New Delhi, June 19
A 60-year-old labourer was killed and two others were injured after a wall collapsed on them at Majlis Park in the Adarsh Nagar locality, northwest Delhi, this morning.

The incident took place about 9 am. Some labourers, who were working at the site, informed the police that a wall had collapsed on three labourers digging a basement in A-Block of Majlis Park.

During the rescue operation, the police found a labour identified as Sadhu Ram (60) who had died on the spot, while two other labourers identified as Rahul (21) and Harinder (21) were critically injured. They were admitted to Babu Jagjivan Ram Hospital in northeast Delhi, where their conditions are said to be critical.

The labourers belong to Uttar Pradesh. They were staying at Bhajanpura Dairy in Delhi at a rented accommodation.

The police have begun investigation in the case and have booked the owner of the plot and the builder for negligence. They both are at large.

"I was working on the side of the plot and I heard a loud sound. I saw that a wall had collapsed on the three labourers. One of them was Rahul, who was crying for help. The police were informed. With the help of some passersby, the police rescued the injured persons," said Ram Dayal, a labour, working at the site.

The labourers were working at the site for the past couple of months and they were digging the basement of the plot.

New Delhi, June 19
The Lt. Governor today instituted an advisory group of experts to help guide the Delhi government on issues related to water management.

The group will work out an action plan and create task forces which will execute specific plans, and will report to the unified command of the advisory group. This group will consist of five expert members, to be co-opted, and will meet on a monthly basis to review the progress.

It will be chaired by Babubhai Navalawala, a water expert, and former Secretary of Water Resources. The LG highlighted three critical areas which require immediate intervention in terms of water and sewerage planning and execution for the city. This includes storm water drains disposing untreated sewerage into the Yamuna, developing the Yamuna itself, and raising the water table in Delhi.

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary, Secretary (Environment), Secretary (Urban Development), CEO (Delhi Jal Board), Vice Chairman (Delhi Development Authority), Secretary (Irrigation and Flood Control), Divisional Commissioner and senior officials.

After the Lt. Governor approved a number of short-term measures to improve the availability of water in Delhi, such as setting up of water ATMs, facilitating sewer connections, releasing water to unauthorized colonies, etc., it was felt that the government must develop a long-term master plan to address the water and sewerage issues in Delhi.

"We must draw from best practices and work out a comprehensive plan for Delhi which will be able to cater to the growing needs of the city," the LG said.

New Delhi, June 19
With increasing number of enthusiasts opting for higher education in the United States of America (USA), a jump of 40 per cent has been recorded in student visa issuances, said US embassy officials today.

On a "student visa day" organised by the embassy around 800 applicants aspiring to study in America were interviewed.

"As you prepare to pursue your studies, I want you to know that you are not only contributing to your personal future, but you are also making a major contribution to the links that bring India and the USA together through people-to-people ties," said embassy Charge d' Affaires Michael Pelletier.

According to the aspirants at the embassy, the flexible education system in the USA is what attracted them.

"I find the American higher education system to be much more flexible when compared to the system we have in place here. In US, you get two years to decide the subject you want to do your major in but that is not the case here," said Shaurya Dhankar, who was one of the students to get a visa.

Dhankar is headed to University of California-Los Angeles to pursue his under-graduate course in electrical and electronics engineering.

Close to 800 applicants for student visas were treated to a festive collegiate atmosphere and refreshments on the "Student Visa Day" at the US Embassy. Wearing clothes featuring US university logos, the embassy staff interviewed students applying for F, J, and M visas to pursue educational opportunities in the USA while representatives from the Education USA Center at the United States-India Educational Foundation provided tips and information on academics and campus life to ensure student success in the USA.

Consul General Cynthia Haley said, "The United States has some of the world's finest educational institutions and we are seeing record numbers of visa applications."

"Nearly 1,00,000 Indian students are currently studying in the United States, enriching our classrooms and campuses, and building relationships that will last a lifetime," added Haley.

New Delhi, June 19
In a drive against the hoarders of essential commodities, especially onions and potatoes by the Department of Food and Supplies, today more than 500 raids were conducted all across the city.

"The teams have conducted raids on 532 premises so far" said S.S. Yadav, Commissioner Food and Supplies.

The LG had issued directions to the department to take strict actions against people indulging in hoarding of essential commodities.

"The teams prosecuted 42 traders for violation of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and the Legal Metrology Act, 2009. The violators face imprisonment up to a period of seven years, if convicted." said Yadav.

The LG took stock of the prices of essential commodities today in a meeting where he reviewed the arrangements for procurement of onions by the NAFED.

New Delhi, June 19
A 21-year-old youth allegedly molested his sister in Mianwali, west Delhi, last night. The victim and their mother caught the accused and handed him over to the police.

A police officer probing the case said that the accused allegedly tried to molest her even a fortnight ago when he was in an inebriated state. The victim had complained to her mother who had confronted him, but the matter was not reported to the police.

"The brother returned home drunk last night and found his 16-year-old sister sleeping in the house. Following a power failure in the area, their mother went to sleep on the terrace. After his mother left for the terrace, he allegedly began disrobing his sister," said the officer.

The girl woke up and raised the alarm while her brother attempted to prevent her from calling out their mother. The girl pushed him away and rushed out of the room.

The mother had heard her daughter screaming and rushed downstairs.

The mother then pulled him out on the street and began beating him. "The woman told her daughter to inform the police. On receiving the call about 1.30 am, the police was sent to the spot and the accused was arrested," the officer added.

He has been charged with molestation under the relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

"He was jailed in 2012 for a robbery in Mangolpuri. He was released a few months ago," said the officer.