At least 15 students die in India fire

Ahmedabad, India: At least 15 students died Friday in a fire in a building in India housing a college, officials said, with images on television and social media showing people jumping to escape the blaze.



"The students lost their life both because of the fire and jumping out of the building," Deepak Sapthaley, a fire official in the western city of Surat, told AFP.

Ten of them died from the jump and five from the fire, with up to 20 being treated in hospital, he said. The images showed blazing orange flames and black smoke billowing out of the building.

Sapthaley added that 50 or 60 people were inside the coaching institute on the top floor of the building when the blaze began. The cause was not yet known.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who comes from Gujarat state where the fire broke out, said on Twitter: "Extremely anguished by the fire tragedy in Surat.

"My thoughts are with bereaved families. May the injured recover quickly. Have asked the Gujarat Government and local authorities to provide all possible assistance to those affected."

Local officials said that the fire had spread quickly because of the material used in the roof. </s> Fire engulfed the third and fourth floor of Takshashila Centre in Surat, Gujarat. At least 20 people have been killed in the incident.

At least 22 students were killed and several others injured in a fire at a coaching centre in Sarthana area of Surat in Gujarat. The coaching centre was located on the third and fourth floors of the Takshashila Complex.

Students, mostly teenagers, died "either due to suffocation or jumping off from the complex", the deputy CM said. "We have ordered a detailed inquiry into the incident. We will not spare those found guilty," Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said.

Horrifying visuals of the fire showed kids falling off the windows.

Warning: The following visuals are disturbing.

Sarthana jakatnaka takshashila apartment maa lagi aag #Surat pic.twitter.com/X6ah57bdC3 RJ VEER (@rjVEERindia) May 24, 2019

CAUSE OF FIRE

An initial investigation suggests the fire was caused by a short-circuit. According to a fire official, flames started from the ground floor and reached the top floor, forcing some students to take shelter on the terrace which was covered.

"Lot of smoke accumulated on the top floor where there were AC compressors and tyres which too caught fire. There was no escape route available for the students who got trapped on the top floors. The fire was doused in one hour. There were no safety equipment installed in the building," a fire official told the media.

Coaching classes at the centre were run in a shade built on the top floor of the building, Gujarat Deputy CM Nitin Patel said, adding that they "will check if the construction was illegal".

RESCUE OPERATIONS

The fire official said that 19 fire tenders and two hydraulic platforms were pressed into service to douse the fire. It took an hour to contain the blaze.

Eye-witnesses claimed that there were around 50 students in the complex when the fire started.

"Around 10 students on fourth and third floor jumped off to the ground to save themselves from fire and smoke," said a fire official.

Locals helped in the rescue operation to save the stranded students and other occupants of the building.

Heartbreaking Video

Massive Fire at ine commercial Complex , Named

in surat's #sarthana Area .

Many Students were stuck.

A Brave man tried to rescue the Girls.

Pray &Hope for No big Injuries. #Surat #suratFire pic.twitter.com/h9XBWWVeui Hitesh Pandya (@Hiteshpandya21) May 24, 2019

CM OFFICE ORDERS INVESTIGATION

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has ordered an investigation into the incident. The chief minister has also declared financial help of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of children who died in this incident, an official statement from the CM office said.

Later in the day, Vijay Rupani visited the hospital to meet those injured in fire. "I am told that due to fire in the staircase, several people jumped from the fourth floor of the building to escape. Have ordered enquiry".

Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani visits hospital to meet those injured in fire at coaching centre in Surat; says, "I'm told that due to fire in the staircase, several people jumped from the 4th floor of the building to escape. Have ordered enquiry". 20 people have died in the incident pic.twitter.com/h27hRa2Iav ANI (@ANI) May 24, 2019

Meanwhile, municipal authorities in Ahmedabad ordered closure of all coaching classes till further orders to check whether they follow fire safety norms.

PM NARENDRA MODI EXPRESSES ANGUISH

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep anguish over the incident and directed authorities to provide all possible help."Extremely anguished by the fire tragedy in Surat. My thoughts are with bereaved families. May the injured recover quickly. Have asked the Gujarat Government and local authorities to provide all possible assistance to those affected," PM Narendra Modi tweeted.

Extremely anguished by the fire tragedy in Surat. My thoughts are with bereaved families. May the injured recover quickly. Have asked the Gujarat Government and local authorities to provide all possible assistance to those affected. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 24, 2019

Home Minister Rajnath Singh also reacted on the deadly fire. "Deeply saddened by the loss of precious lives due to fire in Surat. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured," Rajnath Singh said in a tweet.

BJP chief Amit Shah also expressed his grief on the tragedy and asked BJP workers to provide all possible assistance.

