10 dead, 12 injured in fire in hotel in Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh

At least ten people died and 12 others suffered injuries in a major fire that broke out in a hotel in Pratapgarh in Uttar Pradesh in the early hours of today, official sources said.

District Magistrate Amrit Tripathi told NetIndian over the telephone that those killed included nine men and a woman, all guests staying in the hotel.

Five of the seriously injured were taken to a hospital in Allahabad for treatment, while seven with minor injuries were being treated at a hospital in Pratapgarh, he said.

The fire was reported at around 4.45 am in the restaurant of the hotel and quickly spread to other areas. Fire tenders rushed to the spot and managed to put out the flames by 5.15 am, Mr Tripathi said.

Most of the victims had died due to suffocation, he said, adding that the bodies had been sent for post-mortem examination.

An inquiry has been ordered to determine the cause of the fire and establish criminal liability, if any. Initial reports suggested that the fire started due to an electrical short-circuit.

Saturday 20 June 2015

http://netindian.in/news/2015/06/19/00034150/10-dead-12-injured-fire-hotel-pratapgarh-uttar-pradesh

14 feared dead, 22 injured after Delhi-bound Uttarakhand state transport bus falls into gorge

At least 14 people are feared killed after a Delhi-bound bus of the Uttarakhand Transport Corporation (UTC) fell into a deep gorge in the hills of Almora district on Saturday afternoon.

As many as 22 were injured when the speeding bus carrying around 36 passengers slipped into the gorge.

The district disaster management control room said rescue and search operation started immediately after the accident that took place around 1pm at village Thyadi in Bhanoli Tehsil.

Senior officials including the district magistrate and the senior superintendent of police rushed to the accident site.

“The gorge is too deep and narrow. It has made rescue operations difficult. So far, 10 bodies have been recovered by the rescue teams. Fourteen passengers are feared dead,” said Shyam Singh Rawat, Bhanoli police station in-charge .

According to the disaster management control room, the UTC bus (No: UK 07 PA 1093) was moving at more than the prescribed speed during a steep climb. It lost control and plunged into the gorge, which is more than 50m deep.

All the injured persons were rushed to Dhauldevi block hospital for medical aid. The bus was going to Delhi from Munsyari block and took a route that Delhi-bound corporation buses don't usually take.

Saturday 20 June 2015

http://www.hindustantimes.com/dehradun/14-feared-dead-22-injured-after-delhi-bound-uttarakhand-state-transport-bus-falls-into-gorge/article1-1360912.aspx