Mumbai, November 6
US President Barack Obama’s eyes said it all. This is how Scherr Kia Dilisek, an American survivor of the 26/11 attacks, summed up her brief interaction with the visiting dignitary at a private meeting here today.

“He (Obama) deeply connected with each of us present in the room. It was a very heartfelt and moving occasion for us. Though he didn’t speak much, his eyes spoke a lot. It was a connection of the heart...” she said.

Dilisek (54), who lost her daughter Naomi (13) and husband Alan (58) at the Oberoi’s Tiffin restaurant, told reporters, “It was a very emotional moment when Obama shook hands with each one of us.” Dilisek is in Mumbai for the last three weeks to attend the second anniversary of the 26/11 carnage.

Dilisek and Karambir Kang, the then General Manager of the Taj, were among 12 survivors from the Taj and Oberoi-Trident hotels whom the US President met privately after paying respect to the victims of the attacks. Kang, who lost his wife and two sons, came in for special praise by Obama who lauded him for his extraordinary courage in evacuating the guests during the attack by Pakistani terrorists.

Moumina Khatun, whose husband Mohammad Umar, a taxi driver, was killed when his vehicle in which the terrorists had planted a bomb exploded at Vile Parle, did not understand much of what Obama spoke. “I didn’t understand what he spoke but I could make out that he said something about the 26/11 victims,” Khatun said.

Central Railway announcer Vishnu Zende, who saved lives of several people during the dastardly November 26 terror attack at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), said he was overwhelmed” to meet US President Barack Obama. “The President shook hands with me and said you did a good job. I am overwhelmed to meet him. This is a big thing for me,” he said.

On the ill-fated night of November 26, 2008 Zende saved lives of hundreds of commuters by continuously alerting them to leave the CST railway station, where two terrorists, including Pakistani gunman Ajmal Kasab, opened fire indiscriminately.

Zende was among those invited by the US Consulate to attend a function at the Taj Mahal Hotel, where Obama paid homage to victims of the 26/11 terror attack.

Obama, in his speech at the Hotel, praised Kang and Indian nanny Sandra Samuel, who saved Moshe, baby of Rabbi Gavriel and Riviki Holtzberg, killed by terrorists at the Chabad House. — PTI

Mumbai, November 6
US President Barack Obama said here today that India and the United States were cooperating more towards combating terrorism. “We today, the US and India, are working together more closely than ever to deepening counter-terrorism ... to keep our people safe,” Obama said. He added that the intelligence agencies of the two countries now shared intelligence to pre-empt such attacks in future.

The US President said he would be meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Delhi to improve the cooperation between India and the US regarding developing counter-terrorism strategies.

Earlier in the day, Obama arrived at the Mumbai airport aboard his official aircraft, Air Force One, at 12.50 pm.

His flight was accompanied by three fighter planes and five choppers. He was received by Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and Union Minister Salman Khursheed, who has been designated as the minister-in-waiting.

Also present on the occasion were US Ambassador to India Timothy Roemer and Indian Ambassador to the US Meera Shankar.

Chavan presented Obama a coffee table book on Maharashtra.

President Obama and his wife then walked to the helicopter US Marine One which flew them to the naval base INS Shikra in downtown Colaba. The President and the First Lady were then driven to hotel Taj Mahal from the naval base.

Mumbai, November 6
In a significant announcement during President Barack Obama's visit, the US today said it would support India's full membership in the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and three other multilateral export control regimes.

Part of its series of changes to the export control system as it applies to India, the US will support India's full membership in the four multilateral export control regimes which will make it easier for India to get dual-use technology from member countries though it is subject to rules of individual nations.

"These are the NSG- what is called Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)- the Missile Technology Control Regime, the Australian Group and the Wassanaar Arrangement," Mike Froman, Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economic Affairs, said in a statement. It will also provide India with a say in framing export control rules.

The indication of the US' move came in visiting President Barack Obama's speech to the business community where he spoke about his plans to reform export controls. These are groups of multilateral, dual use export control clubs. The Australia Group deals with chemical and biological weapons, and Wassenaar deals with conventional weapons and dual use technology in it. "Now, this membership will come in a phased manner.

