10 killed in nursing home fire in Chile
Santiago, Aug 15: At least 10 elderly women died early on Tuesday in a fire at a nursing home in the Chilean town of Chiguayante, officials said.
Officials are investigating the cause of the fire in one of Casa de Reposo Santa Marta's pavilions in Biobio region, located some 530 km south of Santiago, Efe reported.
Several victims were handicapped and had limited mobility, officials said.
"We have 10 people dead," Biobio Governor Jorge Ulloa, who is a volunteer firefighter and joined the operation to control the blaze, said.
The facility had 42 senior residents, of whom 13, all women, were in the area where the fire started.
Only three of the women managed to escape and one was admitted to a hospital with burns on her legs.
Jose Garrido, the facility's watchman, set off the alarm. He told Radio Cooperativa that he heard "a loud noise" before the fire started.
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Bommai turns down honorary doctorate, calls for rethink on awards to politicians
Bengaluru (PTI): BJP MP and former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has declined to accept an honorary doctorate from Haveri University, saying it is not appropriate to confer such honours on politicians or those engaged in self-motivated social service.
He said the love and trust of the people are the greatest honours in public life.
“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Registrar and Syndicate members of Haveri University for deciding to confer an honorary doctorate on me,” Bommai, MP from Haveri, said in a statement issued on Sunday night.
“However, I have informed the Vice-Chancellor that I will not accept the honour. As I am engaged in public service, I do not seek any awards. I believe the love and trust of the people are the greatest honours. Therefore, I humbly reiterate that I will not accept the honorary doctorate,” he said.
Bommai said honorary doctorates should be awarded to individuals who have rendered distinguished and significant service in a particular field over a long period.
“It is my personal view that it is not appropriate to confer honorary doctorates on politicians or those engaged in social service out of self-motivation. I request that this matter be reconsidered,” he added.
Recently, Karnataka Higher Education Minister M C Sudhakar proposed the constitution of an expert panel to regulate the awarding of honorary doctorates.
In a letter to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, who is also the Chancellor of public universities in the state, the minister highlighted the lack of standards in conferring such honours.
