option as there are only a few bidders," an official said. Of the 2,500 mobile sets, 2,000 would cater to the requirements of VIPs and CWG officials, whereas the rest would be used by the athletes. "The Type 1 category of handsets is required for Games-specific purposes. These are low-cost units which provide minimum functions like-- voice and SMS. While the Type 2 category includes handsets to be used by VIPs and delegates. These would have more features and service," said the official. The handsets will only be required for two months. However, the SIM cards would be of a range of D2010 specific numbers that would be reserved by the service provider. |
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Police station for Games Village
New Delhi, September 12 According to information, the notification in this regard has been issued and police station is likely to come up by next week with police personnel of the rank of sub-inspector and above forming the staff. "The emphasis is on to have the police officials who are proficient in English with whom the visitors do not have problem in lodging their complaint," said a senior crime branch official. Athletes, delegates or public can report any offence to any police station, but it will be transferred to the Games police station immediately for investigations and speedy resolution, the official said. "If something happens, for example, in Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, they can report it there. No one will tell them that you go to the Games police station. However, it will be immediately transferred to that police station," the official said. |
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Games venues getting finishing touches
New Delhi, September 12 Three of the venues were more or less ready long ago and even test events were held there. The Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Swimming Complex, which along with the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium had given the CGOC and government sleepless nights, is still being given finishing touches. The stadiums visited, besides the swimming complex, were Talkatora Indoor stadium (Boxing), Thyagaraj Sports Complex (Netball) and Siri Fort Sports Complex (Badminton and Squash) and they have all undergone considerable sprucing up in the last one month. The playing arena, the warm-up area and other facilities were in place with the overlays work completed. The landscaping and cleaning up work outside the stadium is on and should be completed by September 16. The stadiums will then be handed over to security agencies for conducting safety drills. Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi, who dropped in at Thyagaraj Complex to meet the media, said the venues are completely ready to host the competitions. "You can see for yourself that the stadiums are ready. Most of them can hold the competitions in a day's time. Everyone has worked hard to overcome problems, caused mostly by the vigorous monsoon, but now the time has come to appreciate all the efforts. "There has been so much negative publicity about the Games and now its time to look at the positives with barely three weeks to go for the start of the Games. The facilities are world class and we need to highlight them," Kalmadi told the media. The swimming complex, which had been in the limelight after a swimmer was injured from a loosely held tile, will take more than a week's time to be ready to hold the competition. The complex has been refurbished at Rs.377 crore. The pools had also come under a lot of criticism during the test event in July because of some basic technical flaws in the structure. There is no lift for the divers to reach the board, the staircases leading to the top are cramped, while the ceiling at the warm-up area is too low. An International Swimming Federation (FINA) technical delegation inspected the facilities last month and were satisfied, Competition Manager Kamlesh Nanavati told IANS. "The delegation, however, did say that there should have been a provision of lift without which it will be difficult during training as the divers may have to go to the top 15-20 times and it will be tiring to take the staircase," Nanavati said. "The false roof at the warm up area which had come off during the test event has also been fixed," Nanavati said. In fact, the highboard event during the Federation Cup in July had to be cancelled because the anti-slippery surface was not in place and without which there were chances of divers skidding. Surprisingly, it is still to be placed. The anti-slippery surface has been brought form London after repeated requests to CPWD, the venue owners, and will be finally put up in a day or two. Work is still on at the athletes lounge, dope control centre, gymnasium and press conference room, which is being done outside the main arena as there are not enough rooms inside the stadium. Among other things, the electronic scoreboard, starting blocks (12) for the warm up pool, will arrive from Singapore and will be in place by September 19. As the warm up pool is still not ready, the Indian team is currently practising at the main pool. The landscaping and beautification outside the stadium, which has a capacity of 5,000, is also going on at full throttle. Security officials will take over the stadium September 15. The Thyagraj Sports Complex, which will host the netball event, is one of the