And we will consult with our regime members to encourage the evolution of a membership criteria of these regimes consistent with maintaining their core principles. "So as the membership criteria of these four regimes evolves, we intend to support India's full membership in them. And at the same time, India will take steps to fully adopt the regime's export control requirements to reflect its prospective membership," Forman goes on to say recognising, "the nature of the strategic relationship we now have with India." Three Indian entities -- Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Indian Space Research (ISR0) and the Hyderabad-headquartered Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) - will be taken off embargoed list.

"The second element of the export control reform package being announced is that we will remove India's defense and space-related entities from the US entity list. The entity list at one point had, I believe, 220 Indian entities on it. And there are only four left. And today we will be announcing a removal of three of them," the US statement said. — PTI

New Delhi, November 6
As US President Barack Obama arrives in the National Capital tomorrow, India, while negotiating with the US on military aspects, looks to make sure that it gets the specialised heavy transport aircraft for the IAF without getting tied down by signing “unsuitable” military agreements.

The IAF needs lift transport plane C-17-A globemaster III and looks forward to buying 10 of these. The Defence and Security Cooperation Agency of the US had cited a cost of $5.8 billion (about Rs 29,000 crore), while the US Congress has cleared the sale of these planes to India through the government-to-government foreign military sales route.

The cost was negotiable as this was the highest estimated cost of a “fully loaded model”, said sources while adding that the final cost for 10 planes could be close to $ 3.8-3.9 billion (about Rs 20,000 crore). India might not take all communication gadgets on board, hence the cost would come down, he added.

If signed on this visit of Obama, this would be India’s single biggest defence acquisition agreement with the US ever in terms of money. For the US, this means creation of more jobs in its domestic market, besides the strategic value of counter-balancing China vis-a-vis India.

The IAF intends to use the 77 tonne carrying capacity of the C-17 to drop troops and heavy equipment in far-flung areas bordering Pakistan and China. The C-17 has the ability to take off from muddy tracks and grasslands like those in the North East and Ladakh. In the next 15-20 years, the IAF needs about 25 such planes.

The IAF’s existing fleet of heavy transporters is the Soviet-origin IL-76 - one of best selling transport planes globally - which has a carrying capacity of 45-47 tonne and needs a fully paved runaway to operate. One squadron - 16-18 odd aircraft - is based at Chandigarh and another in the North East.

For the fighter aircraft, termed as the medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) $11-billion deal, two US companies are in the fray along side one each from France, Russia, Sweden and Europe. Obama will surely be pitching in for the US companies selling the F-18-A and the F-16.

The Indian Navy, last year signed a contract with US company Boeing to become its first international customer for the P-8, a long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft to replace the Soviet-origin fleet Tupolev-142M. There is need for more such planes as the threat from the sea route has risen and the role of the Navy is fast expanding, sources maintain.

The hindrance for the IAF and the Navy could be the Communications Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA), or the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) for geo-spatial cooperation. The Tribune in its edition dated October 21 had first reported that the armed forces and the Defence Ministry see these as “binding down” agreements rather than being “enablers” as is being projected by the US. The IAF sees no use in being interoperable with the US air force alone.

New Delhi/Islamabad, Nov 6
In what is seen as a clear attempt by Islamabad to show its seriousness to bring to justice the 2008 Mumbai attackers, Pakistan has handed over its 13th dossier to India. Along it came a formal request regarding its proposal to send a commission to interview key witnesses in India in connection with the trial of seven Pakistani suspects linked to the incident.

Indian Deputy High Commissioner Rahul Kulshreshth was called late yesterday evening to the Foreign Office, where Director General (South Asia) Afrasiab Mehdi Hashmi handed over Pakistan's 13th dossier on the Mumbai incident and the formal proposal for sending the commission to India.

“During the meeting, (Kulshreshth) was handed over Pakistan’s Dossier No. 13 pertaining to the Mumbai terror attacks case and the detailed formal information on Pakistan's proposal to send a commission to India,” said a brief statement issued by the Foreign Office today. Islamabad’s proposal followed India’s refusal to allow these officials to travel to Pakistan to depose in an anti-terror court there.

