Quicktakes

State hikes retirement age of staff
MUMBAI: Close on the heels of the decision of the Vajpayee government, the Sena-BJP government today raised the retirement age of its government employees from 58 to 60 years. Those employees retiring on May 31 will get the benefit of the decision, a senior official said, adding, besides the government employees, the decision will also be applicable to the employees of the zilla parishad, aided and unaided educational institutions, agriculture and non-agriculture universities.

Rupee plunges
MUMBAI: Panic gripped the foreign exchange market once again on Friday with the rupee plunging to yet another low of 41.77 against the dollar after the nuclear explosions by Pakistan. On the other hand, Sensex which plunged to 158 points in intra-day trading on the Bombay Stock Exchange later recovered to finish with net loss of 36 points, thanks to massive buying by institutions. With this fall, the rupee had depreciated by 5.2 per cent after the BJP govt took overtwo months ago.

Cola vans damaged
SURAT: A gang of youths burnt a Pepsi van and damaged a van each of Pepsi and Coke on Friday in protest against the nuclear tests conducted by Pakistan and what they called tacit US support of the tests. A group of about 15 motorborne youths armed with iron pipes and inflammable substances targeted the vans within a short time in the afternoon.

Heat toll 500
NEW DELHI: The nearly month-long heat fury claimed 130 more lives, 112 in Orissa alone, raising the toll to 510 today as most parts of the country fretted under a blazing sun. In Orissa, 112 people died, mostly due to sunstroke, since yesterday pushing the state-wide casualties to 171. Panchayat polls
CALCUTTA: The Trinamool Congress-BJP combine today made inroads into rural West Bengal capturing nearly 25 per cent gram Panchayat seats pushing Congress in the third position even as the ruling Left Front maintained its supremacy bagging over 50 per cent of the seats, results of whichwere announced so far.