"Deeply anguished by the loss of lives due to a tragic fire accident in Surat, Gujarat. My condolences with the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of those injured. I urge our karyakartas of BJP Surat unit to assist the people in need," Amit Shah said in his tweet.

Deeply anguished by the loss of lives due to a tragic fire accident in Surat, Gujarat. My condolences with the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of those injured. I urge our karyakartas of BJP Surat unit to assist the people in need. Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 24, 2019

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi tweeted to express anguish on the incident and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured.

Read | How a fire in 1803 turned Bombay into Mumbai of today </s> More than 100 children die in India in encephalitis outbreak

PATNA, India (AP) — An encephalitis outbreak has killed more than 100 children in India's eastern state of Bihar.

Authorities say 106 children have died and 437 others between the ages of 4 and 10 are being treated in hospitals in Muzaffarpur district, 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of Patna, the state capital.

Villagers crowded outside Sri Krishna Medical College Hospital in Muzaffarpur to protest that Bihar's chief minister had only visited after the death toll passed 100. Left-wing political organizations also rallied in New Delhi.

Thousands of Indians suffer from encephalitis, malaria, typhoid and other mosquito-borne diseases each year during the summer monsoon season.

Medical experts say India's central and state governments remain unprepared for what is now an annual cycle of disease and death. </s> More than 100 children die in India in encephalitis outbreak

PATNA, India (AP) — More than 100 children have died in an encephalitis outbreak in India's eastern state of Bihar, authorities said Tuesday.

Bihar health secretary Sanjay Kumar said 106 children had died and more than 430 others between the ages of 4 and 10 were being treated at hospitals in Muzaffarpur district, 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of Patna, the state capital.

Despite the deaths, Kumar said the mortality rate among children from encephalitis, which can cause swelling of the brain, a burning fever and vomiting, had dropped to 26.5% from 34% a year ago.

Young children are particularly vulnerable to the disease.

Villagers crowded outside Sri Krishna Medical College Hospital in Muzaffarpur, where some of the sick children are being treated, to protest a visit by Bihar's chief minister, whom they accused of only coming to the area after the death toll passed 100. Left-wing political organizations also rallied in New Delhi, demanding that the Bihar government do more to prevent what has become an annual outbreak.

"This acute encephalitis syndrome has been recurring in Bihar and the government has not taken any steps. And who is dying? It is the children of the very poor," said Mariam Dhawale of the All India Democratic Women's Association.

Thousands of Indians suffer from encephalitis, malaria, typhoid and other mosquito-borne diseases each year during the summer monsoon season. </s> NEW DELHI — Thirty children have died at a public hospital in India over the past two days, with government critics blaming a shortage of oxygen for the surge after a supplier of liquid oxygen cut off deliveries because of unpaid bills.

Government officials were scurrying to explain what happened, admitting that the state-run hospital owed more than $50,000 to a supplier of liquid oxygen and that oxygen supplies had been “disrupted.”

“There was some payment issue to the oxygen supplier, and there was a shortage of liquid oxygen,” said Anil Kumar, the commissioner of Gorakhpur. But, he added, “those deaths were not due to lack of oxygen.”

Other officials said the hospital had a backup oxygen supply, though they did not explain why so many children had died in such a short time span. Since Monday, a total of 60 children have died at the hospital, many from acute encephalitis and others in the neonatal unit.

The hospital, Baba Raghav Das Medical College, is in Gorakhpur, a city several hundred miles east of New Delhi, India’s capital. It is the rainy season in India, a time when officials say it is not unusual for as many as 10 children to die there every day from Japanese encephalitis, a mosquito-born disease. </s> 23 children die in India when school bus plunges into gorge

NURPUR, India (AP) — A school bus plunged off a mountain road Monday into a deep gorge in the Himalayan foothills, killing 23 children, some as young as 4, Indian officials said.

Four adults also died, said Sandeep Kumar, a local official. Ten children were hospitalized.

Initial reports indicated the bus driver was speeding as he took the children home and lost control at the edge of the gorge. The bus fell some 200 feet (60 meters) to the ground below, said police officer Sunil Kumar.

The adults killed included the bus driver, two teachers and another woman, officials said. Most of the children riding in the bus were believed to be in elementary school.

The crash occurred in the Kangra Valley, about 500 kilometers (300 miles) north of New Delhi.

The search for survivors ended late Monday night, with the bodies of the dead lying on the concrete floor of the Nurpur mortuary, covered by sheets.

India's roads, particularly in the hills, have long been feared for their deep potholes, reckless drivers and often a lack of guardrails. Fatal accidents are common.

