'60 vehicles gutted at Aero India show beyond recognition'
Bengaluru, Mar 5: Sixty of the 277 vehicles gutted in a fire at the Aero India event at the Yelahanka Air Force station on the penultimate day of the air show on February 23 were beyond recognition, Home Minister M B Patil said Tuesday.
The Minister said he had asked officials to clear the insurance settlement amount to those affected at the earliest, as a measure of some relief to them.
He said a total of 277 vehicles were affected in the incident, of which 251 were completely burnt and 26, partially burnt.
"Out of the 251 completely burnt, 60 are beyond recognition, with no engine or chassis number," Patil said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said the government wanted the settlement to be paid at the earliest.
"It was an unfortunate incident. At least if we settle their insurance amount, there will be some kind of relief. We will have to do this as our duty.
Patil said he would be reviewing the insurance settlement and the 251 completely gutted vehicles would get 100 per cent insurance.
The government would look into it case by case and try to provide assistance to cab drivers, if a cab drivers if any among affected had no insurance, on humanitarian grounds, as their life will be dependent on those vehicles.
A major fire broke out at the parking area of the Aero India event at Yelahanka Air Force station on the penultimate day of the air show on February 23, gutting about 277 vehicles, mostly cars.
No casualties were reported in the incident and the parking area was far away from the air force station.
A help desk was set up by the state government under DCP (Law and Order) to help those who had lost their vehicles in the fire to get certificates for facilitating insurance claim.
"Investigation into the incident is being conducted by the Defence Ministry, as it took place under their limits," Patil said.
A Court of Inquiry has been ordered to investigate the cause of the fire.
Officials had earlier said the probable cause of the mishap was fire from an overheated silencer of one of the parked cars, which,accentuated by strong winds,spread quickly.
Patil said the Oriental Insurance Company had settled insurance amounts of 10 of the 11 affected vehicles that were insured with them and handed over cheques to some vehicle owners.
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NCW chief condemns rape-murder of 4-year-old girl in Pune, calls for swift action
New Delhi (PTI): National Commission for Women (NCW) Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar has condemned the alleged rape and murder of a four-year-old girl in Maharashtra's Pune, calling it "deeply distressing" and a "blot on humanity".
The girl was allegedly raped and killed by a 65-year-old labourer, who has a criminal record, in Bhor tehsil of Pune on Friday. The accused allegedly lured the child to a cattle enclosure on the pretext of giving her food. After raping her, he killed her by hitting her with a stone, according to police.
The accused has been arrested.
In a post on X on Saturday, Rahatkar said the incident in the Nasrapur area in Pune was heartbreaking and has shaken society.
"The brutal torture and murder of a four-year-old innocent girl in Nasrapur (Bhor, Pune) is deeply painful, heartbreaking, and shocking. It is a blot on humanity," she said.
She said Pune Rural police has arrested the accused and noted that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar have assured strict action in the case.
Rahatkar said the NCW has taken cognisance of the matter and written to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), requesting the body to ensure necessary and prompt action.
It has also been recommended that the case be pursued under stringent provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and be closely monitored from the filing of the chargesheet to proceedings in a fast-track special court to ensure time-bound justice, she added.
Ensuring justice for the victim and stringent punishment for the accused is a collective responsibility, the NCW chairperson underlined.
In a post on X, the NCW said it has taken suo motu cognisance of the extremely "heinous" incident.
"This heinous crime causes profound pain and outrage, and it highlights serious concerns regarding the safety of young girls," it said.
Strongly condemning this grave "inhuman act", the NCW said such crimes constitute a serious violation of children's rights and raise questions about society's security system.