Pakistan has been under intense pressure from Washington and other Western countries to punish the Mumbai attackers. Earlier this week, President Barack Obama had asked Pakistan to expedite the Mumbai case trial. In fact, hours before the US leader left the country’s shores for his 10-day visit to Asia with Mumbai being the first stopover, his administration slapped sanctions against Pakistan-based terror groups like Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). It also targeted Lashkar commander Azam Cheema, who helped train militants for the Mumbai attacks and masterminded the 2006 Mumbai train bombings.

New Delhi, November 6
India is hoping to garner major health gains from the ongoing visit of US President Barack Obama, with two top research organisations on either side set to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in the sector.

The thrust of the MoU would be assistance to India to reduce its massive disease burden, considering the country, on an average, contributes 20 per cent of the global burden of diseases.

The MoU is to be signed between the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), India, and the top US health research institute, the Centre for Diseases Control (CDC), Atlanta. The pact will entail US assistance for technical experts in India to augment research as well as for the upgradation of Indian laboratories, most of which are not too well equipped to handle research pertaining to communicable and non communicable diseases (NCDs) afflicting India. Broadly, it would involve the strengthening of epidemiological surveillance systems in India.

“This will be a one-to-one agreement between the NCDC and the CDC, Atlanta. It will help us formalise things as we need our people to be trained in technical knowhow in the sector as well as our second-rung labs ungraded. Our best labs are very good but that is not so of the other labs,” top Health Ministry sources today told The Tribune, saying the seed for the MoU was sown during Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad’s visit to the US in May this year, when he also visited the CDC in Atlanta.

The MoU as yet does not talk about any monetary understanding, with both the institutes to pay their share. For India, there’s a lot to gain including world-class CDC expertise in battling the disease burden. Between 2008 and 2010, India is said to have contributed 60 per cent of the disease burden in the world.

Health Ministry officials added that it would be up to India to draw the maximum from the pact, which would also enable the linking of our laboratories with the best in the US. 

Mumbai, November 6
After visiting the house of Mahatma Gandhi whom he looked to for inspiration, US President Barack Obama today hailed the Father of the Nation as “a hero not just to India but to the world.”

“I am filled with hope and inspiration as I have the privilege to view this testament to Gandhi’s life. He is a hero not just to India but to the world,” Obama, who was struck with awe, wrote in the visitor’s book at the Mani Bhavan here with a cupboard teetering with books of the Mahatma in the background. It’s well known that Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait hangs in Barack Obama’s Senate office.

Obama, who is a self-confessed fan of Gandhi, and wife Michelle spent about 45 minutes going around the simple, old-style, two-storey building on Laburnum Road here. The Mahatama stayed at the modest building during his visits to the city for about 17 eventful years from 1917-1934 and from here he launched his path-breaking initiatives like Swadeshi, Khadi, the non-cooperation and Khilafat movements. It has now been converted into a Gandhi museum.

The room on the second floor, which used to be the living room and working place of Gandhi, has been preserved in its near-original setting. On the first floor is the auditorium where films on Gandhi are shown from time to time and recordings of his speeches are played on request.

The trust that runs Mani Bhavan also gifted Obama literature on the Mahatma. Mani Bhavan had a special ‘shamiana’ put up for the President’s visit. In fact, the municipal corporation plucked away all the coconuts from the trees in the area to avoid any mishaps.

Michelle said she would always “treasure” the visit to honour Gandhi’s memory. “The visit will be one that I will always treasure. The life and teachings of Gandhi must be shared with our children around the world,” she wrote in the visitor’s book. — PTI

New Delhi, November 6
Subsequent directors of the IIT Kharagpur, the premiere technical institutes of India, relied on what appears to be a fake “Presidential Secretariat” letter to run an illegal institute on their campus and award diplomas that had no legitimacy.

The Institute of Electrical Engineers (IEE) was set up on the IIT Kharagpur campus in 1987 and kept functioning for all these years claiming legitimacy of courses on the basis of a letter dated January 28, 1987, written by the then private secretary to the President.

