Death toll from Turkey, Syria earthquake tops 47,000
Ankara (AP): The death toll from the massive earthquake that hit parts of Turkey and Syria on February 6 continues to rise as more bodies are retrieved from the rubble of demolished buildings.
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake that struck the already battered province of Hatay this week damaged or demolished more buildings, compounding the devastation.
Here's a look at the key developments on Thursday from the aftermath of the earthquake.
DEATH TOLL TOPS 47,000
Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu has raised the number of fatalities in Turkey from the magnitude 7.8 earthquake to 43,556.
The combined death toll in Turkey and Syria now stands at 47,244.
In an interview with state broadcaster TRT late on Wednesday, Soylu said teams were sifting through two buildings in hard-hit Hatay province in search of further bodies. Search operations elsewhere have come to an end, he said.
Meanwhile, at least 164,000 buildings have either collapsed or are so damaged that they need to be demolished, said Murat Kurum, Turkey's minister for the environment and urbanisation.
SYRIANS SHELTER IN TENTS AND CARS
The local civil defence in northwestern Syria, known locally as The White Helmets, said on Thursday that thousands of children and tens of thousands of families have taken shelter in cars and tents "fearing they would face a repeat of the earthquake".
In government-held Syria, a first plane from Bahrain loaded with aid landed in Damascus. The Gulf monarchy is among many Arab countries that in recent years have tried to thaw relations with President Bashar Assad, after shunning him in 2011 for his brutal crackdown on protesters.
Saudi Arabia and Egypt, two key US allies in the region, have also delivered aid.
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RGNUL students protest against Vice Chancellor's hostel visit, demand resignation
Patiala: Students of Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), Patiala, are protesting against Vice Chancellor Prof. Jai Shankar Singh after his unannounced visit to the girls' hostel, which they claim violated their privacy.
The protest intensified following allegations that Singh made inappropriate comments regarding the clothing of female students.
A video circulating on social media shows the Vice Chancellor inspecting the rooms of female students. When students objected, Singh was seen explaining that he was accompanied by a female warden.
However, students argued that university rules do not permit even parents to enter the hostel, raising concerns over the VC's visit.
The student body has demanded Singh's resignation, stating that a male authority figure should not be allowed in female students' private spaces, regardless of being accompanied by female staff.
In response, Singh clarified that the visit was due to complaints regarding hostel amenities and food quality. He issued an unconditional apology during an address to the students, expressing that he viewed all female students as his granddaughters.
