Quicktakes

Heat relents

NEW DELHI: Many parts of the country reeling under heat wave were lashed by isolated rains on Monday as mercury nosedived. Also, the toll stood at 134 as no deaths were reported today.

Orissa crisis

BHUBANESWAR: Fresh crisis gripped the Biju Janata Dal in Orissa on Monday as party president Naveen Patnaik dissolved its policy-making Political Affairs Committee. This triggered sharp reactions from dissidents who accused Patnaik of trying to split the party.

SC notice to Basu

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court issued notices to West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu, the state Government andfive others on two petitions alleging that the Chief Minister violated all norms in allotting plots to VIPs from his discretionary quota at Salt Lake area in Calcutta.

IAF crash

HYDERABAD: A 22-year-old trainee pilot of the Indian air force, Desai, was killed when a light trainer aircraft crash landed into fields in Reddykanapur village on Monday, police said.