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Compensation of Rs Five lakh each for bereaved families

Kolkata, Dec 14 (UNI) Railway Minister Lalu Prasad announced a compensation of Rs five lakh each for the families of those killed in the bus-train accident in Punjab's Moga district today.

The Minister, who was here, also announced a compensation of Rs 50,000 each for those critically injured and Rs 15,000 each for the people, who suffered minor injuries.

''The Railway Ministry would also consider offering jobs to one family member of the deceased, who belonged to the poorest of the poor section,'' he said.

Member, Engineering of the Railway Board, who would coordinate an inquiry into the accident to be conducted by the Commissioner of Railway Safety, had been asked to ensure that the report was submitted at the earliest, Mr Prasad said.

To a question, the Minister said it was being ascertained how the minibus entered the manned level crossing when the Satluj Express was to pass.

''If it is found that the gate was open, an FIR will be lodged against the gateman for culpable homicide and he would be immediately placed under suspension and appropriate action will be taken,'' he said.

Mr Prasad said the next Railway budget will have provision for manning some of the 35,000 level crossings in the country, which still remained unmanned.

He said efforts were on for manning all such level crossings in a phased manner.

UNI

Left's no to 'marginal hike' in fuel prices

New Delhi, Dec 14: CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan today took strong exception to the setting up of a Group of Ministers (GOM) to decide upon a ''marginal hike'' in the fuel prices. Addressing a press conference, Mr Bardhan said the Left was opposed to any such hike in fuel prices and suggested certain measures including reduction in the excise duty to avoid the increase. ''We are vehemently opposed to the government's move to set up the GOM and.....

Independent Theog candidate promises to support Virbhadra

Shimla, Dec 14 (UNI) Independent candidate, Rakesh Verma, from Theog constituency in Shimla has promised to support state Chief Minister Virbahdra Singh after winning elections from the assembly segment inspite of being denied a ticket by the Congress. Expressing confidence that he would win the Theog seat, Mr Verma told reporters here today, ''I have decided to extend my support to Mr Singh after polls.'' Mr Verma, who fought the 2003 state assembly elections against Congress' official candidate Rajender Verma, was.....

NASA may make air quality forecasts possible

Washington, Dec 14: NASA satellites may soon provide a system to predict the quality of air, such as global forecasts of air pollution near the ground where it affects human health, say scientists. Richard Engelen of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts in Reading, United Kingdom, says that such a system may prove useful in efforts to improve air quality, assess the effectiveness of environmental regulations, and address the challenge of climate change. "Regional modeling is already getting quite.....
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