Mumbai: 5 dead in Chembur high-rise fire
MUMBAI: Five people have died after a major fire broke out in a high-rise residential building Thursday evening in Chembur, one of Mumbai's largest suburbs.
The fire started on the 11th floor of building number 35 in the B wing of Sargam Society. The housing society is near Ganesh Garden in Tilak Nagar in the suburb.
The fire was reported at 7.45 pm and 15 firefighting vehicles rushed to the spot. The fire is now under control.
Five elderly residents of the building were taken to the hospital, but died on the way. Another senior citizen has been admitted to a hospital due to suffocation. One fireman has also been admitted to the hospital. He is reportedly stable.
The reason of the fire is unknown and investigation is underway. An LPG cylinder blast reportedly increased the severity of the fire. The fire fighting equipment of the building was also reportedly non-functional.
The victims have been identified as Sunita Joshi, 72, Bhalchandra Joshi, 72 and Suman Shrinivas Joshi, 83, Sarala Suresh Gangar, 52 and Laxmiben Premji Gangar, 83.
Another fire broke out earlier on Thursday in Bhendi Bazar's Dongri Jail Road. No casualties were reported.
Last week, a major fire broke out at a luxury showroom adjoining the 5-star Trident Hotel at Mumbai's Nariman Point.
On December 17, a major fire at a government-run hospital in Andheri that killed 10 and injured many.
The 325-bed hospital did not have the fire department's no-objection certificate, mandatory for such institutes to function. Nearly 375 people, including patients and visitors, were in the five-floor hospital when the fire broke out, an official had earlier said.
courtesy : ndtv.com
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India, New Zealand ink free trade agreement
New Delhi (PTI): India and New Zealand on Monday inked a free trade agreement, aimed at boosting two-way commerce and investments.
The pact was signed by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and visiting New Zealand's Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay.
The FTA provides duty-free access for 100 per cent of India's exports to New Zealand, covering all tariff lines or produce categories, and is expected to significantly boost MSMEs and employment by enhancing competitiveness in labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, apparel, leather, footwear, gems and jewellery, engineering goods, and processed foods.
Earlier, New Zealand maintained peak tariffs of up to 10 per cent on key Indian exports, including ceramics, carpets, automobiles, and auto components.
With zero-duty market access from entry into force as New Zealand's other trade partners, Indian products will be fully competitive in that country, enjoying a level playing field.
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Significantly, India also secured duty-free inputs for its manufacturing sector, including wooden logs, coking coal, and waste and scraps of metals, lowering production costs and enhancing the global competitiveness of the Indian industry.
On the other hand, India has offered tariff liberalisation on 70.03 per cent of tariff lines covering 95 per cent of bilateral trade value, while keeping 29.97 per cent of tariff lines excluded to protect India's sensitive sectors.
The products that are kept in exclusion are mainly -- dairy (milk, cream, whey, yoghurt, cheese etc.), animal products (other than sheep meat), agricultural products (onions, chana, peas, corn, almonds), sugar, artificial honey, animal, vegetable or microbial fats and oils, arms and ammunition, gems and jewellery, copper and articles thereof (cathodes, cartridges, rods, bars, coils), aluminium and articles thereof (ingots, billets, wire bars) among others.
On 30 per cent of tariff lines of New Zealand, India will provide duty elimination on goods such as wood, wool, sheep meat, and leather-raw hides.
Similarly, 35.60 per cent of tariff lines are subject to phased elimination over 3, 5, 7, and 10 years, including petroleum oil, malt extract, vegetable oils, selected electrical and mechanical machinery, and peptones.
New Zealand products which enjoy tariff reductions include wine, pharmaceutical drugs, polymers, aluminum, iron and steel articles, and goods that only 0.06 per cent fall under tariff rate quotas, including Manuka honey, apples, kiwi fruit, and albumins, including milk albumin.
The FTA also includes a commitment to facilitate USD 20 billion in investment into India.
A rebalancing clause is incorporated into the Agreement to provide a framework for addressing any shortfall in investment delivery, thereby ensuring robust and tangible economic outcomes.
Total bilateral trade in goods and services reached USD 2.4 billion in 2024.
