Alert KSRTC driver Shabbir Ahmad saves 40 passengers' lives
DHARWAD: A KSRTC bus driver Shabbir Ahmed Mattewale accorded a grand felicitation by passengers and public for saving the lives of as many as 40 passengers here on Thursday.
According to a report, Shabbir was driving a city bus from CBT to Karnatak University on Thursday. He was crossing the railway gate near Sri Nagar which was kept open for traffic movement. Suddenly, passengers noticed a speeding train approaching the railway crossing.
While the passengers started screaming, driver Shabbir, with his presence of mind, pressed the accelerator and drove the bus across the track to safety. The bus and the passengers had a narrow escape from a major accident.
The gate-man said he did not receive any signal on the arrival of the train, and hence, the railway gates on either side were kept open. At the same time, the loco pilot of the train was reportedly running the train without blowing the horn.
However, the South Western Railway has ordered an inquiry into the incident.
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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.