best venues. Known as a green stadium, the stadium is built at a cost of Rs 297.4 crore. "We are ready to hold the competition tomorrow," said competition manager Carmel Wright. "The facilities are world class. It is infact the best venue of Delhi 2010. I am an Australian and I can tell you that the stadium is much better than what we got in Melbourne where there were not many change rooms." "It will leave a rich legacy for the sport in India." The badminton and squash facility at the Siri Fort Complex, built at a cost of Rs.241 crore, is a far cry from what it was during the test event. During the Asian Badminton Championships in April, many players had complained about the dust in the warm up area which has now been completed. An imposing facade of the stadium gives it a world class look. The state-of-the-art Talkatora Stadium, buit at Rs 150 crore, is also ready for the event. "Everything is ready in the stadium-athletes lounge, anti doping centre, warm up area, change room, medical facilities. We have left nothing to chance," said competition manager Lenny
Degama. — IANS |
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MCD backs cleaning drives
New Delhi, September 12 The MCD has backed campaigns by various NGOs recently for cleaning the city with the involvement of citizens and students of schools and colleges. Mayor Prithvi Raj Sawhney has issued several statements "extending support" to a week-long 'clean Delhi' drive undertaken by the Art of Living Foundation of spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar which concluded yesterday. Under a campaign by another NGO 'Let's Do It! Delhi', which was also supported by MCD, citizens' groups undertook cleaning campaigns at two slums-- Ekta Vihar and Pahari Basti-- in the city. The Mayor also attended a cleaning drive organised by Sant Nirankari Mission in Uttam Nagar. Does it mean that the MCD is admitting that the corporation on its own will not be able to live up to the gigantic task of cleaning the city ahead of the Games? The Mayor disagrees and says no government can be successful without the cooperation of citizens. During the Art of Living drive, part of an ongoing campaign called 'Meri Dilli Meri Yamuna', over 200 truckloads of garbage were removed by citizens. "Over 75,000 children from 432 schools and 6,000 students from 30 colleges took part in it," said Rahul Gautam, 'Clean Delhi NCR' campaign coordinator. Under the drive, the Art of Living will also be installing 200 pairs of dustbins (biodegradable and non-biodegradable) in 41 sites in the city. Meanwhile, a group of civil servants carried out the clean-up of Ekta Vihar supported by students from Sanskriti School. A similar drive was undertaken in the Pahari Basti area by citizens with help from some students of IIM-Lucknow, Let's Do It! Delhi campaign coordinator Anita Bharghav said. Under the drive, she said, it has been planned to clean 75 slum areas in the city by next Saturday. The Sant Nirankari Mission organised cleaning drives at seven places.
— PTI |
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Lane trial runs in peak hours today
New Delhi, September 12 The Delhi traffic police will conduct trial runs on CWG lanes during peak hours in the morning and the evening. Joint commissioner of police (traffic) Satyendra Garg said while trials on four stretches would be conducted between 4 pm and 6 pm tomorrow, it would be conducted from 8 am to 10 am on Tuesday. The trials during the morning and the evening peak traffic hours follow the three-day trial conducted in the previous week in the afternoon. According to information, the route chosen for tomorrow evening and Tuesday morning trials are-- from Chandgi Ram Akhara to Mall Road, NH-24 Ring Road crossing to Gazipur crossing on NH-24, from Ma Anandmayi Marg at Kalkaji to Dr Karni Singh Stadium at Surajkund Road via M.B. Road, Panchsheel Marg, Sardar Patel Road intersection and Mother Teresa Crescent to the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. There could also be jams on arterial roads that fall on the stretch. "Earlier, the trials were conducted for three hours from 11 am. Now, we want to check its impact during the peak hours," said a senior police official. |
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Congress plans propaganda
Faridabad, September 12 Although a formal decision will have to be taken by the newly elected president of the Haryana Congress, the mood among senior Congress leaders suggests that the party may go in for a state-level rally after the completion of the Commonwealth Games. The rally may be organised any time in November. According to a senior Congress leader, the party has been following the campaign launched by its opponents, especially the INLD, against the party and its government in Haryana. He said that even before the rally, the district-level leaders would counter the propaganda of its opponents. In spite of all the misleading slogans, the opponents of the Congress have not been able to tarnish the image of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, added the senior leader. According to political analysts, the opponents, especially the INLD, have launched a blistering attack on the Congress with regard to the acquisition of land by the government agencies. The attack has become shrill in the midst of UP farmers' agitation for better compensation of their land. The Haryana government has reportedly been appreciated for its land acquisition policy. This too has the potential to discomfit the INLD. The former Chief Minister and INLD chief, Om Prakash Chautala, has apparently upped the ante, saying that if his party comes to power, it would provide Rs 1 crore per acre as compensation to the farmers of National Capital Region. Analysts feel that the Congress led by Hooda has been able to wean away the farmers towards his party so far. |
