In brief

Joshi was travelling in the Prayagraj Express when the stationary train was hit from behind by the Gorakhdham Express.

In a statement issued here,Joshi charged the Railway authorities with “laxity in carrying out relief measures” and questioned “the efficacy of safety measures that had left the train passengers insecure”.

First swine flu death in Allahabad

Allahabad: Swine flu claimed its first victim in Allahabad on Sunday when a young woman succumbed to the disease after battling for nearly a week. City-based beautician Vartika (26) had contracted the H1N1 virus in Pune where she had gone on December 26,Deputy Chief Medical Officer V K Srivastava said. According to him,on December 27,Vartika had developed flu-like symptoms. Though she did not get herself tested,she took medicines for common viral fever. Her condition deteriorated considerably by December 30 and she was admitted to the hospital where she was kept on a ventilator. Thereafter,the district health authorities were informed about her condition. Following this her samples were sent for testing.

“Her test reports came on December 31 and she had tested positive for the H1N1 virus. By that time,Vartika had become too weak and hence we could not shift her to another hospital,” Srivastava said.

Pilgrims from Lucknow die in accident

TIRUPATI: Six pilgrims from Lucknow and the driver of the van in which they were travelling were killed when the vehicle collided with a lorry at Mallavaram village,about 20 km from Tirupati,on Sunday. Four others have sustained injuries in the accident,said police. The vehicle carrying the 10-member family was proceeding from Chennai to the shrine of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala.