Cong govt carrying out rescue operation on war footing: Kharge on Himachal landslide
New Delhi (PTI): In the wake of loss of lives due to a massive landslide hitting a private bus in Himachal Pradesh's Bilaspur district, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday said Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is personally overseeing the relief and rescue efforts and the party's government in the state is providing all possible assistance to the victims.
At least 15 passengers were killed in the accident on Tuesday evening, officials said.
The accident took place in Bhalughat area in Jhandutta assembly segment around 6:30 pm, they said, adding the bus carrying 25-30 passengers was on its way from Marotan to Ghumarwin.
In a post on X in Hindi, Congress president Kharge said the tragic bus accident in Bilaspur district, which resulted in the death of several people, is deeply saddening and unfortunate.
"The state government is continuing its rescue operation on a war footing. The chief minister is personally overseeing the relief and rescue efforts, and the government is providing all possible assistance to the victims," Kharge said.
"Our deepest condolences go out to the bereaved families. We stand with them," he said.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the news of the deaths and injuries of a large number of passengers due to a landslide in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, is deeply saddening.
"May the departed souls rest in peace. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families. I wish the injured a speedy recovery," she said in a post in Hindi on X.
"In this hour of crisis, the state's Congress government stands with the victims in every way; efforts are being made on a war-footing to provide all possible assistance and relief," she said.
According to officials, several people are believed to be trapped under the debris while three have been rescued.
Intermittent rains have been lashing the area in Himachal since Monday.
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Lebanon appoints new representative for talks with Israel, rejects linkage to Iran
Beirut: Lebanon’s has moved to underline its independent position in ongoing regional developments, amid attempts to link the country to the broader conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
President Joseph Aoun, while announcing the appointment of former US ambassador Simon Karam as Lebanon’s representative in talks with Israel, made it clear that Karam would be the sole representative for Lebanon and that there would be no substitute.
The move comes in response to what the Lebanese officials see as efforts by Iran to tie Lebanon’s situation to the wider regional conflict. Iran had indicated that there would be no ceasefire involving the US, Israel and Iran unless it also included a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Some groups, including Hezbollah and its supporters, had expressed support for linking the situations, citing concerns that the Lebanese government has limited leverage in negotiations with Israel. Lebanon is not formally a party to the conflict, and its army is considered weak.
However, others, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, have opposed this approach. They view Iran’s stance as an attempt to influence Lebanon’s internal affairs and see it as undermining the country’s sovereignty.
Officials backing the government’s position say the move is aimed at reaffirming Lebanon’s sovereignty and ensuring that decisions about peace and ceasefire within the country are not dictated externally.
They also see it as a safeguard, so that any breakdown in talks between the US, Israel and Iran does not automatically lead to renewed conflict in Lebanon.