"I am deeply anguished by the loss of lives," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a tweet. "My prayers and solidarity with those who lost their near and dear ones." </s> BANGKOK: Major tourist islands in the Gulf of Thailand were on Monday declared areas of disaster caused by severe flooding and heavy rains.

Koh Samui and Koh Pa-ngan islands off Surat Thani province were declared disaster areas caused by flooding and heavy rainfalls among many others throughout southern Thailand.

Surat Thani provincial governor Uaychai Inthanak announced that 16 out of a total of 19 districts of Surat Thani were declared disaster areas, including Koh Samui district and Koh Pa-ngan district.

A large number of travelers, Thai and foreign, have visited the tourist islands in spite of heavy downpours over the last several days. Those included many Thai weekenders who visited Koh Samui and Koh Pa-ngan islands over the three-day-long holiday from Friday until Monday.

The provincial authorities were taking measures to help flood victims including those on the flooded islands. Small vessels were strongly warned to not go out to sea for the time being. PNA/Xinhua </s> At least 25 dead as bus falls into canal in southern India

BANGALORE, India (AP) — An official says at least 25 people were killed when a speeding bus fell into a canal in southern India. Many of the victims reportedly were schoolchildren.

G. Parameshwaran, the Karnataka state deputy chief minister, says the accident occurred Saturday in Mandya district as the driver lost control of the vehicle while going at a high speed.

Parameshwaran said a rescue operation was underway, with police rushing divers to the spot. The area is 105 kilometers (65 miles) southwest of Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka state.

The Press Trust of India news agency reported many of the dead were children who were returning from school.

Around 150,000 people die every year on India's roads, often because of reckless driving, badly maintained roads and vehicles overcrowded with passengers. </s> Children take part in a protest against the rape of an eight-year-old girl, in Kathua, near Jammu and a teenager in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh state Thomson Reuters By Fayaz Bukhari

SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) - Eight men accused of involvement in the rape and murder of an eight-year-old Muslim girl in India's Jammu and Kashmir state appeared in court on Monday for the first hearing in a case that sparked nationwide outrage and criticism of the ruling party.

Disgust over the horrific crime led to protests in cities across India over the past few days, with anger fueled by support for the accused initially shown by ministers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party.

The protests have also focused on another rape incident allegedly involving a BJP lawmaker in the crime-ridden, most populous, poor northern state of Uttar Pradesh.

More rallies demanding action against rapists and violence against women were expected on Monday in the capital and Ahmedabad, the state capital of Modi's home state of Gujarat.

The girl from a nomadic community that roam the forests of Kashmir was drugged, held captive in a temple and sexually assaulted for a week before being strangled and battered with a stone in January, the police said.

According to the charge sheet the kidnapping, rape and killing of the girl was part of a plan to drive the nomads out of Kathua district in Jammu, the mostly Hindu portion of India's only Muslim majority state.

The alleged ringleader, retired bureaucrat Sanji Ram, looked after a small Hindu temple where the girl had been held captive and assaulted. Two of the eight on trial were police officers who are accused of being bribed to stifle the investigation.

After the initial hearing on Monday, the judge adjourned the case until April 28.

Ahead of the trial, the lawyer representing the family of the victim said she had been threatened with rape and death for taking up her case, and requested for the trial to be held outside Jammu and Kashmir.

"I was threatened yesterday that 'we will not forgive you'. I am going to tell Supreme Court that I am in danger," said lawyer Deepika Singh Rawat who has fought for a proper investigation since the girl's body was found in January.

It was only when the charge sheet was finally filed last week, giving details of the horrendous crime, that Indians reacted en masse.

Two ministers from the BJP, which shares power in Jammu and Kashmir, were forced to resign after being pilloried for joining a rally in support of the accused men.

The national outrage over the Kathua case has drawn parallels with the massive protests that followed the gang rape and murder of a girl on a Delhi bus in 2012, which forced the then Congress-led government to enact tough new rape laws including the death penalty.

But activists say crimes of violence against women are often inadequately investigated, and in some cases accused with political connections have been protected. More incidents of child rape, including one in Surat in Gujurat, were reported over the weekend.

On Friday, Modi assured the country that the guilty would not be shielded, but he has been criticized for failing to speak out sooner.

Before leaving for an official visit to Europe this week, Modi received a letter from 50 former civil servants upbraiding the country's political leadership over its weak response.

"The bestiality and the barbarity involved in the rape and murder of an eight year old child shows the depths of depravity that we have sunk into," the letter said.

"In post-Independence India, this is our darkest hour and we find the response of our government, the leaders of our political parties inadequate and feeble."
Twenty children die in a fire in Surat, India.