London (AP): British playwright Tom Stoppard, who won an Academy Award for the screenplay for 1998's “Shakespeare In Love” has died. He was 88.

In a statement Saturday, United Agents said Stoppard died “peacefully” at his home in Dorset in southern England, surrounded by his family.

“He will be remembered for his works, for their brilliance and humanity, and for his wit, his irreverence, his generosity of spirit and his profound love of the English language,” they said. “It was an honour to work with Tom and to know him.”

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Jalna/Mumbai (PTI): Eight women labourers were killed, and three others were injured after a speeding truck rammed into a tempo on the Nagpur-Mumbai Expressway in Jalna district of Maharashtra on Wednesday evening, police said.

The incident occurred when a group of women was returning home after completing cleaning work on the expressway.

"A total of 11 persons, including the driver, were sitting in the tempo. As the vehicle was about to start, a speeding truck headed towards Mumbai rammed into it from behind at Kadvanchi village," a police official said, adding that seven women died on the spot and another succumbed in the Jalna government hospital.

The tempo was badly mangled, and the bodies were reportedly strewn across the road.

The deceased have been identified as Alkabai Admane (45), Laxmibai Madan (35), Meena Admane (45), Kanchan Admane (50), Tarabai Choudhari (60), Kadubai Madan (55), and Suman Admane (70), all residents of Jalna tehsil.

The identity of the eighth deceased is yet to be confirmed.

Three people are undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Police have arrested the truck driver and registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Further investigation is underway.

Expressing grief, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the death of eight people is extremely unfortunate, and announced a financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased.

Fadnavis paid heartfelt tributes to the deceased and expressed solidarity with their families.

 

He said in a statement the injured have been immediately admitted to hospitals and the local administration is coordinating relief efforts.

The district collector and the superintendent of police are present at the spot, overseeing the situation, the chief minister added.

Environment Minister and Jalna District Guardian Minister Pankaja Munde has expressed deep sorrow over the incident.

In a condolence message, Munde extended her sympathies to the families of the deceased.