The letter, which appears fudged, states, “The Associate Membership Examination of the IEE (India) is recognised at par with Baccalaureate (Bachelor/Graduate) degree in the Electrical Engineering of India and foreign universities aid is equivalent to the Associate Membership Examination of the IEE (London), which is recognised by India for the purpose of recruitment to superior posts under the Centre.” A copy of the letter - accessed by The Tribune - was submitted recently to the Ministry of HRD by IIT Kharagpur director Damodar Acharya, who met HRD Minister Kapil Sibal to explain and distance himself from the issue. Senior aerospace professor of IIT Kharagpur Amit Kumar Ghosh (hitherto president of the IEE) is now under suspension. Ghosh is claiming the involvement of top IIT brass in the scandal.

Acharya told The Tribune, “I have nothing to do with the IEE. I have given to the ministry this letter claimed to have been written by the then private secretary to the President, awarding legitimacy to the said institute. This letter is being cited as the basis of the institute.”

The ministry has begun inquiries from the President’s Secretariat about the veracity of the said letter. On close look, the letter appears fake, for example, it uses odd expressions like: “This institute will be more independent”; at another point it says the institute can “fix its policy based on its needs, without much thinking about policy of the government.” It also suggests names for the institute - something that is not the President’s job. Even the suggested name keeps changing throughout the letter’s text.

The question now arises why the subsequent IIT directors did not get this fake letter investigated by the police earlier. It was only last week after students of the IEE complained to the present institute director about the poorness of its courses that he ordered an internal inquiry. Eventually, a criminal complaint was filed and the police stepped in, questioning Ghosh, who is alleged to have been misusing his IIT professor tag to lure students to join the IEE.

He even held admissions for the IEE at his IIT office, charging each student Rs 27,000 as fee for the course. He might ultimately be dismissed from professorship.

Ironically, from 2006 onwards, when Ghosh became the IEE president, he also assumed charge of the IIT’s chief vigilance officer. But he claims he is not alone in the scam. The Tribune has accessed another letter dated December 24, 1996, where former IIT director KL Chopra (now chairman of the Board of Governors of NIT Bhopal) endorsed the IEE courses as being equivalent to the IIT’s Electrical Engineering degree -- this when the IITs have no power to order equivalence of degrees or recognise courses expect their own degrees.

Bangalore, November 6
The Defence Bioengineering and Electromedical Laboratory (DEBEL) of Bangalore, affiliated to the DRDO, has developed the integrated life support system (ILSS) for pilots of fighter aircraft. It will be first used in Tejas - the indigenous light combat aircraft (LCA).

The ILSS enables a fighter pilot to survive the challenges of flight altitudes and impact of G-forces. The technology had hitherto been confined to a few highly advanced countries.

The engineering model of the ILSS prototype was rolled out on Thursday from the DEBEL, Bangalore. The ILSS consisting of 12-line replacement units was handed over to PS Subramanyam, program director, Tejas, for fitment and further trials.

The ILSS essentially performs the tasks of protecting the pilot against fluctuation of altitudes and severe G forces faced during aerial combats. It also provides oxygen to the pilot in the case of ejection from aircraft. The oxygen generation system (OBOGS) of the ILSS keeps the pilot’s oxygen status to the sea-level condition despite being at high altitudes. The OBOGS enables the pilot to undertake long-endurance sorties without recharging the oxygen. 

Hyderabad, November 6
Tainted by the CWG scam, real estate developer Emaar Properties has come under scanner in Andhra Pradesh as well following allegations of irregularities in a land deal with the state government. Amidst growing demand from the Opposition and a section of the ruling Congress leaders for a CBI probe into the activities of Emaar Group, the state vigilance and enforcement wing has swung into action and conducted searches at the company’s facilities here.

The Dubai-based construction giant is in the eye of a storm over an ambitious golf course and residential complex project. It was allotted land at prime locality in the city to develop the venture as per an agreement with the A P Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC), the nodal agency for establishment of industrial units and allotment of land in the state.

There are allegations that the company has violated the agreement and caused a loss of Rs 1,000 crore to the state.

The enforcement searches came close on the heels of the APIIC serving a notice on the company just last week seeking explanation within 60 days about deviations from their agreement on the township project and the default in payments towards its share.