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Semester row
New Delhi, September 12 Students from colleges like St. Stephen's, Lady Shri Ram College, Venkateswara College are among those who do not get disturbed by the repeated strikes on the semester issue. Science courses at Venkateswara College, two courses at Stephen's are running in sync with the new timetable on semester system. "Our job is to teach the modules we are given. Only time can tell the usefulness of the new system. As of now, not taking classes is not a solution to the problem. These students were admitted to the university with a promise of quality education, and that is their right. We try our best so that no classes are disrupted," said a senior physics (hons) teacher at St Stephen's. She added, "We get queries from students as to what is going to happen in November when the first semester exams are held. We simply ask them to study diligently. However, even we are worried about the entire scenario." Students at these colleges seem to support this attitude of their teachers. "We see our friends in other colleges whine about irregular classes and strikes. At least we don't go through that every day in our colleges. We have no ambiguity and tension in our colleges. Our classes run according to schedules. We don't have teachers coming up with the last-minute cancellations and that helps us deal with the situation better," said Disha Saxena, science student at St. Stephen's. Towards the south campus, colleges like Lady Sri Ram, Venkateswar and a few others have always chosen to stay away from the day-to-day DUTA politics. Even on issues concerning the UGC norms for teachers, there are few teachers who participate in DUTA activities. This time, however, staying away from politics is benefiting the students as well. "These colleges have stayed away from DUTA in some way or the other on many occasions. DUTA membership is a personal decision. Any teacher is free to keep off DUTA," said Abha Dev Habib, member DUTA and professor at Miranda House. |
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Chatterati
As the festive season approaches, there are launches galore of stores, exhibitions and fashion shows in the Capital. There was a launch of a fashion store at the new Ambience Mall at Vasant
Kunj. 'Fashion Theatre' was put together by designer Manish Malhotra while Karan Johar played the lead actor. This was a unique performance on the opening of a store. International designers are now rushing to India as there are no signs of recession here. The latest to join the league are Lulu Guinness and Jeremy Hackett. The Delhi market is now mature for such brands; anyway our own 'desi' designers are as expensive as international designers now. This was an evening where our top designers like Rohit Bal, Rajesh Pratap Singh were present. And if you have Karan Johar, you will have Shweta Bachchan and her in-laws, the Nandas, always in attendance. This is a store of the Aditya Birla Group. International brands like Polo, Dolce Gabbana, etc. are a part of this store. It's Bollywood here!
This is a charitable organization where they collect money by exhibition and which is used for special school for the hearing and speech impaired to kids in bastees.
Sunil Shetty here was, of course, the main attraction.
This exhibition had all the Bollywood-crazy Delhiites present and from here, they headed straight to the Bridal Show once again where Bombay designers were in plenty. Living it up
A good monsoon brings relief during this Roza month. There is an evening shopping festival in the walled city at the Jama Masjid and its surrounding areas which are all lit up during Ramzan. As commuting in Delhi has become a hassle due to the preparations of Commonwealth Games, around town, the locals of this walled city entertain themselves in small ways. As Id approaches, women rush to buy their Lucknowi kurtas, bangles and men eye new men's wear too, the children run around eating the freshly prepared kebabs and jalebis, after 'isha namaaz and taraweeh'. But interestingly, carrom and snooker centres have become the hotspots for the men here who try their striking skills in one of these games. The conversation in between shots ranges from the Commonwealth Games preparations to Pakistan's match-fixing scandal. There is break in between where the kebabwala comes and serves these men. Asked if there are MLAs around to help with the infrastructure as there are flowing sewers and bumpy holes all around, prompt comes the answer saying that our MLAs are present everywhere, but sadly only on the hoardings, greeting everyone on Ramzan and Id. But the queues outside the world-famous eatery 'Karims' of locals and foreigners are still the high point of this walled city, where the Ramzan nights are bright and full of festive energy. Wedding 'celebrathon'
