Tragic Train Accident in Maharashtra Claims Four Lives
Fatal Incident on Suburban Train
In a tragic event near Mumbra in Maharashtra's Thane district, four individuals lost their lives after falling from a suburban train. Thirteen others sustained injuries, with two passengers reported to be in critical condition, as per a surgeon at the local district hospital.
The accident occurred on the fast tracks between Mumbra and Diva. A representative from Central Railways indicated that the incident likely happened when passengers riding on footboards of trains traveling in opposite directions became entangled.
Maharashtra's Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, announced that an investigation has been launched to determine the circumstances surrounding the accident.
In the current fiscal year, approximately 37.62 lakh passengers utilized the Mumbai suburban trains operated by Central Railway, while 27.24 lakh traveled on Western Railway services. The previous year saw a staggering 2,468 fatalities on Mumbai's suburban train network, averaging over six deaths daily.
Assam Government's Controversial Expulsions
The Assam government has recently expelled 303 individuals labeled as 'foreigners' and plans to continue this practice under the 1950 Immigrants Expulsion from Assam Act, according to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. He further stated that an additional 35 individuals will be expelled once floodwaters recede.
Sarma emphasized that the Supreme Court has validated the illegal expulsion act, allowing the government to remove foreigners without needing to consult Foreigners Tribunals.
His comments in the Assembly followed a claim that those identified as foreigners were being legally sent back to Bangladesh.
The Supreme Court, while addressing challenges to Section 6A of the 1955 Citizenship Act, indicated that the Assam government is not legally obligated to always seek judicial intervention to identify foreigners.
IED Blast Claims Life of Police Officer
In Sukma district, an additional superintendent of police was killed when an improvised explosive device, allegedly planted by suspected Maoists, detonated. Two other police officers were injured in the blast.
The explosion occurred on the Konta-Aerobora road near Dronda village while the officers were on foot patrol. The Konta Additional Superintendent of Police, Akash Rao Girepunje, inadvertently triggered the device.
This patrol was conducted in anticipation of a nationwide strike called by the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist). Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai condemned the Maoists for their cowardly actions, attributing them to frustration over the ongoing successes of security forces against left-wing extremism.
Call to Halt Siang Upper Multipurpose Project
A group of 114 scientists, researchers, and practitioners has urged the suspension of all construction activities related to the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project in Arunachal Pradesh. They argue that local community resistance reflects a deep understanding of the ecological, cultural, and socio-political risks involved.
The collective highlighted that past displacements have often resulted in long-term socio-economic challenges, with compensation mechanisms failing to address land-based identity and customary rights. They also pointed out that the project site is located in Seismic Zone V, the highest risk category for earthquakes according to the Bureau of Indian Standards.
The Siang River, which flows from Tibet into Arunachal Pradesh, is the main tributary of the Brahmaputra and is the proposed site for the 11,000 MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project, which is being promoted as India's largest dam.