Emaar Group was allotted about 530 acres at Gachibowli for development of a golf course and luxury residential complex, a star hotel and a convention centre. Of this land, 285 acres was sold at a rate of Rs 29 lakh per acre and the remaining was given on lease for a period of 66 years at a nominal rate of 2 per cent of the total revenue made out of the golf course. The original agreement gave the APIIC a 49 per cent stake in the leased land.

However, subsequently, it was diluted to 26 per cent and later to 6.5 per cent because of the alleged nexus between some of the officials of the APIIC and the developer. Later, Emaar Properties contracted the entire project to its subsidiary Emaar-MGF. Changes were made in the original agreement to allot 95 per cent revenues to Emaar-MGF.

The APIIC now maintains that the company did not take its approval before forging agreement with its subsidiary. “We will probe the violations and see that the company pays up its dues to the corporation,” the APIIC Chairman Shivarama Subramanyam said.

Emaar Group is already in the dock over shoddy construction of Commonwealth Games Village. 

New Delhi, November 6
The BJP on Wednesday released a set of documents to implicate the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) directly in the corruption in the Commonwealth Games.

BJP spokesman Syed Shahnawaz Husain who released the documents claimed all the cost escalations incurred by the CWG Organising Committee (OC) were duly approved by the PMO and the Union Cabinet. He said these escalations in the Games projects took place five times between 2007 and 2009, hiking the expenditure involved from Rs 1,000 crore to over Rs 2,400 crore.

"The Cabinet approved Rs 1,000 crore budget in its meeting on March 15, 2007. The revised cost estimate passed by the Cabinet stood at Rs 2,460 crore on March 5, 2009," said BJP president Nitin Gadkari in an accompanied statement, here quoting from the Cabinet notes.

He claimed that the documents mention the role of the Prime Minister's Office, the Cabinet, the Group of Ministers, the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) and the ministries concerned. He said all major proposals were first processed by the concerned ministries, then by the EFC, then by the PMO and later approved by the Cabinet.

"The Commonwealth Games were allotted to Delhi on November 11, 2003, but detailed estimates were considered and approved by the Cabinet on March 15, 2007," he said.

Gadkari claimed that since then the PMO, the GoM, the EFC and the Cabinet have approved all cost escalations.

Addressing the media last month, he had alleged that the Union Cabinet did not try to verify the reasons behind the escalating costs.

"All types of increase in estimates were approved by the Cabinet sub-committee and the PMO. Before approving (the inflated cost), why they did not verify," Gadkari had said wondering "whether the whole Cabinet is responsible for the chaos and corruption in the CWG preparations." Citing various examples of cost escalations, the BJP leader claimed that while the original tender conditions were for specific items, the escalation was granted for the composite work. "Considerable increase in the approved cost of Rs 1,000 crore (cleared by the Cabinet in 2007)...As the tenders/quotation was for composite works, the cost escalation could not be identified with specific provisions," according to a note by the Secretary and the EFC mentioned in the BJP statement.

Chandigarh, November 6
Jumping out of a perfectly flying aircraft for pleasure is a sport not meant for everybody. But when an activity like sky-diving, quite uncommon in India, is used to spread social awareness, it assumes a different meaning.

For Archana Sardana, one of the country’s handful women skydivers, its an endeavour to use her skills with the parachute in support of the girl child by spreading awareness about the menace of female feticide.

“Sky-diving is a crowd-puller and one can be sure of a large audience to reach out to for a social cause,” Archana said. “A woman carrying out such an activity will also send a strong message,” she added.

She intends to launch her campaign in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, where sex ratio is dismal, before covering the rest of the country. The problem, however, is bureaucratic hurdles. “I have approached the government repeatedly for permission to jump, but other than assurances, nothing has been forthcoming,” she said.

Wife of a Navy officer assigned to the submarine fleet, Archana is India’s first and only woman BASE jumper. In 2007, after a brief interaction with the Indian Navy Skydivers she undertook a course in Accelerated Freefall Training at the Perris Valley Skydiving School in California. She has completed 238 jumps and has a 'C' licence from the 'United States Parachute Association.

The 38-year old mother of two sons has also completed the basic and advanced mountaineering courses from Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling and Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi.

