Madhya Pradesh govt bans selling liquor, meat on Jan 22

Raigad (Maharashtra), Dec 20 (IANS) At least five persons were killed and another 27 injured when a private luxury bus carrying a marriage party lost control and overturned in the Tamhini Ghat section of Raigad district on Friday, officials said.

The bus, owned by Purple Travels, was headed from Lohegaon in Pune district to Birwadi village in Mahad (Raigad) carrying people going to attend a marriage ceremony when the disaster struck.

The victims include three women and two men, while the injured have been rushed to the Mangaon Rural Hospital and other medicare facilities in Raigad.

The fatalities include Sangita Dhananjay Jadhav, Vandana Jadhav, Shilpa Pradeep Pawar, Gaurav Ashok Darade and another unidentified male member who was part of the wedding team of the Jadhav clan.

According to preliminary information, the bus was speeding from Lohegaon to Birwadi in the ghat sections, but while negotiating a sharp curve on the highway, the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle.

Moments later, around 9.30 a.m. the bus toppled to the sides on the sloping route, overturned, and crashed beside the road as many of the injured occupants screamed for help.

Some local villagers and others rushed to render assistance and informed the Mangaon Police which also reached the spot with rescue teams and medical aid, plus cleared the traffic.

Many of the injured victims were trapped inside the bus and were taken out by the rescuers and shifted to hospital, while five of them had succumbed instantly in the accident, said an official of Mangaon Police Station.

During the rescue operation, the survivors attired in their wedding finery were seen sitting beside the highway, wailing at the shocking tragedy and loss of lives of their near and dear ones, all bound for an auspicious marriage function, which turned into a tearful affair.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 22 (IANS) After months of gruelling election campaigns from Lok Sabha polls 2024 to Assembly elections, Sunday marked a relaxing and refreshing weekend for the Gandhi family. Rahul and Priyanka, both Congress MPs from Rae Bareli and Wayanad Lok Sabha constituencies, respectively, took a break from their official engagements and assembled at the city’s iconic Kwality restaurant, to spend some ‘family time’ together.

They were accompanied by mother Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka’s husband Robert Varda, daughter Miraya Vadra and also her mother-in-law.

The whole Gandhi family gathered at the Kwality restaurant to gorge on chole-bhature and other lip-smacking dishes.

Rahul also shared some photos of the family sitting and dining together, on his WhatsApp status. The images, as landed on social media, also elicited many likes and comments from the netizens, many of whom hailed the family sharing some special moments on the dining table.

In the photos, Rahul and family could be seen sitting in a cozy space of the restaurant and flaunting broad smiles on their faces. Sonia Gandhi is also seen sharing a smile while Robert Vadra flaunting a fully-bloated bhatura.

Putting the photos on his status, Rahul wrote, “Family lunch at the iconic Kwality Restaurant.”

“Try the Chole Bhature if you go,” he said further in an advice to the foodies.

The picture also makes for a powerful frame as it represents three Parliamentarians in a single snap, the largest ever representation from the Gandhi family.

Rahul Gandhi is Leader of Opposition (LoP) as well as MP from Rae Bareli, his sister Priyanka is MP from Wayanad while mother Sonia Gandhi — a former Congress president — is a Rajya Sabha member.

For the unversed, the Kwality restaurant situated in Delhi’s Connaught Place was patronised by American soldiers in the pre-Independence era. For many decades, the restaurant has remained a favourite food joint for connoisseurs because of its eclectic variety of multi-continental cuisines.

The chola-bhatura served at the restaurant remains one of the most sold-out items for generations. Many of its regular customers include celebrities from varied fields, including Bollywood. Late actress Nargis was a regular visitor here.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 17 (IANS) Hamida Bano, an Indian woman who was deceived into travelling to Pakistan over two decades ago by a travel agent, finally returned to her homeland after nearly 22 years in the neighbouring country.

Arriving in India, Hamida, who was in a wheelchair, was handed over to officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

After completing the necessary paperwork, the Indian Immigration and Customs Department transferred her to the Tehsildar Attari of the District Administration. Hamida was then taken to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital in Amritsar for medical treatment.

Hamida Bano recounted her harrowing journey: “I was fraudulently brought to Pakistan by a travel agent. I never imagined I would return to India. But just a year ago, the Indian Embassy contacted me and informed me that I could return. I had lived in Mumbai before this ordeal. A travel agent had promised to take me to Dubai for a job, but instead, he brought me to Hyderabad in Pakistan’s Sindh province. I was terrified.”

She also described the hardships she endured in Pakistan: “My life there felt like being a ‘Zinda Laash’ (living corpse). The Pakistani government never harmed me, though. I used to live with a Sindhi man who married me. But after 12 years, he passed away.”

Hamida further expressed her gratitude, saying, “I want to thank both the Indian and Pakistani governments for their assistance in helping me return to my homeland.”

In 2022, Waliullah Maroof, a local YouTuber, brought attention to Hamida’s plight. He shared her story in a vlog, which helped reconnect her with her family in India. Through Maroof’s efforts, her daughter Yasmeen was able to speak with her on phone.

Before leaving India in 2002, Hamida had been supporting her four children financially after her husband’s death. She had worked as a cook in Doha, Qatar, Dubai, and Saudi Arabia, without any issues, before falling victim to the deceitful recruitment agent.

–IANS

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