US LPG cargo ship from Texas arrives at Mangaluru
Mangaluru (Karnataka) (PTI): An LPG cargo ship from the US arrived at the New Mangalore Port on Sunday, amid the supply constraints due to the ongoing war in the Middle East.
The vessel "Pyxis Pioneer", which left Port of Nederland in Texas on February 14, brought 16,714 metric tonnes of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) for discharge to Aegis Logistics, officials said.
The vessel follows the Russian "Aqua Titan" ship in reaching the port within the span of a day.
The development is considered significant as Mangaluru is home to India's largest underground LPG storage facility, which became operational in September 2025. The storage facility, located 225 metres below sea level, has a capacity of 80,000 metric tonnes.
In an earlier development, a Russian crude oil tanker named "Aqua Titan", originally headed to China, was diverted to India a few days ago. The ship arrived off the Mangaluru coast on Saturday evening carrying 7.7 lakh barrels of crude oil.
The crude is reportedly being unloaded via an offshore pipeline connected to a jetty 12 nautical miles from the shore to the Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL).
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15 deer killed by stray dogs at animal rescue centre in Chhattisgarh
Ambikapur (Chhattisgarh) (PTI): As many as 15 deer were killed after a pack of stray dogs attacked them inside an enclosure at an animal rescue centre in Chhattisgarh's Surguja district, officials said on Sunday.
The forest department has suspended four officials, including a deputy ranger and three forest guards, for alleged negligence in connection with the incident that occurred at Sanjay Van Vatika in Ambikapur on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday.
The forest department manages Sanjay Van Vatika, and visitors are also allowed inside the facility, which is similar to a zoo.
A pack of four to five stray dogs entered the park from the adjoining forest and breached the deer enclosure, Surguja Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Abhishek Jogawat said.
Fourteen deer, including spotted deer, barking deer, and four-horned antelope, died in the attack on Saturday, while one critically injured animal succumbed to its injuries on Sunday. The deaths were due to dog bites, he confirmed.
Following postmortem examinations, the carcasses were disposed of by burning according to prescribed procedures, the official said.
Chief Conservator of Forests (Surguja Circle) Dilraj Prabhakar has suspended Deputy Ranger Ashok Sinha, who was also in charge of the park, along with forest guards Mamta Porte, Pratima Lakra, and Bindu Singh for alleged negligence, he said.
Ambikapur Forest Ranger Akshapalak Rishi has also been issued a notice and asked to respond within five days, failing which, further action will be taken.
"An inquiry team led by the Sub-Divisional Officer (Forest), Ambikapur, has been constituted to probe the incident. Strict action will be taken against those found guilty," Jogawat said.
