Part of old bridge on Bhogavo river collapses in Gujarat's Surendranagar district; four injured
Surendranagar (PTI): At least four persons were injured after a portion of an old bridge on the Bhogavo river in Gujarat's Surendranagar district collapsed on Sunday evening, an official said.
The incident occurred when a 40-ton dumper was trying to cross the bridge on a panchayat road near Wadhwan city, even though the entry of heavy vehicles was banned, the official said.
"A dumper and two motorcycles were on the bridge when its first slab collapsed, leaving four persons with minor injuries," said Surendranagar Collector KC Sampat.
The heavy vehicle and motorcycles fell into the Bhogavo river, he said.
The collector said the bridge was nearly four decades old and it was under the care of the state Road and Buildings Department. A warning board was put up and the bridge was barricaded to prevent the movement of heavy vehicles, he said.
"Despite the barricades, a 40-ton dumper tried to cross the bridge, leading to the collapse of its first slab," the collector said.
He said the request for a new bridge was already forwarded.
गुजरात के सुरेंद्रनगर ज़िले में पुल टूटा।
— Jignesh Mevani (@jigneshmevani80) September 24, 2023
गुजरात में पुल का टूटना अब एक आम ख़बर हैं, क्यों की यहा पुल और रोड़ टूटते रहते हैं।
यह सभी भ्रष्टाचार का बोझ नहीं सह पाने से गिरते हैं।#Gujarat pic.twitter.com/Dmf1tu13rf
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Karnataka launches state-led Centre of Excellence for Space Technology in Bengaluru
Bengaluru (PTI): In a significant boost to India’s rapidly expanding space economy, the Karnataka government on Friday launched the country’s first state-led Centre of Excellence for Space Technology here, officials said.
The initiative is aimed at strengthening India’s capabilities to translate space innovation into scalable commercial outcomes, they said.
The Centre, established by the Government of Karnataka through the Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society in collaboration with SIA (Satcom Industry Association India) -India, was inaugurated by Minister for Electronics, IT/BT, and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Priyank Kharge, in the presence of senior officials and industry leaders, officials said.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Kharge said that Karnataka has consistently been at the forefront of India's technology and innovation journey. With the launch of this Centre of Excellence for Space Technology, we are extending that leadership into one of the most strategic sectors of the future.
"Our focus is not just on advancing research, but on creating an ecosystem where innovation can translate into real-world applications, economic growth, and high-quality jobs. This Centre will play a critical role in positioning Karnataka as a key driver of India's space economy," he said.
According to an official statement, the CoE SpaceTech Foundation has been established under a Memorandum of Agreement between KITS and SIA-India to drive research and innovation in space technologies, industry-aligned training, startup incubation and cross-sector applications, it said.
The Centre has also formalised strategic MoUs with multiple industry and academic partners to support research in space biotech and microgravity, enable collaboration, build talent pipelines, and provide startups with training and market access, it added.