Two former Chief Ministers of Kashmir -Farooq Abdullah and Ghulam Nabi Azad--came to wish the couple. There were several MPs and socialites besides M.S. Gill. Looking at the gathering, a senior minister remarked, "Curiosity kills the cat" at the large crowded hall. Children of the bride and groom, from their previous marriages, were the gracious host. Well for the Page 3 and the tabloids, the new poster couple is well within their reach. |
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Two held for robbery
Noida, September 12 Abhishek Verma, resident of Rajajipuram, Lucknow, worked in Brisk Housekeeping Company and was posted at sector 59 unit where the company had housekeeping contract. He called his two friends, Sanjay Kalra and Utsav Vajpayee from Lucknow, and plotted the crime. He knew that the company manager comes to disburse salary to the staff in the first week of the month. On September 7, company manager Kishore Kumar brought cash of Rs 5 lakh from Delhi office and disbursed salaries of Rs 75,000 at sector 59 and then proceeded towards sector 62. As he was leaving, Abhishek informed Sanjay the bike number and colour of his shirt. Thereafter, the duo managed to take away the bag containing cash and even assaulted the manager when he resisted the robbery attempt. Later, the manager was taken to Fortis Hospital. "An amount of Rs 1.53 lakh has been recovered from them. The bike used in crime has also been recovered besides a countrymade pistol and knife," said H.N.Singh, superintendent of police. |
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Jobless man strangles mother
New Delhi, September 12 The deceased has been identified as Mithilesh (54), mother of three children--Sunil, Sushil and Sunita. According to the police, Mithilesh's second son, Sunil, allegedly killed her at their house in East Vinod Nagar around 9.30 pm. The police said that jobless Sunil used to take money from his mother on some pretext or the other for drinking. The woman often scolded him to take up some work. Yesterday afternoon, the mother and son again had an argument over the issue. "Last night when Mithilesh refused to give Sunil money, he went ballistic and strangulated her. Sunil has been arrested and a case of murder registered. He has confessed to his crime," said a police officer. Pedestrian killed
An unidentified pedestrian was killed when a speeding car hit him in the Kotwali police station area of Central Delhi early this morning. According to the police, the incident took place near Kabootar Market on Subhash Marg around 2.40 am. "A Honda City car driver lost control and crashed into the divider, killing a man who could not be identified. The victim was around 40 years old. The driver fled the spot, leaving behind his car," said a police official, adding that the car has been impounded. The police is trying to trace the car owner. |
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Jeweller’s kin robbed of gold in Karol Bagh
New Delhi, September 12 The incident took place on Ajmal Khan Road in Karol Bagh around 4:30 am when Rajesh Mandal (19) and Sunil Machi (32), both nephews of a jeweller Ravinder Mandal, were on their way to Saharanpur city in western UP. According to information, the gold belonged to Ravinder Mandal, who has a shop in the Raigarpura area. He delivers jewellery and gold bricks to other jewellers in different parts of the country. “Rajesh and Sunil were travelling in an autorickshaw on their way to ISBT from where they were to board a bus for Saharanpur. On Ajmal Khan Road, four men came in an SUV and intercepted them. They were carrying iron rods. After threatening and hitting one of them, the robbers decamped with gold. Rajesh was injured in the incident and taken to RML Hospital,” said a police official. According to information, one of the robbers told the duo that they were taking the gold as it belonged to them, the official said, adding that professional rivalry could be the reason behind the robbery. The robbers took 1.5 kg gold, but did not take another bag which had more gold. A case in this regard has been registered at the Deen Bandhu Road (DBR) police station and further investigations are on. |
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6-yr-old shot at in Gt Noida
Greater Noida, September 12 The incident took place around 11:15 pm on Saturday when the victim,
Ayush, was sitting in his room. The bullet hit his stomach. Another bullet hit him on his left hand. He was rushed to the Sharda Hospital. Late this evening, the duty doctor said that Ayush was stable and out of
danger. Ayush's mother Madhu Singh has lodged an FIR at the Surajpur police station against two unknown assailants, said Shailendra
Lal, deputy superintendent of police. |
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Bollywood is steadily flowing into the Capital's social scene. Film actor Sunil Shetty's wife Mana brought her charity exhibition to Delhi this time.
After a year of making it to the headlines, surrounded by controversies, the former MOS Shashi Tharoor and his Kashmiri ladylove Sunanda held a reception for their wedding in the Capital last week. Never has Delhi witnessed wedding celebration for one month. This is the third time for both of them. The wedding took place in Kerala several weeks back in Tharoor's traditional house followed by a reception there. The mehendi of the bride and then a reception week after took place in Dubai. There was a honeymoon in between and then a grand reception at the Habitat Centre in the Capital.