Statescape — Social worker receives Ambedkar Samman

Worker killed, five injured in blast

SURAT: A worker was killed on the spot and five others injured in an explosion at a new chemical unit in the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) in Ankleshwar in Broach district yesterday, according to reports. The explosion occurred when a spark fell on a drum containing a solvent while welding work was on in the unit. A fire also broke out due to it, the report said. The fire fighters, along with a disaster unit of GIDC, cordoned off the area and put out the fire, the report said, adding that the injured were hospitalised.

Flood situation improves in WB

CALCUTTA: Barring some low-lying areas under Panskura, Debra, Ghatal and Daspur blocks, the flood situation in the coastal district of Midnapore in West Bengal improved today. Briefing newsmen, the West Bengal Irrigation Minister, Debabrata Bandopadhyay, said here today that a majority of the three lakh affected people were recovering fast.

However, water accumulated in Bhosra and Mukdari canals following breach of Kangsabati embankment. A high level technical team also reached the area to supervise work, the minister said. The situation in other areas including north Bengal was normal, he added.

Retired DSP shot dead by Naxals

KARIMNAGAR: A retired Deputy Superintendent of Police was shot dead by Naxalites of the outlawed Peoples War Group (PWG) at Gullakota village in Karimnagar district of Andhra Pradesh this afternoon. According to police, G V D Madhava Rao, 63, was killed by Mallial Dalam of PWG while he was working in his fields, suspecting him to be a police informer.

Undertrials murdered near court

TIRUCHIRAPALLI: Two under-trial prisoners were murdered by an unidentified gang near the judicial magistrate court complex at Lalgudi, near here today. Police said, the deceased Mathalai Raj and John Britto, of Kallakudi village, who were on conditional bail came to the court to put their signature, as per the court’s directive. When they were leaving the court complex, the gang attacked them with deadly weapons and escaped in a car. Tripura ultras release captives

AGARTALA: National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) today released two state agriculture department officials, kidnapped by the outfit on July 15 from Kathal in south Tripura. Police said Sukhdip Das and Ashutosh Saha had gone to the area to supervise some official work when the ultras abducted them at gun point.