Fire, building collapse injures 28 people in Iraq's capital
Baghdad (AP): More than two dozen people were injured, including the head of Iraq's civil defence directorate, when a commercial building in the capital caught fire and then collapsed Sunday, authorities and the state news agency reported.
The official Iraqi News Agency said the civil defence director, Maj. Gen. Kadhim Bohan, and some firefighters were were among those injured when the burning building collapsed.
No deaths were reported. No information was immediately available on the cause of the blaze.
Brig. Gen. Qusai Younis, director of civil defense for the Al-Rusafa district of Baghdad, told The Associated Press that at least 28 people had been injured.
He said two of the three stories in the building, which contained warehouses storing flammable materials such as perfume, collapsed due to the fire.
The civil defense announced late Sunday evening that the fire had been fully extinguished and first responders were searching for missing people at the scene.
On Oct. 29, a gas tanker exploded near a soccer field in northeastern Baghdad, killing at least nine people and injuring 10 others. The explosion was found by an investigative committee to be an accident.
In The Video.. Fire continues to escalate from the site of Al-Waziriyah fire in Baghdad.#Iraq pic.twitter.com/hvrPkx7JiZ
— Alahad TV-EN (@ahad_en) November 6, 2022
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Southern Railway to double train capacity in Chennai, Coimbatore by 2030: Ashwini Vaishnaw
Chennai (PTI): Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Sunday the Southern Railway will double train capacity in Chennai and Coimbatore by 2030 to meet the growing demand.
He announced comprehensive upgrades for coaching terminals in the Southern Railway hubs, including Chennai and Coimbatore, to facilitate this.
“We're expanding coaching terminals, enhancing sectional and operational capacities in various cities to meet rising passenger demand and reduce congestion. This move will upgrade our railway network and improve nationwide connectivity,” the minister is quoted as saying in a press release issued by the Southern Railway.
ALSO READ: Record partnership between Shafali and Smriti helps India beat SL by 30 runs in 4th WT20I
The strategy addresses rapid travel growth through additional platforms, stabling lines, new terminals, maintenance facilities and multi-tracking, stated the press release.
Chennai and Coimbatore were identified among 48 major cities for this time-bound capacity doubling, it added.
According to the release, Chennai Egmore station redevelopment features airport-like passenger separation, two AC terminal buildings, 44 lifts, 31 escalators and a 14,000 sq.m. concourse.
Tambaram gets nine lifts and better integration for suburban services. A new Perambur terminal (Rs 342 crore, seven platforms) will decongest Central and Egmore. Multi-tracking projects like Chennai Beach-Egmore fourth line (commissioned) and Attipattu-Gummidipundi third-fourth lines (sanctioned) enhance suburban connectivity.
In Coimbatore, Podanur Junction will emerge as a second terminal with Rs 100 crore investment for stabling and pit lines, said the press release.
Coimbatore North redevelopment (Rs 11.5 crore) includes new entries and amenities while Coimbatore Junction PPP project (Rs 692.65 crore) is in DPR stage.
