Ex-vice prez Dhankhar seeks 'suitable' govt bungalow in Delhi
New Delhi (PTI): Former vice president Jagdeep Dhankhar has sought a government bungalow in accordance with his entitlement, nearly one-and-a-half months after his resignation from the post, sources said on Monday.
They said that Dhankhar, who is entitled to a Type-VIII bungalow, wrote to the Union Housing and Urban Affairs (HUA) Ministry around 10 days ago, seeking "suitable" government accommodation.
Last week, the former vice president shifted from the VP Enclave to a private farmhouse, which belongs to INLD leader Abhay Chautala, in south Delhi's Chhatarpur area.
The sources said that the HUA Ministry has not allotted any bungalow yet for the former vice president, adding that a decision on it will be taken soon.
They said that a Type-VIII bungalow on 34, APJ Abdul Kalam Road in Lutyens' Delhi is ready for occupation and may be allotted to him, but no decision has been taken so far.
If he declines, the Ministry may offer him another accommodation, the sources said.
Dhankhar resigned as the vice president on July 21, citing health grounds. His sudden resignation had surprised everyone.
An election to pick his successor is scheduled to take place on September 9.
Dhankhar's term as the vice president was to end on August 10, 2027. Officials said Dhankhar is entitled to three pensions: that of a former vice president, former Member of Parliament and former member of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly.
There are no pension benefits for him as the governor of West Bengal. He can get one secretarial staff for a monthly reimbursement of Rs 25,000 as a former governor.
As a one-term MP, he is entitled to Rs 45,000 per month, besides other benefits.
As a former vice president, Dhankhar is entitled to a pension of nearly Rs 2 lakh per month, a Type-VIII bungalow, one personal secretary, one additional personal secretary, one personal assistant, one physician, one nursing officer and four personal attendants.
After a former vice president dies, his or her spouse is entitled to a smaller Type-VII house.
In the vice presidential election, NDA pick C P Radhakrishnan, the Governor of Maharashtra, is pitted against opposition nominee B Sudershan Reddy, a former Supreme Court judge.
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Road crash in UP leaves 10 dead
Lakhimpur Kheri (UP) (PTI): Ten people were killed when a van collided head-on with a truck on the Sisaiya-Lakhimpur national highway on Monday, police said.
The van was going to Sisaiya from Lakhimpur when the accident took place between Unchgaon and Bharehta villages.
Circle Officer of Dhaurahra, Shamsher Bahadur Singh, said all nine passengers travelling in the van and the driver were killed.
District Magistrate of Lakhimpur Kheri Anjani Kumar Singh told reporters that the van collided with a truck coming from the opposite direction, leading to nine casualties on the spot, while one succumbed to injuries at the district hospital.
Circle Officer, Dhaurahra, Shamsher Bahadur Singh told PTI, "Efforts are on to establish the identity of other deceased persons."
The seven of the deceased have been identified as Jaideep Singh (25), Pawan (23), Sohan (21), Ram Goyal (42), Sahajram (35), Pappu (18), all residents of Bahraich district and Adnan Khan (15), a resident of Lakhimpur Kheri district, police said.
Condoling the loss of lives in the accident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in a post on X, said, "The loss of life in the unfortunate road accident in Lakhimpur Kheri district is deeply distressing and heart-wrenching. My condolences are with the bereaved families."
"I have directed the local administration to provide prompt and adequate assistance to the injured and the victims. I pray to Lord Shri Ram to grant the departed souls a place at His divine feet and to bestow a speedy recovery upon the injured," Adityanath said on X.
Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak too condoled the loss of lives in the accident.
"The loss of lives resulting from the road accident in Lakhimpur Kheri district is deeply tragic and heart-wrenching. My deepest condolences go out to the bereaved families," Maurya said.
