In Brief — Pune

Ahmednagar crop damage negligible: Vikhe
Ahmednagar: Guardianminister of Ahmednagar Radhakrishna Vikhe has claimed that despite the excessive rain, the damage to the kharif crops in the district was negligible. Vikhe told news persons that 90 per cent of the bajra crop over 3,17,939 hectares had been harvested before the heavy downpour toward September end and October. However, the bajra crop had slightly turned blackish and the Government would decide on its purchase as in the case of jowar, he said. He said a decision on compensation for damages and wet famine would be taken after a survey.

He said rabi sowing had been completed on 2.33 lakh hectares. For assessing damage, he had already directed the district administration, the zilla parishad and the agriculture department to conduct a survey and submit reports by November 15.He said the ZP would supply seeds of jowar, wheat and gram for the rabi season.

3 die in mishap
Pune: Three persons were killed on the spot and three seriously injured when their tempo turned turtle near Kalamb on Pune-Nashik road early on Tuesday. They were identified as Haribhau Manohar Dagade (42), Deorao Sambhaji Toramale (40) and Mhatu Rakhama Sonar (25) (all residents of Chakur in Sangamner taluka in Ahmednagar district). The injured have been admitted to Sassoon Hospital in Pune.

They had hitched a lift in the tempo carrying onions from Ahmednagar to Pune. The tempo had reached Mahanubhav Vasti when the driver lost control. The passengers were trapped under the onions.