“My proudest moment was to fly the Tricolour in the US skies. I was the first Indian woman to do so and I had to struggle a lot as it required 200 skydives to qualify for the Flag Jump involving rigorous training over 20 weeks,” she said. She has also flown the Tricolour in Malaysia, where she was the only Indian among participants from 22 countries. She would be going to Laos this month to participate in an international skydiving event.

Skydiving, as a sport, is in a nascent stage in India. Organised skydiving training facilities are available only for the defence forces skydiving, but for civilian skydivers no training facilities whatsoever are available.

New Delhi, November 6
'Free Tibet' lovers used this Divali to welcome US President Barack Obama's India visit by teasing China. Call it Gandhigiri if you like. "Happy Divali wishes to you and India's distinguished guest Barack Obama" cards accompanied beautiful fine 'Bone Tibet' crockery and tableware to many members of international diplomatic corps and Indian sympathisers.

Everyone has heard of the 'Bone China' brand of crockery and tableware. But a Tibetan refugee entrepreneur here recently began marketing 'Bone Tibet' products and 'Free Tibet' activists have begun buying them in bulk to send as Divali and New Year gifts.

Each of the eight 'Bone Tibet' cups carries one of the auspicious Buddhist symbols and their meaning. The bottom of cups shows a 'Fine Bone Tibet' stamp. 'Bone China' products are made round the world but the common perception is that although they originated in the land of the 'Red Dragon,' the ones available in city stores are just a copy.

Bone China is a type of porcelain body first developed in Britain in which calcined cattle bone (bone ash) is a major component. English manufacturers were keen to produce porcelain of the quality to be found in Chinese imports, but they had to go down a different route.

Fine 'Bone Tibet' pottery is being promoted by Tibetan refugee entrepreneur Dorjee T. Kyibuk (58). "Our products not only have business value, but also represent our political aspirations and values," Kyibuk said. This Divali, he sold a good number of sets of Bone Tibet teacups. The 'White Conch Shell' cup symbolises the far-reaching and melodious sound of dharma teachings and awakens one from the slumber of ignorance.

The 'Precious Umbrella' cup symbolises the activity of preserving living beings from illness, harmful forces, and obstacles in one's life. The 'Victory Banner' cup wishes you a victory over all negative forces. Other cups of the set are 'Golden Fish', 'Dharma Wheel', 'Lotus Flower', 'Treasure Vase' and the 'Eternal Knot' cup. Although Kyibuk started producing 'Bone Tibet' products in 2004, he started pushing them as Divali and New Year gift items last year.

"This is my small contribution to keep alive the rich Tibetan motifs," said Kyibuk, who came from Tibet as a child and served the Tibetan Government-in-exile for 18 years in different fields. "My products are now being used right from Ladakh to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, and in many countries, including Taiwan. Even people coming from Tibet are carrying back home these items as gifts," Kyibuk said.

Vijay Kranti, an expert on Tibet affairs, said the 'Bone Tibet' stamp with Tibetan motifs on crockery may seem to be a parody of 'Bone China' to outsiders, "but it cleverly reflects the mind of the present generation of Tibetans, their patriotism and anti-China feelings."

Hyderabad, November 6
Andhra Pradesh authorities raced against time today to evacuate people from low-lying areas in coastal region as a severe cyclone is set to hit the coast by tomorrow night.

The cyclone, “Jal”, presently lay centred over southwest Bay of Bengal, about 650 km east-southeast of Chennai and 750 km southeast of Nellore in Andhra Pradesh, is likely to cross the coast by tomorrow with wind speeds reaching up to 140 kmph at the time of landfall, the officials of Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

Seven coastal districts in AP, which are already reeling under the impact of torrential rains that claimed 35 lives in the last one week, are likely to bear the brunt of cyclone fury.

Chief Minister K Rosaiah, who held an emergency meeting with top officials to review the situation, directed his cabinet to rush to the coastal districts to relief operations. “The situation is quite serious but the state government is taking all measures to meet any eventuality,” an official of the Chief Minister’s Office said.

Army and Air Force teams have been asked to be ready for deployment, if necessary. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) battalions at Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu were being sent to Nellore district.

Weather Department officials said under the influence of cyclonic storm, there would be heavy to very rainfall at several places in north coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and south coastal AP over the next 48 hours.

“Gale winds with speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph would prevail along and off north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and south Andhra Pradesh coast from Saturday evening. It may increase up to 120-130 kmph, gusting to 140 kmph at the time of landfall,” the forecast said. The forecast has also warned of very rough sea conditions and low-lying areas of Nellore and Prakasam districts of Andhra Pradesh and Tiruvallur, Chennai and Kanchipuram districts may be inundated at the time of landfall.

Port authorities have hoisted the third warning signal at Krishnapatnam, Machilipatnam and Nizampatnam ports in south coastal Andhra while at Gangavaram, Kakinada and Visakhapatnam in the north coast, the second warning signal has been hoisted.

Chandigarh, November 6
In a judgment that could have wide ramifications on grant of disability pension for injuries sustained while on leave, the Armed Forces Tribunal on Tuesday ruled that benefits cannot be granted to an individual for injuries suffered during leave if the activity he was involved in had no link with military service.

Collectively dismissing 13 petitions seeking claim for disability pension, the Tribunal’s Bench comprising Justice NP Gupta and Lt Gen NS Brar ruled that there must be some causal connection between military service and the disability for an individual to be entitled for grant of consequential benefits.

The individuals had suffered varying degree of disability due to accidents, working in fields, suffering electric shock or other chores while on leave, which had no correlation with any military activity.

As many as 17 petitions, all filed by personnel below officer rank from all three services, had come up before the bench. While one was allowed, another was dismissed as withdrawn while orders for evidence and further arguments were issued in the remaining two. The Tribunal’s judgement has kicked-up a debate in the legal circles as it is in variance with earlier rulings by the Supreme Court, full bench judgements of some High Courts and even the Tribunal’s own benches.

Lawyers said some past judgements had allowed benefits for injuries sustained while on leave as military personnel were deemed to be in service while on leave and authorised leave was a direct offshoot of military service. A person is still under the purview of the Army Act when on leave. Benefits have been granted for injuries sustained by individuals while performing routine personal and domestic chores when on leave.

Some judgements have ruled that at the time of injury, the activity an individual was engaged in should not be inconsistent with the conduct as well as moral and professional obligations expected of a soldier. This includes carrying out chores that he would not ordinarily perform if he were not on leave.

Sriganganagar, November 6
The 3008/3007 Udyan Abha Express train that was originally run between Sriganganagar-Abohar-New Delhi and later renamed as “Udyan Abha Toofan Mail” following its extension to Howrah (West Bengal) may once again be suspended for three months beginning Christmas fearing foggy weather, sources said.

While resenting the plan Gurparsad Bansal, member of the Bikaner Division Railway Users Consultative Committee, Hanuman Dass Goyal, vice-president of the Railway Passengers Association (North Zone), and Madan Lal Bhalothia, member of the Ambala Division Railway Users Consultative Committee, said the Railway booking offices had recently suspended reservation facilities for the train from Sriganganagar to New Delhi for a period of three months beginning December 24. This indicates that the train will be run only as Toofan Mail between New Delhi and Howrah.

This had been happening for past few years putting thousands of passengers in the region to great inconvenience. They will have to pay 100 per cent more than the rail fare to avail night bus services that are operated by private players.

The passengers associations recall that the train was introduced following untiring efforts made by the then Lok Sabha speaker Bal Ram Jakhar. It was named as Udyan Abha to acknowledge that Abohar, now region of udyans (orchards) was initially known as Abha Nagari in 14th century.

BRIEFLY

Gunshots fired outside Taj
Mumbai: Authorities faced anxious moments when a gunshot was heard tonight outside the iconic Taj hotel where visiting U S President Barack Obama has been put up. According to Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjeev Dayal, the firing had occurred when one round from the pistol of Assistant Police Inspector S A Choudhry accidentally went off. Dayal was injured in his leg and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. — PTI

Fisherman dies after boat overturned in AP village
Rajahmundry: One fisherman died after his boat overturned though five others with him managed to return to the shore in Uppada village in East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh today. The incident occurred when six fishermen went to the sea for fishing in a country-made boat which overturned due to the rough sea conditions, police said. — PTI