27 people feared dead in building fire in Osaka
Tokyo, Dec 17: Twenty-seven people are feared dead after a fire broke out in a building in Osaka in western Japan, fire department officials said Friday.
The fire started on the fourth floor of an eight-story building in a shopping and entertainment area of Kitashinchi, Osaka city fire department official Akira Kishimoto said.
Twenty-eight people were affected, 27 of whom were found in a state of cardiac arrest, Kishimoto said. So far 23 people have been taken to nearby hospitals, he said.
The building houses an internal medicine clinic, an English language school and other businesses, NHK national television said.
The cause of the fire and other details were not immediately known. NHK said Osaka police are investigating the case as a possible arson.
People on other floors of the building were believed to have been evacuated, Kishimoto said.
NHK footage showed dozens of fire engines and police vehicles on the street near the building, with onlookers watching the development from across the street.
In all, 70 fire engines were mobilized to fight the fire, which was mostly extinguished within about 30 minutes of an emergency call, officials said.
27 feared dead in building #fire in #Japan's #Osaka pic.twitter.com/wauDELVc1G
— Anshu Singh (@Anshujourno92) December 17, 2021
#BREAKING NEWS | #JAPAN FIRE
— Journalist Siraj Noorani (@sirajnoorani) December 17, 2021
Fire breaks out in #Osaka building, dozens feared trapped. Japan's NHK television says 27 people feared dead in building fire in Osaka. pic.twitter.com/lNEAHb9wia
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Air India Express pilot arrested, granted bail in Delhi airport assault case
New Delhi: An Air India Express pilot accused of assaulting a passenger at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport was arrested and later released on bail, as the offence is bailable, Delhi Police said on Tuesday.
The accused pilot has been identified as Captain Virender Sejwal. He was booked in connection with an alleged assault on passenger Ankit Dewan at Terminal 1 of IGI Airport, reported by NDTV.
According to police, a case was registered following a complaint, after which CCTV footage was examined and statements were recorded. The pilot was called for questioning and joined the investigation on Monday.
"Captain Virender Sejwal has joined the investigation. If the IO (Investigating Officer) is not satisfied with his reply, he can be arrested in the assault case. Investigation is being carried out in the matter based on merits and available evidence," NDTV quoted Delhi Police as saying.
Earlier, Ankit Dewan alleged that the incident took place during the security check process while he was travelling with his wife and their four-month-old baby. Speaking to ANI, Dewan said CISF personnel had directed them to a specific security screening area.
As per the report, he claimed that the screening lane used older machines and was already crowded, including airline staff and passengers carrying large musical instruments. Dewan said he asked his wife to take their baby through the ladies’ queue while he managed the luggage, which included multiple bags, trays and a stroller.
Dewan also raised questions to the airport operator DIAL, the aviation regulator DGCA, and the airlines, seeking clarity on the incident involving the off-duty Air India Express pilot.
