Odisha govt official speaks to state labourers trapped in Uttarkashi tunnel
Bhubaneswar (PTI): An official of the Odisha government's labour department has spoken to workers from the state trapped after the collapse of an under-construction tunnel in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand.
Five labourers from Odisha are among the 40 workers who have been trapped there.
"We have sent two officials to Uttarkashi, who are coordinating with the local administration and line agencies for the safe rescue of the workers. One of our officials talked to the trapped labourers through the pipe laid down there for communication," said an official of the labour department.
The labourers said they are safe and doing fine. Water and food are being supplied to them. It was expected that the workers would be rescued soon, he said.
The labour officials will camp there till the completion of the rescue operation and bring them back to Odisha.
The workers from Odisha have been identified as Tapan Mandal and Bhagban Batra from Nabarangpur, and Biseswar Nayak, Dhiren, and Raju Nayak from Mayurbhanj district.
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Vijay unable to prove majority, not invited for CM oath ceremony: Sources
Chennai: Actor-politician Vijay has reportedly not been invited to take oath as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu after failing to demonstrate support from the required number of MLAs, sources in Raj Bhavan said.
According to media reports that quoted sources in the office of R.N. Ravi Arlekar, Vijay could not prove the backing of 118 legislators, the majority mark in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly.
Despite last-minute efforts to secure support from the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazagam (AMMK), and an IUML legislator, Vijay reportedly managed support from only 116 MLAs, falling short by two members.
Sources said Vijay failed to submit letters of support from the VCK and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).
Later, the IUML issued a statement clarifying that it was not part of the TVK-led alliance.
Meanwhile, AMMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran is also said to have informed the Governor that his party would support the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) instead.
Earlier in the evening, Vijay had met Governor Arlekar and staked claim to form the government, stating that he enjoyed the support of 118 MLAs.
