Roof collapse at Novi Sad Railway station claims 14 lives, sparks outrage
Novi Sad, Serbia: At least 14 people, including a young child and a foreign national, were killed when the concrete roof of a railway station in Novi Sad collapsed on Friday. Rescue efforts continue as emergency teams search for survivors trapped beneath the rubble. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic have pledged a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the accident and hold those responsible accountable.
Interior Minister Dacic confirmed the death toll, which includes a 6-year-old girl and a citizen from Northern Macedonia. Three individuals were rescued with serious injuries and are currently receiving medical care. As 80 rescue workers clear the wreckage, officials warn the death toll could rise, with some victims yet to be identified.
The incident has reignited public anger over station maintenance, with opposition groups blaming government negligence and poor upkeep for the tragedy. President Vucic clarified that the collapsed roof had not been part of recent renovations, pledging accountability at both political and criminal levels.
Prime Minister Milos Vucevic noted that the original canopy structure, built in 1964, remained unchanged in recent updates. In response to the tragedy, the government has declared Saturday a day of mourning, and residents in Novi Sad are gathering to light candles in remembrance of the victims.
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Karnataka fast-tracks investment approvals, cuts red tape across key clearances: Minister Patil
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Minister M B Patil on Saturday said the state government has fast-tracked approvals for investment projects and taken measures to cut red tape.
He said that since 2022, Karnataka has approved 2,028 projects worth Rs 5.11 lakh crore, which could create 7.16 lakh jobs.
Of these, Rs 69,564 crore has already been realised, generating 1.06 lakh jobs, he added.
“Karnataka fast-tracks approvals, cuts red tape,” the Minister for Large & Medium Industries said.
“Clear results of our government’s push to speed up approval processes are now evident. Not only have investment agreements been secured, but effective implementation is also underway,” he said in a post on X.
He added that simplified and swift approval processes are boosting investor confidence and providing greater impetus to industrial growth across the state.
“Karnataka’s investment-friendly environment is further strengthened by its culture of ease of doing business,” he said.
Noting that Karnataka is fast-tracking approvals and aligning departments and districts for on-ground delivery, the minister said: “We have overhauled 18 key approvals, cutting land use change clearance time from 120 to 45 days, fire NOC from 60 to 21 days, factory plan approvals from 30 to 14 days, and electrical approvals to just 10 days.”
In a competitive landscape, Karnataka is acting decisively to ensure faster decisions, fewer delays, and a truly pro-industry ecosystem, he added.
