13062024-TT-01.qxd 6/12/2024 US WIDENS SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA WORLD /thetribunechd 10:58 PM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 144 NO. 163 | 16 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 HIMACHAL PRADESH thursday | 13 june 2024 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Over 40 Indians among 49 dead in Kuwait building fire Naidu is Andhra CM, eyes ~1L cr for Amravati project Most of them workers from Kerala| Govt rushes MoS to assist in aid Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 12 Over 40 Indians, most of them employed as labourers, were among 49 persons killed as a massive fire engulfed a multi-storey building housing foreign workers in southern Kuwait on Wednesday morning. Officials said the death toll could rise as the condition of several of the injured, who were admitted to various hospitals, was stated to be critical. The Indian Government, in a swift response, despatched Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh to Kuwait to coordinate with the authorities there on assistance to the injured and early repatriation of the mortal remains of those killed. Sources said almost all Indians killed in the fire were from Kerala. The fire started in a kitchen in the six-storey building in the Mangaf area in Kuwait’s southern Ahmadi Governorate around 4.30 am, officials said. Most deaths were due to smoke inhalation while residents were sleeping, and a significant number of occupants were evacuated, they said. Construction firm NBTC Group had rented out the building to house Smoke billows from the Kuwait building where the tragedy struck. PTI nearly 200 workers, most of them from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and northern states, the Kuwaiti media said. Kuwait has a 10 lakh strong Indian diaspora, who form PUNISH SEPARATISTS: MEA TO CANADA BACK PAGE nearly 20 per cent of the country’s total population. Nearly 1,000 Indian doctors, 500 dentists and 24,000 nurses are employed in Kuwait, as per officials. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the fire incident as “saddening” and said the Indian Embassy in Kuwait was closely monitoring the situation. “My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. The Indian Embassy in Kuwait is closely monitoring the situation and working with the authorities there to assist the affected,” PM Modi said on X. Upon his return from Andhra Pradesh and Odisha after attending the swearing-in ceremonies of the new state governments, PM Modi chaired a high-level meeting here to take stock of the fire tragedy. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed “deep shock” over the incident and said the Indian Embassy in the Gulf nation would render the “fullest assistance” to all concerned. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge expressed “deepest condolences” to the families of those killed and urged the External Affairs Ministry to continued on page 6 Faces challenges of raising funds, keeping poll promises Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 12 Prime Minister Narendra Modi in attendance, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president Nara Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday took oath as Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister for the fourth time, gearing up for what will potentially be his most challenging term as he moves to boost the state’s flailing finances and keep ambitious poll promises to the people. Naidu, 74, who put Hyderabad on the IT map of the world in his first two succes- PM Narendra Modi with Andhra CM N Chandrababu Naidu. PTI sive terms as the CM starting 1995, will be watched for his ability to negotiate a generous fiscal deal with continued on page 6 edit: two good for naidu 4th terror strike in 4 days as ultras target SOG camp Jammu, June 12 A fresh encounter broke out in Gandoh area of J&K’s Doda late Wednesday evening after terrorists attacked a camp of the Special Operations Group (SOG), in what was the fourth terror strike in four days in the Jammu region. The encounter resulted in injuries to five jawans and a sub-divisional special police officer (SDPO). The series of attacks began on June 9 when terrorists attacked a bus in Reasi, causing it to plunge into a gorge and leaving nine persons dead. On Tuesday, villagers in Hiranagar (Kathua) reported hearing gunshots, which was followed by an attack on a checkpost in Chattragala the same night. INSIDE HP dam levels up as May Mann meets Kejri in jail, heat hastens glacier melt no Cabinet rejig for now Lalit Mohan Tribune News Service Dharamsala, June 12 High temperatures in May have resulted in faster melting of glaciers in the Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh, causing higher inflows into the Beas and the Sutlej. According to the data collected by The Tribune, the water level in the Bhakra dam reservoir, located in Bilaspur district, was 1,584 feet on June 12. It was about 39 feet more than the average water level of 1,545.49 feet at c m y b RISING WATERS Dam Bhakra Pong June 12 Average* 1,584 ft 1,545 ft 1,313 ft 1,304 ft *JUNE 12 AVERAGE FOR 60 YRS this time of the year. In fact, it is even more than the continued on page 6 Ruchika M Khanna & Rajmeet Singh Tribune News Service Chandigarh, June 12 Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann met AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at Tihar Jail today. The two leaders are believed to have discussed the affairs of the Punjab unit of the party, its performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections and the performance of each minister and some MLAs, who performed well in the elections. PUNJAB CM’S FOCUS ON JALANDHAR BYPOLL ■ With the Jalandhar West bypoll due on July 10, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann wants changes effected in the Cabinet only after the bypoll ■ The seat had fallen vacant after the resignation of AAP MLA Sheetal Angural, who switched to the BJP before the Lok Sabha elections As opinion is divided in the party over the timing of a continued on page 6
The Tribune, now published from Chandigarh, started publication on February 2, 1881, in Lahore (now in Pakistan). It was started by Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia, a public-spirited philanthropist, and is run by a trust comprising four eminent persons as trustees.
The Tribune, the largest selling daily in North India, publishes news and views without any bias or prejudice of any kind. Restraint and moderation, rather than agitational language and partisanship, are the hallmarks of the paper. It is an independent newspaper in the real sense of the term.
The English edition apart, the 133-year-old Tribune has two sister publications, Punjabi Tribune (in Punjabi) and Dainik Tribune (in Hindi).